Who's Who in Musicals: A to Ba
by John Kenrick
(Copyright 1997-2003)

Abbott, George (Francis)
Director, librettist, producer
b. Jan. 25, 1887 (Forrestville, NY) - d. Jan. 31. 1995 (Miami Beach, FL)
Colleagues referred to him as "Mr. Abbott" – a sign of respect that this talented man never discouraged. Originally a Harvard-trained actor, he rose to fame as a playwright, eventually becoming a stage director and musical comedy librettist. In the course of over 130 Broadway productions, Abbott worked with most of the prominent stage talents of his time. His musical comedy career began when he co-directed Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart's Jumbo (1935). He then worked with the same team on three more hit shows, staging and co-authoring the librettos for On Your Toes (1936), The Boys From Syracuse (1938) and Pal Joey (1940). 

Abbott gave musical comedy a faster pace and a refreshing dose of modern sophistication.  His hallmark was quick pacing, but only to the extent that it energized the material -- the quiet moments in his shows were many and usually quite effective. His musical hits included Call Me Madam (1950), Wonderful Town (1953), Fiorello (1960) and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (1962). Abbott helped to expand the role of dance in musical theatre, allowing George Balanchine, Gene Kelly and others to redefine the genre from the 1930s onwards. He later collaborated with choreographer Jerome Robbins on the dance hit On the Town (1944), and brought in choreographer Bob Fosse to work on several landmark shows, including The Pajama Game (1954), Damn Yankees (1955) and New Girl in Town (1957)

Abbott directed the top stars of his day, including Ethel Merman, Zero Mostel, Chita Rivera, Gwen Verdon, John Raitt, Carol Lawrence, Ray Bolger and dozens more. He was known to give specific line by line inflections to actors, a practice frowned upon today. Abbott helmed his share of flops, especially as his career waned in the 1960s and 70s. He managed a dazzling comeback by staging a revival of On Your Toes (1983) that out-ran the original. Abbott continued to give interviews, make special appearances and develop new projects. Just before his death at the age of 107, he assisted in revising the book of Damn Yankees for its 1994 Broadway revival.

Adams, Lee
Lyricist, librettist
b. Oct. 14, 1924 (Mansfield, Ohio)
In the 1950s, Adams and composer Charles Strouse began collaborating on songs for summer stock revues. Their first book musical, Bye, Bye, Birdie (1960), was a surprise Broadway hit, with a score that blended pop rock ("A Lotta Livin' to Do") with more traditional showtunes ("Put On a Happy Face"). Director Gower Champion's energetic production won the Tony for Best Musical, and Birdie became a perennial favorite with school groups and community theatres for decades to come. Strouse and Adams had less success with All American (1962), a fair hit with the Sammy Davis Jr. vehicle Golden Boy (1965), and an outright disaster with It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman! (1966). Their Applause (1970) was a witty musical version of the classic film All About Eve that won the Tony for Best Musical, and brought fresh acclaim to movie star Lauren Bacall. 

Strouse and Adams musicalized the life of Queen Victoria for the short-lived London production I and Albert (1972). Their A Broadway Musical (1978) died a quick death, as did their ill-advised Bye, Bye, Birdie sequel, Bring Back Birdie (1981) -- which starred Donald O'Connor and Chita Rivera. Adams collaborated with composer Mitch Leigh on Ain't Broadway Grand (1993), a short-lived musical inspired by the life of producer Michael Todd. 

Adler, Richard
Composer, lyricist, producer
b. Aug. 3, 1921 (New York City)
After a stint in the Navy, Adler pursued a career in advertising, treating songwriting as a sideline until he met composer Jerry Ross. In an unusual arrangement, Adler & Ross shared credit for both the music and the lyrics. They coauthored Tony Bennett's pop hit "Rags to Riches" and contributed several songs to John Murray Anderson's Almanac (1953). Their work won the admiration of songwriter Frank Loesser, who encouraged them to get involved in more theatrical projects. Their first Broadway book musical was The Pajama Game (1954), a long running spoof of the battle between labor unions and management that included the hit songs "Hey There" and "Hernando's Hideaway." Directed by George Abbott and featuring choreography by Bob Fosse, it won six Tony Awards (including Best Musical) and became a perennial favorite.

