LifeSoFarLaRue

 I got slapped in the face again yesterday.   My friend, Joel Conrad, who I have known for Fifty-odd years passed away suddenly.  His partner called me and told me that they were out to dinner and he "just keeled over."  The ambulance was called but it was too late. It made me sad, angry and reflective.  I was lucky enough to have been in touch with Joel and his husband Joe (Yes, they made it legal, in Massachusetts) on many occasions over the last few years including visits to Florida to see Fabian and myself, (visits that we enjoyed thoroughly) and birthday cards and Christmas gift were exchanged and a phone call at least once a month.  They enriched our lives. But now, everything will change.  There will be a void.  Thankfully, there will also be memories. Below is a photo of a production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" at the Meadowbrook Dinner Theater with Joel in the back and myself in the near front just trying t...

It was only late afternoon but winter had already deposited darkness upon the small town.   And as the snow began to fall, adding to the blanket previously fallen, the moon came out.  It was a full Kansas moon that glinted and gleamed against the frosty flakes making the landscape eerily, ghostly bright.  There would be no need for a flashlight on a night such as this. Bundled up, as only a mother can, the young boy went down the steps from his front door, out through the gated picket fence and headed toward the church which was only half a block away.  There was an air of anticipation about him as he broke into a run toward his goal. Some other children were already in the appointed meeting place, the church annex and together they waited for the rest of their friends to arrive.  And, in due time, they did, rounding their number out to an even ten (or was it twelve?) With no adults to supervise them, they set out on their journey.  This was that coun...

In 2018, the Broadway Cares "Legends" Christmas ornament was none other than Harvey Fierstein (in drag) playing the role of Edna Turnblad from the musical "Hairspray." Arriving on the scene in 1988, as a John Waters movie starring Divine with a supporting cast that included Ricki Lake and Sonny Bono, it became a Broadway musical in 2003 winning eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Actor for Mr. Fierstein. It became a musical motion picture in 2007 with John Travolta filling Mr. Fierstein's high heels, and still later was a live television event on NBC in 2016 with Mr. Fierstein returning to the role The ornament and a photo from the original Broadway production are below.

In 2017, Broadway Cares selected Carol Burnett to be the yearly Christmas ornament as Princess Winnifred in "Once Upon a Mattress." What began as a fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson entitled "The Princess and the Pea" was adapted for the theater by Mary Rogers (Daughter of Richard) doing the music with lyrics by Marshall Barer.  First playing Off-Broadway in 1959 and then transferring that same year to Broadway where it ran a total of 244 performances at various venues. The show received Tony nominations for Best Musical as well as a nod to Ms. Burnett as Best Actress in a Musical but neither award came to fruition. (The winning Musical that year was a tie between "Fiorello" and "The Sound of Music" with Mary Martin winning Best Actress for the latter.) The show has had several incarnations over the years on tour and in stock, with the likes of Ann B. Davis, Dody Goodman and Imogene Coca in the role.  In 1996, Sarah Jessica Parker starr...

In 2016 Broadway Cares honored Patti LuPone for her portrayal of Eva Peron in "Evita" This show had its roots, beginning in 1976 as a rock opera "concept album" in the UK with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.  A copy of the album was sent to Hal Prince with an invitation to become involved with the eventual staging, which owing to the success of the album became a reality in 1978 with Elaine Page in the title role and Prince directing. It won the Olivier Award (Britain's equivalent to the Tony) for Ms. Page as well as Best Musical.  There were rumors of a film to be directed by Ken Russell with either Barbra Streisand or Liza Minelli as Eva and Elton John or Barry Gibb as Che but they soon were dismissed. The following year, it moved "across the pond " to Broadway with a new cast, Patti LuPone as Eva Peron and Mandy Patinkin as Che (who was a kind of "Greek chorus" for the production, commenting on the action as it ha...

 I lost a dear fiend, yesterday.  He and his wife, Lore, were our neighbors when we lived in Warwick, New York.  And what wonderful neighbors they were. The last time I spoke to Lore, she told me Walter was not  doing too well and so his passing was no real surprise.   She went into wake him up yesterday morning and couldn't.  So it was a peaceful passing in his sleep. Let me tell  you a few tidbits of when Walter was awake. Every year on my birthday I would get a call and  hear Lore sing "Happy Birthday."  At the end of every phrase, Walter would chime in with "Cha-cha-cha."   No particular reason, it was just his way of amusing me.  And it always did. Then, there were the Ogres.   It seems a group of them had invaded their shed and no amount of cajoling would get them  to leave.   So Walter cared for them and nurtured them and related their adventures should you inquire.  On one Christmas we gave him a ...

The Christmas "Legends" ornament from Broadway Cares in 2014 was dedicated to Liza Minnelli for her work in "The Act." A totally original musical with a book by George Furth, lyrics by John Kander and music by Fred Ebb, it was designed as a showcase for Ms. Minnelli's talents.  It was directed by none other tham Martin Scorsese and choreographer by Ron Lewis (with uncredited help from Gower Champion). The costumes were by Ms. Minnelli's friend, Halston. In 1978, Ms. Minnelli won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and her ornament is pictured below along with a photo from the show.  The Best Musical that year was "Ain't Misbehavin'"

Broadway Cares decided in 2013 that is was time to recognize Julie Andrews as that plucky flower seller, Eliza Doolittle in Lerner and Lowes "My Fair Lady." A George Bernard Shaw play, "Pygmalion" starring Mrs. Patrick Campbell was the starting point and later turned into a film by the same name starring Wendy Hiller. It had several incarnations, most notably, a Hallmark Hall of Fame television production with Julie Harris as Eliza. And then came a Broadway musical in 1956 where it had a considerable run.  The initial cast choices of Noel Coward and Mary Martin both turned it down and Mr. Coward suggested Rex Harrison for the role of Professor Higgins.  The producers saw Ms. Andrews in the Broadway production of "The Boy Friend" and offered her the part of Eliza. Moss Hart agreed to direct after hearing only two songs. It won six Tony Awards incluing Best Musical and Best Actor (Harrison) in a Musical.  Ms. Andrews lost out to Edith (Edie) Adams for he...