MY DATE WITH CAROL LAWRENCE: BROADWAY’S ORIGINAL MARIA

The “West Side Story” actress and I attend a star-studded gala

Living in Calabasas, California in the 1990’s was a dream. A beautiful home on a charming street in an upscale new neighborhood with a new elementary school opening just as our sons were old enough to start kindergarten.

My wife Elfreda and I attended all of Bay Laurel Elementary’s parent/teacher meetings and participated in all the extracurricular activities possible, plus reading to the kids in the classroom.

We became good friends with Joseph & Robbie’s kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Harris (Carol) and her husband Ron, who was the musical director for actress and singer Carol Lawrence. Lawrence played Maria in the original Broadway production of West Side Story and had an active career for decades in television and concerts: Ron frequently traveled with her when she was on the road performing in venues and on cruise ships around the world.

Being a fan of Broadway musicals, I always found that interesting and Ron was happy to share stories about their adventures on the road. But I never thought I’d have the opportunity to meet Carol, until one memorable day in November 1996.

From my Journal, November 16, 1996:

Got a call from Ron Harris this afternoon. Carol Lawrence, for whom Ron arranges and conducts music, asked him to accompany her to the big Los Angeles premiere of the musical “Showboat” tomorrow, which is being followed by a big gala ball. Well, Ron passed and recommended that I act as her escort because I’m a ballroom dancer, so I was invited and will go with Carol tomorrow. What a kick! I had joked with Ron that I’d have to insist there be no “fooling around,” and when Carol called she assured me in all seriousness that there’d be no hanky panky, after which I chuckled but wanted to strangle Ron for even bringing up what I meant to be just a bit of humor between us.

While on the call with Ron I was with Elfreda in our kitchen and told her I’d been asked to attend the event with Carol Lawrence, to which she responded “okay, but if I get a call from Patrick Swayze for a date, you have to promise not to stand in my way!” I was willing to make that agreement!

The next day, a Sunday, after spending the morning playing softball with the other dads while our sons were at Hebrew School (a weekly treat), I did a bit of work at home and started to get ready for the evening’s big event.

November 17, 1996:

Put on my tuxedo and headed out at 1:45pm to pick up actress Carol Lawrence for our date to see the opening night’s performance of “Showboat” at the Ahmanson Theatre. It wasn’t really “night” …a 4pm performance actually…because it was to be followed by a big gala reception honoring the production afterward at the Biltmore Hotel (in the same room where I hosted my Access Hollywood party this past June).

As we left the car with the valet and approached the theatre, I experienced something I’d never experienced before…paparazzi! Years after “West Side Story,” Carol is still a popular actress and singer, known just as well for her television commercials as a spokesperson for General Foods International Coffees. It was awkward for me…do I stand with her as the light bulbs flash and end up being seen in People Magazine or Entertainment Weekly? I politely demurred and let Carol have the full spotlight.

Enjoyed the production immensely, though the Gaylord Ravenal character (played by Howard Keel in the movie) was weak, we both felt. Though we met a few of them while at the theatre, it was at the Biltmore afterward that most of the celebrity guests came out. Carol knew them all and introduced me to everyone; Lloyd Bridges, Beau Bridges, Roddy McDowall, Eddie Albert, Martin Landau, Hal Linden, Aaron Spelling (with daughter Tori), Dean Jones and others.

Carol and I did manage to get some dancing to the big band in (that’s why I was invited after all), but it was disappointing to a degree because they were only playing Texas two-step type music. What we did dance to was fun, though, and it was a lovely event all around. I had Carol back to her Mountaingate home by 10pm.

While the “Showboat” event was my only “official” date with Carol, we did stay in touch for years. She would share stories about stars she worked with like Bing Crosby and Maurice Chevalier, who I idolized. What could I have offered her in any way in return?

As it turned out, shortly after we met I started my own company helping producers pitch television projects to distributors, cable and broadcasters, and Carol had a series of instructional cooking videos she produced featuring recipes which she created and for which I offered to help her package for broadcast. We also spoke about licensing our own Hollywood-branded coffee, for which she could entice her celebrity friends to jump on board, but looking at the costs it would take as a start-up, it went no further than the business plan.

My second favorite moment with Carol came five months after our “Showboat” date. She came to my 40^th birthday party at Barbata’s Steakhouse in Woodland Hills. I was happy to introduce her as my friend, and she sang a few songs with the band to everyone’s delight.

Though we haven’t connected since I relocated to San Diego in 2005, I still think fondly of my time with Carol Lawrence, and wish I’d gotten a little closer to her for those paparazzi pictures at the “Showboat” performance in 1996.

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