Broadway Archives

February 13, 2016August 20, 2019

Yesterday: Laurie Beechman Sings “Tomorrow” On Merv Griffin

I was a fan of the fabulous Laurie Beechman the first time I heard her featured vocal in the song “NYC” on the original cast recording of Annie. She played the “Star To Be” and sings the chorus at the key change in the song. As a teenager drawn to Broadway at a very young age, I think I played the song ten times in a row. I couldn’t get enough.

As most folks know, Laurie went on to create the role of the “Narrator” in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on Broadway, and starred in Les Miserables (“Fantine”) and CATS (“Grizabella”).

My hubby Michael worked as her publicist for her two solo albums of Broadway songs back in the 90s, and was instrumental in her singing at the closing of President Clinton’s second inaugural where she brought down the house with her version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

When I was performing in the Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!, Laurie made a point to come and find me (collecting money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS) in the lobby of our theater. I went total “fan-boy” as she approached me saying, “You’re Randy?” and I almost screamed “And you’re LAURIE BEECHMAN!” I calmed down a moment later and composed myself 🙂

Sadly, we lost Laurie way too early due to her battle with cancer. But she fought the good fight. Hard. So strenuously, in fact, that she returned to the Broadway cast of CATS even towards the end of her time with us.

I’ve never seen this clip before. It was recently posted on Facebook by Laurie’s nephew.

Although she didn’t sing “Tomorrow” in Annie, she sings the hell of out it here. The word “thrilling” doesn’t even begin to capture the magic her voice commanded.

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1st Video: Laurie Beechman sings Tomorrow.
Tonight I am sharing a project many years in the making. My Aunt Laurie Beechman remains in my memory as a majestic and vibrant singer. I loved her first as my Aunt Laurie, and in the summers I spent weeks with her and her husband, my Uncle Neil who built all the sets with his company Hudson Scenic. In the summer of 1996, after we got home from a day in the city, we listened to a message on the answering machine. It was the Broadway producer of Cats, asking her to come back and join the show, despite her cancer. She had given up on this call, because even with her health improving, Broadway had never cast anyone unless totally healthy and in perfect shape. Well, she bucked that trend. Why? Well, because she was the most incredible talent in the world. Here she is in 1982, the year she stared in Joseph.
Posted by Reid J. Cohen on Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Laurie’s nephew also posted this performance from the same appearance on Merv Griffin of Laurie singing from her Tony Award nominated performance in JOSEPH…

It’s all fantastic, but check that moment at the 2:50 mark.

Untitled
This is the same night in 1982- This time Laurie Beechman sings “Pharaoh’s Song” to promote Andrew Loyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Laurie was nominated for the Tony- Best Female Lead in a Musical.
Posted by Reid J. Cohen on Wednesday, February 10, 2016

February 2, 2016August 20, 2019

“Finding Neverland” At The 2015 Gypsy Of The Year Event

The Broadway cast of FINDING NEVERLAND

The creativity at the annual Gypsy of the Year competition is always off the hook, and this past year was no exception.

Check out this segment from the Broadway cast of FINDING NEVERLAND teasing their own show about a boy who never grows up while skewering critics who welcomed the now-hit musical with less than glowing reviews.

The Gypsy of the Year event benefits Broadway Cares (my personal favorite charity).

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations.

By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $250 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

(tipped by TRR anonymous reader)

January 22, 2016August 20, 2019

Funny: Some Of The OTHER Broadway Stars Who “Auditioned” For HELLO, DOLLY!

With the huge announcement that Bette Midler will star in a 2017 Broadway revival of HELLO, DOLLY!, the folks over at NEWSical the Musical in NYC put together this “audition” reel of other Broadway luminaries who might have had their own take on “Dolly Levi.”

Starring the ever-fabulous Christine Pedi.

January 21, 2016August 20, 2019

CATS – Now And Forever – Will Return To Broadway This Summer

Playbill shares the news that CATS – the mega-hit Broadway musical of the 1980s and 90s will return to the Great White Way this summer:

Grizabella is headed for the Heaviside layer once more! Broadway’s The Shubert Organization and Nederlander Organization are teaming up to produce the long-rumored revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/T.S. Eliot musical Cats this summer.

The onetime longest-running show in Broadway history has booked the Neil Simon Theatre, with previews beginning July 14 and an official opening set for Aug. 2.

Trevor Nunn, who staged the original London and Broadway productions, will direct the revival. His creative team includes Mick Potter (sound design), Natasha Katz (lighting design) and John Napier (scenic and costume design). It will have choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, based on the original choreography and associate direction by Gillian Lynne.

My first major theater job was being cast in the original company of the national touring company of the show during the height of it’s popularity, as the “Magical Mr. Mistoffelees.” It was a rush to be in the “hottest show in town” back in the day.

With just under 18 years, the original run of CATS ranks as the fourth longest-running Broadway show behind The Lion King (18 years), the revival of Chicago (19 years – I was actually in that one, too, early in the run), and Phantom Of The Opera (28 years later this month.) The top three are still running.

