LEE ROY REAMS tells RICK McKAY of BACALL, MERMAN & JESUS on BROADWAY!

Happy Birthday to Lee Roy Reams, Broadway’s favorite singing, dancing, acting leading man! Lee Roy is shown in this short clip from RICK MCKAY’S BROADWAY: THE GOLDEN AGE FILM TRILOGY, telling the legendary story of what happens when icons go bump in the night - opening night, that is. Lee Roy started his career on Broadway shortly after coming from Covington, KY, when he was hired for the original cast of Bob Fosse’s SWEET CHARITY. From then on, he was one of the busiest guys on the Great White Way. He was personally cast by Richard Rodgers to play Will Parker in the Lincoln Center production of OKLAHOMA! that Rodgers directed, and was soon snapped up to play Duane Fox, the first openly gay lead character in a Broadway musical, in 1970’s APPLAUSE, opposite the legendary Lauren Bacall. He starred all over the country, as well as on Broadway, in 1974’s LORELEI with Carol Channing, and again in 1978 with the iconic blonde in a Broadway revival of HELLO, DOLLY! 1980 saw him nominated for a Tony award for his role as the ultimate singing and dancing young juvenile in Gower Champion’s 42ND STREET, which he played until being wooed away to star in Jerry Herman’s hit show LA CAGE AUX FOLLES.
A born raconteur, Lee Roy is equally busy touring the world with his one-man show or starring in AN EVENING WITH JERRY HERMAN. In 1994 he returned to Broadway to play Lumiere in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and in 1995 he directed and choreographed Carol Channing’s return to Broadway in HELLO, DOLLY! While working all over the country for the next decade he returned to Broadway to star in Mel Brooks’ THE PRODUCERS and recently starred with Kaye Ballard and Liliane Montevecchi in DOIN’ IT FOR LOVE.
The story that Lee Roy tells in this clip is one that is oft-repeated about the late, great icons Lauren Bacall and Ethel Merman. There are VERY few of the over 300 stars that I have filmed that I would let tell a story with no cuts at all - but Lee Roy is one of the few mega-talents that can tell a story as well as he holds a stage in a Broadway musical. Thank you Lee Roy for the joy you bring to us all, whether it is singing or dancing - or telling the best tales of life on the wicked stage. Lauren Bacall was a lucky lady to count you as her dear friend. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEE ROY!

[@tauntonlake]

I LOVE documentaries about OLD Broadway. Cannot get enough. I was born 30 years too late to see those shows live. :(

[@thevanderman]

Merman covering her ears and exclaiming "Jesus" is priceless...great story indeed!

[@MikeA15206]

How wonderful!!!!

[@czahnie]

What a great story!

[@unclealand]

I used to see Lee Roy Reams at the Golden Lions bar in Cincinnati. Pleasant fellow. John Iden (Sp?) Was the pianist and eventually on any given night every show tune written got played.

[@robjo1]

Woman Of The Year opened March 29, 1981 not in August.

[@doug18020]

Great story, BUT the opening night was March 29, NOT August.

[@aahwUNL11]

Also Puerto Rican Day is in June. This story is whackadoo.

[@nondescript2892]

Lee Roy Reams embellishing a juicy story,? Oh Honey...NEVER 🤣🤣

[@sjcohen4444]

Puerto Rican Day Parade is not in August.

[@Fossellini]

SJ Cohen - he took several liberties to tell his story: WOMAN OF THE YEAR opened on Broadway on March 29, 1981 - not August like in his story.