WALTER WILLISON sings "MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY" by Styne, Comden & Green

Tony nominee and Theatre World Award winner WALTER WILLISON [Richard Rodgers' "Two By Two," "Pippin," "Grand Hotel," "Wild and Wonderful," "A Christmas Carol", et cetera] sings "MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY" by Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Jule Styne, in this clip from the brilliant multi-media retrospective, celebrating The 25th Annual William Inge Festival [the tributes rival The Kennedy Center Honors in quality], written and directed by Mike Wood. Before appearing on stage to perform the song live, he appears on film to reminisce about the 1987 IngeFest, which climaxed with Willison singing the song to the Legendary Director, playwright and screenwriter, Garson Kanin., who directed "DO, RE, MI" on Broadway, for which the song was originally written. Mr. Kanin, himself, appears with Mr. Willison at the end of the video, in a a brief clip from that 1987 production. More than a quarter-of-a-century earlier, Willison' s literary agent, the indomitable and Legendary Audrey Wood [who had also guided the careers of William Inge, Tennessee Williams, and so many others] had introduced him to Helene Inge Connell, sister of the playwright Pulitzer Prize William Inge winning playwright ["Bus Stop," "Picnic," "Come Back, Little Sheba" "The Dark at the Top of the Staris"] In the summer of 1981, he was invited to Inge's hometown of Independence, Kansas for the opening of The William Inge Library, at Independence Community College [where Inge had attended school] during "Neewollah" week, when he met Bill's childhood friend, Margaret Goheen, head of the drama department, who wanted to find a way to annually honor Inge in his hometown. Willison introduced her to Inge's friend and fellow Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Jerome Lawrence ["Inherit the Wind," "Auntie Mame," "Mame," et al], who came up with idea of annually honoring our greatest living American Playwrights and Broadway Composers & Lyricists with The William Inge Award for Distinguished Achievement in The American Theatre. Appropriately, Mr. Lawrence was chosen by the National Advisory Board of theatrical luminaries to be the first one honored. Robert Anderson, William Gibson, John Patrick and Garson Kanin followed. After nearly thirty years, IngeFest, four days of plays, seminars, workshops and galas in April, has grown and developed to include year round programs. New playwrights live in the house where William Inge grew up -- the one with "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs" -- as they develop new works, students work with professional actors, writers and directors. In April 2009, Mr. Willison returned for the 28th Annual William Inge Festival where he shared the stage with Susan Watson, Rita Gardner and Martin Vidnovic in "Remember & Celebrate: Honoring Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt,", creators of such shows as "The Fantasticks," "I Do! I Do!," "110 in the Shade" and "Collette Collage."
"Make Someone Happy" has gained new attention with the September 2009 release of Barbra Streisand's recording, on her "Love Is The Answer" CD [the title itself taken from the song lyric], and her live 9/24/09 performance on OPRAH.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Walter Willison
• Tony Award
• Pulitzer Prize
• Garson Kanin
• Broadway musicals
• theatre
• theater
• Independence
• Kansas
• William Inge
• Broadway musical
• Do
• Re
• Mi
• Richard Rodgers
• gay interest

[eyecmypets]

I wanted to share this beloved song from Do Ri Me and got a wonderful surprise...my dear FB friend Walter Willison is performing this old gem...."Make Someone Happy" and for none other than the equally beloved Garson Kanin!

Great morning surprise to bring in the daylight .

[BroadwayGoldnAge]

@eyecmypets -- So glad you found -- and liked -- this songs. It's always been one of my favorites, too.

[JubalCalif]

THANK You for posting this delightful clip! What a dynamite version of one of my favorite Broadway show tunes. What a magnificent voice Mr Willison has! You've MADE my day & my weekend! :)

[BroadwayGoldnAge]

@JubalCalif -- And you made my month by posting this beautiful note! Thanks so very much.

Best, WW

[onefowlball]

Carole's "little" sister Bambi is THRILLED you guys are back in touch after mucho time has passed, and I can't tell you how fabulous you are. ADORE you and your voice, too!

[BroadwayGoldnAge]

@onefowlball -- Holy Cow! And I've always adored Carole's "little" sister Bambi, and I am equally as THRILLED to be back in touch after far too many years, as well. Thanks for taking time to write such a sweet message -- and I'm glad you liked the clip.

Best, WW

[AngusTCat]

Absolutely wonderful.

[jhhone]

W.W. Rocks! :-D

Amazing Voice!

[hysen13]

So Beautifully sung! What a talented singer!

[BroadwayGoldnAge]

Thanks so much. I'm so glad you liked the song.

Best, WW

[BroadwayGoldnAge]

You too kind -- and it is greatly appreciated!

Best, WW