Lainie Kazan's Hello, Dolly! Memories
On April 18th, 1986, in The Philadelphia Inquier, Bill Kent
wrote, “And, Lainie Kazan, who made her 
Broadway debut as Barbra Streisand's
understudy in "Funny Girl,"
is still easing into what should turn into one of the best roles of her
career.” He was talking about Lainie Kazan in Hello, Dolly! at The Claridge in
Atlantic City.
Lainie Kazan had already conquered every area of show business when her agent called her up in 1986 with the opportunity to conquer Atlantic City and Yonkers, New York's most famous citizen, Horace Vandergelder.
She would be headlining at the Claridge Casino.
She seized the opportunity.
She was there for six weeks and she told me it was a "great, great time."
She said she had nothing but "delicious" memories especially playing opposite Jack Ritschel as Horace Vandergelder. Ritschel has since passed away. Long after the show closed, he was very supportive of Lainie and went to see her all the time. Lainie said he was a delightful man. She thinks there was a love and caring for “Lainie” that translated well to his on stage persona. Very warm, sincere, and good-natured that made him play the role in a very interesting way.
He wasn’t after anything but Dolly/Lainie.
Lainie loved doing the show, especially Before
The Parade Passes By. That moment and the title song were so well received
that she became very passionate about them. Over the years, Lainie, has seen a few actresses play the role. Carol
Channing’s and Pearl Bailey’s productions stand out as vividly as if it were
yesterday. Lainie says Carol was BORN to play Dolly. Pearl was brilliant.
And, of course, the movie with Barbra.
Lainie feels that Barbra was too young to play the part.
She also feels that SHE was too young to play Dolly when she did so in 1986.
She feels Dolly should be older and wiser. She is a wheeler and a dealer.
Lainie would love to have the opportunity to play Dolly again. In fact, she was just asked to play Dolly at the Northshore Music Theater in Beverly, Massachusetts opposite Gary Beach. She, unfortunately, was unable to do it due to other commitments.
This was after Lorna Luft injured her back and also had to decline appearing this summer.
Lainie loved being in Atlantic City. This was before it really “boomed”. She
rented a bike and biked every afternoon on the boardwalk to Margate. She had
not been there in a while. She had a great time with the cast which she refers
to as superb. She loved playing Dolly. Loved starring in this production. A
very healthy and peaceful time for her with no negativity.
Lainie’s thoughts on Jerry Herman are that he is brilliant.
The melodies are not very intricate or complicated.
“His music communicates to the masses. The songs that he has written are written with the singers in mind. They are star-driven and are easy to interpret.”
The one thing that Lainie learned doing Dolly was “how to be the star of a musical.” She had never really had that opportunity before.
“Of course, I was the standby in Funny Girl but only went on for two nights.
Actually, a day and a night. With Dolly, I got the opportunity to be the star and how to react to that. How to be with the cast and crew. I was a little older than when I had done Funny Girl and was very grateful not only for the opportunity but to also play this role. I sang with my company. I danced with them. I partied with them.”
The production was short lived.
One memory that Lainie wishes she could forget was the night she had an anxiety attack on stage. She felt she was going to faint and the anxiety of that took over. All she could think of was “These people are going to watch Lainie Kazan die on stage.” She went into the wings and asked for a Xanex. It was a matinee show. She was singing Before The Parade Passes By. She walked off the stage asked for a Xanex and a glass of water, went back on stage after getting the water, and ended Act One! During intermission, she was given half of a Xanex and was able to finish the show! She has no idea why this feeling came over her except for the possibility of a lack of sleep.
I love Lainie very much and I hope that some wise producer who sees this will make bring this Dolly back to the stage where she belongs!
Thank you Lainie Kazan for the gifts you have given and continue to give to the world!
May 31
7:30pm
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!
TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED DAY
This Blog is dedicated to Lainie Kazan and ANYONE who has EVER had a connection with Lainie on ANY Level!!
Broadway debut as Barbra Streisand's
understudy in "Funny Girl,"
is still easing into what should turn into one of the best roles of her
career.” He was talking about Lainie Kazan in Hello, Dolly! at The Claridge in
Atlantic City. Lainie Kazan had already conquered every area of show business when her agent called her up in 1986 with the opportunity to conquer Atlantic City and Yonkers, New York's most famous citizen, Horace Vandergelder.
She would be headlining at the Claridge Casino.
She seized the opportunity.
She was there for six weeks and she told me it was a "great, great time."
She said she had nothing but "delicious" memories especially playing opposite Jack Ritschel as Horace Vandergelder. Ritschel has since passed away. Long after the show closed, he was very supportive of Lainie and went to see her all the time. Lainie said he was a delightful man. She thinks there was a love and caring for “Lainie” that translated well to his on stage persona. Very warm, sincere, and good-natured that made him play the role in a very interesting way.
He wasn’t after anything but Dolly/Lainie.
Lainie loved doing the show, especially Before
The Parade Passes By. That moment and the title song were so well received
that she became very passionate about them. Over the years, Lainie, has seen a few actresses play the role. Carol
Channing’s and Pearl Bailey’s productions stand out as vividly as if it were
yesterday. Lainie says Carol was BORN to play Dolly. Pearl was brilliant.And, of course, the movie with Barbra.
