By Ligia Fernandez
To access past Entertainers columns, click on the Entertainers archive
link to the left.
June 2008
|
Source:
Dismuke's Message Board
|
Jessie Matthews
(1907 - 1981)
|
|
One of the brightest British musical stars of the 1930-40s,
Jessie Matthews began in vaudeville and rose to fame in the stage version
Rodgers & Hart hit musical EVER GREEN which told of a young woman
masquerading as her own mother. She later reprised her role in the
1934 film version (titled EVERGREEN) which includes such Rodgers & Hart
classics as "Dancing On The Ceiling" and "A Little Springtime in Your
Heart." When EVERGREEN premiered at Radio City Music Hall. Matthews as
dubbed the "British Ginger Rogers" by the American press.
Matthews next musical film, FIRST A GIRL, concerned a
shopgirl with musical ambitions who masquerades as a female impersonator.
Sound familiar? The film was remade decades later as VICTOR/VICTORIA
starring another British musical star, Julie Andrews. Other musicals
include SAILING ALONG and the Alfred Hitchcock-directed (yes, that Alfred
Hitchcock) WALTZES FROM VIENNA.
On Broadway, she appeared in the 1920s musical revues WAKE
UP AND DREAM and ANDRE CHARLOT'S REVUE OF 1924.
She was also a best-selling recording artist with hits
like "A Room With A View," Dancing on the Ceiling" and "Over My Shoulder."
A musical based on her life, OVER MY SHOULDER, premiered
in the West End in 2003 with Suzy Bloom playing young Jessie and Anne Rogers
as older Jessie. |
|
Source:
jrockingr.com |
Michael Rupert
(1951 - ) |
|
At 16, Michael Rupert landed a Theatre World and a Tony
nomination for his Broadway debut role as Bibi Bonnert in Kander & Ebb's THE
HAPPY TIME opposite Robert Goulet. Since then he has distinguished
himself as director and actor in a long line of musical theatre projects.
He is best known for originating the role of Marvin in
William Finn's trilogy FALSETTOS, MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS and FALSETTOLAND.
He won a Tony Award playing Charity's (played by Debbie Allen) neurotic
suitor Oscar in the 1986 revival of SWEET CHARITY. His other Broadway
credits include Pippin in PIPPIN, Alex in MAIL, Stine in CITY OF ANGELS,
Tateh in RAGTIME.
Rupert has also appeared in the television series LAW AND
ORDER, CHEERS, ALICE, CANNON, ONE LIFE TO LIVE and THE WALTONS.
He is currently entertaining Broadway audiences as sleazy
Professor Callahan in the hit musical LEGALLY BLONDE. |
|
Next update to this page: Sunday, July 6, 2008 |
|
|
