#837 - Baayork Lee

The Baayork Lee Interview is featured on The Paul Leslie Hour.

Are you here? I mean, really here? Like are you with us. I see Paul motioning for me to get on with it. Alright, alright. Just trying to welcome the listeners to The Paul Leslie Hour. Sheesh. We are proud to present an interview form the archives with a real star of theater.

Baayork Lee has lived a life in the performing arts that many could only dream of.  Born in New York City’s Chinatown, Baayork has performed as a singer, dancer and actress.  Behind the scenes she has worn the hats of choreographer and theatre director.

Baayork Lee made her debut as a dancer on Broadway at the age of five in the 1951 production of The King and I.  She met the legendary dancer Michael Bennett at the High School for Performing Arts.  Her creative relationship with Michael Bennett endured throughout his life.

In 1975, Baayork Lee was invited by Michael Bennett to participate in the workshops which resulted in the famed musical A Chorus Line, with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban and Book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante.  The original Broadway production ran for 6,137 performances.  The role of “Connie Wong” was based on Baayork Lee.

Baayork Lee has been one of the loudest voices in the enduring legacy of Michael Bennett’s work.  With encouragement from Michael Bennett, Baayork Lee turned to choreography.  She has directed many national and international theatrical companies.  Ever active, Baayork Lee serves on the Board of Directors of the National Asian Arts Project (NAAP).  Not long ago, Baayork Lee choreographed a performance of OLIVER! at the Pershing Square Signature Center.

In celebration of the performances, Baayork Lee talked with Paul. You’re about to hear this very spirited conversation and we hope you can find her enthusiasm as inspiring as we do.

Paul’s trying to get my attention. Hold on a sec. Oh! Right. Oh yeah, we had 75 new subscribers to The Paul Leslie Hour YouTube channel. Right. Thank you all. So please people, if you have it in your heart, subscribe to the channel to keep plugged in with all of our videos. We thank you.

Okay, it’s the Baaylork Lee interview. Let’s listen together.

The Paul Leslie Hour is a talk show dedicated to “Helping People Tell Their Stories.” Some of the most iconic people of all time drop in to chat. Frequent topics include Arts, Entertainment and Culture.