What a guy! I was raised by a woman who belted out show tunes, and I learned the Roger's and Hammerstein canon early. Then I discovered A Chorus Line and all the winners you mentioned. My high school musical was Sweet Charity and I was one of the dancers in Charity's "club" and got to sing "Hey Big Spender!"
I lived in NYC for years in my twenties (trying to get acting jobs, so waiting tables) and always loved to spend my nights off at the theater after a day standing in line at TKTS. And I still always sing bway tunes when I'm driving alone.
Ah, a kindred spirit...Hey big spender! I love that show so much. That music. Gwen Verdon's distinctive voice and personality. All of it. I waitressed in NY too, for quite a while. TKTS! And SRO...the good old days. xo
Nan, I can picture you belting out your repertoire. My favorite graf: the ritual of playing an album, Tepper style. How careless I was. Your dad would have shuddered. No wonder all my albums were scratched.
So important to practice mindful vinyl care! My dad would have taken your listening privileges away in a heartbeat. I'm glad you liked that graf. I put a lot of thought into describing the process, it was so core to my dad's personality and standards. xo
What a delight this essay was from start to finish, you have me humming my favorite Broadway tunes now. I am so glad your dad and you shared this love of the Broadway theatre & music, of music in general, and it reminds me of my mom who loved Broadway shows too, especially Fiddler on the Roof & West Side story & Man of La Mancha. My older daughter & I taking her to see ‘Cats’ in 2019, such a treat. One of the last shows I took her to was to see ‘The King & I’ in Sarasota, FL but it broke my heart that because of her worsening dementia the season tickets I got for us for the local performing arts center for the 2021-2022 season were a dashed dream—she couldn’t manage it. Hugs to you Nan 💗
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Amy. Yes! Man of La Mancha! I'm sorry she missed The King and I, but happy that the music gave her so much pleasure. Shall we dance? Sending you hugs back, Amy!
Yup, he was that. It was not a perfect relationship, because no relationship is. And I adored him. One of my greatest regrets was not being of the age to have seen Angela Lansbury create the role. But my dad did! I definitely possessed Broadway envy! xo
Fun read (listen, actually), Nan. Love how you bring these memories alive.
Though my dad appreciated music (he had a special fondness for the Crooners and barbershop quartets), my and my sibling's love of it was driven by my mom. So many show tunes are forever imprinted in my head! Her real talent, with years of training beneath it, was piano, but she was an essential part of her choir (also an alto) because she understood music so well. I'm so glad to have grown up with those influences!
And you're right, Angela Lansbury's gown is amazing!
This is SO cool, Elizabeth. I'm glad you listened. I love recording my stories. I feel very lucky that both of my parents were so devoted to exposing us to the arts. Culture was so important in my family. And OMG, that gown. I think that might be one of the reasons my dad cried when we watched it together live. He was an amazing designer. I have no doubt that would have designed a gown that gorgeous.
It's wonderful that you and your father shared a passion for Broadway and show tunes. What a treat to see Bea Arthur and Angela Lansbury again - thank you for sharing it!
Thanks, Cathy! I love everything about that video. But oh, my goodness, that gown on Angela Lansbury is one of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen. Stunner! xo
I love this essay! Wow. I'm from New York City and went to a number of Broadway plays, which I loved. Your dad was amazing, and he passed the gift of loving music, as well as musicals, to you. Plays and music, in general, are therapeutic and so healing for what ails us.
I also love Pippin -- I saw Ben Vereen in Pippin during his breakout role. Miss Saigon was terrific. Now that I'm living in the Chicago area, I've fallen in love with a really small theater in a suburb. Quality productions and the small size of the theatre ensures great seats.
Thank you for writing this. I so appreciate your love for theater.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I got to see Ben Vereen, John Rubinstein, and Jill Clayburgh, too. What a treat that day was. I think I was 13 at the time. Sing!
Me too! I started reading your post today, and then got interrupted. I can't wait to go back to it, what I've read so far is stunning. Oh, our lives, huh? xo
Oh, thanks for the video. Made my day! I'm from Boston and have never been to New York City. Can you believe it? It's on my bucket list, the Met and some Broadway shoes. Can't wait!
