Friday, May 29, 2015

‘Being the Music,’ a Panel Discussion at Drama Book Shop June 11


The main floor of the Drama Book Shop.

New York City’s Drama Book Shop will host a panel discussion on the life and career of Madeline Kahn, June 11, beginning at 6:00. We’ve got a spectacular lineup, including

Robert Klein, Madeline’s most frequent co-star, beginning with New Faces of 1968 (though he’d known her a couple of years already) and continuing through The Sisters Rosensweig and Mixed Nuts to a guest shot on Cosby, with multiple stops in between.

Jonathan Lynn, the writer and director of Clue, the only one of Madeline’s most popular movies that comes close to capturing her true character (minus the multiple marriages and murders).

A battalion of seasoned veterans of the war that was Two by Two, including lyricist Martin Charnin and co-stars Joan Copeland and Walter Willison, who earned a Tony nomination for standing up to the show’s tyrannical star, Danny Kaye.

Lee Roy Reams, the Broadway legend who directed Madeline in a touring production of Hello, Dolly!, and whom Madeline credited with helping her to understand how to play Gorgeous Teitelbaum in The Sisters Rosensweig. “When I put on the Chanel suit, I feel just like Dolly on the ramp!” she told him. (And if you didn’t know that Madeline played Dolly — well, you need to read the book.)

Maddie Corman, who played Madeline’s niece and George C. Scott’s daughter in the sitcom Mr. President. If we’re lucky, Maddie will do her flawless impression of Madeline, and she’ll also give us an idea what it was like to work with Madeline in television.

and Lawrence Leritz, the director–choreographer–dancer whose guest shot on Cosby provided him with valuable insight into Madeline’s personality. Lawrence started out as a fan of Two by Two, which led to a revealing conversation with Madeline.

That lineup is subject to change — but even in the audience I’m expecting to see more of Madeline’s friends and colleagues.

I’ll moderate, and I’ll also be available to sign your copy of the book after we wrap up the conversation, around 7:00.

The Drama Book Shop is located at 250 West 40th Street, and the phone number is (212) 944-0595. Expect me to talk about this event a lot in the days to come.


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