“This is the hardest job I’ve ever had in my whole life. You people on Broadway are nuts,” Bette Midler said at the Outer Critic’s Circle Award reception at Sardi’s for the winners of the 2017 OCC Awards. Midler’s award, for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, was for her portray of Dolly Levi Gallagher in “Hello, Dolly!” — her first performance in a book musical on Broadway in 50 years!
“I’ve never encountered people who worked so hard and still are kind of cheerful about it…I mean, I’m riding all the way to the bank…[but] I’ve never had to work this hard…It hurts. I have acid reflux! Oh my god. The clothes are so tight! …The truth is I’m having a ball. I’m enjoying myself. I’m working with people who are so so skilled and talented…It’s been a really steep learning curve for me. I guess I don’t mind standing up in front of you because you’ve already reviewed the show and I don’t give a shit! But I must say it was time for me come and do this.”
Photos by JK Clarke
Also winning from Hello, Dolly — Jerry Zaks, choreographer Warren Carlyle, featured actor Gavin Creel, orchestrator Larry Hochman
