I was a senior in college and I heard through a friend that there were auditions for the Westbury Music Fair [the NYCB Theatre at Westbury]. I had just changed my name from Lainie Levine to Lainie Kazan (Kazan being my mother’s maiden name). I went to the audition and when they called “Ms. Kazan,” I did not respond. I forgot my name had been changed. A friend sitting next to me said, “Isn’t that you?” “Oh yes,” I said, “I forgot.”
I sang, I danced, I read lines for the casting director and I was hired to be in two shows. The shows were South Pacific and The Student Prince. Lainie Kazan had become a member of Equity. I was thrilled!
