Georgia Engel (Minnie Faye: Carole Cook, Phyllis Diller, Ethel Merman)

To contact us Click HERE


To people of a certain age, Georgia Engel is the delightfulGeorgette of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.  To another generation, she is Amy’s mom on Everybody Loves Raymond. Before both ofthose, there was Hello, Dolly!Already in 1969, one may have not heard the entire score of Dolly, but the title song was popular onthe radio, thanks to Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. That song was part of thepopular consciousness. The first time Georgia heard the entire score, she wasin the show! 
She remembers it being happy and joyous music.    When Georgia was in the University of Hawaii in 1969, theAustralian company starring Carole Cook came through. They were auditioning forMinnie Fay and Georgia happened to get the part. Gary Alexander played BarnabyTucker in that company. That’s also had Georgia got her Equity card. She wasonly in the show for its duration in Hawaii, just a few weeks. She graduatedfrom college that year as well at the age of twenty. After that, she moved toNew York. Shortly after arriving in New York, Georgia was doing a show with theEquity Library Theater. It was a production of Lend an Ear, which, of course, was the show that brought CarolChanning to Broadway. Carol came to see the show and was nice to everyone. Carolended up befriending Georgia. Years later, when Georgia was in My One and Only, as Mickey, the Mechanic, on Broadway, she was on a sixth floorwalk-up at the St. James Theater. One night after the show, she hears thatdistinctive voice. Charles Lowe was screaming to Carol not to climb thosestairs. She said, “I’ve got to go up there!” That walk was so intense that on two show days, Georgia stayed in herdressing room between shows. Carol made that climb to see Georgia to tell herthat she did a great job. When Georgia was doing Sweet Charity at Kansas City Starlight, Carol was touring thecountry in Legends with Mary Martin.When Carol and Mary came to Kansas City, Georgia went to see the show. Shecouldn’t have been sweeter to Georgia. She has always gone out of her way to beencouraging and sweet to Georgia.

