Velma’s involvement with the Muni began when she encouraged her first husband, Don Bailey, to audition for the first production back at the lake, The Music Man, in 1965. And then as they say, the rest was history. Velma’s involvement mainly was backstage, but she did perform onstage in 1968’s Oliver and played Abigail Adams in 1972’s 1776 opposite her husband’s John Adams. Don Bailey directed many Muni productions, and his favorite part was spotting young talent and casting many young people in their first shows, as he did with Steve Kaplan and Paul Presney. Don may not be with us anymore, but his impact on the organization lives on.
Want to get involved in this project? Email history@themuni.org
