Casting Director Barry Moss!

To contact us Click HERE

Elizabeth Taylor in The Little Foxes cast by Barry Moss

This above all: to thine own self be true.- Hamlet Act 1, scene 3

"To thine own self be true" is Polonius's last piece of advice to his son Laertes, who is in a hurry to get on the next boat to Paris. It also happens to be casting director Barry Moss' favorite quote.
The idea for today’s blog comes from my friend JackieJoseph-Lawrence.
She happens to be a dear friend of Barry's and felt that he would be a great blog subject. She was right as you're about to find out. Today, I celebrate Broadway casting director Barry Moss andhis body of WORTH! He is about creating a bit of history on Broadway and I’mhappy to say that he has and continues to do so.The shows that he has cast over the pasttwenty-five plus years read like a major part of the history of Broadway.

Margaret Herrick, a fortuitous meeting

Barry started out as a directing major at UCLA.
Barry alwaysknew that he was going to be in the entertainment business in one form oranother. When he graduated from college, he worked for the Academy  of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.  Margaret Herrick who was the Academylibrarian from 1936 to 1943, and served as the Academy’s executive directorfrom 1945 to 1971, created a job for Barry after meeting at the Academy Awards.Once again, he knew what he wanted and he told her that he would love to work at the Academy Awards. Thenhe went on from there to work as a publicist for Stanley Kramer. He wasassigned to the Oscar campaign for GuessWho’s Coming to Dinner. 

Elizabeth Taylor in The Little Foxes

Barry was also a manager of a major movie theater inBeverly Hills. One night, he met Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd. He told herthat he wanted to go to New York and direct. She said “Maybe we’ll worktogether someday.” He said of course. Years later he cast her in The Little Foxes! Still one of my favorite afternoons EVER at the theater! Barry was also the onewho came up with that play for her. He never dreamed that would come tofruition. That opening night was one of the most exciting nights of his life andone that he will never forget. Year’s later, a funny thing happened involving Elizabeth Taylor.Barry's best friend is John Rubinstein. he and Barry went to have coffee withhis Mother who had just arrived from Paris with her neighbor for the firstNIGHT OF A HUNDRED STARS. They were staying at the Helmsley Palace.

John Rubinstein, April 2008

At no pointhad John or his Mother told Barry who her neighbor was. The Helmsley Palacesuites are duplex and suddenly who should appear at the head of thestairs? 
Her neighbor...Grace Kelly!  She said she had heard some funny noises inthe hall next to her room, Johnny ran upstairs to check the hall and Barry wentout the front door to check. As Barry entered the hall the elevator door openedand out came Elizabeth Taylor "Barry, what are you doing here?"  "Having coffee with Princess Grace."  Barry's father loved that story. He eventually moved to New York to be a director, which isnot a good thing to jump in to. He had a very good friend who was an agent,Mary Jo Slater. She was with the Mort Schwartz Agency.
She left to become avery successful casting director. She proposed for Barry to replace her at theagency. The Mark Schwartz Agency was mostly commercials, but Barry was put incharge of the theatrical department. He used to go to auditions with his clientsto offer them advice on what they were doing right and what he needed toimprove. 

This cast is Barry Moss' creation!

At one of those auditions, Barry met Julie Hughes. He said to her thatif she ever thought of expanding her casting business, he would like to beinvolved. She called him and they met and he met with the president of hercompany.
He wanted to know if Barry could bring business in. Barry says hecould never have been able to live up to it if he had said yes. He did say hewould do his best to do a really good job. They became a very successful team.One time, they had eight shows running on Broadway.
He was also casting The Cosby Show on television and wasalso casting film. She retired about eight years ago. He has been on his ownsince then. He has a new partner, Bob Kale. The very first show that Barry cast was called Spotlight.
It was supposed to star DanDaly but he broke his leg. They went through a lot of interesting choicesbefore casting Gene Barry. It was Barry’s first musical foray. It didn’t lastvery long, the pre-Broadway tryout played briefly at the National Theatre inWashington, DC from January 7 - February 5, 1978, before folding, cancellingits scheduled Broadway opening. It was, however, fun to do. David James Carrollwas also in that cast along with D'Jamin Bartlett and Lenore Nemitz.
It wasdirected by David Black. It was a great way to start. Casting the original production of Nine was one of his favorite experiences.Barry remembers sitting on the steps of the Martin BeckTheater, now the Hirschfeld, watching Grand Hotel and thinking to himself,”Ohmy God, I have absolutely affected Broadway like I always wanted. I’ve actuallymade a difference.”
Watching people perform that Barry has cast is such a high.It is really the reward for casting because you don’t make that much money. Itis such a pleasure to see someone succeed that you have given the opportunity.
Barry loves his work because of the above. Barry recentlywent to see Bedbugs: the Musicalwhich he cast. To see that audience cheering the cast members is a greatfeeling.    Interesting facts about Barry MossHe was at one time called Hairorella because he had lots ofhair…no longer the case.Barry considers his best quality his open-mindedness.
         He is a liberal. He is a compassionate person. He lovesdogs. The one change that Barry would like to see in this industryis less dependence on stars and more leeway to cast really talented people.
Unfortunately with the economy the way it is, that isn’t going to change.When it comes to who he thinks is the one person to mostrevolutionize Broadway in his lifetime, Barry thinks that would be Bob Fosse.He really turned Broadway into a dance medium.
Agnes de Mille did a great dealof that as well. There was such magic in what Fosse did when he directed andchoreographed.Barry’s favorite form of entertainment is the theater. Heloves movies. He loves television. But if he had to choose, it will always betheater.
The most unusual casting request Barry ever received camefrom Gower Champion who requested a black tap dancer who also played theviolin.  The perfect day for Barry would be a spring like day with a slightbreeze, not too hot. He would probably be out with his dog. 

Barry Moss' latest casting venture

If it was a matineeday, he would catch a matinee.
He would come home, watch a little television,and return to the theater at night. He hardly ever vacations but his dream vacation spot isItaly. He has always wanted to go but never has. His favorite place to live is NewYork with San Francisco being a close second. The one thing he has to do before he dies is write a book. Hehas the opening line for sure: "If I had a dime for every time someonetold me I should write a book I wouldn't have needed to write it."
Barry would like to be remembered as a great Broadwaycasting director! He has achieved that.
 
Thank you Barry Moss for the gifts you have given to the world and will continue to give! Thank you, Jackie Joseph for suggesting Barry!


With grateful XOXOXs ,


Check out my site celebrating my forthcoming book on Hello, Dolly!

I desire 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?

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 Tony Cointreau and Jim Russo on Ethel Merman!

Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!

  Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!
Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING  and HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
 
Sign The Petition! If I'm offended one person, I've offended one person too many!


Richard 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!