Miss Merman's Dolly

One of Merrick’s casting guys also came to see the show andGeorgia got the opportunity to audition for Hello, Dolly on Broadway whichwould be starring Phyllis Diller. This was on the heels of the allAfrican-American Company starring Pearl Bailey and Cab Callaway. Having donethe role of Minnie Faye in the Hawaiian leg of Carole Cook’s Company, the rolewas in Georgia’s bones.  Ethel Merman wasalready onboard to play Dolly, but in the interim, Phyllis Diller did it forthree months. Georgia had been told that they were considering bringing SondraLee, the original Minnie Fay, in for these two actresses, but Sondra was notinterested in repeating a role she had already played on Broadway. Physically,Georgia and Sondra are very different, so new costumes had to be created.Georgia was one of the tallest actresses to play Minnie. She’s not huge, butshe is physically larger than the others. Georgia definitely had the rightquality. Having played the role prior, it gave Georgia a sense of dominion.  When it comes to the title song, Georgia says it is a magicalnumber. Georgia loved working with Phyllis Diller. Phyllis did thesweetest thing for the entire company. While she was doing Dolly, she was alsodoing her club act late nights at the Upstairs at the Downstairs. Each night,she would pick out a few members of cast and crew and treat them to the show!They were taken there by limousine. It was Georgia’s first time in a limo.After the show, the limo would drop them off at their respective apartments. Atthe time, Georgia was living at One hundred and Seventh Street and RiversideDrive, so that was very special. Georgia has never forgotten that. That was somuch better than an opening night present. Phyllis did that for EVERY member ofthe company. Georgia and Phyllis would work together a few more times over theyears. They did Cinderella together.Phyllis played the stepmother and Georgia played the Fairy Godmother. Theyloved getting in touch with each other again. Phyllis gave Georgia beautifulred necklace which she has as a remembrance. Phyllis lived such a full andbeautiful life. Many people don’t realize what a brilliant artist she was. Shewould be painting while they were on tour. The company would stay in hotels.With Phyllis, they would find homes for her to stay in with artist’s studios. Shewas also a fine musician. Georgia loved these other aspects of Phyllis’. Prior to auditioning for Dollyin Hawaii, Georgia had no previous thoughts on the show. When Dolly opened onBroadway, Georgia was in junior high school. ‘You come down the pike when you come down the pike.” When it comes toplaying a role, Georgia never puts a “spin” on the character. As a matter offact, she abhors that term. She tries to find the heart of the character.Everybody has to feel their way into a part. She found her way into MinnieFay’s heart and became Minnie Faye.  Georgia played Minnie Fay on Broadway for fifty-two weeks, afull year, three months with Phyllis Diller and Richard Deacon and the rest ofthe year with Miss Merman and Jack Goode. It wasn’t until several years laterthat Georgia found out that he, too, had worked with Mary Tyler Moore. When youare young and coming down the pike, you are not always aware of what wonderfulthings those that you are working with have done. She never got to know him.
Miss Merman and Georgia were the only ones in that companywho never missed a performance. Georgia loved Miss Merman very much.   Of course, Miss Merman had a formidablereputation. She didn’t suffer fools lightly. It was a thrill to work with her.The highest compliment came when they first started working together. There isa moment towards the end of the first act in the Dancing number in which MinnieFay dances around Dolly at the end of the number. That moment was inspired bySondra Lee when she suggested the movement to Gower in order to have a momentbetween Dolly and Minnie Fay emotionally. At that moment, Dolly and Minnie arethe last two people left on the stage. When they started working together, MissMerman would always look Georgia in the forehead. She was one of those old timeperformers who could do a really great show without looking anybody in theeyes. The magic was between them and the audience. They didn’t feel a need,perhaps it was shyness. A few months into the run, Miss Merman began to lookGeorgia in the eyes during that moment and continued to do so. Dolly hadoriginally been written for Miss Merman. In her finally agreeing to do theshow, Love, Look in my Window and World, Take Me Back, both written forMiss Merman, were reinstated.
Georgia has had many opening and closing nights in thetheater, but nothing to rival those of Miss Merman’s! It is unheard of to havesomeone walk out on stage and get a ten minute ovation. As a young person,Georgia was aware that this was something extraordinary. People loved her somuch. She was a legend. When Georgia saw her later in her career on shows like The Love Boat, she was saddened. Hergift was what she was able to create on the Broadway stage. TV was too smalland too puny for her. She seemed too big for it. She was then out of place withthe times. TV didn’t show how magnificent she was.  Georgia’s father was an Admiral in the Coast Guard and wastransferred to Governor’s Island.  WhenGeorgia’s parents moved to Governor’s Island, they insisted that she move outof her cockroach infested apartment in Manhattan and move in with them.Although Georgia was ready to be on her own, she made the difficult decision totake them up on their offer. It was Christmas time and Georgia’s mother said,“Why don’t you invite Miss Merman over for Christmas Eve?” Georgia told her momthat there was no way that Miss Merman would accept. Georgia’s mom pestered herso much that she finally told her mom that she would invite her but that shewouldn’t accept. Georgia invited her and she accepted!  She brought along two friends and they had awonderful Christmas eve celebration. 

Carole Cook, Georgia, and Company in Hawaii (Courtesy Georgia)

However, there was one embarrassingmoment. Georgia’s grandmother, whom they called Nanny, didn’t follow protocoland called Miss Merman Ethel. Of course, Nanny didn’t mean disrespect. Shesaid, “Ethel, why not sing us a song!?!” Miss Merman got a little bit of herrancor up and said, “I only sing when I’m getting paid.” Nanny was wrong, butshe didn’t know any better. Miss Merman didn’t want to be put on the spot. Shewas invited as a guest.  When everyonesang together later, she joined in. Miss Merman threw the closing night party for the company ather hotel at The Waldorf. Miss Merman invited Georgia to stay overnight so shewouldn’t have to commute to Governor’s Island. Georgia didn’t accept. She knewshe had to take the subway to South Ferry. If she didn’t get the ferry by twoAM, she would be stuck. Her dad would probably worry. She used to have to havedinner at home every night at six pm and she was always rushing right into thetheater right at the moment at half hour. She was afraid of the stage managerbecause he had a little black book and if you were not there by half hour, yourname would go in this book. As she has matured as an actress, she is always atthe theater way early. Looking back, she feels she should have taken MissMerman’s invitation. She didn’t accept the invitation, but Miss Merman gave awonderful closing night party.

