Hot Clip of the Day: Meet Me In St. Louis Was Rachel Bay Jones' Broadway Debut

Last updated November 2nd, 2020 by BroadwayBox Staff
Hot Clip of the Day: Meet Me In St. Louis Was Rachel Bay Jo…

Photo by Emilio Madrid

Each day, the Bbox team trolls YouTube for the hot clip—sometimes it's a brand-new moment and sometimes it's a throwback to an oldie but goodie. No matter what praise hands are shot up, pearls are clutched and the repeat button is hit.

"Banjos" / "The Trolley Song" / "The Boy Next Door" / "Meet Me In St. Louis" from Meet Me In St. Louis (Original Broadway Cast)


Ulterior Motives: Years before her Tony winning turn as Heidi Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen, Rachel Bay Jones made her Broadway debut in the ensemble of the "clang clang clang went the trolley" film to stage Broadway adaptation of Meet Me in St. Louis which opened on November 2, 1989. The 1944 film, beautifully directed by Vincente Minnelli, starred legend Judy Garland as Esther Smith crooning "The Boy Next Door," "The Trolley Song," and Christmas staple "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." The Broadway adaptation starred Donna Kane in the role of the starry-eyed daughter in the story of the Smith Family at the turn of the century. Rachel Bay Jones eventually went on to understudy the starring role over the course of the show's run at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre.

Ultimate 🙌 🙌 moment: Is it just us, or does this look like a 500 member cast? We looked it up and there were 41 cast members! Talk about a spectacular! You'll spot Miss Rachel Bay Jones at 4:42 in her gorgeous costume. We have to applaud Donna Kane as our ultimate moment starts at 3:25. That voice! It is so beautiful on "The Boy Next Door" lyric. 3:36 - 3:44 channeling back that Garland sound. BRB, we have to go rewatch the movie now!