In Herman's book, Show Tune, he describes how he felt that Angela Lansbury was so very right for the title role of Mame, but other members of the production team really weren't sold on her. Herman worked privately with her and secretly snuck into the orchestra pit to accompany her during her final auditions for the role. Of course, she landed the role and not only was theatrical history was made but a lasting friendship was forged between the two. Was Herman able to catch Lansbury's acclaimed performance in A Little Night Music while he was in New York? "She was in Los Angles while I was in New York. Can you believe that? We just missed each other, but we've been talking on the phone. I have to tell you about something wonderful that she did for me, though," he says. "She went out in front of her theater [the Walter Kerr] , which is across the street from the Longacre and took a picture of the marquee for La Cage Aux Folles when it was put up. Then she sent it to me in an e-mail so I'd know what it looked like! Isn't that something? She's the best!"
Speaking of Angela Lansbury and Mame, the composer has very exciting news to impart: "There's a great interest in doing a new Mame. I have wonderful producers who are interested in doing it and we're going to have a couple of meetings next month to see if we can come up with a star. It's so difficult to cast that show. Of everything I've ever written, I think that's the toughest one. It's because she has to do everything. She has to, first of all, be a LADY and then she has to be a comedienne, then she has to sing her ass of, then she has to dance her ass off. She also has to be a beautiful, sensitive actress. Now where do you find all that in one person if it's not Angela Lansbury? It's very tough."
Unfortunately Jerry Herman has no news to report on with his still unproduced musical Miss Spectacular, "I really believe that right now Las Vegas is only interested in Cirque du Soliel- type productions. You know, with swimming pools and acrobatics and Miss Spectacular isn't anything like that. There really hasn't been any interest expressed in it, but the show is still very much alive and one of these days we'll do it. I just hope I'm around to see it!"
There is very promising news on the horizon though, Jerry Herman may well be in the mood to write another show. "Well, I tell you, I still have it in me! If I had a great idea-you know, source material, it's not impossible. I'm at the piano several hours every day anyhow, so all that is very possible. I still have my marbles and I'm sure I could do a new score." Herman roars with appreciation when the idea of musicalizing Arsenic and Old Lace as a vehicle starring Carol Channing and Angela Lansbury as the dotty Brewster sisters and Eric McCormack as their nephew Mortimer. "Oh, my God!" Herman exclaims. "Let me read it and think about it. We may be on to something here!"
Very possibly Broadway may once again be blessed with another new show boasting music and lyrics by Jerry Herman.
Perhaps Herman's music reflects the very essence of his personality. By nature he is optimistic and enormously positive. The man who wrote "It's Today!" "I'll be Here Tomorrow," "The Best of Times Is Now," "We Need a Little Christmas" and "Hello, Dolly!" is someone who certainly sees the glass as half-filled rather than half empty. Although Dr. Norman Vincent Peale published his book The Power of Positive Thinking in 1952, Jerry Herman has been embodying its principles since he was born in 1931. With luck and continued Grace from Above, he'll be with us for a long time to come and his music and lyrics will fill our hearts with the same optimism Carol Channing talked about those Russians experiencing in 1964. Let's hope so.
