Master of Ceremonies: The Joel Grey Collection

Lot Essay:

This lively ink drawing by Al Hirschfeld captures Joel Grey in the role of George M. Cohan, the larger-than-life Broadway legend at the heart of the musical George M! With Hirschfeld’s signature fluid line and theatrical flair, the portrait immortalizes Grey during a transformative and triumphant moment in his career. Though he would go on to be known as a quintessential song-and-dance man, Grey approached the role with neither formal tap training nor a background in singing- only intense determination.

“George M. Cohan was one of the great, great song-and-dance men of his time,” Grey reflected. “He was known as a really difficult guy… but he was a genius and he wrote great songs.” What drew Grey in was not just the showmanship, but Cohan’s inner life- how he did what he did. In preparing for the role, Grey worked daily with tap instructor Bob Audy, conquering his fear with tireless dedication. “I was terrified,” he admitted. “I worked every single day for hours… it was such an act of terror that I would go under the stage at the Palace Theater and run the solo- every single show.”

His daughter, Jennifer Grey, later marveled at the transformation: “My dad didn’t know how to tap dance before the show- and he learned to tap and became known as one of the most famous tap dancers… He wasn’t a singer when he started off, he wasn’t a dancer- and then to become known as a song-and-dance man and he played… one of the first pioneers of song and dance.”

The role earned Grey a Tony nomination and, more importantly, deepened his lifelong friendship with co-star Bernadette Peters, whom he called “one of the best things about George M!” This drawing not only reflects a pivotal chapter in Joel Grey’s artistic journey but also honors the grit, heart, and sheer willpower that brought a Broadway icon to life.