The following season, Adler and Ross provided the score for the equally popular Damn Yankees (1955), including "Whatever Lola Wants" and "Heart." With Abbott and Fosse once again at the helm, this show garnered nine Tonys, including Best Musical, and brought top rank stardom to actress Gwen Verdon. Long plagued by bronchial ailments, Ross died of leukemia several months into the run of Damn Yankees. Adler went on to single-handedly compos several well-received musicals for American television, but his solo theatrical efforts were plagued by poor reviews and short runs. His African-themed Kwamina (1961) starred his then-wife Sally Ann Howes, and was roundly dismissed despite some remarkable music. The Bea Arthur vehicle A Mother's Kisses (1968) closed before reaching Broadway. Adler produced the short-lived Rex (1972), then co-produced and wrote the score of Music Is (1976), an ill-fated musical version of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night -- and Adler's final collaboration with director George Abbott. Active well into his seventh and eighth decades, Adler wrote an enjoyable autobiography entitled You Gotta Have Heart, and was involved in preparations for the 1994 Broadway revival of Damn Yankees. 

Ahrens, Lynn
Composer, lyricist, librettist
b. Oct. 1, 1948 (New York City)
Ahrens worked in advertising and children's television before taking part in the 1982 BMI musical theater workshop. There she met composer Stephen Flaherty, beginning a partnership that would enrich Broadway into the next century. Their first off-Broadway effort was Lucky Stiff (1988), a bizarre musical farce about a man who takes his uncle's corpse on a vacation in order to earn a six million dollar inheritance. They followed this with the acclaimed Caribbean fantasy Once On This Island (1990), which moved to Broadway and ran for over a year. The London production won the Olivier for Best Musical in 1994.

After the disappointing reception for their adaptation of My Favorite Year (1992), Ahrens and Flaherty spent several years developing a stage version of E.L. Doctorow's epic novel Ragtime (1998). One of the finest Broadway scores of the late 20th Century, it brought the duo a well-deserved Tony for Best Score. They also created a charming score for the animated film Anastasia (1997), and a rich but underrated score for the poorly received Seussical (2000). Ahrens contributed the lyrics to Alan Menken's A Christmas Carol (1994), which was revived annually at Madison Square Garden for a profitable decade. Ahrens & Flaherty's A Man of No Importance had a brief  off-Broadway run. Among the few songwriters who understand how to use songs as dramatic tools, Ahrens remains one the brightest hopes for the musical theater's future.

Albee, Edward Franklin
Vaudeville theater owner
b. Oct. 8, 1857 (Machias, ME) – d. Mar. 11, 1930 (Palm Beach, FL)
At age 17, Albee became a circus roustabout. He made his first fortune as a ticket seller, short-changing customers -- setting the tone for the rest of his theatrical career. There are conflicting versions of how Albee encountered B.F. Keith. Some sources claim their association began in 1881, when Albee walked into Keith's Boston "museum" and went to work uninvited. Albee gradually took managerial control of Keith's growing circuit of theatres, becoming the most powerful – and most hated – manager in vaudeville. In 1906, Albee convinced most of the major vaudeville circuits to give him centralized control of their bookings. The resulting United Booking Office charged acts a 5% commission for bookings and relegating any performers who had offended Albee into obscurity. Many were ruined by these tactics. Any attempts to challenge Albee's power were ruthlessly crushed. When disgruntled performers tried to form a union, Albee set up an alternate puppet union and made membership in it a requirement for bookings. The legitimate union soon collapsed, and Albee's phony union never complained about his habitual mistreatment of performers. No wonder he was called "Richelieu" – behind his back.

As public tastes changed in the 1920s, Albee made several key misjudgments. He wasted a fortune building lavish new theaters, demanded expensive production values from his acts, and wore out his performers by doubling the number of daily performances. As a result, the quality of material and performances declined, which only encouraged audiences to switch over to film and radio. Businessman Joseph P. Kennedy lured Albee into a partnership with a film company – then used legal maneuvers to take full control of the resulting corporation. The newly formed Radio Keith Orpheum (RKO) turned the once proud Orpheum vaudeville circuit into a chain of movie houses. Forced out of power, Albee died wealthy but embittered. His funeral drew few mourners. Acclaimed playwright Edward F. Albee is his grandson (by adoption).

