Everything Was Possible: The Birth of the Musical Follies (Applause Books) by Ted Chapin Read Free Book Online Page A

Craig, the guru of singing coaches for nonsinging actors. His magic was such that he was able to instill the kind of confidence that ultimately led her to win a Tony for her role in Follies. Although she gave off the aura of not caring profusely about her career, she was determined to be in this show and had worked tirelessly to get the part. It would prove to be the highlight of her later career.
    Gene Nelson was very friendly. He had been an athletic actor-dancer in Hollywood musicals of the 1950s, originally a figure skater, best known for his role as Will Parker in the film of Oklahoma! His other dance films had titles like She’s Working Her Way Through College, Painting the Clouds with Sunshine, and Three Sailors and a Girl. Anticipating the end of his dancing career, he began to direct both feature films and television, including two Elvis Presley movies and a slew of television series. After changing his birth name from Eugene Berg, he appeared briefly on Broadway in the 1940s before moving west. When his name came up for Follies, Michael immediately remembered him as the best dancer in all those Hollywood musicals. He was quick and cheerful, always with a handshake at the ready, like a really nice and honest salesman. His character, Buddy, was in fact a traveling salesman, so he and Buddy were a neat fit. His usual attire was a light-blue sweatshirt, light-gray slacks, and white loafers. Our conversations rarely amounted to much more than “Hi there, Teddy boy,” but he was pleasant and open. He was clearly psyched for this experience, if a little nervous, looking trim and fit. He asked if it was okay for him to come in an hour early each day to warm up before rehearsal. He and Alexis compared Hollywood notes. He rattled off the guest list of a going-away party that had been thrown for him: “. . . oh, Donna Reed was there, and Tony Quinn and his wife came over . . .” The other Hollywood creature in the cast, Yvonne De Carlo, was a featured player who would show up with the rest of the company the following Saturday.
    Dorothy Collins and Gene Nelson—a publicity shot.
    The other two principals were from the East Coast. Dorothy Collins was known primarily as a singer and for her appearances on television’s Your Hit Parade and Candid Camera. She had been spending a lot of time performing in the summer and winter stock circuits, mostly in musicals. Both Steve Sondheim and Hal Prince had Dorothy in mind for Sally. Sondheim saw her play Leona opposite her husband, Ron Holgate, in a production of Do I Hear a Waltz? At that moment, she became his choice for the role. Hal had auditioned her for the lead in She Loves Me and agonized between her and Barbara Cook, whom he ultimately hired. He knew he wanted to work with Dorothy at some point. Follies was the perfect project. She had begun her singing career at fourteen, when she changed her name from Marjorie Chandler and became “one of the finest vocalists of her era.” She made numerous appearances on various television shows, where she showed a flair for comedy. Petite and cheerful at forty-four, she was full of nervous energy, and very much the den mother. On occasion, she would bring in apples for everyone from a farm in New Jersey near her home. Follies was a really big deal for her, and she was an immediate favorite with the creative staff. John McMartin, a Broadway regular who first came to prominence in Sweet Charity, was extremely professional. Taciturn and shy, he was quiet to a fault. His demeanor never changed, although there was a twinkle when he smiled. He was such a late addition to the cast that three weeks earlier an ad had run in the Sunday Boston Herald Traveler for the engagement at the Colonial Theatre with Jon Cypher’s name in the credits.
    Harold Hastings, the production’s musical director, arrived after lunch as well. At this point in the process, his main responsibility was to teach the songs to the actors. But as the director of the