Welcome to a new Wildcard Wednesday! This week, we celebrate the birth of Lucie Arnaz, who was born on this date in 1951 — just about seven weeks before her parents started production on a little known show called I Love Lucy! Although this talented lady, with her mother’s comic chops and her father’s musical gift, has a body of television work from which I could have sourced an appropriate rarity to share with you here, I’ve decided that, since her true love is the theatre, that I provide something from that world instead…
So, how’s about a rare untracked audio of Arnaz playing Rosie, the Chita Rivera role, in a June 1977 production of Bye Bye Birdie at the Melody Top Theatre in Milwaukee, alongside Michael Callan (you remember him from Occasional Wife) and Anthony Crivello? For you curious entertainment lovers with a scholarly, non-commercial interest in this material, kindly comment below and let know if you’d like access. In the meantime, here’s a sample — Arnaz’s “Spanish Rose,” which includes an in-joke reference to “Babalu.” (Mother Lucy herself came to Wisconsin just to see this production — wonder what she thought!) Enjoy.
And happy birthday, Lucie!
Come back next week for another Wildcard post! And stay tuned Tuesday for more King Of Queens!