PLAIN AND FANCY

Opened Mark Hellinger Theater 1955  -   Moved to Winter Garden Theater

I left Ankles Aweigh to join Plain and Fancy, the Broadway hit show starring Barbara Cook.  As a replacement, I had little time working personally with choreographer Helen Tameris. Most of my rehearsals were conducted by her assistant and dance captain, Phlip Nasta . However my audition for her proved to be most interesting.

Knowing "Ankles Awiegh was on borrowed time, I heard of an audition for the national company of "Plain and Fancy". I would have preferred staying in New York, but I needed a job.  Mrs. Tameris had us do some simple step across the floor and from this, those she choose, were asked to do pirouettes. I did them well enough for her to say, "Fine, wait in the wings", and proceed with another combination. This scenario continued another two or three times. All I did was watch from the wings while being called upon occasionally to come center stage and do as many pirouettes as I could.

I later discovered what was going on. While she was basically looking for dancers for the national company, she also needed one replacement for the New York production. Someone to be in the show and cover the two turners.  In the original choreography, the number "Plenty of Pennsylvania" had two male dancers challenge each other. The first does one pirouette; the second- two; the first-three; then both, as many as they could. Upon completion, they shook hands and joined the other dancers in a big moving circle.   The one who started the challenge usually won because he was the better turner and secondly, after having completed three pirouettes, he started later when both did as many as possible together.

I stayed with the show approximately one year and felt like I had it made. I was now in a successful Broadway show, making good money (Equity scale - $90 a week plus $5 for covering the turners)