Albert, Eddie
(b. Edward Albert Heimberger)
Actor, singer
b. April 22, 1908 (Rock Island, IL) - d. May 26, 2005 (Pacific Palisades, CA)
After working as a radio vocalist, this handsome, affable baritone made his Broadway debut in a series of non-musical roles in the 1930s. He originated the role of Antipholus (of Syracuse) in Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's hit musical The Boys From Syracuse (1938), introducing "This Can't Be Love" and "Dear Old Syracuse." After appearing in the screen version of On Your Toes (1939), he interrupted his career to serve with distinction during World War II, achieving the rank of lieutenant in the US Navy.

Arnold returned to acting, enjoying decades of popular success on both stage and screen. He starred in Irving Berlin's Broadway musical Miss Liberty (1949), introducing the popular "Let's Take an Old Fashioned Walk." Arnold earned two Academy Award nominations for his screen work, but his only major musical screen appearance was as Ali Hakim in Oklahoma (1955). He appeared in various straight plays and films through the next decade, returning to Broadway to take over the role of Harold Hill in The Music Man (1960). The star of many TV series and specials, he is probably best remembered for the 1960s farm-life sitcom Green Acres, co-starring Eva Gabor. Albert's last Broadway appearance occurred when he and Gabor joined the hit revival of You Can't Take It With You (1983). Active in television into his final years, Albert died of pneumonia at age 97.

Allyson, June
(b. Ellen Geisman)
Actress, singer
b. Oct. 7, 1917 (Bronx, NY) - June 8, 2006 (Ojai, CA)
MGM's wholesome "girl next door" got her start a chorus dancer in such Broadway musicals as Very Warm For May (1939) and Panama Hattie (1940). Her performance as Minerva in Best Foot Forward (1941) led her to Hollywood, where she repeated the role on film in 1943. Allyson's husky voice and wholesome screen persona made her an instant favorite with moviegoers. MGM starred her in a series of popular 1940s musicals, including As Thousands Cheer (1943), Two Girls and a Sailor (1944) and Till The Clouds Roll By (1946). 

Allyson co-starred with Peter Lawford in the hit screen version of Good News (1947), and with Jimmy Stewart in The Glenn Miller Story (1954), making her last musical film appearance in You Can't Run From It (1956). As screen musicals became rarer, she appeared in numerous non-musical films. Allyson and longtime husband Dick Powell made numerous television appearances. After Powell's death in 1963, Allyson continued to work in various media, appearing on TV into the early 2000s. She died of respiratory failure at age 88.

Alton, Robert
(b. Robert Alton Hart)
Choreographer
b. Jan. 28, 1897 (Bennington, Vermont) – d. June 12, 1957 (Hollywood, CA)
While not as well remembered as many of his colleagues, Alton played a major role in the development of dance in musical theater and film. After dancing in several Broadway productions, Alton became a leading "dance director," and was one of the first to use the more formal title "choreographer." His stage musicals included Anything Goes (1934), Leave It to Me (1938), Too Many Girls (1939), DuBarry Was a Lady (1939), Panama Hattie (1940), Pal Joey (1940) and By Jupiter (1941). Alton's straightforward stagings served the material well and made performers look their best -- even stars who had limited dance experience. He broke up the traditional chorus line, using smaller groups to fill the stage with varied movement, a technique that proved to be even more effective on film, 

In the 1940s, Alton worked for MGM, staging "On The Atchison Topeka" in The Harvey Girls (1946), most of the musical numbers in Till the Clouds Roll By (1946), "Be a Clown" in The Pirate (1948), and "A Couple of Swells" in Easter Parade (1948). He also staged the dances for The Barkleys of Broadway (1949) and Show Boat (1951). His films for other studios included Call Me Madam (1953), White Christmas (1954) and There’s No Business Like Show Business (1955). In the 1950s, Alton choreographed several Broadway productions, including Hazel Flagg (1953) and Me and Juliet (1953). Alton's fresh, stylish dances blended with the dramatic needs of any stage or screen work, and showcased such stellar dancing talents as Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Ray Bolger, Marge and Gower Champion, Danny Kaye, Marilyn Monroe and Donald O’Connor. His contribution to musical theater and film is long overdue for a serious reconsideration.

Andrews, Julie
(b. Julia Wells)
Singer, actress
b. Oct. 1, 1935 (Walton-on-Thames, UK)
A freakish four-octave vocal range made this gifted soprano a star in British music halls by the time she was 12. Andrews moved on to radio, London revues and pantomimes. She made her Broadway debut as Polly in The Boy Friend (1954), where her crystalline voice and comic timing made her an immediate favorite. Over the next few years she dazzled Broadway, creating the role of Liza in My Fair Lady (1957), where she introduced Lerner and Loewe's "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" and "I Could Have Danced All Night," sharing "The Rain in Spain" with co-stars Rex Harrison and Robert Coote. As Guenevere in Lerner& Loewe's Camelot (1960), she sang "Where Are the Simple Joys of Maidenhood" and "I Loved You Once in Silence." She also originated the title role in Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's TV musical Cinderella (1957), introducing "In My Own Little Corner." Although Hollywood overlooked Andrews for the screen version of My Fair Lady (producer Jack Warner said she was not photogenic enough!), she became the top-grossing film star of the 1960s. She played the title role in Mary Poppins (1964), introducing "Spoonful of Sugar" and sharing "Chim-Chimenee" with co-star Dick Van Dyke. Andrews won rave reviews and received the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Andrews' next role was Maria Von Trapp in the record setting film version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music (1964). When her marriage to set designer Tony Walton ended in an amicable divorce, Andrews married film director Blake Edwards. Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) was a clever if uneven spoof of the 1920s, saved by the delicious performances of Andrews and co-stars Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Channing, and Bea Lillie. Nothing could not save the overblown musical vehicles Star (1968) and Darling Lilli (1969), and Andrews withdrew from big screen projects for several years. Her 1972 ABC-TV variety series garnered twelve Emmy Awards, and included guest appearances by Robert Goulet, Sandy Duncan, and the real Maria Von Trapp. Andrews starred in several big screen comedies before winning rave reviews playing the dual title role in Blake Edwards' Victor/Victoria (1982), the last great live action musical film of the 20th Century. Andrews also starred in the 1996 Broadway version of the same vehicle, but the demanding run took a punishing toll on her vocal chords. Although surgery compromised her ability to sing, she provided the pre-recorded voice of the parrot Polynesia for the London stage production of Doctor Doolittle (1998). She re-united with Sound of Music co-star Christopher Plummer for a live TV version of On Golden Pond (2001), and received the Kennedy Center Honors that same year. She directed a well-received touring version of The Boyfriend, and has served as host for various concerts and documentaries on PBS. One of the most beloved musical stage and screen stars of the 20th Century, she has co-authored a series of popular children's books with daughter Emma Walton.

Arlen, Harold
(b. Hyman Arluck)
Composer
b. Feb. 15, 1905 (Buffalo, NY) – d. April 23, 1986 (NYC)
The son of a Jewish cantor, Arlen was a professional musician by age fifteen, playing in various hometown dance bands before becoming a rehearsal pianist for Broadway productions and radio shows. He collaborated with lyricist Ted Koehler on "Get Happy," "Stormy Weather," "I’ve Got a Right to Sing the Blues" and other songs that found their way into club acts and revues. He teamed with E.Y. "Yip" Harburg for his first Broadway efforts, Life Begins at 8:40 (1934) and Hooray for What (1937). Arlen moved on to Hollywood, establishing himself as one of the most successful songwriters in musical film history. His many hit songs composed for films include "It’s Only a Paper Moon," and "That Old Black Magic." He also composed memorable scores for two of Judy Garland's best loved films -- The Wizard of Oz (1939), including "Over the Rainbow" (lyric by Harburg) and A Star is Born (1954), including "The Man That Got Away" (lyric by Ira Gershwin.)

Arlen returned to Broadway to compose House of Flowers (1954), with lyrics by himself and novelist Truman Capote. The score for this ill-fated cult favorite included "When a Sleepin' Bee." Arlen then teamed with Yip Harburg and Fred Saidy to create the popular Lena Horne vehicle Jamaica (1957). The costly failure of the much-anticipated stage musical Saratoga (1959) -- with lyrics by Johnny Mercer -- left Arlen unwilling to develop more stage projects. After the animated big-screen musical Gay Puree (1962), he went into an extended retirement. Arlen’s stylish gift for sophisticated melody placed him at the forefront of America’s popular 20th Century composers. From the optimism of "Ac-cen-tuate the Positive" to the heartbreak of "One for My Baby," Arlen’s melodies remain a source of timeless satisfaction and delight.

