On the TV program "What's My Line", Arlene Francis referred to Ms Lawrence as a "triple threat", someone who can sing, act and dance. I must disagree. The truth is she is so much more. Having just finished her autobiography, "The Backstage Story", I can add with great assurance her abilities as a writer, chef and humanitarian. One can only hope that she find time for a third book, about the music that filled her heart and ours.
Carol is so much lovelier than this image suggests. She is still the one and only Maria. No one since can match her voice, passion and purity in the the role.
Do you know anyone else in the original cast who has written about their experiences in WSS? I've heard tidbits, but I'd really like a full book. I read somewhere that around opening night, Jerome pasted an article on the sign-in board from that day's paper reporting fresh gang violence and wrote "THIS IS YOUR LIFE."
This is absolutely fascinating and so interesting. What a wonderful lady and singer and dancer Carol is. And now I find out she has worked with the greatest male dancer I've ever known, Garrett Minniti. Wayne L.
Carol never changes! She is an enthusiastic, sincerely, lively and lovely as always. She's truly absolutely in love with show business, with life and with people and she's still sharp and perceptive, warm and entrancing. She also wrote what I feel is the best cookbook anyone ever has done, "I Remember Pasta." I live about seven minutes from where she grew up in Melrose Park, Illinois, where she is still the talk of the town! She obviously adores Grover Dale but who doesn't?
This was really special. I first saw Ms. Lawrence on Saved by the Bell as a kid and was bowled over later on when I realized she was the original Maria. I was always floored that she didn't get a lot of major roles after the '60s.
And I agree with other posters--if you haven't written down your memories, you and the remaining bunch from the original production should!
Someday I'll summon the nerve to tell the backstage stories that have never seen the light of day. We were so bad. No wonder they cast us as gangmembers.
Carol Lawrence gave a fine one woman show at Ravinia last month(8/08)- singing and dancing her heart out at 76!- I was lucky enough to go backstage to meet her(and her guest artist, Lee Roy Reems). Very sweet lady - I mentioned this video and told her how cool it was- now it is not here? Hey Grover, did she come to see your show?? Also met her son Christopher Goulet, who was very supportive of his beautiful mom...
I absolutely love Carol Lawrence! Just finished reading her autobiography "The Backstage Story", and had no idea of her extremely difficult private life. She still shines like a million-watt star on the cast albums for "West Side Story", "Saratoga" and "Subways Are for Sleeping", plus her "Tonight at 8:30" solo album (and all four routinely get spins on my CD player!).
The best memories of all can be seen on this vid "West Side Story / 50 years later". Check it out. In a few days I'm posting a vid of a Japanese production of WSS I saw in Kyoto.
thanks for the reply, Grover Dale - awesome to speak to you. You should have been in the WSS film version - were you considered?
Carol Lawrence is coming here to the Chicago area to do her one woman show at Ravinia - I plan on seeing that!despite the high cost. Just wish Larry Kert was still with us - I thought that he was very underrated - wish he had done more tv & film....
Small world dept: The day after you see Carol Lawrence at Ravinia...she might fly down to Dallas the next day to see the opening night of a West Side Story production that I'm directing at the Lyric Stage.
Wow, I can't believe that this doesn't have any comments! This is so cool! You can tell they had a great time doing this and that they had a great time putting on the show all those years ago. And they remember everything so vividly. It's great.
On the TV program "What's My Line", Arlene Francis referred to Ms Lawrence as a "triple threat", someone who can sing, act and dance. I must disagree. The truth is she is so much more. Having just finished her autobiography, "The Backstage Story", I can add with great assurance her abilities as a writer, chef and humanitarian. One can only hope that she find time for a third book, about the music that filled her heart and ours.
martlet530 6 months ago
Comment removed
martlet530 6 months ago
Carol is so much lovelier than this image suggests. She is still the one and only Maria. No one since can match her voice, passion and purity in the the role.
sonnet30 1 year ago
I met the Carol Lawrence. She is so sweet and very funny. :)
JSpringfield1 1 year ago
y'know....that rings a bell. it's been 53 years!
groverd 1 year ago
Grover,
Do you know anyone else in the original cast who has written about their experiences in WSS? I've heard tidbits, but I'd really like a full book. I read somewhere that around opening night, Jerome pasted an article on the sign-in board from that day's paper reporting fresh gang violence and wrote "THIS IS YOUR LIFE."
