Celebrating Betty Buckley: Great Moments We Missed

Last week, we celebrated July birthday-gal Betty Buckley, with a look back at our favorite moments in her illustrious career. We've been so fortunate to witness so many! (HERE) This week, we take a look at some of her greatest career moments that we missed. We are still kicking ourselves!

Celebrating Betty Buckley:

Great Moments We Missed

(in no particular order)

Betty in Carrie on Broadway: A bootleg audio recording of Carrie barely scratches this itch. What I wouldn't give to have been at the Virginia Theatre to witness "And Eve Was Weak" live! Or to see her and Linzi Hateley chewing all that scenery in true double diva fashion!

Betty in Promises, Promises on the West End: The London cast recording of one of my favorite scores is a treasured part of my collection. When she sings "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," it is sad and satisfying, and when she lets it go on "Knowing When to Leave," it's a real heart breaker. (And a youthful Tony Roberts is a great bonus!) 

Betty in Gypsy at Paper Mill Playhouse: While I'm grateful for the numerous videos from this production - and she's transcendent in all of them - I still would love to bee in the same room to hear her belt out "Everything's Coming Up Roses," and bask in the intensity of her "Rose's Turn." Glorious on grainy video, life-changing live. 

Betty in 1776 on Broadway: What an honor it would have to be there to see her Broadway debut. The very start of a legendary career. And that gown!!

Betty in Hello, Dolly! on Tour: I knew I should've flown to Cleveland to see this. It would have been worth every penny. Damn! I'll have to live vicariously through You Tube videos.

Betty in Dear World on the West End: Long one of my favorite scores, I've often wondered what a full production must have been like. I bet she exuded joy and life every moment she was on stage, and I'm pretty certain that her "I Don't Want to Know" would have made me weep.

Betty in Pippin on Broadway: I love Pippin and try to see it any time and anywhere it plays. If I could go back in time, I know one stop I'd make is at the Imperial Theatre in June of 1973 to see her as Catherine. I bet her "I Guess I'll Miss the Man" was sublime, and her "Kind of Woman" kicked ass.

Betty in Grey Gardens at Bay Street: Hard to imagine better casting for this tricky show than Rachel York and Ms. Buckley as the Beales. Man, how I wish I had been able to get there. "Jerry Likes My Corn" probably never sounded more delicious!

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