Leslie Uggams began her professional career at 6, playing Ethel Waters' niece on a TV show. This week she's at the Muny, reprising her Broadway role as glamorous Muzzy in "Thoroughly Modern Millie." She says she and her husband, soon to celebrate their 47th anniversary, are thrilled to be grandparents. ("At last!") But a lot of people will always remember her as the adorable teen vocalist on "Sing Along With Mitch" from the 1960s.
There weren't many black people on TV at that time, were there? No there were not! At first, stations in the South wouldn't carry the show, because of me. But we became such a hit that they changed their minds. Some of my nicest fan letters came from white Southerners.
Do you think your appearance on the show changed people's points of view? Absolutely. At that time, a lot of white people didn't know any black people socially. There was a lot of pressure on me. I was coming into living rooms where no black person had ever been. But I was only 17, this little chocolate cutie. I don't think anyone felt threatened.  Â
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Later on you were on another show that had a big impact on the American conversation about race, when you played Kizzy in "Roots." Kizzy is way up there, one of my favorite roles. And today, Kizzy is part of history. "Roots" told a story that no one knew and that no one wanted people to know.
'THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE'
When 8:15 p.m. tonight, Friday, Saturday and Sunday • Where The Muny in Forest Park • How much $10-$70, plus the free seats • More info muny.org; 314-534-1111