Arthur, Beatrice
(b. Bernice Frankel)
Actress, singer
b. May 13, 1923 (New York City)
This beloved performer made her professional New York debut as Lucy Brown in the off-Broadway revival of Kurt Weill and Bertholt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera (1954). The following year, she sang the showstopping "Garbage" in The Shoestring Revue (1955), and played Madame Suze in the short-lived Broadway musical Seventh Heaven (1955). Arthur created the role of Yente the Matchmaker in Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's Fiddler on the Roof (1964). Her most memorable stage performance was as the acidic Vera Charles in Jerry Herman's Mame (1966), directed by her then-husband Gene Saks. Introducing "The Man in the Moon is a Lady" and sharing "Bosom Buddies" with co-star Angela Lansbury, Arthur won a well-earned Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She repeated this juicy role in the poorly received 1974 film version.

After her starring vehicle A Mother's Kisses (1968) closed on the road, Arthur turned to film work, including a hilarious performance in the hit comedy Lovers and Other Strangers (1970). A one-time guest appearance as Edith Bunker's liberal cousin on the TV sitcom All in the Family was such a sensation that it led to her own hit CBS series, Maude (1972-76). Arthur played a suburban housewife who hid a vulnerable heart behind an intimidating facade. She found even greater success as the ascerbic but loving divorcee Dorothy Zborknack on NBC-TV's The Golden Girls (1985-1992). This top-rated series ended when Arthur withdrew from the cast, and has remained popular in syndication right into the 21st Century. She made occasional concert and benefit appearances through the 1990s, and scored a personal triumph (and garnered a special Tony nomination) when her one-woman show came to Broadway in 2002.

Ashman, Howard
Lyricist, librettist, director
b. May 3, 1950 (Baltimore, Maryland) - d. Mar. 14, 1991 (NYC)
This versatile writer's fresh, humorous, well-crafted lyrics made his songs appealing to adults and children alike. Teamed with composer Alan Menken, Ashman did much to revive the American stage and screen musical in the late 20th Century. Their unsuccessful Off-Broadway project God Bless You Mr. Rosewater (1979) was followed by the ingenious spoof Little Shop of Horrors (1982), one of the highest grossing musicals in Off-Broadway history. The story of a man-eating plant attempting to take over the world from a dingy skid row flower shop, its tuneful score included the witty "Somewhere That's Green" and "Suddenly Seymour." The 1986 movie version brought the team their first Oscar nomination for the added song "I'm a Mean Green Mother From Outer Space."

Ashman collaborated with Marvin Hamlisch on the short-lived Broadway musical Smile (1986), a backstage look at beauty contests that included the showstopping ballad "Disneyland." The folks at Disney must have liked it, because they soon hired Ashman (a lifelong Disney fan) to produce animated features. The success of his Oliver and Company (1988) encouraged the studio to undertake more ambitious projects. Ashman re-teamed with Menken to create the score for The Little Mermaid (1989), winning Oscars for Best Song ("Under the Sea") and Best Score. Ashman and Menken then set a new standard for animated film with Beauty and the Beast (1991), the first cartoon feature to be nominated for Best Picture. It brought them a second set of Oscars for Best Score and Best Song ("Beauty and the Beast"), but Ashman was not one hand for the acclaim. He died of AIDS shortly before the film's triumphant premiere. His last lyrics were heard in Aladdin (1993), which he was working on at the time of his death. Tim Rice stepped in to help complete the project, which won another Oscar for Best Score.

Astaire, Fred
(b. Frederick Austerlitz)
Dancer, actor, singer
b. May 10, 1899 (Omaha, Nebraska) - d. June 22, 1987 (Los Angeles)
One of the greatest and most influential dancers in the history of musical theatre and film, Astaire began his career at the age of seven, dancing in vaudeville with his sister Adele (1898-1981). Fred's continuing insistence that the act needed improvement and rehearsal led Adele to nickname him "Moaning Minnie." The Astaires' exceptional charm and talent led to musical comedy stardom in New York and London, where they co-starred in numerous shows, including two hit musicals with scores by George and Ira Gershwin – Lady Be Good (1924) and Funny Face (1927). After the successful Broadway run of The Bandwagon (1931), Adele retired from the stage to marry Lord Charles Cavendish, a British nobleman. Fred then won solo acclaim in Cole Porter's Broadway and London hit Gay Divorce (1932), and Hollywood beckoned.

