Mark East III's Memories of Hello, Dolly!

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Mark East III, Eve Arden, and Chicago Company

Mark East IIIhad a very extensive career appearing in Hello, Dolly! 
He was on vacation fromNew York and was visiting friends in Chicago. He decided to go see a friend,Donnie Meyers, who was dancing in Hello, Dolly!They werehaving drinks afterward and Donnie mentioned that there was a replacementaudition the next day and she would get his name on the list.
Mark showed upthe next day, sang his eight bars, was asked by the stage manager, Pat Tolson, to sing "TilThere Was You". 
He sang it, the SM came up to him  and said, "Youalready had the job. I just wanted to hear you sing it!"

Eve Arden (Courtesy Mark)

Mark had noput-in rehearsal before his first performance in Chicago. He did fine until the"Dolly" number, when a dancer literally had to jump over his head toget to his position!
There was aput-in rehearsal the next day.  In May, 1966,Mark joined the 3rd National Co. in Chicago with Carol Channing. 
Shortlyafterward, she left to film "Thoroughly Modern Millie". Eve Arden , who Carol had understudied years before in Let's Face It, filled in during Carol's absence...and won a Sarah Siddons Award in the process.
In September,1966, the company left Chicago, re-joined Carol in Houston, Texas to openthe new Jesse Jones Auditorium.
Mark touredwith Carol Channing until June, 1967. Ended the tour (also atthe JesseJones Auditorium.) When Carolclosed the show in Houston in 1967, Time Magazine and several TV crews werethere to cover it. 
After the regular curtain call, they were given 5 seconds toclear the stage,  after whichCarol took a solo bow, resplendent in her white outfit. It was very effective.
When thePearl Bailey company left the St. James Theater in December, 1969, PhyllisDiller came in with an all-new cast. Mark was part of that company.
Phyllis wasreplaced in that company in March, 1970 by Ethel Merman, who stayedwith the show until it closed in December, 1970.
Mark  was in the revival in 1978 at theLunt-Fontanne, again with Carol Channing.

Eve Arden

Mark’sthoughts on his Dollys
CarolChanning was Dolly Levi. Her performance never changed. It wasconsistently wonderful.
Eve Arden wasa very nice person, and did a credible job.
PhyllisDiller was, in Mark’s opinion, second only to Carol. She was genuinelyfunny, without using any "tricks". Always in character. She alwaysdid a curtain speech which turned into a 15-minute comedy routine which theaudience loved. She would invite celebrities in the audience to join heronstage, most notably Bob Hope.
Ethel Mermanwas Ethel Merman, a force to be reckoned with, and could out-sing theorchestra and chorus easily. Pleasant, though distant.

Gower Champion

GowerChampion was a genius, who took relatively simple choreography and, by makingit precise and elegantly rendered, made it look difficult.
MargeChampion was mostly involved with the companies Mark was in. She was pleasantto work with.David Merrickdidn’t scare Mark  at all. Mark heard allthe stories of Mr. Merrick’s horrible acts. He was just glad Mr/ Merrick kept themworking.
Mark's thoughts on each of the Dollys that he worked with: best moment during the runof the show
Carol - Hat Shop scene - Impeccabletiming. Every laugh possible was achieved.
Eve - Lead-in to "Parade". TheEphraim speech was touching.

Phyllis - Eating scene was hysterical.
Ethel - "Dolly" number. Sheliterally shook the rafters.
Mark's favoritememories of each
Carol - They played the White House. Did theElegance" number and the "Dolly"number in the East Room, and then had champagne and dancing in the foyer.
Carol rented a movie theater inMilwaukee on Thanksgiving Day 1966, andtreated the cast and crew to a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, anythingwe wanted from the concessions stand, 6 color cartoons and a showing of"The Fortune Cookie" starring Jack Lemmon.
Carol - Christmas 1966 - 3-course dinnerand gifts. Each boy got a funerealblack tie. Each girl got size 8 underpants. (Sondra Lee got the same gift in 1964!)
Phyllis - Met at an Actors Fund Benefit during her run with Dolly. Mark had hisglasses on and she told me he looked like an accountant.
Phyllis - Found out from family that shehad once been engaged to Mark's cousin JoeDunlop in Lima, Ohio.
Ethel - Was with the show when it brokethe record for the longest-runningshow on Broadway.

Courtesy Mark East III

Thank you Mark East III for the gifts you have given and continue to give to the world!








With grateful XOXOXs for your support,
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! Do you know Mark East III 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!
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..More Dolly Memories!


Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!


  Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!
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TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED DAYRichard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com                            
This Blog is dedicated to Mark East III and EVERYONE who has EVER had a connection with Mark on ANY Level!!  THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!