It's definitely worth at least one trip! And I saw Hamilton in Boston, because even though still quite pricey, it wasn't as out of reach as if I'd try to see it on Broadway! xo
Wonderful Fathers Day tribute and love letter to him and Broadway. Far away in California I was singing along the same albums—until Dylan and Peter Paul and Mary stole my heart. Thanks for the trip back in memory.
There are so many great loves, musically. I left out a lot of faves too, because they didn't fit into my Broadway genre! I could talk about it for hours. xo
That is a hard part about writing an essay, leaving out the things you love that the topic makes you think about. I spent a good part of the weekend listening to The Beach Boys after learning of Brian Wilson’s death.
Love this - what a poignant base of memories and shared time, Nan. I am Broadway-clueless! I have never even heard of Mame. I enjoyed the video….there’s even a Toklas/Stein line in there. Awesome. I am most struck in this by the reverent instructions for handling the albums and thus being allowed in the sacred space. — I hope your memories are mostly good this month.
Isn't that Toklas/Stein line a hoot? Absolutely love that every time I watch/listen/sing along. The album care was his thing for sure. It was a special bond, but one I came by a little reluctantly, because I just wanted to get to the singing, but I took it seriously. It was challenging to describe! xo
Thanks, Nan. I was growing up in South Florida, far from Broadway, but the few albums I had were playing every afternoon after school and I sang and sang, danced and danced. They saved my soul!
What a guy! I was raised by a woman who belted out show tunes, and I learned the Roger's and Hammerstein canon early. Then I discovered A Chorus Line and all the winners you mentioned. My high school musical was Sweet Charity and I was one of the dancers in Charity's "club" and got to sing "Hey Big Spender!"
I lived in NYC for years in my twenties (trying to get acting jobs, so waiting tables) and always loved to spend my nights off at the theater after a day standing in line at TKTS. And I still always sing bway tunes when I'm driving alone.
Ah, a kindred spirit...Hey big spender! I love that show so much. That music. Gwen Verdon's distinctive voice and personality. All of it. I waitressed in NY too, for quite a while. TKTS! And SRO...the good old days. xo
And going in for the second act was fun, and felt dangerous and risky!
I never did that, but I was always tempted.
Only did it a couple of times...
I think that's very brave!
My dear friend David showed me NYC from every angle. I miss him still!
Nan, I can picture you belting out your repertoire. My favorite graf: the ritual of playing an album, Tepper style. How careless I was. Your dad would have shuddered. No wonder all my albums were scratched.
So important to practice mindful vinyl care! My dad would have taken your listening privileges away in a heartbeat. I'm glad you liked that graf. I put a lot of thought into describing the process, it was so core to my dad's personality and standards. xo
Such a lovely tribute! And thank you for sharing the clip. Wow!!!
Thanks, Nome! This was so much fun to write. I felt like I spent the whole time with my dad. And yes, ooh la la for Angela and Bea!
What a delight this essay was from start to finish, you have me humming my favorite Broadway tunes now. I am so glad your dad and you shared this love of the Broadway theatre & music, of music in general, and it reminds me of my mom who loved Broadway shows too, especially Fiddler on the Roof & West Side story & Man of La Mancha. My older daughter & I taking her to see ‘Cats’ in 2019, such a treat. One of the last shows I took her to was to see ‘The King & I’ in Sarasota, FL but it broke my heart that because of her worsening dementia the season tickets I got for us for the local performing arts center for the 2021-2022 season were a dashed dream—she couldn’t manage it. Hugs to you Nan 💗
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Amy. Yes! Man of La Mancha! I'm sorry she missed The King and I, but happy that the music gave her so much pleasure. Shall we dance? Sending you hugs back, Amy!
Watching old clips of the greats reminds me how impressed I am to have lived during their lifetimes. Wonderful piece of your dad - your bosom buddy.
Yup, he was that. It was not a perfect relationship, because no relationship is. And I adored him. One of my greatest regrets was not being of the age to have seen Angela Lansbury create the role. But my dad did! I definitely possessed Broadway envy! xo
It's been a long-held dream to see a play or musical on Broadway. I'm not sure I will ever make it, so I love reading stories about it.
Oh, gosh. I hope you do make it. It's pretty great!
Fun read (listen, actually), Nan. Love how you bring these memories alive.
