Audiences were particularly attracted to Mitzi Gaynor, more known to them from her movie musicals, in which she had starred opposite Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly, and Frank Sinatra. The 56-year old singer/dancer/actress decided on a Las Vegas act in 1961 and had been performing it since then, periodically revising and keeping the material fresh.
Jack Bean had been Mitzi Gaynor’s manager, producer and husband for the past 33 years. They spent part of their honeymoon at Ethel Merman’s house in Denver. It was Jack Bean who convinced Gaynor to put a stage act together. At the conclusion of their run at Elitch, Bean wrote the following letter to Christopher Kirkland.
Mitzi and I and our whole group had such a good time in Denver, and we want to thank you most particularly for all of it. I know that there are plenty of people around you who added their help to the general picture, and thank them as well. I am delighted that we had a chance to get together and work together… Much good luck the rest of the season, Chris.
[Borrillo, Theodore A. Denver’s Historic Elitch Theatre: A nostalgic journey (a history of its times). Colorado, 2012.]
Seasons at the Theatre
- 1987
Elitch Theatre Productions/Roles:
- The Mitzi Gaynor Show
Notable Roles, Awards, and Other Work:
- Starred as Ensign Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film, South Pacific.
- Golden Globe nominee for “Best Motion Picture Actress – Comedy/Musical” for South Pacific.
Elitch Theatre Connections:
- For the 1952 film, We’re Not Married!, we get a HET alumna triple-play: Ginger Rogers, Eve Arden, and Mitzi! Three HET stars in one film!
- In 1958, Gaynor was a Golden Globe nominee for “Best Motion Picture Actress – Comedy/Musical“, along with HET alumna, Leslie Caron who was nominated for Gigi.
- Gaynor appeared in the 1963 film, For Love or Money, with Elitch Alumni Gig Young and Julie Newmar.
Wikipedia Link:
