WE REMEMBER CHARLES NELSON REILLY 1931--2007

This Blog Is Down With Reilly, A Wonderful Guy: If You Don't Know, Ya Better Ask Somebody

And you should start with actor and national treasure Ruby Dee. Charles was her director of choice and close friend.

My personal recollection was of Charles as a teacher and mentor. He not only had the obvious gift for comedy, but was serious as sweat when it came to drama. Behind the quips and laughter he could cut to your heart, break you down, but not without taking the time to build you back up.

This Tony Award nominee and winner "(How to Succeed..." and "Hello Dolly"), Broadway director("The Gin Game"), film star and television personality (Match Game game show) was poignant and sincere.

I received a call from Charles regarding a role in a musical he was directing that was opening in Los Angeles and touring the US. He called me to see if I was ready to be “the one”. After hearing the role paid $1,600 a week plus another $600.00 per diem, my response was “I be damned if I ain’t the one!”

Two days later he called to inform me that the role (as a bellhop at a hotel) would be given to a White actor. The producers of the show thought it might be too stereotypical that the only Black in the show would be playing a bellhop, they were worried about bad press.

Well you know what I had to say, “Shhhhhhhhhhh…… Political correctness just cost me a grip!”

My favorite Charles Nelson Reilly story goes like this: Charles was down in Florida with his good friend Burt Reynolds. They marched along the sand to Burt's beach house, 10 steps in front of the front door Burt froze in his tracks.

Charles asked: “Burt why did you stop? What’s wrong?”

Burt answered: I haven’t been back here in two years, since Sally (actor Sally Fields) and I broke up.

Charles: Oh, really?

Burt: “Yeah, this is the first place Sally and I ever made love. This was the last place we made love. and this was the best place we ever made love … Charles we should go back to the city … I just can’t open that door.

Charles replied: “Well I never slept with the Bi…ch so give me the keys, I’ll open the damn door!”

Charles’ one man show THE LIFE OF REILLY was filmed and is now touring the film festival circuit. It’s witty, it’s outrageous it’s touching, it’s Charles.

AUDRA MCDONALD SOARS ON BROADWAY... AGAIN AND AGAIN!

The other two brotha's on this blog have already shared with us which ladies make their heart pacers cross circuit, cause their coffee pots to start brewing, their garage doors to open and close, and their digital recorders to search for lost episodes of Different Strokes.

So who's my contestant for "Miss Damn She's Fine 2007?"

Audra McDonald

Earning an unprecedented three Tony Awards before the age of 30 (Carousel, Master Class, and Ragtime) and a fourth in 2004 (A Raisin in the Sun), singer and actress Audra McDonald is frequently compared to legendary performers such as Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. But like all great artists, she is a unique force, blending a luscious, classically-trained soprano with an incomparable gift for dramatic truth-telling.

She's now back on Broadway and she is tearing it up in the musical 110 IN THE SHADE. "It goes without saying she has the best voice on Broadway but she doesn't have to sing a note to grab your attention." She' s suppose to play a plain Jane in the show, but that kind of beauty is hard to tone down. So is her wonderful acting. "All she can do is act plain, carrying herself with an awkward self-consciousness that is unexpectedly and sufficiently convincing."

The show closes July 15 at the Studio 54 Theater. If you're in the Big Apple, this show is a must.