Broadway Babe’s Picks: No Way to Treat a Lady, My Fair Lady and More!
Our Broadway Babe, Randie Levine-Miller has come up with some real gems, including Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison doing excerpts from “My Fair Lady”; from 1965, Richard Kiley star of “Man of La Mancha”, with the original cast performing showstopping excerpts on the Ed Sullivan Show ; Mary Rodgers in an up close and personal interview, courtesy of the Dramatists Guild; and Randie‘s personal favorite, excerpts from Douglas J. Cohen’s musical, “No Way To Treat A Lady”, performed by an all star cast at 54 Below six years ago.
“No Way to Treat a Lady”
These are highlights from a concert at 54 Below of one of my most favorite musicals of all time, “No Way To Treat A Lady” which I always believed could be a hit on or off Broadway. I first saw a workshop in 1987. Triple threat composer, lyricist, and book writer Douglas J. Cohen crafted a brilliant piece of musical theater, based on William Goldman‘s book. I believed in this show so much that (30 years ago), I optioned it because of my great passion for the show and partnered with a few producing veterans. A tour de force for four great actor/singers, for some reason, we couldn’t raise the money. This delicious show was presented in concert at 54 Below six years ago with some incredible performers, including: Tovah Feldshuh, Adam Grupper, Brad Oscar, Cheryl Stern, James Judy, Jill Paice, Karen Ziemba, Klea Blackhurst, Kevin Chamberlain, Jack Noseworthy, Peter Marx, Stephen Bogardus, Barbara Tirrell, Paul Schoeffler, Christianne Noll, Maureen and Bobbi Kotula. I adored it, as did the sold out enthusiastic audience!
Sidebar: Douglas J. Cohen has written a book called “How to Survive a Killer Musical: Agony and Ecstasy On the Road to Broadway,” which is a must read for theater aficionados. I’m in the book too, as is my mother. It’s the first time I’ve ever been in an index! I’m still in love with this show which is certainly longer than I’ve ever been in love with any man! Hope you enjoy these highlights and if anyone is interested in producing the show on Broadway where it belongs, please be in touch with me!
My Fair Lady Rehearsal
Fourteen incredible minutes of musical history—Re-creating a rehearsal of “My Fair Lady” for the TV show “The Fabulous Fifties” is a young Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison (original cast). Julie, who is from London, does a scene where she has a voice coach (Alfred Dixon) teaching her how to do a Cockney accent, which is so ironic because he’s an American teaching a Brit. She sings “Just You Wait”. Rex Harrison does his showstopping “I’m An Ordinary Man.” Oh how I long for those glorious Golden Days of Broadway.
Breaking Barriers
The Dramatists Guild Foundation Legacy Project is up close and personal with composer, screenwriter, children’s fiction writer, Mary Rodgers. Playwright/screenwriter, Marsha Norman interviews Mary, who made a name for herself composing for theater, a rarity for a woman of her time. It’s an intimate look into the life and creative process of Mary, as well as, stories about what it was like growing up as the daughter of Richard Rodgers. Her candid memoir, “Shy” was a bestseller. Her musical, “Once Upon a Mattress” is opening on Broadway in August, after getting rave reviews at this past season’s Encores at City Center. (Sutton Foster will be repeating her extraordinary performance). She also discusses her parents’ marriage and claims that her father was not such a terrific guy. Mary is also noted for writing children’s books and is known for writing “Freaky Friday” which she adapted as a screenplay. Marsha Norman is a great interviewer. because she doesn’t interrupt and really gives Mary Rodgers centerstage which she so richly deserves, and she certainly dishes and sometimes shocks in this fascinating conversation.
Man of La Mancha on The Ed Sullivan Show
Eleven exciting minutes of Richard Kiley and the original cast of “Man of La Mancha” on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1966. Kiley performs “I, Don Quixote” along with costar, Irving Jacobson. Leading lady Joan Diener dramatically sings, “What Does He Want of Me?” And Richard Kiley ends the segment with his triumphant and definitive interpretation of “The Impossible Dream”. Then Joan Diener and the entire cast do a reprise as a dramatic finale of this mesmerizing segment. A must not miss piece of musical theater history.
Randie Levine Miller is Director of Special Events for The Three Tomatoes, and co-produces and hosts the annual Tomatoes Got Talent show. Known around NYC as a modern day “hostess with the mostess, she has performed in and hosted benefits for the Actors Fund, the Actors Temple, Multiple Sclerosis, and Prostate Cancer Research. Randie’s performance venues have included: The Triad, The Metropolitan Room, the Laurie Beechman Theater, and the Friars Club. For many years, she was special events director for the Drama Desk Awards. Randie also had a successful 30-year career as a public relations consultant and handled several major health and medical technology clients.