January 19, 2016August 20, 2019

Bette Midler To Star In 2017 Broadway Revival Of Hello, Dolly!

I’m thrilled to read that the fabulous Bette Midler will return to the Broadway stage next year in a new revival of Jerry Herman’s Hello, Dolly!

Playbill has the announcement:

Stage and screen star Bette Midler has announced that she will play Dolly Gallagher Levi in a Broadway revival of the blockbuster 1964 musical, Hello, Dolly!

Four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks will direct, and Tony winner Warren Carlyle will choreograph the production, which will begin Broadway previews March 13, 2017, and open April 20 at a theatre to be announced.

Midler issued a statement saying, “I am looking forward to portraying one of the most beloved characters in all of American Musical Comedy, Dolly Levi, born Gallagher, in Hello, Dolly! I know I’m going to have the time of my life, and I am so glad to be under the wings of Scott Rudin as Producer and Jerry Zaks as Director. See you next year!”

Composer/lyricist Jerry Herman said, “Many times through the years I’ve been asked about bringing back Hello, Dolly! – and it has always been, ‘Who would be my dream Dolly?’ – and though I’ve had literally dozens of names tossed at me, I knew that we needed more than just a wonderful singer or a wonderful actor, so I held on to the hope that she would also be a distinctly original persona. Who is out there that has the necessary stature, warmth, the incredible talent and ability, and especially the singular, out-sized personality that I was looking for in a 21st century Dolly? Only one person: Bette Midler. Only Bette could bring Dolly brilliantly back to ‘the lights of 14th Street!'”

“There has not been a new production in 50 years,” Rudin told The Associated Press. “Partly it was the difficulty of who could play Dolly. It had to be someone who could take it to a different level. Bette is the only one who can. Never has there been something more inevitable than her in this role.”

I made my Broadway debut in 1995 in the last revival, which starred Tony Award-winner (and original “Dolly Levi”) Carol Channing, and it was truly a gift to be a part of.

A few years ago, when Tony Award winners Patti Lupone and director Jack O’Brien were in talks to bring the show back to Broadway, I was asked by Jerry Herman himself to choreograph the production. Unfortunately, Lupone and O’Brien had some artistic differences and the production never came to fruition. For several months, I spoke with the producer attached to the project at the time and certainly Bette was on the top of our list.

I wish the new endeavor only the best.

January 3, 2016August 20, 2019

Christmas Day Marriage Proposal Backstage At Broadway’s WICKED

So sweet. I love when flying monkeys really “get” each other.

After the Christmas Day performance of WICKED on Broadway, two of the show’s flying monkeys got engagned.

Daniel Robinson proposed to fellow flying monkey, Joshua Green on stage and in costume at the Gershwin Theatre.

With the cast posed for a holiday photo after the curtain went down, Robinson pulled Green in front of everyone to ask for his hand in marriage.

Very sweet moment. And did I mention they’re easy on the eyes?

December 18, 2015August 20, 2019

Broadway Cares Shares A Special Holiday Message

Stars from Broadway’s Hamilton, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, Spring Awakening, Finding Neverland and School of Rock – The Musical share a special holiday message from Broadway Cares.

Alex Boniello from Spring Awakening (on guitar), Carolee Carmello from Finding Neverland, Gavin Creel from The Book of Mormon, Nikki Renée Daniels from The Book of Mormon, Kara Lindsay from Wicked, Dante Melucci from School of Rock – The Musical (on djembe), Leslie Odom Jr. from Hamilton.

I’m happy to admit I’ve known Carolee and Leslie for years 🙂

As regular readers of The Randy Report know I was a Broadway actor for many years and was a part of the Broadway community when Broadway Cares was born. It is always my first charity of choice. If you have any charity dollars to donate this holiday season, please know your money would go to great use if you were to donate.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $285 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

December 2, 2015August 20, 2019

Broadway: “Sugar Babies” With Mickey Rooney & Ann Miller

A big Broadway hit in 1980, Sugar Babies was just before my time in New York City. I never saw the show, and it’s never done in regional theaters because it was really a a showcase specifically built for Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller.

(I understand a national tour of the show went out starring Robert Morse and Carol Channing, and did not fair well).

Watching this, I see the appeal. Rooney, forever a goofball, is right there in step with Annie – who always looked fine.

November 29, 2015August 20, 2019

TV: “Broadway at the White House”

Darn. Somehow, I missed this airing on Thanksgiving Day, but plan on finding OnDemand somewhere.

Via OUT:

Broadway at the White House follows deserving high school students who were chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend an all-day symposium on careers in theater that recently took place at the White House. The TV event also features Whoopi Goldberg, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Gloria Estefan, Christian Borle, Cicely Tyson, Stephen Schwartz, and other current Broadway performers.

Here’s the promo video below, and there’s more over at TLC’s website.