Francie Mendenhall's Memories of The Pearl Bailey Revival of Hello, Dolly!

May 15, 2012

Francie Mendenhall's Memories of The Pearl Bailey Revival of Hello, Dolly!

Francie Mendenhall auditioned in Los Angeles for producer Robert Cherin and was hired as a singing ensemble member for the Pearl Bailey/Billy Daniels revival.

The Dolly company had been on tour and were heading for San Diego then coming back to the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles before heading out to Boston, Broadway and Washington D.C.

They wanted to expand the company. Lucky her~

Francie was involved in Dolly from

August 29, 1975 until January 24, 1976. This was the Pearl Bailey/Billy Daniels revival.
Billy Daniels, was a singer active in the United States and Europe from the mid-1930s to 1988, notable for his hit recording of "That Old Black Magic" and his pioneering performances on early 1950s television.

Francie respected Miss Bailey (they never called her Pearl) and got along with her. She would speak to Francie with respect and included her in outings. She had obligations to fulfill during the run of our tour and was generous with the cast bringing them gifts when she came back from serving as a goodwill ambassador.

She served as a United Nations’ Goodwill Ambassador under several Republican Presidential Administrations and was dubbed the Ambassador of Love. At the end of each show the entire cast would stand onstage while she spoke to the audience and sang. Francine says she will never forget her rendition of “I’ll Be Seeing You”. She was magic. She held a tight rein on the cast, expecting professionalism at all times.

I asked Francie about her thoughts on Gower Champion.

Her thoughts are that he was an extremely gifted inventor of dance.
Francie never met him but is thrilled to have been in one of his productions.

Francie really enjoyed her entrance at the top of the show in “Call On Dolly”. The syncopated steps and great vocals were a joy every show. It was also Miss Bailey’s entrance and the audience loved it. She really knew how to take stage. “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” was wonderful with thrilling gorgeous harmonies and a richness that makes the heart soar. Francie loves the score and “Before The Parade Passes By” is the star of the score in her opinion.

Francie opened along with the other newbies on August 29, 1975 at the San Diego Civic Center. She felt prepared, loved her costumes and was very ready.
It was so exciting.

Francie's put-in rehearsals lasted three days with conductor Al Cavalier and the ensemble. She was hired along with several other singers.

Billy Daniels and Pearl Bailey

They had many opening nights, one every time the company moved to another city. They were always exciting for Francie. Experiencing a new theatre, orchestra, meeting the new local crew and the dressers was great. Much of the enjoyment for the actors is the audience of course and the anticipation of seeing how they would respond in each city was fun.

Here is a favorite memory of opening night from each city!

San Diego, San Diego Civic Center

The stage manager met Francie at the theatre and took her to Miss Bailey’s dressing room before the show to meet her. Miss Bailey remembered seeing Francie sing a solo in Vegas when she (Francie) was with the Dean Martin Golddiggers and they were opening for Tony Bennett at Caesar’s Palace. She was nice. Francie was happy to be rehearsing and getting the show under her belt before opening in Los Angeles and getting to know the existing Dolly cast.

Los Angeles, The Shubert Theatre in Century City

The Shubert in Century City was glistening, very modern and beautiful. It was an especially exciting opening in Los Angeles for Francie because she lived there at the time and friends and family came to then show.

Boston, The Shubert Theatre

Opening in Boston was exciting. They had a delay because their sets hadn’t arrived on time and they were told to sit tight. When the sets weren’t showing up, Miss Bailey asked the help of her friend Betty Ford who dispatched the FBI. Turns out there were some scab drivers who’d left the trucks on the side of the road. The trucks were retrieved by the FBI and the sets went up, hence an opening night! Wow what a beautiful theatre the Shubert in Boston is. You could almost touch the audience.

New York, The Minskoff Theatre

In New York, their opening night was especially exciting, of course. They were opening on Broadway! When Francie got to the theatre the night of their opening, there was a box of shiny apples with a wish for each individual cast and crew member of our company from Barrymore’s restaurant across the street. Francie loved that. The cast members also exchanged cards and gifts. It was very exciting and the show went very well. The audience loved the show and loved Miss Bailey in it. Not to mention Billy Daniels, a gem~

Broadway Revival
Theatre: Minskoff Theatre
Opening Night: Nov 6, 1975
Total Performances: 42
Original Cast: Pearl Bailey, Billy Daniels, Terrence Emanuel, Chip Fields, Grenoldo Frazier, Mary Louise
Director: Lucia Victor
Choreographer: Jack Craig
Producer: Robert Cherin
Musical Director: Al Cavaliere
Scenic Design: Oliver Smith
Costume Design: Robert Pusilo
Lighting Design: John Gleason

The one thing Francie learned from being in this company that she still carries with her to this day is how a family of friends is formed from your fellow cast members that lasts a lifetime.

Here is Francie's worst experience with the show: Mrs. Malloy played by Mary Louise, fainted onstage just before Ribbons Down My Back while they were playing the Minskoff in New York. They were all horrified. As Francie recalls the lights dimmed and an announcement was made. Francie's friend and roomy sometimes Pat Gideon was the understudy and ready in a flash (her first shot at the role) when Miss Bailey decided to go on and sing the song herself. She made a costume change needed for her next entrance as Dolly Levi behind something onstage while singing. Miss Bailey played her role and Mrs. Molloy for the rest of the show. Francie doesn't remember many of the details that night. She does remember though the disappointment of her friend though and Mary Louise. Poor Pat. She was devastated and overcame that. Mary recovered well.

Francie actually loves Barbra Streisand in the film. She says, "Barbra Streisand was really good in the film. She brought everything the role needs and IT WAS BABS!"

She feels that Jerry Herman is fabulously gifted. She would love to perform in all of his shows.

She loves Carol Channing and loves hearing her sing the show. The original cast was superb all the way around.

The biggest change Francie has seen in this business since she first began is technology and, lots of "reality"...

Thank you Francie for the gifts you have given and continue to give to the world!

Your devoted fan,

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May 31
7:30pm

CHICO'S HOUSE OF JAZZ, 631 Lake Ave., Asbury Park, NJ 07712

RICHARD SKIPPER: AT LAST

ReVision Theatre and the City of Asbury Park couldn't have a better summer kickoff! After introducing ReVision Theatre to the great City of Asbury Park 5 years ago, Richard Skipper returns in "Richard Skipper: At Last". Richard is the perfect start to the musical summer of 2012 in Asbury Park. For more information visit www.revisiontheatre.org or call us at 732-455-3059. To purchase $15.00 General Admission tickets please visit http://revisiontheatre.tix.com.
This show is not to be missed! Musical Direction by: Rich Siegel

Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!

Tomorrow's blog will be..YOU TELL ME! I'm open to suggestions!!

Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!