Category is: Broadway history
The 1943 Miss Delaware, who received her pageant title at age 14 after entering the competition on a dare, would go to dance and sing in many nightclubs around the country, appear on television, as well as The Great White Way. Mona Crawford, a native of Wilmington, Delaware, remembers an inspiration to perform at the… continue reading ›
I met Larry in 1999, the year that I retired. I knew who he was all along since he was the guy who always got the jobs that I wanted. He was tall, he had a good singing voice, and he was a hell of a dancer. More you couldn’t ask for. After twenty-five years… continue reading ›
I was a 14 year-old dancer living with my family in Long Beach, California when I was invited to join the Long Beach Civic Light Opera Company, which was a semi-professional organization at that time. I was thrilled. Not only did I get to dance, but as the youngest member of the company, I was lovingly… continue reading ›
Having enjoyed an illustrious and long career in musical theatre, dancer Sal Angelica’s list of credits are lessons in performing arts history. His story began at a time and place of artistic fervor in America, and in particular in New York City. Sal, you’re currently living in Las Vegas where you have worked many shows,… continue reading ›
I took the train with Betty [fellow dancer from Aladdin. See Part I of this article series] to London. We arrived at the Prince of Whales Theatre where the auditions were to be held. Walking into a mob of female dancers, we thought we had a fat chance of getting the job. All morning groups… continue reading ›
At this time, you were in Philadelphia rehearsing the upcoming Broadway show Nowhere To Go But Up and during all this the Cuban Missile Crisis was unfolding. You didn’t know what was going to happen, but you returned to New York City to open. The show must go on. Lawrence Merritt: Well, the show flopped… continue reading ›
From gin joints to Broadway, dancer, actor, and singer Lawrence Merritt has performed throughout the world over the decades, partnering with some of the greatest stars in the history of entertainment arts. His reflections support his vast experience, all taken with a healthy dose of sharp wit and incredible recall. Here Lawrence breaks down a dancer’s… continue reading ›
It was 1973 and I had just turned 40. I was still dancing at a Casino in Freeport, in the Bahamas following an extended European musical tour. I began to think about what I was going to be doing at 50. I called a very good friend of mine who owned The Island Art Gallery and… continue reading ›