This is a weekly feature on BroadwayLiving.com.
It’s just like the game “Six Degrees of
Kevin Bacon”. You know how it goes…someone
throws out an actor’s name and you have to try
to connect them to Kevin Bacon in six steps or less.
I thought it might be fun to do the same thing with
the theater’s luminaries. I will be trying to
connect them to the longest running show in Broadway
history, The Phantom of the Opera and its very first “Phantom”,
Michael Crawford.
On May 3, 1960, forty-seven years ago yesterday, a
tall lanky 24 year old newcomer established his place
in the pantheon of musical theater when he originated
the role of El Gallo in The Fantasticks. That kid was
Jerry Orbach. His poignant rendition of “Try
to Remember” will live forever in our memories.
He went on to originate roles on Broadway in Carnival,
Promises, Promises (for which he won a Tony Award),
Chicago and 42nd Street to name a few. But perhaps
he will best be remembered for his portrayal of Detective
Lennie Briscoe on NBC’s Law and Order.
Alright, here goes:
1) Jerry Orbach starred in 42nd Street where Joel Blum
was a member of the ensemble
2) Joel Blum was in the 1994 Revival of Showboat with
Rebecca Luker
3) Rebecca Luker was the original Princess in “Hannibel” in
The Phantom of the Opera with Michael Crawford.
“
Where the underworld can meet the elite,
naughty, bawdy, gaudy, sporty
Forty-Second Street!”
…Julian Marsh in 42nd Street
So that’s the game. Join me each week as I try to come up with new ways
of connecting Michael Crawford to the entire theater community.
