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re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL

Posted by: DivaDayton 02:37 pm EDT 03/15/14
In reply to: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL - Teacher64 12:38 pm EDT 03/15/14

Omg! I was in that show. It was directed by Charles Nelson Reilly but Burt Reynolds himself
Came in to personally help Jim Nabors. He had
Never done a stage role and the first one he was
Tackling was Harold Hill? I was a Pick a Little
Lady. Very funny memories of that show. The
Song "Marian" was one, as it is set in a very
Specific rhythm as you know, and Mr Nabors
Would jump the gun in reh and perf and of course
The domino effect was hysterical. Same thing
With "Trouble". We'd be repeating "trouble, trouble,trouble" quietly underneath his dialogue, waiting for the proper rhythm cue to loudly go
"TROUBLE" and that would be so off, we would
Not know what to do! Lol! Yes, he has a great voice and he was the sweetest man and very
good friends with Burt, but way over his head.
Florence was a pro and so much fun with the cast. Our housing had a staircase just like the
Brady Bunch household, so we took a great
Pic of us re-enacting the famous pic-I was
"The youngest one in curls". And Mr Reilly was
A dream of a person. His directing style was
Very loose and his favorite catch phrase was to
Say "it's only the first day" until the LAST day
Of rehs. I was lucky enough to also do "Best
Little Whorehouse" there as well. Great memories.
Hope this answers your question.


reply to this message |
Great post! Thanks for sharing! (nm)

Posted by: AlanScott 06:20 pm EDT 03/15/14
In reply to: re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL - DivaDayton 02:37 pm EDT 03/15/14

nm


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re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 03:55 pm EDT 03/15/14
In reply to: re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL - DivaDayton 02:37 pm EDT 03/15/14

Great post! Can you tell us, where -- if at all -- in THE MUSIC MAN did Nabors use his "legit" singing voice, as opposed to his natural speaking voice? His "legit" sound would seem complete inappropriate for most of Harold Hill's songs.


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re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL

Posted by: DivaDayton 04:39 pm EDT 03/15/14
In reply to: re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL - Michael_Portantiere 03:55 pm EDT 03/15/14

Calling all fellow members of that show! Please help me out!
I will try but that was over 30 years ago.
I seem to remember him trying to be more conversational in his singing, maybe in "Trouble",
but the rest, was his usual legit style, with a simple wide eyed ( or should I say "deer in the
Headlights) apologetic style... Well, at least in the
beginning. But as he continued working with Burt
and probably Florence and got more confident,
the acting and the singing became more
Appropriate to the traditional way the show is
Sung, but let 's face it: the people were there to
see these 2 big personalities from TV be what
they expected them to be, so not too far off from
that. Jim's opening night speech started with
"Golly, these kids up here work hard".


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PS-re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL

Posted by: DivaDayton 02:58 pm EDT 03/15/14
In reply to: re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL - DivaDayton 02:37 pm EDT 03/15/14

Burt Reynolds had a really incredible intern program. They would work w Burt after the
shows and I would stay to observe. He was an
Incredible director! They and I learned so much.
I never understood why he did not take that
way with his career after movie roles waned.
I was there when the theatre was completely
redesigned to have special VIP boxes for
His star friends to come in unnoticed and enjoy
The shows. This was in the 80's, so to see Burt
and Sylvester Stallone, in their prime, sneak
Backstage (yes, every man and woman's jaw
Dropped), to meet Dolly Parton, with the highest
Heels I have seen and to have them and many more, after the audience left, join with us in the
Lobby and sing and entertain each other, was
Pure heaven.


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re: PS-re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL

Posted by: Billhaven 03:12 pm EDT 03/15/14
In reply to: PS-re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL - DivaDayton 02:58 pm EDT 03/15/14

A million thanks for your wonderful posts. Charles Nelson Reilly was the funniest, warmest people I have ever met.


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re: PS-re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL

Posted by: showtunetrivia 03:04 pm EDT 03/15/14
In reply to: PS-re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL - DivaDayton 02:58 pm EDT 03/15/14

Those are great posts, DD!

Laura


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re: PS-re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL

Posted by: DivaDayton 03:24 pm EDT 03/15/14
In reply to: re: PS-re: Jim Nabors as HAROLD HILL - showtunetrivia 03:04 pm EDT 03/15/14

Ah! Thanks. Just what keeps one in showbiz.
When you have memories like these, you pray and insist more must be on the way.


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