Lainie Kazan's Hello, Dolly! Memories

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On April 18^th, 1986, in The Philadelphia Inquier, Bill Kentwrote, “And, Lainie Kazan, who made her Broadway debut as Barbra Streisand'sunderstudy in "Funny Girl,"is still easing into what should turn into one of the best roles of hercareer.” He was talking about Lainie Kazan in Hello, Dolly! at The Claridge inAtlantic City.

Lainie Kazan had already conqueredevery area of show business when her agent called her up in 1986 with theopportunity to conquer Atlantic City and Yonkers, New York's most famouscitizen, 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 especiallyplaying opposite Jack Ritschel as Horace Vandergelder. Ritschel had sincepassed away. Long after the show closed, he was very supportive of Lainie andwent to see her all the time. Lainie said he was a delightful man. She thinksthere was a love and caring for “Lainie” that translated well to his on stagepersona. Very warm, sincere, and good-natured that made him play the role in avery interesting way.
He wasn’t after anything but Dolly/Lainie. 
Lainie loved doing the show, especially BeforeThe Parade Passes By. That moment and the title song were so well receivedthat she became very passionate about them. Over the years, Lainie, has seen a few actresses play the role. CarolChanning’s and Pearl Bailey’s productions stand out as vividly as if it wereyesterday. 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 toplay the part.
She also feels that SHE was too young to play Dolly when she didso in 1986.
She feels Dolly should be older and wiser. She is a wheeler and adealer.
Lainie would love to have the opportunity to play Dolly again. In fact, shewas just asked to play Dolly at the Northshore Music Theater in Beverly,Massachusetts opposite Gary Beach. She, unfortunately, was unable to do it dueto other commitments.
This was after Lorna Luft injured her back and also hadto decline appearing this summer.

A young Barbra Streisand as Dolly

Lainie loved being in Atlantic City. This was before it really “boomed”. Sherented a bike and biked every afternoon on the boardwalk to Margate. She hadnot been there in a while. She had a great time with the cast which she refersto as superb. She loved playing Dolly. Loved Starring in this production. Avery healthy and peaceful time for her with no negativity.
Lainie’s thoughts on Jerry Herman is that he is brilliant.
The melodies arenot very intricate or complicated.
“His music communicates to the masses. Thesongs that he has written are written with the singers in mind. They arestar-driven and are easy to interpret.”
The one thing that Lainie learned doing Dolly was “how to be the star of amusical.”  She had never really had thatopportunity before.
“Of course, I was the standby in Funny Girl but only wenton for two nights.
Actually, a day and a night. With Dolly, I got the opportunity to be the star and how to react tothat. How to be with the cast and crew. I was a little older than when I haddone Funny Girl and was very gratefulnot only for the opportunity but to also play this role. I sang with mycompany. I danced with them. I partied with them.”

Lainie in John Waters' Lust in The Dust

The production was short lived.
One memory that Lainie wishes she couldforget was the night she had an anxiety attack on stage. She felt she was goingto faint and the anxiety of that took over. All she could think of was “Thesepeople are going to watch Lainie Kazan die on stage.” She went into the wingsand asked for a Xanex. It was an afternoon matinee show. She was singing Before The Parade Passes By. She walkedoff the stage asked for a Xanex and a glass of water, went back on stage aftergetting the water, and ended Act One! During intermission, she was given halfof a Xanex and was able to finish the show! She has no idea why this feelingcame 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 thiswill make bring this Dolly back to the stage where she belongs!
Variety:June 4^th, 1986Claridge, Atlantic CityMaynard Sloateproduction of"Hello, Dolly!" starring Lainie Kazan, JackRitschel. With DavidBuffam, BruceMoore, Ellen McClain, Nicole Flender, Julie J.Hafner, RichardReuter Smith,Clete Larkey,Betsy True, HelenFrank. Directedby Jack Bunch, musical numbers staged by JackPayne. Music& lyrics, Jerry Herman;book, MichaelStewart, basedon ThorntonWilder's "The Matchmaker." Orchestraconducted by AIPellegrini.The Claridge has latched onto asuccessful cafe policy with its legit musicals, all of which have namevalue on their own, as well asadded headliner values. This time it's "Hello, Dolly!" theJerry Herman-Michael Stewart collaborationbased on Thornton Wilder's "TheMatchmaker."Lainie Kazan, topping the cast, makes as grand a Dolly as herpredecessors. She has. bearingandstrength in depicting the wilywidow about to snare Yonkers' most eligiblecatch. She shows a talent forcomedy and with her delineationofthe Herman songs. The currentepicemerges as one of the moredivertinglongruns on the Boardwalk. Kazanis surrounded by a hardworking,effective cast headed byJack Ritschel as HoraceVandergelder,a wealthy but miserly merchantseeking a cost-effective bride.He too is skilled at song andcomedy.Comedy roles are by David Buffamand Bruce Moore as the slaveysin Vandergelder's grain and feedestablishment.Their enactments aresomewhat exaggerated, but it's inkeeping with the character of theshow. Ellen McClain shows a finelight soprano as one of the love interests.Nicole Flender, Julie Hafner,Richard Reuter Smith, CleteLarkey, Betsy True and HelenFrank round out the generally excellentcast.In addition, there is a small butlively chorus that dresses up theproduction, which has been givenfine values by director JackBunch and by Jack Payne, who did the musicalstaging.Kazan brings it together with hershow of authority and projectionoftunes and thespics. She is aidedconsiderablyby the other elements in theshow, 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.

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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


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                  Tomorrow's blog will be..More Dolly Memories


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TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED DAYRichard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com                            
This Blog is dedicated to Lainie Kazan and ANYONE who has EVER had a connection with Lainie on ANY Level!!