How was Rebecca Luker even real? These scenes are so fantastic - they remind me of what an incendiary talent she was - her voice and her presence have no imperfection. Thank you for this gem.
WOW! This is the best cast I have seen. Lonette McKee is fantastic. Rebecca and Mark Jacoby and Elaine Stritch... so sad that many of them are gone now...
I'll never forget seeing this production -- Lonette Mckee's performance has been permanently etched into my brain and every time I revisit it, it's just as magnificent.
Thank you for yet another video which confirms what I knew since the Secret Garden, a lifetime ago. And was borne out through the decades following then. That Rebecca Luker was the greatest voice on Broadway in my lifetime.
I love this show so much! The movie from the 30s is such a classic! I hope they do a big revival in 2027 for the 100th anniversary! Thank you so much for this Aurora!
The work stands on its own. Why sully it up? This musical has historical importance. Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein were very brave and bold to put this story on stage almost 100 years ago.
BRAVO!!!!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 3:45 Lonette Mckee ("Can't Help Lovin That Man Of Mine") and 11:55 Gretha Boston ("Queenie's Ballyhoo") and 13:35 Lonette McKee ("Bill") [Then later]... 28:05 Terry Burrell ("Lovin That Man") and 31:15 Jo Ann Hawkins White ("Queenie's Ballyhoo").
I saw this when it opened, having seen Rebecca in Phantom and Secret Garden. I came away from showboat disappointed. I guess I'm in the minority here. I loved the show and knew it well , and had already seen the papermill playhouse version which feels like it's the definitive stage production. This version had great moments and staging but too much was missing somehow. It just felt flat and I remember that feeling coming out of the theater like I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong but it didn't feel like Showboat . Rebecca luker is always a gem for sure in anything she's in!
I never saw this production, but if you're referring to the Paper Mill version with Donald O'Connor that was broadcast on PBS, I thought it was pretty bad.
I was living in NYC in ‘94, and I will never forgive myself for not spending rent and grocery money to see this, and also Passion that year. It sucked being dead broke!
My mother was in musicals, and she wanted to know if my brother was 17 and I 9 at the time in Vancouver. Curiosity to see if I would appreciate this kind of thing. Honestly, 94 nintendo, friends, what not. Never even knew about stuff like this. Although I was blown away and we both the cd after and wanted to meet them and it was amazing. Especially watching the elderly woman busting out the Charleston at the ending I was F YEAH with like excitement and stood up and cheered a lot of others did. Such amazing thing to have to remember. I wish the showboat was still a thing to see today.
Lonette McKee’s “Bill” is all kinds of everything…too bad she wasn’t eligible for the Tony for this production. Her performance was emotionally devastating.
@@gregorywiederecht Had she been eligible, Lonette McKee would have been a strong contender for the win. Her definitive version of Bill (and overall portrayal) is still emblazoned in my mind after seeing it nearly a score ago.
Very noticeable how much slower the tempo for ‘Kim’s Charleston’ is with the replacement cast in the video vs. the original Toronto cast and the cast recording. Probably added at least 30 seconds to the run time of the show every night, and the time difference is on the title screens that lead into each (1:25 vs. 2:00).
I have the C.D. of the Toronto studio recording, and the tempo of every song presented here is discernibly slower than what’s available on that C.D. Edited for clarity.
Add my thanks to the chorus for uploading this! Although I do wish we had gotten Robert Morse on Broadway as Cap'n Andy than John McMartin. McMartin is a far superior actor to Morse, but doing 20s zaniness he seems a little uncomfortable, and it seems much more natural for Morse.
Even though I never watched a full production of Showboat with this cast I really like Gay’s portrayal of Magnolia better than Rebecca’s, Gay’s feels more girlish and Rebecca’s seems more womanly, yes Magnolia does become a woman during the course of the musical but in the beginning she’s 18, a girl and the actress should convey that and I feel like Gay does that perfectly during Make Believe but Rebecca was an amazing actress and her voice! Rest in peace, beautiful
I disagree. Gay's portrayal isn't girlish it is mediocre at best. She isn't authentically young you can tell she is acting. Rebecca's Luker was perfection.
How was Rebecca Luker even real? These scenes are so fantastic - they remind me of what an incendiary talent she was - her voice and her presence have no imperfection. Thank you for this gem.
The late, divine Rebecca Luker, the radiant Lonette McKee in a career defining performance... This wonderful company and production. Thanks!
Best Broadway musical I ever saw, and I've seen a LOT!! Was in tears with joy, along with my mother and sister
Omg so cool you got to see this live! :) This is such a great cast
that "Bill" rendition, is to die for...
Just heavenly.
Riveting and heartbreaking. One of the show’s standouts, bar none.
You said it!
Have you seen the original Julie Helen Morgan??Nobody sings Bill better than she did in.the 1936 movie
WOW! This is the best cast I have seen. Lonette McKee is fantastic. Rebecca and Mark Jacoby and Elaine Stritch... so sad that many of them are gone now...
Lonette and Mark Jacoby are still alive
I'll never forget seeing this production -- Lonette Mckee's performance has been permanently etched into my brain and every time I revisit it, it's just as magnificent.
Same here. Nearly a score later, Lonette McKee’s heartbreaking delivery of Bill is still the definitive version.
This remains the most glorious production of anything I have ever seen. It was just amazing.
Amazing to think that this show is almost 100 years old and still packs a punch.
Frightening how little has changed.
