‘Singin' in the Rain' back, has local connection
In world of film, MGM's “Singin' in the Rain,” which featured the musical debut of Debbie Reynolds, now 84, opposite of Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Jean Hagen, is hailed as one of the greatest musicals ever made.
The story also is popular told as a live theater musical, and it has returned for a long Chicago holiday run.
First, a reminder that the iconic film has its own, often-forgotten Northwest Indiana claim-to-fame connection, and it's one linked to my own hometown of North Judson.
Actress Hagen, who received an Academy Award nomination as the squeaky-voiced silent film star Lina Lemont, died in 1971 at age 54 of throat cancer. She originally was from Elkhart, Ind., before her family moved to North Judson.
“Jean's performance is one of my favorite memories in ‘Singin' in the Rain' and she and I were close until her death,” Reynolds told me. “She was more of serious actress and she had to really prove herself that she could have comedy timing when she auditioned and lobbied for the role in the film.” (It was Judy Holliday who was supposed to have the role played by Hagen.)
Hagen's brother, Dr. Roger Verhagen, 91, still lives in North Judson and, before retirement, was our tiny town's lone eye doctor.
“Jean shortened her last name when she went into acting,” Verhagen said.
“Debbie Reynolds and her both shared many of the same experiences while getting into this business at the same time. In addition to starring in MGM's musical with Debbie, Jean's other proud accomplishment was playing Danny Thomas' first wife on his television show ‘Make Room for Daddy.' ”
Hagen, who had four seasons of playing wife and mother alongside TV hubby Thomas, was bounced from the popular show, which ran on ABC (and later CBS) from 1953 to 1965 and garnered five prime time Emmy Awards, because she felt her character was playing “second banana” to Thomas and kids. Actress Marjorie Lord was happy to step in and play the new stepmother character, after Thomas wrote Hagen out of the series by having her die unexpectedly.
Hagen's “Singin' in the Rain” performance is getting a generous nod now until the end of the year from actress Alexandra Palkovic, who steps into the same role for the return of the stage musical incarnation playing now until Dec. 31 at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Ill.
Set to the score by Nacio Herb Brown with lyrics by Arthur Freed, and a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, both film and stage musical recount how frantic Hollywood was with the advent of sound and talking pictures revolutionizing the movie industry. Four-time Jeff Award winning choreographer Tammy Mader and musical director Ryan T. Nelson are teamed with director William Brown to bring all of these characters back to life.
It's 1927, and movie icons Don Lockwood, played by Kelly in the film and actor Gardner for this stage version, and Lina Lamont (the character played by Hagen and now Palkovic) are the most popular on-screen couple of the silent silver screen. But it's Lina's unflattering voice and temperament that's preventing them from making the needed transition to movies with sound. It's the beautiful actress hopeful Kathy Selden, as originally played by Reynolds in the film and in this turn by actress Mary Michael Patterson, who must lend her stellar vocals to pave the way for new possibilities.
All of the favorite numbers from the original film, including “Good Mornin,' ” “Moses Supposes,” “Make 'Em Laugh” and title number are in the stage showcase as well and the folks at Marriott have it really raining on stage during the splashy big Act One finale. Richard Riaz Yoder has the difficult role of the larger-than-life personality of Cosmo Brown, who was played by O'Connor in the original film.
But when the cast is framed by the set design by Tom Ryan, a costume design by Nancy Missimi with the lighting design by Jesse Klug and sound design by Bob Gilmartin, this is a holiday show ticket soaked in audience rewards.
Tickets are $50 to $55. Call 847-634-0200 or go to
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