Who's Who In The Cast
LIZA MINNELLI
Michelle Craig
Michelle Craig
Liza Minnelli has had a remarkable impact on all show business media. Whether in film, on stage or on TV, she has won critical acclaim, fans by the millions and numerous awards. Broadway has saluted Liza with two Tony® Awards - for FLORA, THE RED MENACE, when she became the youngest actress ever to win a Tony® for a musical, and again for breaking all box office records at the Winter Garden in her one-woman show in 1973. She had an Academy Award® nomination for THE STERILE CUCKOO, and in 1972 she won the Best Actress Oscar® for CABARET. That same year her TV special LIZA WITH A "Z" was cited with an Emmy® as Most Outstanding Single Program, and she was named "Female Star Of The Year" by the National Association Of Theatre Owners. She is the only woman to be named "Las Vegas Entertainer Of The Year" on three consecutive occasions and the A.G.V.A. "Entertainer Of The Year" twice. Liza's most recent Broadway stage appearance was two years ago when, with only one week's rehearsal, she replaced the ailing Gwen Verdon in CHICAGO and played to SRO audiences for five weeks. Her latest film is Martin Scorcese's NEW YORK, NEW YORK in which she stars with Robert DeNiro. Liza is the daughter of the legendary Judy Garland and Academy Award® winning director Vincente Minnelli for whom she starred in A MATTER OF TIME. She was born in Los Angeles and attended school in California, Switzerland and at the Sorbonne. She left school to tour in productions such as THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, THE FANTASTICKS, CARNIVAL and THE PAJAMA GAME, then made her first New York appearance in off Broadway's BEST FOOT FORWARD. At 19, she made her Broadway debut in FLORA, THE RED MENACE and that same year broke all box office records at Washington, D.C.'s Shoreham Hotel with her first nightclub appearance. Her concert engagements are consistent sellouts, and her record albums, notably "Liza With A 'Z'" and "Liza Minnelli: The Singer", rank at the top of all best-seller charts. She is married to motion picture and TV producer-director-writer Jack Haley, Jr.
BARRY NELSON
Dan Connors
Dan Connors
Upon graduating from the University Of California at Berkeley, Mr. Nelson did his post-graduate work at MGM as a result of studio scouts discovering him playing Macbeth in a university production. He was in a dozen films there, but claims he was in none of them. Upon graduation from MGM, he dashed to New York where he learned there would be no MACBETH revival. But Moss Hart cast him in LIGHT UP THE SKY. Then, Garson Karnin's THE RAT RACE. The first of his many teamings with Barbara Bel Geddes was in Otto Preminger's THE MOON IS BLUE. After two and one-half years, he escaped in time to go West playing a live TV series with Joan Caulfield, MY FAVORITE HUSBAND, for three seasons. London saw him playing Will Stockdale in NO TIME FOR SEARGEANTS for two years. He made his musical comedy debut in George Abbott's THE FIG LEAVES ARE FALLING, his directing debut with THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN, and his trilogy debut in THE NORMAN CONQUESTS. He says he was involved in only one of these productions, but admits doing two plays for Edward Albee, EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN and SEASCAPE. MARY, MARY and CACTUS FLOWER were two of Broadway's all-time hits. He claims he was in them. Now a bachelor, Mr. Nelson's admitted hobbies are literature, music, people-watching, country roads and far-off places.
ARNOLD SOBOLOFF
Nat Schreiber
Nat Schreiber
THE ACT marks Mr. Soboloff's return to the Broadway stage after two and a half years in Hollywood. SCAPINO, which took him to L.A., led to the Mark Taper where he played the German director in ONCE IN A LIFETIME, which led to three pilot films for TV, which led to guest starring roles in episodic TV and specials. Which led to Motion Pictures: NICKELODEON, SILENT MOVIE and two other films soon to be released: Disney's CAT FROM OUTER SPACE, and another Mel Brooks movie, HIGH ANXIETY. On Broadway, he scored personal triumphs as Big Daddy in SWEET CHARITY, in Stephen Sondheim's ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, with Kirk Douglas in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, and in Bert Lahr's THE BEAUTY PART. He was Rageneau The Baker to Christopher Plummer's CYRANO. Lincoln Center saw him in BANANAS and CAMINO REAL. The Canadian Shakespeare Festival saw him in John Hirsch's SATYRICON and Arrabel's THE ARCHITECT AND THE EMPEROR OF ASSYRIA. Off Broadway saw him in THREEPENNY OPERA, as Lionel Stander in ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN and CAREER.
MARK GODDARD
Charley Price
Charley Price
During his college years, Mr. Goddard left his native Massachusetts to seek an acting career in New York where he studied at the American Academy Of Dramatic Arts. He was brought to Hollywood to co-star in Aaron Spelling's production of JOHNNY RINGO. This was followed by the series THE DETECTIVES, and various guest-starring roles on TV. He then studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in Hollywood under Mr. Strasberg. In the past year, he was seen on SWITCH, BARNABY JONES and QUINCY, among others. He recently completed work on the Edgar Lansbury production of the movie, BLUE SUNSHINE.
