Lauren Bacall, John Kander, Fred Ebb, Woman of the Year rehearsal

Rare rehearsal footage of Lauren Bacall's 1981 musical "Woman of the Year," also featuring writers John Kander and Fred Ebb, choreographer Tony Charmoli, Harry Guardino, and featured actresses Helon Blount and Grace Keagy.

[@williamoser5953]

It is lovely to see John Kander and Fred Ebb together, too of the nicest people ever in the business. They came to see a production of Chicago that I was in and after the performance the cast, with me at the piano sang one after another of their great songs. They were so nice to all of us, it will be a night I remember as long as I live. Later they gave permission for me to appear as The Chorus in Zorba and they surprised us with a visit. Always kind and gracious.

[@Pipmus]

WOW!! WHAT MEMORIES THIS CLIP DIGS UP! I SURVIVED TWO MUSICALS WITH BACALL. BOTH A PLEASURE. SHE WAS ONE OF THE GIANTS---ALWAYS GAVE 150 PERCENT.. MAY SHE R.I.P. HOW ANOUT GRACE KEAGY? "WOMAN OF THE YEAR' DELIGHTFUL FUN SHOW. DON

[@jackanthony976]

DONALDPIPPIN: I just saw an interview on KZbin of one of Bacall's hairdressers and she stated that Bacall was usually mean to everyone except to makeup and hair staff. I also knew Kurt Johnson who acted with her on The Fan and he says that she was very closed. You don't get the impression that Bacall was a very nice person. But then so what? She was a star. Maybe that is why you used the word "survived" in describing your time with Bacall.

[@michaelcolors]

She's an Autumn, so she's going to express as a more authoritarian, no nonsense personality than a Spring person would (regardless of status). I enjoyed her so much in both this and Applause. What a national treasure! 🏋️♥️

[@shootiepie1977]

Grace was my grandmother, clips like these are such wonderful treasures to my family to see her doing what she loved!

[@evaldes22]

This clip is a treasure. Thanks!

[@lizafan1]

My 2nd Musical at the Colonial Theater here in Boston.When the curtain rose there was Miss Lauren Bacall in a shirmmering gown ,singing she's the "WOMAN OF THE YEAR" She made my young gay heart sing.What a wonderful afternoon I had in that theater,and so did the SRO audience.I'll never forget it don't ch know.

[@darlenearden]

What a treasure this is! A true gift. Thank you so much for posting it. I'm saving it to Favorites to watch again and again and again.

[@terryhammond1253]

🎹 Incredible clip. Thankyou, Alan, for posting. 🎹

[@MrRobsonFF]

Thank you so much!!!! Amazing vid!!!

[@Glinkaism1]

+Robson Ferrera A gift from our room host, Alan.

[@MrRobsonFF]

+Roger Wilco And what a gift!!!! ;-)

[@Glinkaism1]

Grazie!

[@michaelbiagi8875]

The AMAZING Julie Hughes and Barry Moss--Casting agents. Julie Hughes negotiated my 1st contract, for '76 MACK & MABEL, when I still lived in CA--3 weeks before moving to NYC, to begin rehearsals. Norman Rothstein and Julie Hughes...they were true 'Broadway Royalty' in my book!!

[@saskwatcher]

Wow. The first Broadway show I saw-So pleased that Bacall was such a decent person. Nice when the legends turn out to be good people too.

[@jackanthony976]

Bacall's hairdresser says that she was usually mean to everyone except to her hair and makeup person.

[@airborne8282]

I think that's Jon Vandertholen auditioning with the song "Come Back To Me" from ON A CLEAR DAY. Richard Glendon Larsen is the tall-ish blond next to Bacall in "One Of The Boys." "It Isn't Working" was always one of my favorite Broadway numbers ever, in concept, writing, staging, and performance.

[@dianaaljadeff2983]

John Kander is still alive at 95 in 2022.

[@skeever]

WOW!! THANK YOU!

[@Glinkaism1]

As and on-again/off-again actor/singer, sometimes ever dancer (GASP), I want to thank you so very much, Alan. Do you have more? CHEERS! Song reminds me of "Just Once of those Songs," another great energized songs.

[@aeichler]

+Roger Wilco Thanks. Check out my channel for more rarities.

[@Glinkaism1]

I did. Found Cloris Leachman singing from Guys & Dolls. Do you have any more rehearsal, too, Alan?

[@aeichler]

+Roger Wilco This was a demo shot for a proposed documentary on the show, but it didn't sell and this is all that I have.

[@Glinkaism1]

Alan Eichler Well, I LOVE it. Thanks. I like that song. It sounds like "Just One of Those Songs." There are several versions of it. I like it sung by Jimmy Durante. "Well, this is one of those songs that you hear now and then. You don't know just where. You don't know just when...."

[@paulstud]

this is remarkable footage. THANK you. But isn't that Grace Keagy as Hilda (not Helen Blount)?

[@aeichler]

+Andrew Zerman Yes, it's Grace, but Helon is seen auditioning.

[@paulstud]

I started casting on Broadway about this time. I suspect I know all those auditioners. But I can't recognize anybody. Is that Larry Kurt with his back to us? It does capture exactly what Broadway auditions were like. Great seeing Barry and Julie - and Robert Warners, one of the sexiest chorines to be felled by AIDS.

[@Glinkaism1]

+Andrew Zerman Took so many talented people. 100 percent avoidable disease for adults. That is, unless a mere baby gets it, which is the most tragic.

[@JR-ck4fq]

It's sad to see the dancers knowing the apocalypse that were about to hit them in only a few years

[@jackanthony976]

We now have another apocalypse that is far worse.

[@ilfranchi]

Who is the choreographer who works with Tony Charmoli?

[@teeniebeenie8774]

fun,, but she don't sing....she talks songs

[@hawby7mgh]

It’s STAR persona. She learned how to make it all work w/ 2 TONY awards.