If Mama Was Married

I thought you all might enjoy watching this video since there are so many theater mavens around this place. It’s a gem.

You reminded me that 32 years ago - May 21, 1991 (my friend's 30th birthday) - we were in NYC and wanted to see 'Phantom of the Opera' which was impossible to get tickets for at the time. The concierge at the hotel (an older Jewish woman who looked like Joan Rivers) convinced us to see GYPSY with Tyne Daly. "You won't be sorry!", she told us. So we bought the tickets, reluctantly, and saw it that night. (I could not imagine nasally Tyne Daly singing).

THE BEST MUSICAL I HAVE EVER SEEN ON BROADWAY - and I've been seeing musical since first going to NYC for business in 1989. Nothing has ever compared to that night - it was fantastic. Nothing has ever come close. Tyne was incredible !

The next night I saw that woman was working the concierge desk again. I went to one of the bodegas on the street and bought her a bunch of roses (for Rose in GYPSY) and brought them to her to 'thank her'. She pulled me aside and hugged me hard, and said something in Yiddish I never understood. She then told me that my appreciation made her job worthwhile. She loved the roses.

R2 - aw. I love that story. If I'm not mistaken, Tyne was also Arthur Laurents' favorite Rose. Okay, if that was your clear #1 Broadway experience... what have been the runner-ups?

If mama was married she ‘d still turn tricks for $20.

It's a living...

R3 Runners up would be Betty Buckley in 'Sunset Boulevard' (1996), Glenn Close in 'Sunset Boulevard' (2017), Donna Murphy in 'Hello Dolly' (2017), Harry Connick Jr in 'Pajama Game' (2006).