This Week in Palm Springs
Special Events
08/05/2010 - Idyllwild Summer Concert
08/05/2010 - Ringo Starr/All Starr Band
08/07/2010 - Tribute to Nickelback
08/07/2010 - Rob Thomas
| Coachella Valley Resident and Show Biz Legend Kaye Ballard Performs in L.A. |
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A Tribute to the Music of Richard Rodgers The Reprise Musical Theatre Company of Los Angeles, a live theater company dedicated to the celebration of the American musical and located on the campus of UCLA, is presenting a special month-long tribute to Broadway musical legend Richard Rodgers during the month of October. The salute to Rodgers and his music, however, is being presented in a very unique way, thanks to the effort of Reprise Theatre Artistic Director Jason Alexander. Alexander, star of movies, TV and stage, has entered into a partnering program with other L.A. arts organizations resulting in collaborations with Ebony Repertory Theatre, East West Players, Santa Monica College, The Harmony Project and the American Jewish University, as a way to reach a broader audience for the music, as well as the genius of Richard Rodgers. Stars from many of his past shows will perform in the month-long tribute — stars like Kaye Ballard.  I spoke to Kaye by telephone.Q: How did you become part of this Rodgers celebration? A: I’ve known director/actor John Rubinstein for years. He’s so talented, and when he asked me if I would like be a part of this fabulous tribute to this great composer, I said, Yes. Absolutely. You know, my first Rodgers and Hammerstein show was a live CBS TV special back in 1957 called “Cinderella.” I did the show with Julie Andrews and Alice Ghostley. Alice and I played the wicked stepsisters to Julie’s Cinderella. It was such fun. Q: What songs are you going to sing in the tribute on Oct. 25 A: I’ll be performing at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood and singing songs with two old pals, Nancy Dussault and Karen Morrow. One number I know for sure is “The Step-Sisters Lament” from “Cinderella.” The other song hasn’t been decided as yet. Q: Going back in time for a minute, when did you know “the biz” was for you? A: Oh, that’s easy. I always knew what I wanted to do, from the age of 5. When I was 12, I told everybody in Cleveland (No Cleveland jokes, please!) I wanted to be in show business. My first professional gig came in vaudeville at the RKO Palace Theatre in Cleveland. Can you imagine the thrill of playing the big RKO Palace in your own home town? In 1945, I joined the Spike Jones touring review, and from there to the Big Apple, although it wasn’t called that back then. I loved working with Jerry Orbach in “Carnival” on Broadway in 1961. I’ve also done summer stock in Chicago. They’re my kind of people in Chicago. I met Shecky Greene there. He’s a Chicago boy. We enjoyed working together. Chicago is such a beautiful city. Q: You’ve worked with a lot of stars during the last 50 years. It’s also known you do impersonations of them. How does Kaye Ballard "comedienne" do those impressions and still keep those friendships? A: Well, I worked with most of them and I really love the people I “do,” Shelley Winters, Judy Garland, Bea Lillie, Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn. I went out of my way to get to know them. I was a big fan of Audrey Hepburn too. Of course, most of them are gone now. Hey, I’m 83 and proud of it. Q: You mentioned Shecky Greene. Are there any other comedians whose work you like? A: I admire Jay Leno. He’s sharp and he doesn’t rely on off-color jokes in order to be funny. Also, I like the comedy style of Catherine O’Hara, the Canadian girl. She’s a subtle performer. Q: The Rodgers and Hammerstein celebration on Oct. 25 in L.A. should be a memorable evening. Do you have any memories to share about when you worked for them? A: The sheer simplicity of Oscar’s lyrics would bring tears rolling down my cheeks. Hammerstein, the man, had such dignity; a quiet genius. I once asked him if he had ever heard a lyric he wished he had written? "Yes," he said, "It's in an Irving Berlin song where the lyric goes … all alone by the telephone waiting for a ting-a-ling." Can you imagine that a light, frothy lyric like that could produce such an honest and humble response from the great man who wrote so many deep and inspiring lyrics, as well as, libretto’s? My memories of the people I’ve worked with over the years will always be the “medals in my heart.” Q: “Medals in your heart”? A: Oh, that’s an expression Howard Lindsay, my co-star in “Cinderella,” used to say. It refers to inward honors and feelings. Some of us have more inward honors than publicly displayed honors. I don’t think I’m letting the cat out of the bag by saying Kaye Ballard is going to have a big “outside honor” coming her way next year. She is having a theatre in Joshua Tree named in her honor. “The Kaye Ballard Theatre” will open in March 2010. Not many people from Cleveland can boast having a theatre named for them. Congratulations Kaye! For more about Kaye Ballard, click here. For more about the Reprise Theatre Co., click here.  Palm Springs Guides Theatre & Cinema Guide Jack Lyons is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; the Writers Guild of America, West; and Screen Actors Guild and is interested in all things "show biz." An entertainment journalist, TV, radio and theater reviewer/critic seen locally in the Coachella Valley on channel My13 KPSE-TV on "Desert Entertainment This Week." Visit Jack's blog by clicking here. | |||||||
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