You Are There--THE OPENING NIGHT OF...? — Page 3

"On the Twentieth Century," because it's my favorite musical. I saw the show in the summer of 1978 when Judy Kaye had taken over the role of Lily Garland from Madeline Kahn. I would have died to see Kahn in the role, especially on opening night, when Kahn "finally" delivered the performance that director Harold Prince had wanted. I say "finally" because Prince and Kahn had had differences during rehearsals and the pre-Broadway tryout in Boston. Prince thought Kahn wasn't giving the role her very best. On opening night, which was Feb. 19, 1978, Kahn finally delivered the goods, according to Prince, but when the director went backstage after the show to congratulate her, Kahn told him something like, "I hope you don't expect me to do that every night." The rest is history, with Kahn leaving the show a few months later and Kaye playing the role for the rest of the run, which was a year and a month.

I would have loved to be in the audience that night, not only to see Kahn, John Cullum and the rest of the cast open the show, but also to see the audience's response to Robin Wagner's now-classic set designs. I bet the whole night was pure magic.

Babs in "Funny Girl", so I could see the star being born. "I Can Get It For You Wholesale" was the start, but FG is the performance she's most lauded for, so I would have loved to have been there to see her in action.

-Jess

A Chorus Line...But downtown at The PAPP...when it was bold and new and undiscovered and knocked everyone on their ass.

The Fantasticks!!

Phantom

THE BLACK CROOK -- the one and only and forefather, goddess, priest, rabbi and tarot reader of all Broadway musicals.

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I was at the opening night of Wicked. What an experience!

Wow, so many to choose from. Hard choice. Er...

Like my boy Robbie, I'd have to say FOLLIES. Most definitely.

But I'm gonna add another to my list. Not a book show, but on B'way nonetheless.

Garland's opening night at The Palace in 1951.

[You may validate my gay card now.]

WICKED - of course!

Can't wait to go again on August 12. Hopefully Idina is there.

I plan to go to see Brooklyn first week it opens though.

Easy: CATS. I wish I could have seen Timothy Scott, still in the prime of health, sing and dance like a madman, Stephen Hanan preform the Gus and Growltiger I've come to love from the OBC, and of course be witness to Betty Buckley's chilling, roof-raising rendition of "Memory."

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Can I stretch the rules a bit and make it a London opening?

I'd like to be at the premiere of Pygmalian seated next to GB Shaw so I could see his reaction when Mrs. Campbell changed the ending.

I was at opening night of Wicked..and to tell you the truth, it was just like all the other three times I've been fortunate enough to see the show. There was a green carpet outside that celebrities walked down and were photographed on but that was the only special thing. There weren't any speeches and neither Joe Mantello or Stephen Schwartz did/said anything. It was just like watching a normal performance. Neve Campbell bumped into me in the lobby at intermission, though -- and she did not say excuse me!!! Hahahaha

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