I had the pleasure of experiencing two Broadway legends this weekend. It started on Friday with Carol Channing.It was almost magical. She was supposed to be interviewed, but she took over and performed for us. It was absolutely incredible. When she wasnt performing she was pulling threads from the garment of theatre history. She has worked with so many famous and incredible theatre showmen. Who else could comment on what Ethel Merman told her about an opening night performance? She ended the afternoon by singing "Hello Dolly" and she walked us through the number and directed us while we sang the chorus part. Then to top it off we got the opportunity to sing Happy Birthday to her. She will be 89 next week. The funny thing was she said she was brought up Christian Scientist and she didnt celebrate birthdays, the
host said, well I was brought up Southern Baptist and we do!
Bernadette Peters was more of a straight interview about her career and she has worked with several prominent Theatre professionals, but I guess her 61 years didnt quite hold as much experience as Carols 89. She did however sing a lullaby that she wrote for her daughter and it was absolutely beautiful. I didnt realize that her husband was killed in a helicopter crash while on business in Montenegro or somewhere like that. She didnt discuss it, but I was investigating her a little closer and discovered it. She lost him in 2005. I know I shouldnt find this shocking, but she was having difficulty remembering something and when she got it she proclaimed "Praise Jesus". I guess after the Christian Scientist Carol ( she very well may have changed by now) it caught me off guard. Carol indicated that she didnt directly follow their beliefs, but she didnt suggest what she did believe.
I really enjoy attending Theatre conferences where I get to meet legends of the theatre.
