My Almost Shot at Broadway!

Rita Gardner passed away recently. This name may not be recognizable to you, but she’s someone that I have followed her for a long, long time, and her involvement in the longest running musical in American history could’ve influenced my life. In 1960, she originated the lone female role in an Off Broadway show that became part of theater history thanks to a record-setting run.  It was called “The Fantasticks” and it ran off broadway  in the historic Sullivan Theater.  The opening song, made famous by Barbra Streisand, was called “Try to Remember.”  I loved the show, and auditioned for the lead role as the bandit El Gallo when I was at Tulane University Law school in New Orleans. I sang this lead song, and a number of others in the show that got good reviews in the local press.  The show’s producer, Lore Noto, called me to see I wanted to come to New York to audition for the lead role.  I chose to stick with the law. Who knows what might’ve happened. But it’s nice to look back. And guess what?  I still do a pretty good rendition of “Try to Remember.”