Broadway
 Dennis King (in the 1930 film 'The Vagabond King' |
 Quite a pair, eh? The very dapper Dennis King (left) and Buddy Hackett were the two stars in my parents first Broadway show, LUNATICS AND LOVERS. One night my parents were standing in the wings watching the show and Dennis King happened to walk by. He stopped, fixed his intense gaze upon both young thespians and asked, "Rex, Cleo, what are you doing?" They answered that they were observing the play trying to glean what they could from the various performances. Not missing a beat Dennis King replied, "The only thing that you might learn from this piece of shit is timing, and I'm not on stage."
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Rex Partington, Broadway Stage Manager
The Matchmaker
Among the Broadway shows my father stage managed, was the original Broadway production of Thorton Wilder's THE MATCHMAKER with Ruth Gordon. It opened on December 5, 1955 at the Royale Theatre, moved to the Booth Theatre on November 12, 1956 and closed there on February 2,1957 after a run of 486 performances.
Many wonderful stories came out of that experience and I used to enjoy hearing my father tell them all over and over again. The play was produced by the infamous David Merrick and the stories of working for and with him were enough to make your blood run cold.
"And don't forget to put the lid on the Sheep Dip!!!"
Many wonderful stories came out of that experience and I used to enjoy hearing my father tell them all over and over again. The play was produced by the infamous David Merrick and the stories of working for and with him were enough to make your blood run cold.
"And don't forget to put the lid on the Sheep Dip!!!"
My Fair Lady
My father stage managed the original Broadway production of the wonderful musical MY FAIR LADY. For over five years he was involved with what would become a true Broadway legend and he and my mother formed many lasting friendships with talented and famous colleagues. A show of this size, with this sort of success and longevity takes on a life of its own really. The company becomes a "family" and relationships and friendships form that would otherwise not be possible with a theatrical production which is short-lived.
My Dad, who loved to play baseball, among other sports, was a very good catcher in the Broadway Show League and played for a number of productions (teams), but MY FAIR LADY was probably his favorite team. My mother was at many a game to cheer him on and recalls him playing competitively but with great joy.
(Here is Julie Andrews in a 1991 video doing a short medley from MY FAIR LADY and the title song from CAMELOT)
My Dad, who loved to play baseball, among other sports, was a very good catcher in the Broadway Show League and played for a number of productions (teams), but MY FAIR LADY was probably his favorite team. My mother was at many a game to cheer him on and recalls him playing competitively but with great joy.
(Here is Julie Andrews in a 1991 video doing a short medley from MY FAIR LADY and the title song from CAMELOT)
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Jerry Adler, one of the stage managers my father worked with on MY FAIR LADY.
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Sally Ann-Howes, one of several actresses who played the part of Eliza in MY FAIR LADY after Julie Andrews left to do the show in London.
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