Original Mazeppa Sues for Age Discrmination

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 1:49pm

Once she was a schlepper. Now she's an octogenarian litigant.

===

Washington Post

Reliable Source

Faith: Broadway Has No You-Know-What in Me

By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Wednesday, August 8, 2007; Page C03

Former exotic dancer, champion of the arts and seven-time D.C. mayoral candidate Faith is recovering at George Washington Hospital from a case of pneumonia -- brought on, says her husband, when the 83-year-old performer was denied her chance for a Broadway comeback.

Faith Dane was 36 years old when she landed the role of Mazeppa in the legendary 1959 Broadway musical "Gypsy," starring Ethel Merman. The burlesque-style dancer wowed producers at her audition with her hilarious horn-blowing striptease -- which concluded with her bending over and blowing the trumpet between her legs -- and brought down the house in the "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" number: "If you wanna stump it, bump it with a trumpet."


Faith, the perennial D.C. mayoral candidate. (Courtesy of Jude Crannitch)

She repeated the role in the 1962 movie, but was never cast in the musical's many revivals. Faith made a name (she legally changed it to just "Faith") as a colorful political activist in the nation's capital. When she learned of a new production of "Gypsy" with Patti LuPone at New York City Center this summer, she asked to reprise her signature role. No response.

Husband Jude Crannitch said his wife was distraught by the rejection, which he believes contributed to her illness. "Nothing," he told us yesterday. "Not even the courtesy of a response." Crannitch said his wife -- despite her age -- still deserves the part. "I sent pictures to them showing how good she looks," he said. They attended a 2003 "Gypsy" revival in New York and met the three actresses playing the musical's strippers: "They looked like schleppers compared to Faith."

Last month, Faith filed an age discrimination complaint against the theater and casting company with New York State's Division of Human Rights. "Faith feels it's her child, her artistic work that's being butchered," Crannitch said.

Jack Viertel, artistic director for the City Center production, said there was never any attempt to prevent her from auditioning. Actors Equity rules require open auditions, which Faith could have attended, and producers had no obligation to grant her a private audition. A rep from the Division of Human Rights could not comment on specific cases, but said the investigation to determine probable cause for the complaint would be completed by late fall.

Crannitch still believes his wife should get another chance: "There's a helluva lot of people who would love to see the original Mazeppa

Faith: Broadway Has No You-Know-What in Me

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 1:53pm

Eesh.

[artscallion]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:00pm

All you folks who toss the term "entitled" around, pay attention. A new bar has been set.

If it had been up to Faith, the ACL lottery would have ended ages ago.

Updated On: 8/8/07 at 02:00 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:10pm

Very sad and kinda creepy.

Yes, the Age of Entitlement in all its glory, artscallion.

Why do I think Jennifer Holliday will be attempting this same thing years from now... the world's first 86-year-old Effie?

"And I'm Telling You I'm Not Breathing"

I just hope she doesn't run for mayor of D.C.

Updated On: 8/8/07 at 02:10 PM

[jv92]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:14pm

Oh God.

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:16pm

An 80 Year old Mazepppa! MAN what a Gimmick!!!!!

[Calvin]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:16pm

Too bad for her that "Grey Gardens" is already closed.

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:16pm

OH NO! What if Cloris Leachman sees this?????

[brooklynbecca]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:17pm

Wow.

Although, part of me would love to actually see if she's still got it in her. Maybe she should start some sort of web campaign with videos of her performing the song. If nothing else, it would give people like me something to watch online.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:18pm

I'm sure Jerry LOVES Faith's corn.

[Pippin]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:18pm

I would love to see it too. an 80 year old Stripper, beltin' out you gotta get a gimmick?

priceless.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:19pm

I saw Faith Dane as the original Mazeppa in the 1959 production of GYPSY and she WAS hilarious, playing a damn good trumpet between her legs. I can still remember my father laughing out loud at her performance. She was one tough broad who actually came from the world of Burlesque! Thanks for the article, PalJoey.

Updated On: 8/8/07 at 02:19 PM

[NDR]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:23pm

JoeKv - that is hilarious - Cloris is definitely past her prime (saw her in Showboat like 14 years ago and she couldn't sing then - I can't imagine what would come out of her mouth now).

I would be horrified to see an 80 year old stripper play a trumpet between her legs!

I agree with the end of the article. She could have come to an open audition just like most others and that no private audition was necessary. If she is still good enough for the role, she must be good enough to get off her butt and get to an audition.

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:27pm

Why do I think Jennifer Holliday will be attempting this same thing years from now... the world's first 86-year-old Effie?

"And I'm Telling You I'm Not Breathing"

AND I AM TELLING YOU I'M NOT REGULAR

[AngusN]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:27pm

Brought on pneumonia? What?
Only in America! I'm sorry guys, but it is true.
What a ridiculous allegation.
She'd be about as perfect to play Mazeppa as Jackie Stallone would be playing Rose. Ouch!

[Calvin]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:29pm

AND I AM TELLING YOU I'M NOT REGULAR

Actually, the original lyrics would fit that just fine.

[Pippin]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:29pm

Last week I didn't get cast in a community production of Les Mis and came down with a scorching case of Hepatitus-C.

Updated On: 8/8/07 at 02:29 PM

[Calvin]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:31pm

That's funny! I DID get cast in that production and came down with the clap! Guess the "casting process" took its toll.

Unfortunately, that means I'm no longer playing Marius, and I'm now playing the old beggar woman.
Updated On: 8/8/07 at 02:31 PM

[Pippin]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 2:32pm

typecasting is a bitch!!!

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 3:08pm

"Watch me while I bump it, with my old ear trumpet..."

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 3:09pm

Wasn't Arthur Laurents overheard saying, "Who wants to see those withered, drooping 83-year-old dugs in pasties? Certainly not THIS 92-year-old withered queen!"

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 3:10pm

All you folks who toss the term "entitled" around, pay attention. A new bar has been set.

Ha. So true.


The line about her not being cast "in the musical's many revivals" is just odd. With notable exceptions, does one really expect to have the stronghold on a role like this? Did the original Gretel in The Sound of Music flip out when she wasn't asked to reprise the role in the production with Rebecca Luker?

Updated On: 8/8/07 at 03:10 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 3:10pm

"Once I was a schleppah, now no salt and peppah..."

Updated On: 8/8/07 at 03:10 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 3:13pm

Kringas---I hear the "Who Will Buy" rose seller from Oliver! is pretty pissed too.

Nobody writes, nobody calls...

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 3:13pm

According to her Wickapedia bio, she's been makin' trouble for years:

"Faith claimed to have created much of the direction and stage business for her character "Miss Mazeppa" in the original Broadway production of Gypsy in 1959. She subsequently sued producer David Merrick to receive credit and financial compensation for doing so. This led Broadway producers to insert a clause in actors' contracts indicating that any stage business created by the actor in the course of production became the sole property of the production. This is know as the "Faith Dane clause" and to this day is generally included in all actors' contracts for Broadway shows."