Feb 11, 2021
We are in the presence of musical theatre royalty this week! We are joined by the legendary Baayork Lee. You Might Know Her From A Chorus Line; Promises, Promises; Jesus Christ Superstar; The King & I; Flower Drum Song; and Every Little Step. We are just mouth agape at Baayork’s stories from the theatre, from finding the line between herself and the character of Connie Wong that her life inspired to her simpatico mentorship with Michael Bennett to growing up as a Broadway kid to the neck-ography in Promises, Promises. We were just head over heels for Baayork. Check out the show notes to see this icon in action. You won’t regret it!
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Rash of recent celebrity deaths: Phil Spector, Dustin Diamond, Cicely Tyson, Cloris Leachman, Christopher Plummer (and on Tuesday, after we had recorded: Mary Wilson)
Christopher Plummer tried to do his own singing in The Sound of Music. Hated the movie, loved Julie Andrews.
Natalie Wood didn’t think she was going to be dubbed for West Side Story movie (here she is singing in her real voice as Maria)
Diahann Caroll died before we could talk to her
Bob Avian co-choreographer of original production, director of Broadway revival
Baayork Lee’s IBDB (most famous as Connie Wong)
BAAYORK CLIPS to watch:
“The Clog Dance” from Joyful Noise (Tommy Tune and Baayork who is on far left)
“Poor Little Person” from Henry Sweet Henry with Alice Playten
“Turkey Lurkey Time” from Promises, Promises some of toughest choreo of all time
Groomed by Michael Bennett as dance captain and assistant choreographer
“Confidence” was a cut song from A Chorus Line for Richie (Black man) and Connie (Asian woman).
The tapes that made A Chorus Line
Every Little Step, 2009 documentary (first time Equity allowed cameras in the audition room)
Bennett fought for Paul’s coming out storyline
Baayork worked with Bennett on See Saw and Henry, Sweet Henry which were both flops
Role of Sheila was between former guest, Deidre Goodwin and Rachelle Rak
Full Deidre Goodwin episode of YMKHF
Ryan Murphy turning A Chorus Line into 10 ep series for Netflix
A Chorus Line movie with Michael Douglas notorious flop
Danced for other legends like Michael Kidd and Peter Gennarro
Michael Bennett was protege of Jerome Robbins
Was in original Broadway production of The King and I with Yul Brenner and Gertrude Lawrence
Then cast in Flower Drum Song when she was 12. Once had to go on for Anita Ellis to do “Fan Tan Fannie” (vid is from film)
White contract vs pink contract
Dorothy Sarnoff took her to dinner at Sardi’s between shows
Mr President (1962: Irving Berlin), Here’s Love (1963: Meredith Willson, directed by Norman Jewison), Golden Boy (1964: Charles Strouse, with Sammy Davis Jr)
“Don’t Forget 127th Street” from Golden Boy w/ Sammy Davis Jr (asst choreographer: Jamie Rogers)
Honored with a Tony for creating NAAP
Not involved with the Anna Mae Wong movie on IMDB (care of Malan Breton)
Backed up Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, which was shot in Israel with Jewison
Was directing A Chorus Line with Antonio Banderas in Malaga Spain when COVID hit
Triple threat in American theatre: Tony Yazbeck, Robbie Fairchild, Sutton Foster, Robyn Hurder
Cassie boot camp for A Chorus Line
Who would Baayork call if she dropped her phone in the subway: Donna McKechnie, Kelly Bishop, Priscilla Lopez
Worked with our fave, Pat Suzuki in Flower Drum Song
Need Sardi’s to stay open (Actor’s Menu)
Baayork was in Promises, Promises - Mary Louise Wilson was a replacement cast member in that same production -- she was in the 2001 revival of The Women with next week’s guest.
Heather Matarazzo told us that she took over the role of Jane once Bob Durst’s niece was fired from the 2001 revival of The Women (listen to the full Heather interview here)
Al Pacino playing Phil Spector in the HBO movie: Phil Spector