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Editor’s notes: Tributes to Joan Rivers, Marian Seldes, Geoffrey Holder & Mike Nichols
Photo by: Bruce Glikas
“Joan Rivers loved Broadway and we loved her. Due to the outpouring of love and respect for Joan Rivers from our community and from her friends and fans worldwide, the marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in her memory, at exactly 6:45pm for one minute.”
Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director, The Broadway League
BROADWAY TO DIMMED ITS LIGHTS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8TH IN MEMORY OF TONY-AWARD WINNINGPREMIER STAGE ACTRESSMARIAN SELDES (New
York, NY) October 7, 2014 -- The Broadway community mourns the loss of Marian
Seldes, a Tony Award®-winning actress,
five-time nominee, and the recipient of a Special Tony Award for Lifetime
Achievement in the Theatre. She died on Monday at the age of 86. The marquees
of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in her memory tomorrow evening,
Wednesday, October 8th, at exactly 7:45pm for one minute. With a career that spanned 60 years, Marian Seldes made her Broadway debut in 1947 in the Robinson Jeffers adaptation of Medea directed by John Gielgud and starring Judith Anderson in the title role. In 1967, she won a Tony Award® as Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role in A Delicate Balance by Edward Albee. Ms. Seldes has a long association with the playwright, appearing in The Play About the Baby, Tiny Alice, Counting the Ways (as part of Beckett/Albee plays) and Three Tall Women, a tour de force for the actress. She entered the Guinness Book of World Records for her appearance in Ira Levin’s Deathtrap when she didn't miss a single performance of the play’s four-year run. Other stage credits include Equus, Painting Churches, The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, and The Chalk Garden. She received Tony Award nominations for her performances in Father’s Day, Deathtrap, Ring Round the Moon, and Dinner at Eight. Her last appearance on Broadway was in 2007 in Terrence McNally’s Deuce. In 2010, Ms. Seldes received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement honoring her contribution to the theatre and her extraordinary talent. Ms. Seldes also had an extensive career in movies, television and radio. She authored two books: “The Bright Lights,” a memoir; and a novel, “Time Together.” She taught for many years at The Juilliard School and later as an adjunct professor at Fordham University. Editor’s note:
The published biographies, impressive as they seem, in no way can capture the warmth that Ms. Seldes’ presence radiated into whatever space she inhabited. But most especially the way she would, when approached, more often than not wrap her arms around you followed by a kiss in the cheek, gazing into your eyes in rapt attention to whatever you were saying, seemingly grateful for the recognition. I experienced this each time I saw her at theater functions and always left a bit exalted not daring to think that she couldn’t possibly have remembered me, dreaming that she did. I miss her already. Jeanne Lieberman, Publisher
BROADWAY DIMMED ITS LIGHTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10th IN MEMORY OF DIRECTOR, CHOREOGRAPHER, PERFORMER, DESIGNER GEOFFREY HOLDER(New York, NY) October 8, 2014 -- The Broadway community mourns the loss of Geoffrey Holder, the 1975 Tony Award®-winning
director and costume designer of The Wiz who died on Sunday at the age
of 84. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in his
memory Friday, October 10th, at exactly 7:45pm for one minute. He is survived by his wife, Carmen de Lavallade, and their son, Léo.
Jack Mitchell / Getty Images
Editor’s notes: It is impossible to capture the larger-than-life charisma of this scintillating Renaissance man of all talents. The sight/sound of him produced a ripple of excitement even if you didn’t know who he was. A rare phenomenon his voice was as unmistakable as his visual touch on all the arts, most especially dance. Truly unforgettable
Jeanne Lieberman, Publisher
BROADWAY DIMMED
ITS LIGHTS Mike Nichols was among the most celebrated people in the history of show business, one of only a handful of people to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award®. Mike Nichols has won more Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Play than any other individual. His six nods were for Barefoot in the Park (1964), Luv and The Odd Couple (1965), Plaza Suite (1968), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1972), The Real Thing (1984), and Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (2012). He has also won in other categories for directing the musical Monty Python's Spamalot (2005), and for producing Annie (1977) and The Real Thing (1984) under the company he founded, Icarus Productions, making it a total of nine Tony Award wins. He also received eight additional nominations. Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of the Broadway League, said, “Legendary director Mike Nichols shared his distinct genius for storytelling through the worlds of stage and film. Throughout his celebrated career in many mediums that spanned decades, he was always in awe of the thrill and the miracle that is theatre. In addition to his numerous honors, including nine Tony Awards, he won over audiences with his passion for art. His notable presence in our industry will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans.”
Note from the Publisher: In the midst of congress’ heated debate over Immigration Laws it should be noted that Nichols himself was an immigrant, born Mikhail Igor Peschkowsky in Germany. His father, a Jewish doctor from Russia, fled to America to escape the Nazis in 1938. In a rare move indeed the New York Times not only put Nichols on the front page but also dedicated a double page spread to him (albeit in the Business Section) What a statement! Such was his fame that the mere attachment of his name to any production lent the imprimatur of excellence be it the Oscar winning films, or Tony winning plays.
But I remember him
most for the recording of “An
Evening With Mike Nichols and Elaine May” which opened in October 1960, ran for
more than 300 performances and Yes, the LPs that we all played at parties or listened to on the radio of his comedy acts with his equally zany partner Elaine May. They became cult favorites. At once universal and unique their skits lampooned such everyman situations as teenagers on a first date in a parked car, a visit to the dentist, to the hospital, arranging a funeral and, of course, mother-son phone conversations. And there was NO profanity, NO ethnicity, just a keen eye and ear, and superb comic timing. One of the miracles of high technology these hilarious moments can be accessed on line. Like a final gift from a master, give yourself a treat and Google them! Mike Nichols was truly a theater genius and one of a kind! Jeanne Lieberman, Publisher Broadway's lights are going up at the astonishing rate of a new show a night I consider each new article a tribute to them Jeanne Lieberman Letter's to the Editor
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