September Picks from Broadway Babe feature Patti LuPone, Karen Akers, Donna McKechnie, & Rare rehearsal footage from 1959’s Gypsy.
September 9, 2024: Broadway Babe, Randie Levine-Miller, has some entertaining finds, including concerts with Broadway legend, Patti LuPone; as well as Cabaret star, Karen Akers; an up close and personal and in her own words Playbill online episode with Tony award-winning star, Donna McKechnie; and historic footage from the historic Broadway, musical, “Gypsy”.
Donna McKechnie
Playbill has started an online series, “My Life in the Theatre” and this episode features the ageless, charming, and beautiful Tony award-winning star, Donna McKechnie. She is sitting at a desk reminiscing about her life and times in the theater, up close and personal. Her first Broadway show was “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and shares that she was cast in the show before she had ever seen a Broadway show! She is gracious, lovely, and humble, talking about her legendary career. She looks phenomenal and is currently appearing in “Wicked” on Broadway at age 81! And folks, this is what 81 looks like!
Gypsy Rehearsal Footage
This is a very rare find —rehearsal footage of the original Broadway musical,” Gypsy”, circa 1959. It’s in black-and-white and silent, (Like old home movies) but it has Ethel Merman singing several of the songs from the show as its narration. This is from the American Musical theater archives and runs 12 1/2 minutes. You’ll see Merman, Jack Klugman, Sandra Church, and Lane Bradbury; as well as the creative team: Jule Styne, a very young Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins and Arthur Laurents.
“Karen Akers: On Stage at Wolf Trap”
This aired on PBS-TV in 1987. Though recorded in a large venue, it feels like an intimate cabaret performance by this much lauded cabaret and Tony Award nominated star. She is mesmerizing to watch and hear. She’s been called her generation’s Cabaret goddess and after watching her performance, I can understand why. Her interpretations are impressive and every word that comes out of her mouth is meaningful, plus she is regal, elegant, and beautiful.
“An Evening with Patti Lupone”
This is a totally delightful concert from 1997 which aired on PBS-TV with Patti singing the songs she sang In many of the shows she starred in, including “Evita” songs from, “Anything Goes,” “Les Miz,” and “Sunset Boulevard.” Whether singing or sharing amusing anecdotes, she is in top form. She was a star then and she’s still a star. At 75, she’s Broadway royalty. There is no one like her which adds to her being the megastar that she is.