KaitlynLela 1 year ago
This is absolutely fascinating and so interesting. What a wonderful lady and singer and dancer Carol is. And now I find out she has worked with the greatest male dancer I've ever known, Garrett Minniti. Wayne L.
waynegabi 2 years ago
so sweet. thanks for posting.
thenowcorporation 2 years ago
Carol never changes! She is an enthusiastic, sincerely, lively and lovely as always. She's truly absolutely in love with show business, with life and with people and she's still sharp and perceptive, warm and entrancing. She also wrote what I feel is the best cookbook anyone ever has done, "I Remember Pasta." I live about seven minutes from where she grew up in Melrose Park, Illinois, where she is still the talk of the town! She obviously adores Grover Dale but who doesn't?
waynebrasler 2 years ago
She is still fabulous. An american treasure. This is a joy to watch especially for those of us who love musical theater.
Thank you!
Kath13669 2 years ago
This was really special. I first saw Ms. Lawrence on Saved by the Bell as a kid and was bowled over later on when I realized she was the original Maria. I was always floored that she didn't get a lot of major roles after the '60s.
And I agree with other posters--if you haven't written down your memories, you and the remaining bunch from the original production should!
ErsatzWino 3 years ago
That was pure gold. Thank you so much.
uKooKu 3 years ago
Please write a book about what happened behind the scenes . At least record your memories if you have not already . Generations will thank you
BEVERYCUMMINS 3 years ago
Someday I'll summon the nerve to tell the backstage stories that have never seen the light of day. We were so bad. No wonder they cast us as gangmembers.
groverd 3 years ago
Oh my gosh! That is so cool! She is precious! And you are precious for having this video and being on youtube, Mr. Dale!
pickensj2 3 years ago
Carol almost got there. Rehearsals for Ravinia got in the way. Next time.
groverd 3 years ago
Carol Lawrence gave a fine one woman show at Ravinia last month(8/08)- singing and dancing her heart out at 76!- I was lucky enough to go backstage to meet her(and her guest artist, Lee Roy Reems). Very sweet lady - I mentioned this video and told her how cool it was- now it is not here? Hey Grover, did she come to see your show?? Also met her son Christopher Goulet, who was very supportive of his beautiful mom...
philiperic66 3 years ago
I absolutely love Carol Lawrence! Just finished reading her autobiography "The Backstage Story", and had no idea of her extremely difficult private life. She still shines like a million-watt star on the cast albums for "West Side Story", "Saratoga" and "Subways Are for Sleeping", plus her "Tonight at 8:30" solo album (and all four routinely get spins on my CD player!).
Oh, and BTW, I'm 26 years old!
BroadwayGuy25 3 years ago
Wow, that's so cool! I've listened to the soundtrack of the original broadway as well as the movie. I love it so much. I love West Side Story!
liltrix 3 years ago
this is wonderful - great to see Carol and hear Grover talking WSS - would love to hear more memories
philiperic66 4 years ago
The best memories of all can be seen on this vid "West Side Story / 50 years later". Check it out. In a few days I'm posting a vid of a Japanese production of WSS I saw in Kyoto.
groverd 3 years ago
thanks for the reply, Grover Dale - awesome to speak to you. You should have been in the WSS film version - were you considered?
Carol Lawrence is coming here to the Chicago area to do her one woman show at Ravinia - I plan on seeing that!despite the high cost. Just wish Larry Kert was still with us - I thought that he was very underrated - wish he had done more tv & film....
philiperic66 3 years ago
Small world dept: The day after you see Carol Lawrence at Ravinia...she might fly down to Dallas the next day to see the opening night of a West Side Story production that I'm directing at the Lyric Stage.
groverd 3 years ago
Oops. Forgot the location...the Lyric Stage is ten minutes from the Dallas airport.
groverd 3 years ago
Wait...you're the original Snowboy?
knighsplume 4 years ago
Yep. When you're a jet you're a Jet all the way, from your first cigarette to your last dyin' day.
groverd 4 years ago
OMFUnkyG that is so freaking cool!
knighsplume 3 years ago
Wow, I can't believe that this doesn't have any comments! This is so cool! You can tell they had a great time doing this and that they had a great time putting on the show all those years ago. And they remember everything so vividly. It's great.
IMthinkingGoAway 4 years ago