BELLS ARE RINGING

Shubert Theater - 1956

I went to the equity audition for " Bells Are Ringing" and Bob Fosse eliminated me immediately with his standard step-step soute attitude front, across the floor. I was so frustrated by this that I decided to hang around and watch the rest of the audition. Basically, knowing I might be asked to "please leave" at any given moment, I was sneaking around backstage trying to pick up as much of the combinations as I could with the intention of coming back the next day to the open call.  I did pretty well with this unorthodox effort and no one kicked me out. Later that day I rented a studio for a couple of hours and practiced the combinations as best as I could remember them. 

The next day I wore something completely different so that Fosse wouldn't remember me. While warming up, I noticed Jerome Robbins, who was to direct the show, sitting halfway back in the theater. Jerry had come in on "Ankles Aweigh" to doctor the show when they first suspected trouble in our out of town tryout. He came in with the agreement not to touch Tony Charmoli's dance numbers, but he watched them a lot and I had a feeling he liked my work. At least, I was hoping so when I spotted him out front.
I made through the soute's across the floor and Fosse proceeded with the first combination. When it came time for my group to go, I did pretty well, and well should have. I had gone through it a few dozen times the previous evening.

At Fosse's auditions, it was the custom to do the combinations in-groups of six or eight and upon completion, stand in line as Fosse walked by and said to each dancer either "thank you" or "stay".  After my group went, we stood there for a long time as Fosse went out front and spoke to Mr. Robbins. I suspected much of it was about me. Finally, he came on stage. I was third or fourth in line and he said "thank you" at  least two or three times before he got to me. When he did, he hesitated for a moment and said, "stay".  Starting to proceed down the line, he came back and said, "oh, by the way, you're dancing much better today".

I got the job and "Bells Are Ringing", starring Judy Holiday was a tremendous success, running 925 performances at the Shubert Theater.

I did two more shows for Mr. Fosse. - " How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and "Pleasures and Palaces".