It was not publicly known. William Madison's bio of Kahn says that she was informed on Wednesday, April 19, 1978, that the producers wanted to let her go. According to the book, she missed the matinee that day but returned that evening. There are a number of factual errors in the chapter, including the date of her last performance in the show. Twice, including the date given for her last performance, Madison thinks that the show was playing Sunday matinees, which it was not doing at this time. It would not start playing Sunday matinees till December. She played her final performance on Saturday evening, April 22, while Madison gives the date of her performance as April 23.
My parents attended her final performance. Just by chance. I have heard that it was one of her best performances, perhaps the best she had ever given in the show.
Judy Kaye has said that she did not even know till Monday, April 24, that she would be taking over. She knew something was going on, but she thought it might be that she would be playing matinees, which is what Kahn supposedly proposed to the producers. |