Danny Lockin

Georgia also loved Danny Lockin. They once took anacrobatics class together. This was a class that she took every day. He wantedto take this class with her, without even warming up! He did everything theinstructor asked him to do and the instructor was very impressed. As we canstill see, thanks to the film of Hello,Dolly, he was very acrobatic. When Hello, Dolly, the film, premiered in NewYork at the Rivoli Theater on December 16^th, 1969, Danny and Georgiawere appearing opposite each other on Broadway in Phyllis Diller’sCompany.  Danny’s date for the premierwas Georgia. 
She feels that EJ Peaker was perfectly lovely in the film.Georgia feels the film was a different animal from theBroadway show. Georgia, however, enjoyed it and loved Barbra Streisand.    

Georgia and Carole Cook Company (Courtesy: Georgia)

Hello, Dolly launched Georgia’s career.  She has a great love for it. She had a greattime and learned the discipline of doing a long run. It is hard to do it for ayear. You get tired of it. You have to find ways of keeping it fresh.  It is a wonderful discipline for someonestarting out. When Georgia was appearing in Dolly on Broadway, she got a movie.It became a crazy schedule. She was shooting during the day and did the show atnight. It was one of Milos Forman’s first films, Taking Off for which she was nominated for a British Academy Awardfor best supporting actress.John Guare was one of the writers on the film.After Dolly closed, Georgia started collecting unemployment. At that time, youhad to go way down town to pick up your checks. On her way down one day, sheran into John Guare. He asked what she was doing. She replied that since Dollyhad closed, she was now collecting unemployment.   

Georgia with Phyllis Diller Company (Courtesy PhotoFest)

He told her to go to the Truck and WarehouseTheater, that they could really use her as one of the leads in The House of Blue Leaves.  She went down and got it. Although she wasnow making less money than unemployment, she knew it was more important as faras her resume was concerned. Even as a young person, she knew it was importantto work with quality people. She very quickly started out understudying twoparts. The actress who was playing Corinna Stoller left for a better payingjob. Georgia then went into that wonderful role. Several months later, thetheater burned down. Instead of waiting for the theater to be built back up,they took the show to Hollywood. All of the people who later became Georgia’sfriends on The Mary Tyler Moore Showcame to see the show. Georgia was taking a ballet class on Hollywood Boulevard.Mary Tyler Moore was in the same ballet class, but Georgia didn’t recognizeher. She was there with no make-up on. One day at the ballet bar, Moore toldher that she and her husband, Grant Tinker had seen the show with a couple offriends and that they really loved it. Georgia found out later that it wasAllan Ludden and Betty White. 

Georgia/Phyllis Diller Company (Photofest)

Georgia finished her run in House of Blue Leaves and six months later, she got a call to play atiny part, at that time, on The MaryTyler Moore Show.  Georgia’s managerdidn’t think she should do it because she would have to fly herself out to LAon her own expense. Georgia said sometimes you have to pay for the privilege ofworking with the best. Georgia flew out to play this tiny part that didn’t evenstart out at the beginning of the week with the rest of the cast. It was aWednesday through Friday part as opposed to a Monday through Friday. By thetime those three days were over, they had written Georgia into the cast. Georgia was teaching Sunday school and had to get back to NewYork after her three days of taping. She flew back to New York after the tapingon Friday night. 

