Flo Lacey, a veteran star of many Broadway shows, including ‘Hello Dolly,’ was in West Hartford Friday afternoon to speak with students preparing for Conard’s spring musical.

Conard junior Katherine Policelli, who plays Irene Molloy, sings ‘Ribbons Down My Back’ for Flo Lacey. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

The cast and crew of Conard High School’s spring musical received some inspiring advice prior to beginning rehearsal Friday afternoon when Flo Lacey, a veteran Broadway performer whose credits include the role of Irene Molloy in the revival of “Hello Dolly” and a 12-year run as Evita Perron in “Evita,” told the amazing story of how she was “discovered” and went on to enjoy a decades-long career in theater.

Lacey also remained for rehearsal, watching and listening to Conard junior Katherine Policelli prepare to take on the role of Widow Molloy that she herself first played on Broadway in 1978.

“Well that brought back some memories. That was absolutely beautiful,” Lacey told Policelli after she finished singing “Ribbons Down My Back” – the very song that Lacey credits with launching her Broadway career.

Lacey told the Conard students how although she believes she was “called to sing,” she never pursued it until she tried out for a musical in high school at the urging of one of her friends – and got the lead. “I kept saying that I was going to be a nurse because I thought the nuns would think it was respectable,” said Lacey, who attended parochial school.

Veteran Broadway star Flo Lacey speaks to the cast and crew of Conard’s spring musical, ‘Hello Dollly.’ Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Lacey studied theater in college, but was a struggling actress both in New York and California before eventually being cast as the female lead in “John Brown’s Body” – opposite male lead Rock Hudson, who became one of her closest friends. Hudson thought Lacey’s voice was wonderful, and purposely planned a dinner party at his home where he asked Lacey to sing, accompanied by a pianist who was also a guest.

After asking if the accompanist knew any Jerry Herman songs, Lacey sang her favorite, “Ribbons Down My Back” from “Hello Dolly.” The other party guests cheered wildly, and then Hudson informed Lacey that her accompanist was none other than Jerry Herman, who wrote that song as well as the rest of “Hello Dolly’s” music and lyrics.

Herman told Lacey that if he had a show running “you would be in it tomorrow night,” and true to his word, called Lacey to play the role of Irene Molloy several months later.

Owen Painter, who plays Cornelius Hackl (right) and Eric Boccaccio, who plays the role of Barnaby, rehearse their solos for Flo Lacey. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Lacey’s career took off after Herman “wrote a musical for me,” Lacey said. She starred in that musical – “The Grand Tour” – opposite Joel Gray, beginning in 1979, and then spent 12 years playing the lead in “Evita,” a run that gave her the opportunity to perform all over the world. For details on Lacey’s career, click here.

When asked by one of the Conard students if she had ever considered another career path, Lacey’s answer was a resounding, “No.”

“I’ve had a wonderful time in the theater, in the world,” she said. Asked if she had any regrets, she said only that she never had any children. Although she is essentially retired, Lacey still enjoys performing occasionally.

Lacey lives in Farmington, but spends plenty of time in West Hartford with her husband, Tim Stella, the associate director for Broadway’s “Phantom of the Opera” who is also the music director at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church. Lacey and Stella have befriended the Lafreniere family, who are members of the St. Peter Claver parish. When triplets Anna, Emily, and Paul Lafreniere became involved in the “Hello Dolly” production, they were excited to invite Lacey to speak to the cast and crew.

Katherine Policelli, who plays Irene Molloy (right) and Katie Kopp (Minnie Fae) rehearse a scene from ‘Hello Dolly’ while Flo Lacey observes. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

“I’ve never done this kind of an event before,” Lacey said. She said she has spoken to college groups, but never a high school. She was very impressed with the Conard students, and said she will return to see the show in March.

For more information on the Conard High School production of “Hello Dolly,” click here. Tickets will go on sale beginning Feb. 23 at conardhighschoolmusical.com. “Hello Dolly” opens on March 20, and runs on March 20-22 and March 27-28.

Flo Lacey (right) watches and listens with Director Corinne Kravetz as the Conard cast of ‘Hello Dollly’ rehearses a few musical numbers in the choir room. Photo credit: Ronni Newton