It takes a village . . . godmothers . . . magic wands . . . and restoking the fire before miracles are allowed to happen. That’s a universal rule, I’m sure of it.
For those who are new to the Cinderella Journey, our memoir book, Cinderellas of West 53rd Street, percolated as an idea early in the 21st Century. Writers came and went, but those who stayed the course will soon see publication! Not on the level of the political blockbusters chronicling the history of these United States, but rather a reflection of we, the people, working in the often-fickle world of entertainment. Come to think of it, politics runs a close parallel, yes? Especially, since the King of the famous quote, “You’re Fired!” became President. We’re still wrestling out from under that stigma.
Meanwhile, the Rehearsal Club world continues to represent women (and sometimes many a man) supporting other women to accomplish chosen goals. Since the Rehearsal Club closed in 1979, many of its former residents, like me, are older — but wiser. Looking back, we take great pride in our history while continuing to create a new creative history. Yet . . . we all miss what once was . . .
Photos were especially precious — unlike today’s world of digital and storing in the “Cloud.” Many Broadway shows were photographed by the late Martha Swope whose legacy is being held by Lincoln Center. We’re still waiting for “permission” to print photos given to us by Martha! Henry Grossman just happened to shoot The Rothschilds, giving me the permission gift years ago.
Meanwhile, some photographers like Kevyne Baar, who as Kathe Baar, company photographer for Godspell, turned all her negatives over to me to find all our Rehearsal Club women who did companies of Godspell (and there were many)! Kevyne recently wrote a poem dedicated to the world of the photographer before digital:
A Picture Taker, by K. Kevyne Baar
I miss proof sheets.
I miss taking a finished roll of film into a lab
Where a short time later I’d be handed an envelope
Containing the results of my latest endeavor:
36 tiny rectangles with matching negatives.
I miss my loupe
And all the surprises it revealed,
Gliding across those tiny rectangles
As I searched for the results of what
I saw through my view finder.
And oh, do I miss grease pencils
Shaping those tiny rectangles into
Headshots, production photos,
Scenic panoramas, family gatherings.
But above all else, I miss time
Existing only for that moment
As the shutter closed.
The Rehearsal Club Godspell women have gone on to Law & Order in all its incarnations, directing, film (on-camera and behind-the-scenes) and whatever else this business had to offer since Godspell opened at the Promenade Theater in 1971. The movie just had its 50th anniversary reunion with Katie Hanly (in color below). Other companies featured Melanie Mayron, Annie O’Donnell, Charla Hayen and Melinda Tanner. The following collection of Godspell photos is subject to change depending on the size and layout of our book by Bear Manor Media.
