February 28 - Bernadette Peters (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 28th are here: Jean-Baptiste Arban (2020), Geraldine Farrar (2021), Tommy Tune; John Alden Carpenter (2022), Bernadette Peters (2023), and Jake Bugg; Charles Bernstein (2024)

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Bernadette Peters (b. 28 February 1948) is an American actress, singer, and children's book author.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dot.com

Sondheim has said of Peters, "Like very few others, she sings and acts at the same time," he says. "Most performers act and then sing, act and then sing ... Bernadette is flawless as far as I'm concerned. I can't think of anything negative." -- Wikipedia

When Peters sang Sondheim you found

Such a wedding of lyrics and sound

That shows that were tops

Could have ended as flops

With no Bernadette Peters around.

 

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February 16 - Vera-Ellen (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 16th are here: Alec Wilder (2020), Sonny Bono (2021), Johann Strauss III (2022), Johann Strauss III (2023), Patty Andrews (2024), and Johann Strauss III (2025)

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Vera-Ellen (16 February 1921 – 30 August 1981) was an American dancer, actress, and singer. She is best known for her starring roles in On the Town (1949) and White Christmas (1954). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brief Bio

Dancing actress Vera-Ellen

Found some roles she could excel in;

She danced a lot, and sang a bit,

White Christmas was her biggest hit.

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.] 

 

 

December 13 - Dick Van Dyke (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 13 are here: Heinrich Heine; Phillips Brooks (2019), Taylor Swift (2020), Taylor Swift; Carlos Montoya (2021), Taylor Swift (2022), Taylor Swift (2023) and Taylor Swift (2024)

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Richard Wayne Van Dyke (b. 13 December 1925) is an American actor and comedian  who often appeared in musicals on Broadway and in films.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jolly Holiday 1

You mustn't think that we'd ignore

That Dick Van Dyke has reached four score!

And we'll return to write again,

When he has reached four score and ten!

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Jolly Holiday 2

The hundred years of Dick Van Dyke

Will cause a streaming ratings spike,

For Mary Poppins and the like;

So doom and gloom can take a hike!

Sing birthday sentiments and strike

Up the band for Dick Van Dyke!

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]

 

 

November 30 - Allan Sherman (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 30th are here: Carl Loewe (2019), Allan Sherman (2020), Charles-Valentin Alkan (2021), Weston Noble (2022), Clay Aiken (2023), and Andreas Werckmeister (2024)

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Allan Sherman (30 November 1924 – 20 November 1973) had a short career in the early 1960s singing enormously successful comic song parodies. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O Fortuna

Sherman's career success was short-lived: after peaking in 1963, his popularity declined rather quickly. – Wikipedia

Allan Sherman's sudden rise

Took the pundits by surprise;

Alas, they weren't surprised at all

By Allan Sherman's sudden fall.

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In High Places

The popularity of "Sarah Jackman" (his parody of "Frere Jacques") was enhanced after President John F. Kennedy was overheard singing the song in the lobby of the Carlyle hotel. -- Wikipedia

His parodies, though frivolous,

   Were eminently quotable,

And they were often quoted by

   The lowly and the notable.

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]

 

 

February 28 - Bernadette Peters (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 28th are here: Jean-Baptiste Arban (2020), Geraldine Farrar (2021), Tommy Tune; John Alden Carpenter (2022), Bernadette Peters (2023), and Jake Bugg; Charles Bernstein (2024)

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Bernadette Peters (b. 28 February 1948) is an American actress, singer, and children's book author.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Child Prodigy

 

She first appeared on the New York stage at age 10 as Tessie in the New York City Center revival of The Mist Happy Fella (1959). --- Wikipedia

When starting acting as a kid,

Which Bernadette (Miss Peters) did,

One runs the risk of obsolescence

Before one passes adolescence.

But Bernadette, ten years of age,

Appeared upon the New York stage,

(The year was nineteen fifty nine),

And ever since she’s done just fine.

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Ambitions

When Peters at the age of ten

   First trod the New York City boards,

She dreamed about a future when

   She’d act again, and win awards,

And she decided there and then

   That this is what she’d work towards.

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.]