Georgia and Ted Knight, Mary Tyler Moore Show

On Monday morning, she received a big potted plant deliveredto her front door. That’s unheard of in a New York apartment building with adoorman. Usually, he will call up to say there’s a delivery.  The doorbell rang and Georgia peeked throughthe peephole to see this huge potted plant outside her door. She brought it inand the card said, “Welcome to the MTM family.” They had not even negotiated or anything with her. It wasn’t like shewas hard to get. They knew she had been on Broadway. They had seen her in House of Blue Leaves.   It was a funny fit putting her with TedKnight. All of this was a natural trajectory from Hello, Dolly.  Georgia feels that Tyne Daly would make a great Dolly if shehad any interest. She was so wonderful in Gypsywhen she did it.Georgia is wary of the word “tweak” when it comes to herperformance. As time goes on, you have more resonance. You find tiny littlethings that make it

Georgia/Phyllis Diller Company (Photofest)

richer for you. Very often, directors come back and try andtake out what actors have added to their performances. It’s important to staytrue to what you are given. There is always room to bring more richness to apart. She remembers one time in Hawaii. Georgia and Gary Alexander became goodfriends. Garrett Lewis was also in that production as Cornelius Hackl. 

Georgiahad a crush on Garrett Lewis. During the docket scene, when Minnie and Mrs.Molloy were looking at Barnaby and Cornelius, Minnie found herself looking atthe wrong guy.Part of the preparation of coming in for the Phyllis DillerCompany was for the cast to go see the Pearl Bailey company. Georgia got to seeit a few times and loved it. Some of the cast of the Diller Company had doneprevious productions of Dolly.

Georgia and Merman Cast (Photofest)

Georgia was and has become even more aware of the fact that there was acommunity of people who had long years connected with the production.
The discipline that Georgia learned from Dolly is a discipline that she does notsee in the young people coming up in the theater today. MissMerman would go on even if she had a cold or whatever. It was NEVER in herthoughts that she wouldn’t go on. Georgia learned that discipline from MaryTyler Moore as well. Nothing would stop them. When Georgia was doing Dolly on Broadway, there were novacation weeks. Equity has since given so many wonderful perks to actors tohelp them to make them happier and healthier in long-term Broadway jobs.Georgia considers herself now one of the seniors of the “old school.” When youare young, you are very impressionable. Georgia learned so much from observingMiss Merman’s work habits. She would never think of disappointing the peoplewho came to see her.

Georgis/Merman Cast (Photofest)

Hello, Dolly gotpeople really loving those masters, Michael Stewart, Jerry Herman, and GowerChampion. Georgia didn’t get to work with Gower Champion. Lucia Victor was theone who put Georgia in Dolly.  Hello, Dolly got people to appreciatethe highest caliber of showmanship. Georgia thought Lucia was wonderful. Shewas wonderful to Georgia. She was no-nonsense, and Georgia didn’t get to knowher on any personal level whatsoever.  
The worst experience for Georgia may not be the worst bysomeone else’s standards. She went one day to a friend’s home for an earlydinner between shows. She had a little bit too much to eat. She had a part inthe show where she had to jump up in the air with her back arched into the armsof dancer Sean Nolan. It was difficult with what she had eaten to do this withany kind of grace or dignity. He laughed later about that. Sean was big strongmasculine Irish guy. He later said to Georgia that he knew something was amiss.She came towards her like a Mack truck. She was just grateful they didn’t endup in a heap. At that moment, it felt, to Georgia, like the end of the world.
Sean died shortly after Dolly closed. There were many deathsfrom that company so soon after it closed. It was quite unusual, June Helmers(Irene Molloy), Danny Lockin (Barnaby Tucker), Jack Goode (HoraceVandergelder). It was spooky to Georgia as a young person.  Other than seeingPearl Bailey on Broadway, Georgia has only seen three other Dollys, Ruta Lee atCasa Manana in Texas , E. Faye Butler at the Drury Lane Dinner Theater inChicago in 1991, and Carol Channing’s revival in 1977.Ruta is very beloved inTexas and has done a lot of musicals there. Georgia enjoyed Ruta’s Dolly verymuch. E. Faye and Georgia appeared in Nunsensetogether. E. Faye is much beloved in Chicago. She was a magnificent Dolly, witha magnificent voice and comic ability. Sid Smith in The Chicago Tribute wrote:

E. Faye Butler

Drury Lane Theatre`skeen, generally appealing revival now in Evergreen Park manages by going afterboth entertainment levels. E. Faye Butler stars as the fast-talking, slipperyDolly Levi, and hers is a matchmaker who`s funny one moment, beautifully voicedthe next. Moreover, she has the force of personality, the mystical onstageauthority, to carry off Dolly`s high-handed antics-Channing isn`t the only onewho can carry the role, but whoever does needs to be broad, larger than life,demonstrably memorable on stage.Therein Butler fillsthe bill, an astute area comedian waiting for the right lead to come along forsome time now. She`s at home with the zingers, broad takes and sass for suchscenes as the Harmonia Gardens dinner, during which she dumps mountains ofsteaming beets and mashed potatoes, first onto Horace Vandergelder`s plate andthen into her own mouth.
But Butler also uses asilky, girlishly restrained air for some scenes, tossing lines away and givingDolly a soft, vulnerable, lovable side. (She even does ``Love, Look in MyWindow,`` a song written especially for Ethel Merman and lost to the show eversince.) Together, she and John Beasley, as a muscular, virile Horace, turn in aslightly sexy romance, sweetly sentimental, as well as funny. Although Georgia has not seen many productions of Dolly, sheis very aware that those who are not “famous” can do a magnificent job withthis role. When a musical is well written, anyone who has the singing,movement, acting chops to do it, that larger than life quality that Dollyrequires, can be wonderful in it. 

Ad for Original Cast Album

Think of all the joy it has brought to manyhigh schools. She did see the 1977 Broadway revival with Carol Channing  and Lee Roy Reams as Cornelius. It was aproduction of pure love. Because Georgia was young and not living in New York,she did not see Carol do it originally. It was great to finally see her magicin doing this. Carol Channing owned it. It was hers, she made it hers. Jerry Herman is a lovely, lovely man. She got to later workwith him closely at Goodspeed in DearWorld in 2000. She enjoyed his kindness so much.  All that Georgia can remember about closing night onBroadway is the excitement of it. She remembers the ten minute ovation on MissMerman’s entrance and the massive non ending applause at the end of eachnumber. Everything else is a blur. As mentioned, Miss Merman threw the closingnight party!

with friend and frequent co-star, Betty White

Georgia has no desire to play Dolly herself. She thinks sheis past the age now to do it. Georgia was very blessed and satisfied just beingMinnie Fay. Georgia has been one of the greatest supporting actresses of alltime and she loves that with all her heart. Supporting actors and actresses canhave wonderful careers. For Georgia, the similarities between doing comedy on stageand in television are what she loves. There are some sitcoms that are tapedwithout an audience. They are not as much fun for Georgia. She just did threeepisodes of The Office. She loved the cast and crew. They give three hundredpercent too much. Two hundred percent of what you do gets edited out. 
They doit like a Christopher Guest movie. They do more than they need and it becomesan editor’s art. With The Mary TylerMoore Show and Everybody LovesRaymond, they are both done with great precision. Since they are bothfilmed in front of an audience, just as on Broadway, the audience tells youwhere the humor should be. Even when you do a role on Broadway for a year, theaudience doesn’t always laugh at the same place. Sometimes an audience willlaugh thirty seconds after where they normally do. It’s the same in television.Once on The Mary Tyler Moore Show,something that the cast laughed at so hard during the week, the audience didn’tlaugh at where the cast expected the laugh to land. It came a few minuteslater. Georgia remembers thinking how smart it is to be on your toes and letthe audience tell you where the laughter is. As of this interview, Georgia hasdone a few episodes of Hot in Cleveland,which stars another Dolly, Betty White. 

Georgia in The Drowsey Chaperone

Betty is one of the hardest workingpeople Georgia knows. She works “four hundred and sixty five days a year.” Herheart is as big as all out doors. Hello, Dolly waspure, joyous, wholesome fun for Georgia Engel.

Thank you Georgia Engel for the gifts you have given to the world and continue to give!


With grateful XOXOXs ,


Check out my site celebrating my forthcoming book on Hello, Dolly!
I want this to be a definitive account of Hello, Dolly!  If any of you reading this have appeared in any production of Dolly, I'm interested in speaking with you!

Do you have any pics to share?
If you have anything to add or share, please contact me at Richard@RichardSkipper.com.


NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.  FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!


Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!    
                My next blog will be...My exclusive interview with Alene Robertson on Hello, Dolly!


Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!

  Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!
Come here me sing Saturday night for a great cause!

BroadwayConcerts Direct
proudlypresents abenefit concert for
ZANI'S FURRY FRIENDS- a wonderful animal rescue organization
at The Laurie Beechman Theater
LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND
AnEvening of Song to Help Our Furry Friends SAT11-24-12 7pm
(doorsopen at 6:00)


Starring (multipleTony, MAC and Bistro Award Winners): *
Dana Lorge, co-host
Sidney Myer, co-host
Celia Berk
Emily Buttner
Len Cariou (SWEENEY TODD, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, BLUEBLOODS)
Edd Clark
Carole Demas (GREASE --original Sandy, THE MAGIC GARDEN)Rich FlandersJoanna Morton GarySteve HerbstSue MatsukiSarah Rice (SWEENEY TODD)*Richard SkipperJoAnn Yeoman
OTHERPERFORMERS TBA! 
JoAnnYeoman, directorKathleenConry, Stage ManagerJulianaMeehan, Asst. Dir.
MarkJanas, PianoSteveSaari, PianoMatthewMartin Ward, PianoEveWeiss, Classical GuitarAmyRalske, CelloJonathanRussell, Jazz ViolinJimRussell, Recorder
*Artists subject to change without notice.

LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATERWest Bank Cafe407W 42nd Street(between9th and 10th Ave.)NYC,NY
RESERVATIONS:212.695.6909
TKTSvia OvationTix.comOvationTixby phone 866-811-4111

https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/9736856
$50/ $25 cover+$15 Food and/or Beverage Min.Doorsopen 1 hour prior to show
Tktsmay also be purchased at:PETQUABroadwaybet. 98th & 99th Street, NYC, NY
cover: $50 VIP gold circle-$25 general seating / $15 food/drinkmin. not included-- they have really great food!Children are welcome.
Thisevening's cabaret extravaganza by some of Broadway and Cabaret's finestperformers will be a party mix of enchanting music, guaranteed totouch the heart and delight the spirit to help this wonderful animalrescue organization, Zanis Furry Friends, atax deductible organization, 501c3.
Thisincredible group rescues dogs, cats and bunnies right out of the euthanasiarooms of the city's animal shelters,  gives them medical care, kindnessand loving attention and gets them adopted into loving homes through theirown tremendous effort and many times paid for out of their own personalpocketbooks. Wefeel it is an honor to be of some help. 100% of the money from the evening'sproceedings (cover charge, raffle, journal) will go to Zani's Furry Friends. 
Pleasehelp us pack the room. Buy your tickets early through OvationTix. This willguarantee you get in. Tell your friends.
Ifyou can't come to the performance you can still make a donation www.ZanisFurryFriends.com.
TheLaurie Beechman Theatre and Phil Geoffrey Bond have generously donated the fullproceeds (100%!!!!) of the cover charge to all go to Zani's FurryFriends. (not including the food/drink charges)
A great way to feel good about the upcoming holidays! Help theunloved and the dumped, find love, safety and kindness.
Prizes!Raffles! for some great stuff! Specialtydrinks: THE MEOWTINI, THE BARKTAILand 2 non alcoholic drinks: THE ARISTOCATand THE TRAMP.
Immerseyourself in the thrilling beauty of these naturally gorgeous, powerful, warmvoices at that hot spot, The Laurie Beechman Theater at the West Bank Cafe, oneof the best  of cabaret/supper club spaces. BCD concerts have beencalled "Life-affirming", "show-stopping", "LikeBabette's feast for the ear" by reviewers and audience members luckyenough to have seen our previous performances. Don't miss out on thisheartbreakingly beautiful and thrilling concert.
For moreinformation visit our web sitewww.BwayDirect.com
Seating is limited and filling up fast, so be sure to buy yourtickets early for this exciting event. At the last ZFF benefit concert we hadto turn so many people away who wanted to be there and to help support ZFF.Don't be left out.

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