WaldenPonders Says "Willkommen" to Joel Grey
December 2009
On May 27, 1951, Eddie Cantor added prophet to his resume when he predicted stardom for a then unknown 19-year-old making his television debut on the entertainer's variety program,
"The Colgate Comedy Hour."
Joel Grey, son of Yiddish parody musician Mickey Katz, wowed audiences with an inspiring song and dance routine.
Following the performance, Cantor mused, "Ah, isn't he wonderful?"
Five decades later, Grey would find himself singing about that very fact as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the Broadway smash, Wicked.
Grey, along with Marvin Hamlisch, is expected to wow 'em again with “An Evening of Broadway and Movie Hits,” held in
Bethlehem, PA.
The lyrics to Grey's solo, "Wonderful," serve as a character sketch for the Wizard, yet could describe the man behind the curtain, as well. The first verse states:
“I never asked for this or planned it in advance
I was merely blown here by the winds of chance
I never saw myself as a Solomon or Socrates
Then suddenly I'm here
Respected – worshipped, even.”
On the comparison, Grey acknowledged, "I never thought of that. That's charming."
Grey, born Joel David Katz in Cleveland, Ohio, never realized he'd one day engender a similar kind of worship and adoration as a wizard of the Great White Way.
The legend of stage and screen has received worldwide acclaim and numerous accolades throughout his career, but views his Tony Award for his infamous portrayal as the emcee in Cabaret, a role which he originated in 1966, as his most cherished accomplishment.
"It has enormous impact on the rest of your life," Grey said, describing his 1972 best supporting actor Academy Award for the same role as "a dream come true, something that you don't even think is ever possible, and then there it is."
Humbled by his many honors, Grey admitted, "The worship part doesn't really fit in when you wake up in the morning, and you gotta make coffee … and just do real life, which is what happens much more of the time than performing."
Grey has pursued theater in limited runs, focusing more on family, exchanging and discussing books with friends, and his passion for photography.
"Once you're on the treadmill, so to speak, of eight performances a week, there's very little energy left for life," said Grey, whose has guest starred on the television series “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Alias” and
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
The performance with Hamlisch is one of those rare live performances for Grey.
"I'm looking forward to it. We have a good time, Marvin and I. We're old, old friends. It's a joy to do that," Grey said.
The duo, backed by a 23-piece orchestra, will perform Broadway classics by Gershwin, Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Irving Berlin, plus hits from Chicago, George M! and Cabaret.
Grey and Hamlisch will perform their signature pieces separately and together. Grey favors a medley devoted to Berlin, his favorite composer. He especially loves "Alexander's Ragtime Band."
Envisioning his personal dream floorshow, Grey imagines, "a great opera singer, a scene from the ballet, a clip from one of my favorite films [and] the people I look up to."
At 76, Grey, father of actress, Jennifer Grey (star of the movie, Dirty Dancing) and James, a chef, has every intention of remaining master of ceremonies for as long as life is a cabaret.
Now working on a third, as-yet-untitled, book of photography, and imagining a fourth, Grey tends to examine the unexamined subjects. "I'm much more interested in the mysteries of life. I'm just so curious as to what's out there and what's next."
His first book of photographs, Pictures I Had to Take, was published in 2003. His second was 2006's Looking Hard at Unexpected Things.
With a career spanning almost seven decades, what's next, or what can there be, for that matter?
"Dancing with the Stars," perhaps?
“I don't think that will ever happen," he answered with a laugh.
Besides, with Joel Grey, there would be no competition.
"The Colgate Comedy Hour."
Joel Grey, son of Yiddish parody musician Mickey Katz, wowed audiences with an inspiring song and dance routine.
Following the performance, Cantor mused, "Ah, isn't he wonderful?"
Five decades later, Grey would find himself singing about that very fact as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the Broadway smash, Wicked.
Grey, along with Marvin Hamlisch, is expected to wow 'em again with “An Evening of Broadway and Movie Hits,” held in
Bethlehem, PA.
The lyrics to Grey's solo, "Wonderful," serve as a character sketch for the Wizard, yet could describe the man behind the curtain, as well. The first verse states:
“I never asked for this or planned it in advance
I was merely blown here by the winds of chance
I never saw myself as a Solomon or Socrates
Then suddenly I'm here
Respected – worshipped, even.”
On the comparison, Grey acknowledged, "I never thought of that. That's charming."
Grey, born Joel David Katz in Cleveland, Ohio, never realized he'd one day engender a similar kind of worship and adoration as a wizard of the Great White Way.
The legend of stage and screen has received worldwide acclaim and numerous accolades throughout his career, but views his Tony Award for his infamous portrayal as the emcee in Cabaret, a role which he originated in 1966, as his most cherished accomplishment.
"It has enormous impact on the rest of your life," Grey said, describing his 1972 best supporting actor Academy Award for the same role as "a dream come true, something that you don't even think is ever possible, and then there it is."
Humbled by his many honors, Grey admitted, "The worship part doesn't really fit in when you wake up in the morning, and you gotta make coffee … and just do real life, which is what happens much more of the time than performing."
Grey has pursued theater in limited runs, focusing more on family, exchanging and discussing books with friends, and his passion for photography.
"Once you're on the treadmill, so to speak, of eight performances a week, there's very little energy left for life," said Grey, whose has guest starred on the television series “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Alias” and
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
The performance with Hamlisch is one of those rare live performances for Grey.
"I'm looking forward to it. We have a good time, Marvin and I. We're old, old friends. It's a joy to do that," Grey said.
The duo, backed by a 23-piece orchestra, will perform Broadway classics by Gershwin, Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Irving Berlin, plus hits from Chicago, George M! and Cabaret.
Grey and Hamlisch will perform their signature pieces separately and together. Grey favors a medley devoted to Berlin, his favorite composer. He especially loves "Alexander's Ragtime Band."
Envisioning his personal dream floorshow, Grey imagines, "a great opera singer, a scene from the ballet, a clip from one of my favorite films [and] the people I look up to."
At 76, Grey, father of actress, Jennifer Grey (star of the movie, Dirty Dancing) and James, a chef, has every intention of remaining master of ceremonies for as long as life is a cabaret.
Now working on a third, as-yet-untitled, book of photography, and imagining a fourth, Grey tends to examine the unexamined subjects. "I'm much more interested in the mysteries of life. I'm just so curious as to what's out there and what's next."
His first book of photographs, Pictures I Had to Take, was published in 2003. His second was 2006's Looking Hard at Unexpected Things.
With a career spanning almost seven decades, what's next, or what can there be, for that matter?
"Dancing with the Stars," perhaps?
“I don't think that will ever happen," he answered with a laugh.
Besides, with Joel Grey, there would be no competition.
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