Lisa Gajda, Gypsy of the Month for February
When Eric Sciotto was announced as Pal Joey’s Gypsy Robe recipient (see archives) it was mentioned that Lisa Gajda had previously won the honor three times. This made me wonder why it was Eric, and not Lisa, who received the honor for Pal Joey. Well, a recent article on Broadwayworld.com (GYPSY OF THE MONTH: Lisa Gajda of ‘Pal Joey’, by Adrienne Onofri) not only answers that question, but makes it clear what a “Pal” Lisa truly is:“‘Pal Joey’ would have been Gajda’s fourth time receiving the Gypsy Robe - presented on opening night to the ensemble member with the most Broadway credits - but she decided to forgo the honor so it could go to her friend Eric Sciotto, who’d never received it in his previous seven shows. Gajda received the robe for her last two shows, Cry-Baby (which Sciotto was also in) and The Times They Are A-Changin’, as well as for 2003’s Taboo.” Broadway was not always Gajda’s (pronounced Guy-da) life. When she was around 20, she and a friend took a road trip to California and she ended up staying for several years. She started getting work right away and danced in awards shows quite regularly. At the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, she danced with Paula Abdul to “Vibeology”. She worked on videos, commercials, movies, AND the 1990 and 1991 Academy Awards. But New York is where she really wanted to be, and she moved back in the mid-90’s. Within six months, she was cast in the tour of Tommy, playing the Nurse and other ensemble roles. In the spring of 1995, she made her Broadway debut as a swing in Tommy (see archives).
By the time she auditioned for Pal Joey, Lisa had learned how to make herself into whatever type was needed. “My look is pretty contemporary,” she says, “so I went to the audition with big fake boobs and tried to make myslef look soft.” She obviously did something right!
In Pal Joey, Gajda is one of the two ladies who dance with Joey (Matthew Risch) in the opening ballet, and she is the lilac in the comic Act 1 song “The Flower Garden of My Heart.” And although she understudies for Martha Plimpton (Gladys Bumps), she isn’t yearning for speaking parts. “I’m a real dancer. It’s not very interesting to me to pursue doing roles. I grew up loving to dance, so that doesn’t mean that I wanted to act and sing.” And her sage advice for other gypsies? “If you’re dancing in the chorus, don’t spend you entire life waiting to do something else, because it’s an honor and a great gift to dance in the chorus.”





Liz | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
I love this article! Lisa sounds like she really has a great outlook on life, and loves what she’s doing, and has found a way to be the best she can be at it. A good lesson for all of us - be happy with who you are.
Ron | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
Great piece, Catherine. Love those UNSUNG HEROES!
dental hygienist schooling | Jul 17, 2011 | Reply
Ford Flex
My Blog
dental hygienist schooling
dental hygienist | Jul 17, 2011 | Reply
An agents job is to submit you for any and everything that you could be suited for. They arrange your pay and handle payroll for you. Once your out of the scale wages they start to negotiate your wages to a higher pay.
Frederick Slim
My Blog
dental hygienist
sell gold coins | Sep 8, 2011 | Reply
Many thanks for taking this possiblity to talk about this kind of, I am strongly about it and I take pleasure in studying this specific matter.
hyperbaric chamber | Sep 22, 2011 | Reply
Thank you for the encouragement for a better posture!
rent hyperbaric chamber | Sep 27, 2011 | Reply
Wonderful blog! I truly love how it�s easy on my eyes as well as the info are well written. I am wondering how I may be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your rss feed which need to do the trick! Have a nice day!
Angelie | Oct 18, 2011 | Reply
Such a great and wonderful post.It’s so nice that i found this.This is really a great post. Thanks and keep it up!!
Angelie | Oct 19, 2011 | Reply
I’m really glad to read this content here.Broadway is also in my dream but i think it’s not for me.Still i love it,this is really a great post here.
