By Marilyn Lester*** When Lee Roy Reams was born on August 23 (1942) in Covington, Kentucky, a proverbial force of nature in the show business world entered stage Earth. He said in his recent show at Feinstein’s/54 Below, Goodbye Kentucky! Hello Broadway!, (see review by Michael Barbieri) that he was “born to dance.” And how! In an illustrious career, this actor, singer, dancer, choreographer and director has cut a wide swath, including being nominated for Tony and Drama Desk Awards in 1980 as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance in the original production of 42nd Street.
Reams began performing as a child and was fortunate enough to have a mother who recognized that there was something very special in her son. Young Lee Roy was sent to dancing school where his teacher announced, “he’s got it!” In a very early production of Finian’s Rainbow, the fledgling star realized with glee that “you can sing and dance and act at the same time!” He was “Little Lee Roy” in a cousin’s singing group, The Kentucky Briar Hoppers, from whence he knew without doubt he was Broadway bound. Reams attended the University of Cincinatti, where he earned a Master of Arts degree and later was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Conservatory of Music at that University.
From early jobs dancing with Juliet Prowse in Las Vegas and in television variety shows, to his Broadway debut in Sweet Charity in 1966, Reams has had a nonstop, full and glorious career—and he’s still going, in cabaret and on the concert stage. Reams is a showbiz treasure, a true showman, cut from the cloth of performers of great talent that seem to be more and more rare these days. For a small sample of Lee Roy Reams over the years, we offer this heartfelt collection of images:
Lee Roy was a cousin to my aunt’s husband, Estil McNew, and I knew him as a young performer with the group The Jr. Kentucky Briarhoppers, who appeared on the Midwestern Hayride and the Indiana Hoedown in the 1950’s. I don’t know about the singing group, but I do know his cousin was Estil McNew and the group was as stated above. I have pictures.
genius! received players club commendation from tnc receive , f a degre from me
my friend was in A RENEE BAUGHMAN AND LAUREN BACALL LEROT GETTING LIFETIME THEATER AWARD FROM MY DRAMATIC WORKSHOP 2 AND TOME WILLIAMS THEATER THINK TANKL AND TENNESEE WILLIAMS SOUTH / WEST AT EPIPHANY THEATER IM IN HOLLYWOOD IN Y OWN PLAY “I, DAVUD MAMET ‘
guess who needs trifocals? Theater for the New City commendation at Players Club. lee roy received an MFA degre from University of cincinnati where I was professor.Lee was in “A[[ause” on Broadway with Bacall and Renee Baughman who is best known as “girl who couldnt Sing” in Chorus Line.Le will be honored at Fort Lauderdale by my own group Dramatic Workshop II which i fouded with Dr. Maria Piscator who began DWI with her husband German gnius Erwin Piscator at the New School in nyc