Profile for 1971FolliesFan

The casting of Dame Lansbury was discussed numerous times by Mr Herman, you can hear it in this other short documentary from 2002, at the 6 minute mark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YOu0SMtyxM&feature=youtu.be Perhaps owing to some poetic licence, he did portray the scene as being her audition and subsequent immediate casting, but as AADA81 explained the audition process for her was much more prolonged, to the extent that she travelled from her home in Malibu to New York as many as six times over a number of several months (if memory serves me right). It was at the final audition that she put her foot down and said, "you have to make up your mind now", and has later described this as one of the few times she really pursued a role. 

One of these auditions was even captured for prosperity, either by Jerry Herman himself or Don Pippin, in December of 1965 in New York, with both Kaye Ballard and Dame Lansbury. The recording is housed at the R&H archive, but has also snuggled it way out...

Let's hope she doesn't scare Ephram off like she did with me with her "Losing My Mind"... 

Unless he'll be happy to give her away. 

Needless to say, and Jordan said it already, but the notion of casting Dame Lansbury for this shouldn't even be a question. And if it is, here is the answer in the first 45 seconds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxJOqmxqKQk

As a side note, I do hope that the style will be more conceptual, as was the original Broadway production, than a strait-laced look. In other words, there should be suggestions of theatre areas, but no clear representation of setting; perhaps Fosse-esque lighting and camerawork. 

I would say I'm fairly certain it is Len Cariou; the make up in the original show was actually quite grotesque, and as can be seen in the national tour commercial with George Hearn, the eye make up design for Sweeney may have been exaggerated to accommodate for the line "his eye was odd". 

Wishing a wonderful birthday to one of the most spectacular artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, a beautiful human being with an incredible talent who has gifted us all with 75 years of incredible artistry. It's today! 

To celebrate, here are some newly-discovered portraits from a photoshoot of Sweeney Todd, from the 1981 tour. 

Wishing a wonderful birthday to one of the most spectacular artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, a beautiful human being with an incredible talent who has gifted us all with 75 years of incredible artistry. It's today! 

To celebrate, here are some newly-discovered portraits from a photoshoot of Sweeney Todd, from the 1981 tour. 

In response to Steven A2, I think this is absolutely no topic for discussion, and one should learn to at least pretend to have some tact if they appear to be missing it in the first place. 

You could be likely to die in a car accident or falling down the stairs...

It was on this day, 1 March 1979, that Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd opened at the Uris Theatre, starring Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou. It went on to with 8 Tony Awards, including best musical, and has now become a standard classic. 

So lift your glass (or razor) high, and celebrate this masterpiece!

Well how about a Carol Channing award then? 

Well there's still some theatres that haven't been renamed, so why not? The St James for Ms Channing, the Winter Garden for Dame Lansbury, and the Majestic for Mr Prince. 

What about Jerry Herman? 

It was with surprise and grief that on the afternoon of 15 January I discovered of the passing of Ms Carol Channing. She had for many years gifted me with immense joy, optimism and carefree laughter; her God-given talent and drive; her deep respect for an audience. It is hard to believe that a person who had so much life, who was greater than life, can pass away. Ms Channing not only was an extraordinary entertainer whose career spanned seven decades, but also an extraordinary human being, whose generosity and warmth touched so many people. I had been planning to write to her for her upcoming birthday - her 98th! - at the end of the month, but did not get a chance to in the end. So it is with this small tribute that I thank Ms Channing: a montage of the song which embodied her spirit, her radiance and joy. Thank you, Ms Carol Channing. You will never go away.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Yg2mVN0Dw

I was wondering if anyone has any details on the original Broadway production of this Italian musical. In Italy it has become a classic, and is frequently revived, but from what I've gathered when it came to NY in 1964, after its 1962 premiere in Rome, it didn't do very well. Does anyone have any further information on it? 

A little homage for Today! - Dame Angela Lansbury's Birthday (October 16, 2018). Press reel footage from opening night of the Broadway revival of MAME in 1983, plus footage from the bootleg. 

Happy Birthday! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95TlPtEXJL8&feature=youtu.be

Not at all, I misread it, I'm sorry! Yes, I agree! She definitely would have won! 

SomethingPeculiar - I'm sorry, but I don't understand your comment. Why couldn't she have won the Tony in 2001? 

SomethingPeculiar - Exactly what I was writing just now. 

Also because Dame Lansbury deserves to have another leading movie role, as she is still waiting for 'the one'. (Something which, may I add, she has been waiting for since the 1990s). 

What a very, very, very nice thought! 

As a side note, Dame Lansbury and Dick Van Dyke had been working on a movie called Buttons - a few pictures of them in period costumes were released this year - has one heard more information on this? 

WayTooBroadway said: "I wonder why Dame Angela Lansbury was left off the trailer billing..."

Because she doesn't need billing! 

Ah thank you so much! Lovely to see there is some information out there on it!