Who Was Harold Lang?

But who was Harold Lang?

In short, he was a talented, classically-trained dancer who became a Broadway mainstay from 1945 to 1962, appearing in nine musicals and one play. In the 1960s, Lang faded from public view and his performing career was virtually over at age 42. (Not to be confused with British film and TV actor Harold Lang, who was about the same age.)

Following is Lang’s biography from Wikipedia

Harold Lang (December 21, 1920 - July 26, 1985) was an American dancer and actor.

Lang began his professional career as a ballet dancer, making his professional debut with the San Francisco Ballet and then going on to perform with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and American Ballet Theatre (then called Ballet Theatre). While at ABT, he originated roles in Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free and Interplay, in addition to performing in ballets by George Balanchine, David Lichine, Leonide Massine, and Antony Tudor.

Harold Lang and newcomer Barbra Streisand in ‘I Can Get It for You Wholesale’ (1962)

Beginning in the late 1940s, Lang transitioned from ballet to musical theater. He made his Broadway debut in the short-lived Mr. Strauss Goes to Boston (1945), then had more success as a soloist in Three to Make Ready (1946) and Look, Ma, I’m Dancin’! (1948). Lang’s first major role, however, was as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio in the original production of Kiss Me, Kate (1948) — although he did not always get along with composer Cole Porter. His second major Broadway role was Joey in the 1952 revival of Pal Joey. Other Broadway appearances included Make a Wish (1951), Shangri-La (1956), Ziegfeld Follies of 1957, and I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1962). Lang also toured as the Jester in Once Upon a Mattress.

Although he appeared on television in the early 1950s, Lang made no feature films. From 1970 to his death from cancer in 1985, Lang was a professor of dance at California State University, Chico.