Helen Gallagher was Broadway
She was the maid Nancy in High Button Shoes which made Broadway notice her in a supporting dancing role.
That lead to Jule Styne creatiing Hazel Flagg for which she played the lead. It's claim to fame is that it became a Jerry Lewis movie with Jerry starring in the role of Hazel now changed to Homer.
Her star faded a bit a s Gwen Verdon came to light in Can Can and stole some of the dancing limelight from Helen Gallagher.
She came back strong supporting Gwen Verdon in Sweet Charity as well as understudying Verdon.
She created the lead role in Cry for Us All.. the musical version of Hogan's Goat -- a play that a few years earlier launched Faye Dunaways career.
She took over as Gooch in Mame from Jane Connell but the Revival of No No Nanette opposite Bobby Van and Ruby Keelr made her Broadway Royalty again and she won a Tony Award.
She taught for many years at HB Studio teaching Musical Theatre.
Other credits include Sugar Babies, Brigadoon as a dancer, Finians Rainbow, Guys and Dolls, Billion Dollar Baby and she took over for Carole Haney in Pajama Game
Gallagher was Broadway and she will be missed.
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