Please visit: Satellite TV
Ollysey Meyer | Oct 25, 2011 | Reply
Definitely I like this kind of blog for it precisely had an informative blog. Fantastic shows to be, looking forward to see there performance. Thanks!
visit this site please Vertical Blinds
Amber | Oct 25, 2011 | Reply
Broadway is also in my dream but i think itâ��s not for me.I don’t have enough confident and of course talent that’s why broadway is not meant for me.
hazel | Nov 9, 2011 | Reply
Me too broadway is my favorite but , i think my age is not pricesly need ,, i was focus on another to fit my skills.
JeanCDildy | Nov 18, 2011 | Reply
Thanks for creating this site.So nice information content.I think this well help a lot to me.I honestly enjoy most of the posts and your different point of view.Im so interesting of this.Thanks
Katherine | Nov 18, 2011 | Reply
@Catherine, Sometimes the ‘Award Winning’ is biased. I don’t know how they manage to judge or to say something about the winning criteria. So I think we have to accept all their decisions. Am I right?
Barry | Nov 21, 2011 | Reply
@Katherine, I strongly agree with you… They better to hire or invite those who are strongly high reputation for this big event.
Julian | Nov 21, 2011 | Reply
@Katherine: Your definitely right Kath. All we can do is to accept the judges decision.
Eric Harrison | Nov 21, 2011 | Reply
Yes, sometimes there is what we called technical error in the tabulation table too not just a word biased.
Grace | Nov 22, 2011 | Reply
Awesome blog! I truly like the way is it as it did an informative and a well written blog. I am wondering how I may be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your rss feed which need to do the trick!
Wanda C. Gonzales | Nov 22, 2011 | Reply
It sounds like she really has a great outlook on life, and loves what she�s doing, and has found a way to be the best she can be at it. A good lesson for all of us - be happy with who you are.
Rian | Nov 22, 2011 | Reply
I am wondering how I may be notified whenever a new post has been made. .I honestly enjoy most of the posts and your different point of view.Im so interesting of this.Thanks for sharing.
Elijah T. Bryant | Nov 22, 2011 | Reply
Awesome apparently I agreed on ana�s ideas. That�s pretty cool. Thanks!
MariaRogers | Nov 23, 2011 | Reply
@Eric: I strongly agree with you Eric. Maybe it’s about the technical error and the judges didn’t notice about that.
Rose | Nov 29, 2011 | Reply
I think that is biased because if you say it’s technical error, expected to have a technical support who will fix that problem. In my opinion only.
JosephineOlson | Nov 30, 2011 | Reply
@Rose: I strongly agree Rose. Technical error is a common reason of judging and I’m so sick to hear that.
Katherine | Dec 1, 2011 | Reply
@Rose, don’t you really know what really means tabulation table? I guess you have to find out, okay? Do more research about being a judge.
Anyways, for bringing up this brainstorming.
@Barry, Thank you.
@Julian, Thank you.
@Eric, Thank you. ^_^
Luz | Dec 7, 2011 | Reply
It turns to be excellent post, she worked on videos, commercials, movies, AND the 1990 and 1991 Academy Awards. But New York is where she really wanted to be, and she moved back in the mid-90�s. Love to subscribe it.
african mango
Jerry Lundquist | Jan 17, 2012 | Reply
It’s great to hear about people making great things happen with their lives. Thanks for sharing!
Prada Shoes | Mar 15, 2012 | Reply
Unquestionably believe that which you whispered. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the web the easiest thing to be aware of.
Coach factory | Mar 23, 2012 | Reply
good!
Hermes Scarf | Apr 27, 2012 | Reply
Incredibly inspiring article, Thank you !?!
Louis Vuitton Wallet | May 7, 2012 | Reply
Incredibly inspiring article, Thank you !?!
Coach Outlet | May 9, 2012 | Reply
Your point is valueble for me. Thanks!
Discount oakleys | May 10, 2012 | Reply
Thank you for you post
Coach Purses | May 13, 2012 | Reply
great advice and discussing,I’ll get this amazing for me .thanks!