Cy Coleman wrote the lyrics for Lucille Ball's one Broadway musical, 'Wildcat' (1960). He also wrote the music for 'Sweet Charity,' which was filmed starring Shirley MacLaine in the title role. MacLaine's theme song is "If They Could See Me Now" from 'Sweet Charity' while Lucy's theme song is Coleman's "Hey, Look Me Over" from 'Wildcat'.
On November 1, 1959, Lucille Ball and Shirley did a Las Vegas benefit for the victims of Japan's Typhoon Vera. The show, however, was not televised. Lucy's frequent co-star Bob Hope was also part of the benefit.
On April 19, 1976, Shirley MacLaine appeared at the Palace Theatre on Broadway in a similar show written by Fred Ebb and Cy Coleman and directed by Tony Charmoli. This incarnation was simply titled 'Shirley MacLaine' or 'Shirley MacLaine and Shirley's Gypsies', who were Candy Brown, Gary Flannery, Adam Grammis, Joann Lehman, and Larry Vickers. An original cast album from the show was titled 'Shirley MacLaine Live at the Palace'. The song "The Gypsy in My Soul" was included on all three. This was her first time back on the Broadway stage since 'The Pajama Game' more than twenty years earlier. The show was also a big hit in London. Lucille Ball was not involved with any of these other versions of the show.
The show was taped over two days. The first day with an audience for Shirley's solos and numbers with the gypsies, and without an audience for Lucy's portions of the show. Ball loved live audiences when doing comedy, but after breaking her leg she was scared to death to dance live in front of an audience.
In his book I Loved Lucy, author Lee Tannen remembers attending the taping of "Gypsy in My Soul". Tannen recalls that the taping itself was not a success, with Lucy flying into a rage when MacLaine came back from lunch a few minutes late. Both retreated to their dressing rooms to cool off.