After a few minor film appearances, Astaire caused an unexpected sensation dancing "The Carioca" with Ginger Rogers in Flying Down to Rio (1933). RKO Studios quickly planned more projects for Astaire and Rogers, co-starring the duo in nine musicals over the next five years and making them the most popular dance team in show business history. Seven of their pictures were produced by Pandro S. Berman, and five were directed by Mark Sandrich. These Astaire-Rogers films had scores by outstanding songwriters – Irving Berlin for Top Hat (1935), Follow the Fleet (1936) and Carefree (1938), Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for Roberta (1935) and Swing Time (1936) and George and Ira Gershwin for Shall We Dance (1937). A meticulous craftsman, Astaire would keep rehearsing even after his feet bled. Rogers shared this dedication, a rare quality which kept their partnership going until both stars sought new challenges. 

When Rogers decided to concentrate on dramatic roles, Astaire went on to a series of outstanding screen musicals, including Paramount's hit Holiday Inn (1942) with co-star Bing Crosby. At MGM, he starred in such classics as Broadway Melody of 1940 with Eleanor Powell, Easter Parade (1948) with Judy Garland, a reunion with Rogers in Barkleys of Broadway (1949), the underestimated gem Three Little Words (1959), Royal Wedding (1951) with Jane Powell, The Band Wagon (1953) with Cyd Charisse and Funny Face (1957) with Audrey Hepburn.

Astaire appeared in several critically acclaimed TV dance specials during the 1960s, and played the title role in the screen version of Finian's Rainbow (1968). He also narrated and sang the title tune for the popular animated TV special Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970). Nominated for an Academy Award for his non-musical performance in The Towering Inferno (1974), Astaire made his last musical screen appearance dancing with Gene Kelly in That's Entertainment Part 2 (1976). Astaire's virtuoso dancing and elegant singing voice made him one of the most acclaimed performers of his time, and it is no accident that America's greatest popular composers wrote some of their most memorable songs for him. As the embodiment of seemingly effortless sophistication, Astaire was one of the definitive personalities of the 20th Century.

Bagley, Ben
Producer
b. Oct. 18, 1933 (Burlington, Vermont) – d. Mar. 21, 1998 (NYC)
The sheet music Bagley's parents brought home from trips to New York City opened the way to his lifelong love of classic Broadway musicals. He eventually moved to Manhattan and made his name showcasing extraordinary young performers and composers in nightclubs and stage revues, including The Shoestring Revue (1955) and The Littlest Revue (1956). Bagley produced Rodgers and Hart Revisited (1960), the first in a series of over four dozen all-star albums that focused on forgotten songs by top Broadway and Hollywood composers. Bagley developed his Cole Porter album into the popular stage revue The Decline and Fall of the Entire World as Seen Through the Eyes of Cole Porter (1965). Bagley's recordings, which helped to revive interest in hundreds of worthy showtunes, are still prized by theater lovers.

Bailey, Pearl
Actress, singer
b. Mar. 29, 1918 (Newport News, VA) – d. Aug. 17, 1990 (Philadelphia, PA)
After honing her talents as a singer in vaudeville and such legendary night spots as The Village Vanguard, Bailey made her Broadway debut as Butterfly in St. Louis Woman (1946), introducing the show-stopping "Legalize My Name." She wowed movie audiences with her comically slurred performance of "Tired" in Variety Girl (1947), her first national exposure. Known to fans as "Pearlie Mae," Bailey gave acclaimed performances in the ill-fated Broadway musicals Arms and the Girl (1950) and House of Flowers (1954). She appeared on screen in Carmen Jones (1954), St. Louis Blues (1958) and Porgy and Bess (1959).

After the decline of musical films, Bailey made several pop recordings and concert tours in the early 1960s. When producer David Merrick decided to energize his long-running production of Jerry Herman's Hello Dolly! with an all-black cast in 1967, he cast Bailey in the title role. Her ad libs and humorous asides to the audience were hell on her co-stars, but kept audiences cheering for two years. More popular than ever, Bailey became a frequent guest on television specials and talk shows, and starred in her own short-lived ABC variety series. After a triumphant farewell tour of Hello Dolly in 1975, Bailey worked for various humanitarian causes, and was briefly named special US ambassador to the United Nations. She continued performing in concerts and on television until heart problems curtailed her activities in the mid-1980s.

