All That Jazz
Bill Barksdale, Columnist
I’ve always been fascinated by what I call ‘life’s journey’. Much of my reading is biography and autobiography – the stories of peoples’ lives. Each life is a journey, a classroom really. Each of us is growing, learning, changing. Each of us makes choices – whether we choose to be aware of it or not, as to how our life journey will unfold. Sometimes we may say to ourselves “I had no choice. I had to…..”, but in reality – we are always making choices - this direction or that, every moment of our lives.
One of the many things I love about Willits is the surprising number of interesting people I’ve known here. All kinds of stories, enough to fill a library. That’s one of the reasons I’m so fond of making theater. Theater is really the ancient ritual of telling stories, passing from person-to-person what has been learned.
For example, here is a fascinating person I’ve met in Willits, although our paths literally crossed in New York City’s East Village many years ago in our youths. I’m speaking of my friend, Linda Posner. But she wasn’t called Linda Posner. She was the dancer, singer, actress Leland Palmer. I didn’t know Linda then. I was a student at the Neighborhood Playhouse in midtown and Linda was starring in the off-Broadway hit musical, Your Own thing. If you’ve ever seen the Bob Fosse movie All That Jazz, you’ve seen Leland Palmer. Linda was kind enough to sit down and talk with me about her life recently. Here’s some of that story:
“I always loved animals as a kid. My life became about horses. I finally got my first horse when I was 13. I thought my career would be as a veterinarian. When I was in high school I took a class in modern dance. My father saw me do a high school performance and encourage me. I began studying with Eugene Lorring at American School of Dance on Hollywood Blvd. I did a number of shows in L.A.
My friend Michelle moved to New York City, I followed in 1963. I was 23. I rented an apartment and began taking 3 -4 classes a day. I started studying acting with Gene Frankel and singing with Yul Brenner’s sister, Vera Brenner. My first professional job was in the show Bajour. The audition was interesting. In typical Broadway fashion, we began in a big crowd, then people would get eliminated as the audition progressed along. It got down to just two of us. The other girl got chosen. Three weeks later I got a call from Diretor & Choreographer, Peter Gennaro, “Could you do the show?”
When I went to join Actor’s Equity, the actor’s union, there was already a Linda Palmer so I had to choose a different name. My mother suggested Lee “but maybe they would think you were a boy”. Linda added Lynn, that morphed into Leland. Now she was Leland Palmer.
Broadway choreographer and director, Michael Bennett was in the chorus of Bajour. Chita Rivera was the star. That’s when I met both of them. The show ran for a while but not a huge hit. Michael Bennet got a job directing & choreographing West Side Story in summer stock and asked me if I would play the character Anybody’s. After that Michael asked me to assist him. We would work out steps for auditions and I would help him cast shows.
On Broadway I did Applause, Hello Dolly, Pippin for which I got nominate for a Best Actress in a Musical Tony Award, among others. The first Tony Award I got nominated for was A Joyful Noise starring John Raitt.
A big break for me was the off-Broadway hit Your Own Thing in 1973, which I also did in L.A. and London. A funny story about that. In L.A. I was in the dressing room after the show we were taking off our makeup. The Stage Manager knocked on the door and said “Leland, someone’s here to see you.” “Who”, I said. “Rudolf Nureyev and Margo Fonteyn.” I began to laugh and said “Like right!” thinking he was joking. I looked in my make-up mirror and there they were standing in the doorway!
I worked with chorographer & Director Bob Fosse on several shows. Whenever he did a show his wife, Broadway legend Gwen Verdon was always there, so I had met her. When it came to casting the movie All That Jazz, I had retired. The film’s writer later told me Bob had me in mind for the Gwen Verdon role. Fosse’s assistant called me several times to offer me the role. I turned it down, then Fosse called me himself. “Just let me fly you to New York and meet with me. That’s all I ask.” I said “Bob, I don’t dance, I’m not singing. I’m not interested in performing anymore”.
I wasn’t in shape to take on a role like this. Well, I did fly to New York and walked into his office wearing a long linen caftan & sandals and a flower-child hairdo. He said “What happened to you! I know. You found God.” He was right. I wasn’t wanting to be performing again, but I took the part. Let me say about Bob Fosse, He’s a genus. Perhaps too sensitive. Bob was a very, very complicated person. All That Jazz is the story of his life.
I’ve had a great career and am still having a great life. I’ve had the privilege to work with some of the best actors, teachers, chorographers, directors, dancers. I was very fortunate. And now when people ask me “What’s been your favorite role?”, I answer ‘Being the mother to my daughter Pearl.’ “
Bill was a
2016 inductee into the Realtor® Hall of Fame, and served as Chair of the County of Mendocino Assessment Appeals Board settling tax disputes between the County Assessor and citizens & businesses. 707-489-2232
