Television Six months after my injury ( Pleasures and Palaces ) I was ready to go back to work and had the privilege of working for Gene Kelly. He hired me as his dance-in for a television special. My audition for Mr. Kelly, unlike others, may have been the easiest I ever attended and took no more than five minutes. Participants went into a studio one at a time and sitting on a stool, he never demonstrated a single step. He asked for time-steps, traveling time-steps, shim-sham, maxi-ford, and a double pirouette. Things I had been doing since I was a child. Being an ardent fan and student of his films was also an advantage, although I did have to seriously concentrate during the audition from thinking THAT'S GENE KELLY. Upon the completion of two very clean pirouettes, he said "fine Don, go sign a contract". Working for Mr. Kelly a unique learning experience. I marveled at his perfection and use of the camera. Watching what he could demand from a camera, I quickly understood my role and his need for a dance-in. During the run of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, the productions choreographer Hugh Lambert asked me to be in a number that he was to choreograph for the Ed Sullivan television show. He needed three male dancers to work with Liza Minelli. This was Liza's big television debut and was a tremendous success.
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