Balanchine, George
(b. Georges Balanchivadze)
Choreographer
b. Jan. 9, 1904 (St. Petersburg, Russia) - d. April 30, 1983 (NYC)
A giant in the world of classical ballet, Balanchine helped to redefine the role of dance in the 20th Century stage musical, beginning with his choreography for Richard Rodger's "Princess Zenobia" and "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" ballets in On Your Toes (1936). These extended sequences were not just decoration, but had a tenuous connection to the storyline. Broadway had never seen the like, and both audiences and critics were delighted. Balanchine gradually learned how to weave dance into the overall fabric of a show. He worked on several more Rodgers musicals, including Babes in Arms (1937) and The Boys From Syracuse (1938).

Balanchine's dances won acclaim in the Broadway productions of Cabin in the Sky (1940), The Merry Widow (Revival - 1943), Dream With Music (1944), Song of Norway (1944), Where's Charley? (1948) and House of Flowers (1954). From 1946 on, he served as artistic director of the prestigious New York City Ballet, cementing his place as a living legend in the world of classical dance. At the time of Balanchine's death in 1983, an acclaimed revival of On Your Toes had just opened in New York, showing a new generation the dazzling ballets that had opened the way for great choreography on Broadway.

Bart, Lionel
Composer-lyricist
b. August 1, 1930 (London, UK) - d. April 3, 1999 (London)
This talented songwriter's earliest efforts included lyrics for the London musical Lock Up Your Daughters (1959) and both words and music for the popular British hit Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be (1960). Bart restored the faded fortunes of the British stage musical with his Oliver (1960), a disarming adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist. It was the first British musical to enjoy international success since Noel Coward's revues three decades earlier. The songs "Consider Yourself," "Oom-Pah-Pah" and "As Long As He Needs Me" became standards, and the 1968 film version won the Academy Award for best film. Bart's later musicals, including Blitz! (1962) and Maggie May (1964), had little life beyond their London runs. Bart sold his valuable rights to Oliver to finance the ill-fated musical Twang (1965) -- a decision that cost him millions. His later years were often plagued by debt and chemical dependency. After Bart's death, Andrew Lloyd Webber hailed him as "the father of the modern British musical."

Bayes, Nora
(b. Eleanor "Dora" Goldberg)
Singer, actress
b. 1880 (Joliet, IL?) – d. Mar. 19, 1928 (Brooklyn)
Sources disagree about the date and place of her birth, but all sources concur that Bayes was one of the greatest vaudeville and Broadway stars of her time. Some said her powerful contralto voice bordered on the baritone. After making her name in vaudeville singing the merry drinking song "Down Where the Wurzburger Flows," Bayes made her Broadway debut in The Rogers Brothers in Washington (1901). She scored in Florenz Ziegfeld's first Follies (1907) and returned for the 1908 edition, singing the smash-hit "Shine On Harvest Moon," which she officially co-wrote with her third husband, composer Jack Norworth  (In fact, the song was composed by songwriters Edward Madden and Gus Edwards).  She also forced Ziegfeld to cut newcomer Sophie Tucker's role, a classic example of the ill tempered backstage behavior Bayes became famous for. 

Returning to vaudeville, Bayes introduced Norworth's popular "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." In The Jolly Bachelors (1910). She popularized the British music hall song "Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly," which became one of the most frequently demanded songs in her vaudeville repertoire. Her act was simple. She would appear in spectacular gowns and sing several songs while Norworth "assisted and admired" her. Bayes' insufferable tantrums led Norworth to file for divorce in 1916. All told, she married five times, telling reporters that the wedding march was her national anthem. George M. Cohan selected Bayes to introduce his World War I hit "Over There," and cast her in several of his Broadway musicals. One of America's first recording stars, her postwar hits included "How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em Down on the Farm (After They’ve Seen Paree?").

A natural brunette, Bayes kept changing her hair color to platinum blonde or red as her mood dictated. Bayes commanded fees of up to $5,000 a week, but her temperamental behavior eventually alienated many powerful managers. Her last Broadway musical was the short-lived Queen O' Hearts (1922). When she refused to follow Sophie Tucker at a 1924 Palace benefit, the Palace management refused to ever book her again. Health problems may have fueled a series of increasingly ugly backstage scenes. Bayes continued performing in vaudeville until just weeks before her death (due to cancer) at age 48. She was buried in a silver casket at Woodlawn Cemetery in New York.

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