Lainie feels that Barbra was too young to play the part.
She also feels that SHE was too young to play Dolly when she did so in 1986.
She feels Dolly should be older and wiser. She is a wheeler and a dealer.
Lainie would love to have the opportunity to play Dolly again. In fact, she was just asked to play Dolly at the Northshore Music Theater in Beverly, Massachusetts opposite Gary Beach. She, unfortunately, was unable to do it due to other commitments.
This was after Lorna Luft injured her back and also had to decline appearing this summer.
 |
| A young Barbra Streisand as Dolly |
Lainie’s thoughts on Jerry Herman are that he is brilliant.
The melodies are not very intricate or complicated.
“His music communicates to the masses. The songs that he has written are written with the singers in mind. They are star-driven and are easy to interpret.”
The one thing that Lainie learned doing Dolly was “how to be the star of a musical.” She had never really had that opportunity before.
“Of course, I was the standby in Funny Girl but only went on for two nights.
Actually, a day and a night. With Dolly, I got the opportunity to be the star and how to react to that. How to be with the cast and crew. I was a little older than when I had done Funny Girl and was very grateful not only for the opportunity but to also play this role. I sang with my company. I danced with them. I partied with them.”
 |
| Lainie in John Waters' Lust in The Dust |
One memory that Lainie wishes she could forget was the night she had an anxiety attack on stage. She felt she was going to faint and the anxiety of that took over. All she could think of was “These people are going to watch Lainie Kazan die on stage.” She went into the wings and asked for a Xanex. It was a matinee show. She was singing Before The Parade Passes By. She walked off the stage asked for a Xanex and a glass of water, went back on stage after getting the water, and ended Act One! During intermission, she was given half of a Xanex and was able to finish the show! She has no idea why this feeling came over her except for the possibility of a lack of sleep.
I love Lainie very much and I hope that some wise producer who sees this will make bring this Dolly back to the stage where she belongs!
Variety:
June 4th, 1986
Claridge, Atlantic City
Maynard Sloate
production of"Hello, Dolly!" starring Lainie Kazan, Jack
Ritschel. With David
Buffam, Bruce
Moore, Ellen McClain, Nicole Flender, Julie J.
Hafner, Richard
Reuter Smith,
Clete Larkey,
Betsy True, Helen
Frank. Directed
by Jack Bunch, musical numbers staged by Jack
Payne. Music
& lyrics, Jerry Herman;
book, Michael
Stewart, based
on Thornton
Wilder's "The Matchmaker.
" Orchestra
conducted by AIPellegrini.
The Claridge has latched onto a
successful cafe policy with its legit musicals, all of which have name
value on their own, as well as
added headliner values. This time it's "Hello, Dolly!" the
Jerry Herman-
Michael Stewart collaboration
based on Thornton Wilder's "The
Matchmaker."
Lainie Kazan, topping the cast, makes as grand a Dolly as her
predecessors. She has. bearing
and
strength in depicting the wily
widow about to snare Yonkers' most eligible
catch. She shows a talent for
comedy and with her delineation
of
the Herman songs. The current
epic
emerges as one of the more
diverting
longruns on the Boardwalk. Kazan
is surrounded by a hardworking,
effective cast headed by
Jack Ritschel as Horace
Vandergelder,
a wealthy but miserly merchant
seeking a cost-effective bride.
He too is skilled at song and
comedy.
Comedy roles are by David Buffam
and Bruce Moore as the slaveys
in Vandergelder's grain and feed
establishment.
Their enactments are
somewhat exaggerated, but it's in
keeping with the character of the
show. Ellen McClain shows a fine
light soprano as one of the love interests.
Nicole Flender, Julie Hafner,
Richard Reuter Smith, Clete
Larkey, Betsy True and Helen
Frank round out the generally excellent
cast.
In addition, there is a small but
lively chorus that dresses up the
production, which has been given
fine values by director Jack
Bunch and by Jack Payne, who did the musical
staging.
Kazan brings it together with her
show of authority and projection
of
tunes and thespics. She is aided
considerably
by the other elements in the
show, including the band guided by Al Pellegrini
Thank you Lainie Kazan for the gifts you have given and continue to give to the world!
With grateful XOXOXs ,
I want this to be a definitive account of Hello, Dolly!
If any of you reading this have appeared in any production of Hello,
Dolly!, I'm interested in speaking with you! Did you work on any of these productions of Dolly personally? Do you
have any
pics? If you have anything to add or share, please contact me at Richard@RichardSkipper.com.
NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!
NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!
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..More Dolly Memories
Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!
Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!
Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!
Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING and HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED DAY
Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com
This Blog is dedicated to Lainie Kazan and ANYONE who has EVER had a connection with Lainie on ANY Level!!
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As a kid I always liked the Claridge. (I grew up in Brigantine.) I saw one or two of the musicals there (though I don't remember which) with my mom, who worked on the casino floor. I also went to the summer classic film showings there, bringing down the median age quite a bit. (I was probably 16 or 17 at the time.)
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