Tag: Carol Channing

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Carol Channing: Larger Than Life

Entertainment One US will release CAROL CHANNING: LARGER THAN LIFE in New York and Los Angeles on January 20, 2012, with additional markets to follow.

I’m very happy to say I’m in the film speaking with my fellow “Hello, Dolly!” cast members about working with Carol and how much we love and respect her.

Performing with Carol for over two and a half years was one of the happiest things I never planned for in my life. Opening nights were an incredible experience – especially on Broadway when the audience gave Carol the longest standing ovation I’ve ever seen. She was an absolute pro to work with and truly gifted. There’s a reason why she’s had such a lengthy career.

The film, directed by Dori Berinstein (ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway, Some Assembly Required, Gotta Dance), examines the life and career of the Tony Award-winning Broadway legend – her extraordinary stage life, her offstage struggles and survival and the extraordinary storybook romance that found her reunited with her junior high school sweetheart after over 70 years.

On top of her long, long career, she’s given much of her time to help charitable organizations like Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and raising awareness of the value of the arts in public schools. When we were on the road with “Dolly” the cast put together a “Chippendales”-esque show that we would perform after “Dolly” performances to raise money for AIDS charities – and Carol insisted on making an appearance at those shows to help raise money.

In the film, in addition to lots of clips from her life, captures the rehearsals for last year’s “Gypsy of the Year” event which is an annual fundraiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The opening number was in honor of Carol, and the organizers brought several members of the 1995 Broadway revival of “Hello, Dolly!” to perform with her. Lucky for me I was next to Carol the whole number, reveling in being onstage with Carol again.

If you see the film open near you, I highly suggest you go see it. Carol is charming as ever, and many stars speak about Carol and her amazing career. AND I get to tell a very heart felt story about Carol and a member of our revival who was ill. You’ll have to see the film to watch me tell the story.

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“Carol Channing: Larger Than Life”

The men of "Hello, Dolly!" with Carol at Gypsy of the year

The legendary Broadway star Carol Channing in Hello, Dolly!
The legendary Broadway star Carol Channing in Hello, Dolly!
In late May 1994, I was an unemployed actor – again – in NYC. Upon checking the mail on a Wednesday morning, my last unemployment check had arrived and I had no acting job in sight. For years I had worked steadily and supported myself as an actor. It looked like that career was about to take a break. Continue reading ““Carol Channing: Larger Than Life””

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“Carol Channing: Larger Than Life” – a documentary

“Carol Channing: Larger Than Life,” directed by Dori Berinstein, written by Dori Berinstein and Adam Zucker. (United States) – World Premiere, Documentary.

This film will debut at the world famous Tribeca Film Festival. It is a celebration of the life of Carol Channing, whom I love so dearly.

The story of legendary performer Carol Channing’s life is as colorful as the lipstick on her big, bright smile.

Director Dori Berinstein captures the magic and vivacity of the 90-year-old actress and throws it at the screen like roses at the stage during curtain call. You’ll have a grin on your face and a tear in your eye, evidence that the original Dolly Levi is still glowin’, still crowin’ and still goin’ strong.

At this past years’ “Gypsy of the Year” event on Broadway, the men of the last revival of “Hello, Dolly!” were reunited with Carol to perform together once again.

During the rehearsals, the men were invited by Dori to sit down, with cameras rolling, and reminisce about our time doing “Hello, Dolly!” and life in general with Carol. It was a really wonderful, cathartic few hours spent in a room with men I greatly respect, talking about someone we universally admire and love.

I’m really looking forward to seeing this film celebration of Carol’s life and career.

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Carol Channing turns 90 today!

My dear Carol Channing celebrates her 90th birthday today. I recently performed with her again last month (picture above) in the opening number of the Gypsy of the Year competition, which is a major charity event for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.  She brought the house down as only she can. For those that don’t know, I spent two and a half incredible years performing with Carol in the last Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!.  I eventually became the production supervisor where she would ask me for notes – on how to perform the role of Dolly Levi!  As if I could tell her anything she didn’t already know. A quick Carol story: when I was supervising Dolly on tour, one day we had a particularly long and dreadful travel day – two planes, a bus, a train and a donkey or two – to get to what Carol called “a soccer arena” where we would perform the show that night. In the sound check Carol looked down and realized that the musician’s pit was 25 feet beneath us.  This was the pit that I had to leap over every night in the middle of the Hello, Dolly! number.  For the first time in 30 years of doing the show she decided this was dangerous. After the sound check she came looking for me to ask if someone could put a net or something between the pit and the stage in case those of us who jumped over the pit happened to fall into it. At this point, I had 30 minutes before the performance and was taking a long shower to rid myself of the long travel day.  This being a “soccer arena” the showers where open showers in a locker room. Covered in soap and standing under the water I suddenly heard a very low baritone voice say “Randy.” I turned and there was Carol, in the open showers with me, smiling. She waited for me to turn and went into her concerns about the pit, a net and all sorts of other things as I stood there completely naked.  When she finished expressing her concerns I said, “Absolutely Carol.  But right now I’m soaking wet, taking a shower.” She looked me up and down, smiled and said “Oh! Yes, of course.  Well, you know – we’re all just show folk,” and then turned and left me to finish my shower.  Nudity was nothing to this old pro who had changed costumes in the wings for decades. Celebrate our fabulous Carol Channing today.  As she likes to say – the first 90 years are the hardest…