Thank you for yet another video which confirms what I knew since the Secret Garden, a lifetime ago. And was borne out through the decades following then. That Rebecca Luker was the greatest voice on Broadway in my lifetime.
This production is magnificent!
I love this show so much! The movie from the 30s is such a classic! I hope they do a big revival in 2027 for the 100th anniversary! Thank you so much for this Aurora!
@Musicales Random I'm sure it will be done with a VERY diverse cast. Like Hamilton, a story of the past, told by actors of the present.
The work stands on its own. Why sully it up? This musical has historical importance. Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein were very brave and bold to put this story on stage almost 100 years ago.
@musicalesrandom2289not a bad idea!! It will still hold up while expressing a new idea for the new generation!!! Theatre is for everybody!!
@musicalesrandom2289would see this production if they did !!!
Thanks for sharing., so glad to see another video with Rebecca Luker in your channel., Miss her and that voice.,
A phenomenal cast all the way around but, man, Lonette McKee is everything.
I’ve been looking for this for years. It was my first Broadway show as a kid. I’m literally tearing up. Thank you so much. Remarkable clips.
I think it was my second. I remember it vividly despite being quite young!
i'm a simple man, i see Rebecca Luker, i click.
BRAVO!!!!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 3:45 Lonette Mckee ("Can't Help Lovin That Man Of Mine") and 11:55 Gretha Boston ("Queenie's Ballyhoo") and 13:35 Lonette McKee ("Bill") [Then later]... 28:05 Terry Burrell ("Lovin That Man") and 31:15 Jo Ann Hawkins White ("Queenie's Ballyhoo").
I just cant wrap my head around how the Cotton Blossom fit backstage... Amazing performances, but Eugene Lee always kills it.
I saw this when it opened, having seen Rebecca in Phantom and Secret Garden. I came away from showboat disappointed. I guess I'm in the minority here. I loved the show and knew it well , and had already seen the papermill playhouse version which feels like it's the definitive stage production. This version had great moments and staging but too much was missing somehow. It just felt flat and I remember that feeling coming out of the theater like I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong but it didn't feel like Showboat . Rebecca luker is always a gem for sure in anything she's in!
I never saw this production, but if you're referring to the Paper Mill version with Donald O'Connor that was broadcast on PBS, I thought it was pretty bad.
It was the production I saw live on Broadway in 1995 unforgettable
Lovely that clip of Elaine, thank you!
I was living in NYC in ‘94, and I will never forgive myself for not spending rent and grocery money to see this, and also Passion that year. It sucked being dead broke!
My mother was in musicals, and she wanted to know if my brother was 17 and I 9 at the time in Vancouver. Curiosity to see if I would appreciate this kind of thing. Honestly, 94 nintendo, friends, what not. Never even knew about stuff like this. Although I was blown away and we both the cd after and wanted to meet them and it was amazing. Especially watching the elderly woman busting out the Charleston at the ending I was F YEAH with like excitement and stood up and cheered a lot of others did. Such amazing thing to have to remember. I wish the showboat was still a thing to see today.
Lonette McKee’s “Bill” is all kinds of everything…too bad she wasn’t eligible for the Tony for this production. Her performance was emotionally devastating.
Why wasn't she eligible?
@@gregorywiederecht She was nominated for the same role in a previous production of ShowBoat years prior.
@@thenygalavant ohhhhhhhh. I thought that was only an issue if you won the award for that role.
@@gregorywiederecht Had she been eligible, Lonette McKee would have been a strong contender for the win. Her definitive version of Bill (and overall portrayal) is still emblazoned in my mind after seeing it nearly a score ago.
Lonette McKee was a divine Julie on Broadway in '83 and '94.
so lovely.......
I have seen many performances of Showboat and Lonette McKee is the best I have seen in the role of Julie
Love the press reels
Just lovely!
Thanks for that!
Very noticeable how much slower the tempo for ‘Kim’s Charleston’ is with the replacement cast in the video vs. the original Toronto cast and the cast recording. Probably added at least 30 seconds to the run time of the show every night, and the time difference is on the title screens that lead into each (1:25 vs. 2:00).
I have the C.D. of the Toronto studio recording, and the tempo of every song presented here is discernibly slower than what’s available on that C.D.
Edited for clarity.
Add my thanks to the chorus for uploading this! Although I do wish we had gotten Robert Morse on Broadway as Cap'n Andy than John McMartin. McMartin is a far superior actor to Morse, but doing 20s zaniness he seems a little uncomfortable, and it seems much more natural for Morse.
Ah, skip the rest of the month. Madame Spiderwoman has provided one unsurpassable gift !
💕
Where is Renee Deighton?
How did Lonette not win a Tony for this?
Because she had previously played the same role on Broadway in the 1983 revival of "Show Boat." She was an unforgettable Julie in both productions.
Even though I never watched a full production of Showboat with this cast I really like Gay’s portrayal of Magnolia better than Rebecca’s, Gay’s feels more girlish and Rebecca’s seems more womanly, yes Magnolia does become a woman during the course of the musical but in the beginning she’s 18, a girl and the actress should convey that and I feel like Gay does that perfectly during Make Believe but Rebecca was an amazing actress and her voice! Rest in peace, beautiful
I disagree. Gay's portrayal isn't girlish it is mediocre at best. She isn't authentically young you can tell she is acting. Rebecca's Luker was perfection.
What a find! This was the probably the best Showboat production I've ever seen. Thanks so much for uploading this video.