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96-Year-Old Broadway Star's Unexpected Rise to Fame
5 Oct
Summary
- At 96, Lisa Carroll revisits her Broadway audition for Hello, Dolly!
- She was initially rejected for lacking stage experience.
- Her story inspired her children's book about perseverance.
Lisa Carroll, now 96, reflects on her remarkable journey to Broadway and her experience with the 1964 production of 'Hello, Dolly!'. Carroll initially auditioned for a different part, aiming to play Mrs. Molloy, but the production team saw her potential as a replacement for Carol Channing.
Despite being told she lacked the necessary stage experience, an agent recognized her suitability to understudy Channing. Carroll accepted the role and later, when Channing departed the show, she stepped into the lead role, performing it for a full year on Broadway.
This path, marked by perseverance and passion, inspired Carroll's children's book, 'Lights, Camera, Lisa!'. The book recounts the tale of a young girl from the Midwest who, despite facing initial rejection and feeling ready to give up, finds success through determination and belief in her own abilities.