Though my dad appreciated music (he had a special fondness for the Crooners and barbershop quartets), my and my sibling's love of it was driven by my mom. So many show tunes are forever imprinted in my head! Her real talent, with years of training beneath it, was piano, but she was an essential part of her choir (also an alto) because she understood music so well. I'm so glad to have grown up with those influences!
And you're right, Angela Lansbury's gown is amazing!
This is SO cool, Elizabeth. I'm glad you listened. I love recording my stories. I feel very lucky that both of my parents were so devoted to exposing us to the arts. Culture was so important in my family. And OMG, that gown. I think that might be one of the reasons my dad cried when we watched it together live. He was an amazing designer. I have no doubt that would have designed a gown that gorgeous.
It's wonderful that you and your father shared a passion for Broadway and show tunes. What a treat to see Bea Arthur and Angela Lansbury again - thank you for sharing it!
Thanks, Cathy! I love everything about that video. But oh, my goodness, that gown on Angela Lansbury is one of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen. Stunner! xo
I thought the same thing!
Nan,
I love this essay! Wow. I'm from New York City and went to a number of Broadway plays, which I loved. Your dad was amazing, and he passed the gift of loving music, as well as musicals, to you. Plays and music, in general, are therapeutic and so healing for what ails us.
I also love Pippin -- I saw Ben Vereen in Pippin during his breakout role. Miss Saigon was terrific. Now that I'm living in the Chicago area, I've fallen in love with a really small theater in a suburb. Quality productions and the small size of the theatre ensures great seats.
Thank you for writing this. I so appreciate your love for theater.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I got to see Ben Vereen, John Rubinstein, and Jill Clayburgh, too. What a treat that day was. I think I was 13 at the time. Sing!
I love this. The relationship you shared with you dad through this music is just so tender. I’m glad you had that language.
Me too! I started reading your post today, and then got interrupted. I can't wait to go back to it, what I've read so far is stunning. Oh, our lives, huh? xo
Oh, our lives for sure. So much unnecessary suffering.
Yes, my dear, dear friend. Sending you my love and gratitude. xo
Oh, thanks for the video. Made my day! I'm from Boston and have never been to New York City. Can you believe it? It's on my bucket list, the Met and some Broadway shoes. Can't wait!
It's definitely worth at least one trip! And I saw Hamilton in Boston, because even though still quite pricey, it wasn't as out of reach as if I'd try to see it on Broadway! xo
Wonderful Fathers Day tribute and love letter to him and Broadway. Far away in California I was singing along the same albums—until Dylan and Peter Paul and Mary stole my heart. Thanks for the trip back in memory.
Thanks, Leslie. My dad loved The Mamas and The Papas, Carol King, Simon and Garfunkel, and The Beatles. I loved them, too.
Oh yes! I made too small a list, all of them good for singing along.
There are so many great loves, musically. I left out a lot of faves too, because they didn't fit into my Broadway genre! I could talk about it for hours. xo
That is a hard part about writing an essay, leaving out the things you love that the topic makes you think about. I spent a good part of the weekend listening to The Beach Boys after learning of Brian Wilson’s death.
It's true, but the stuff I leave out can be told in another essay! xo
Love this - what a poignant base of memories and shared time, Nan. I am Broadway-clueless! I have never even heard of Mame. I enjoyed the video….there’s even a Toklas/Stein line in there. Awesome. I am most struck in this by the reverent instructions for handling the albums and thus being allowed in the sacred space. — I hope your memories are mostly good this month.
Isn't that Toklas/Stein line a hoot? Absolutely love that every time I watch/listen/sing along. The album care was his thing for sure. It was a special bond, but one I came by a little reluctantly, because I just wanted to get to the singing, but I took it seriously. It was challenging to describe! xo
A beautiful tribute and fabulous! xx
Thanks, Rhaine! xo
Thanks, Nan. I was growing up in South Florida, far from Broadway, but the few albums I had were playing every afternoon after school and I sang and sang, danced and danced. They saved my soul!
That sounds so familiar! And those songs do save us, don't they? So much hope there, so much joy. xo
Beautiful memories of music and your father, Nan! What a gift for him to pass on – a love of musicals!
Thanks, Wendy. It was the sweetest thing to share with him. xo
I'm always learning something new about my good friend Nan Tepper. xo
All kinds of surprises abound! xo
Well, post Slam I've signed up for an Improv class!!!
That's amazing! How fun for you. xo