In Memoriam

[Mel Johnson]

Tony Randall has died.

He was originally inspired to take up theater as a profession on witnessing a Ballet Russe touring program including Act II Swan Lake and Scheherazade, performed in his native Tulsa, Oklahoma.

[Marga]

Tony Randall, as host of the awards ceremony at the NYIBC last year, was his usual droll self. This is from the website of the competition:

Tony Randall, in black tie, endearingly reminded those of us in the audience, who had seen him onstage at the very first New York International Ballet Competition in 1984, that he was still wearing the same suit, and would re-appear in that suit in two years, at the 2005 Competition.

I'm saddened that we will not have the opportunity to see him in the same suit again.....