GAYLE CROFOOT
Molly Connors
Molly Connors
Gayle Crofoot was a principal performer on the Las Vegas nightclub circuit between ages 14 and 18, appearing with such luminaries as Connie Stevens, Ann-Margret and the Osmond Brothers, and taking time out to tour in the national company of PROMISES, PROMISES and perform often on TV. Later she joined the Johnny Mann Singers on tour and on the TV series, STAND UP AND CHEER. Her latest film is NEW YORK, NEW YORK, starring Liza Minnelli.
ROGER MINAMI
Arthur
Arthur
Roger Minami was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and grew up in California. He was a scholarship student at the American School Of Dance in Hollywood, then danced on Dick Clark's afternoon rock show, WHERE THE ACTION IS, for two years. Roger was lead dancer in choreographer Ron Lewis' Las Vegas show, PLAYMATES REVIEW, at the Sands Hotel, in TOWER SUITES at the Landmark Hotel and was in the longest running show in Las Vegas, BARE TOUCH OF VEGAS, for six years. He won the "Las Vegas Entertainment Award" for best male performer for three consecutive years.
CHRISTOPHER BARRETT
Lenny Kanter
Lenny Kanter
Christopher Barrett appeared on Broadway in HEATHEN! and at Lincoln Center in SOME OTHER TIME. He toured in THE LAST SWEET DAYS OF ISAAC, THE FANTASTICKS and in the title role of a musical version of TOM JONES. TV provides a frequent outlet for his talents, both as actor and writer (two of his scripts produced so far), as does film: he has appeared in NICKELODEON and GOODBYE, COLUMBUS, among others, starred in TEACHERS, and has several feature film scripts in progress.
CLAUDIA ASBURY
Claudia Asbury appeared on Broadway in MACK & MABEL and SO LONG, 147TH STREET, and was assistant choreographer for the first national tour of A MUSICAL JUBILEE. TV audiences have seen her on THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW and THE SHIRLEY MACLAINE SPECIAL.
WAYNE CILENTO
His dance experiences in IRENE, SEESAW and RACHEL LILY ROSENBLOOM led to his creating the role of Mike Costa for the hit musical, A CHORUS LINE. He's appeared in (and assisted the choreographer of) five Milliken Industrial shows, teaches dance and is the proud dad of two boys.
CAROL ESTEY
Carol Estey has appeared in eight Broadway shows, among them JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, DUDE and GANTRY, and off Broadway in LOVE ME, LOVE MY CHILDREN and A MATTER OF TIME. She is married to composer Stanley Lebowsky - our Musical Director - and works often in industrials, dinner theatres and TV.
MICHAEL LEEDS
Michael Leeds has been on Broadway as Victor in PAL JOEY (he also understudied the title role) and toured as Tommy Tune's understudy in MACK & MABEL, with Lucie Arnez. He played Diesel in the Leslie Uggams revival of WEST SIDE STORY, has worked in regional theaters, and writes songs.
LAURIE DAWN SKINNER
Laurie Dawn Skinner is an "army brat" who spent six years in Germany, where she joined the Frankfurt Ballet at 15. Since then, she attended the Boston Conservatory of Music and has sung and danced in summer musicals, industrial shows, and acted in a TV movie.
ALBERT STEPHENSON
Albert Stephenson previousy assisted and danced for choreographer Ron Lewis on THE DEBBIE REYNOLDS SHOW in Las Vegas after appearing on Broadway with Miss Reynolds in IRENE. He also toured in the national company of APPLAUSE and has performed on a plethora of TV shows.
BRAD WITSGER
Brad Witsger appeared off Broadway in WONDERFUL TOWN and in numerous stock, dinner theatre and children's theatre productions. He has appeard in and choregraphed several nightclub revues here and in Canada.
Artist biographies and portraits from the official opening night Playbill of THE ACT, October 29, 1977.
Copyright © Playbill Inc.
Copyright © Playbill Inc.
Cast Changes
There were a number of cast changes and replacements during the run of THE ACT.
Uncredited director/choreographer Gower Champion himself replaced leading man Barry Nelson in the role of Dan Connors for several performances during the run.
Laurie Dawn Skinner replaced Gayle Crofoot in the role of Molly Connors during the run. Danny Buraczeski joined the cast as a replacement for one of the Boys in March 1978. Claudia Asbury went from Dance Understudy to replacing one of the Girls during the run. Steve Anthony replaced Brad Witsger as a Dance Alternate in March 1978. Karen DiBianco joined the cast as a Dance Alternate.
Lorry Goldman's role (Ted Kincaid) was cut during the San Francisco tryout in August of 1977. Michael Leeds' role (Tim Pierson) was also cut out of town. He remained in the cast as one of the Boys.
Uncredited director/choreographer Gower Champion himself replaced leading man Barry Nelson in the role of Dan Connors for several performances during the run.
Laurie Dawn Skinner replaced Gayle Crofoot in the role of Molly Connors during the run. Danny Buraczeski joined the cast as a replacement for one of the Boys in March 1978. Claudia Asbury went from Dance Understudy to replacing one of the Girls during the run. Steve Anthony replaced Brad Witsger as a Dance Alternate in March 1978. Karen DiBianco joined the cast as a Dance Alternate.
Lorry Goldman's role (Ted Kincaid) was cut during the San Francisco tryout in August of 1977. Michael Leeds' role (Tim Pierson) was also cut out of town. He remained in the cast as one of the Boys.