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Did Elaine Stritch ever play Vera in "Mame" on Broadway?

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#1

Did Elaine Stritch ever play Vera in "Mame" on Broadway?

Posted: 2/24/08 at 6:06pm

This isn't a thread to say that she would have been perfect in the role, but rather did she ever play the part.

IBDB says no, but someone who replied to a post of mine on "the forbidden website" says that his parents saw her and he has the playbill to prove it.

It's petty (I know), but ibdb.com does not list that as one of her credits, so I was just wondering if this individual is mistaken by telling me this.
#2

re: Did Elaine Stritch ever play Vera in 'Mame' on Broadway?

Posted: 2/24/08 at 6:13pm

According to the nifty new BWWDB:

Mame
[US Tour, 1st National Tour, 1968]
Vera Charles

So Playbill is probably legit, but not from Broadway.
"If there is going to be a restoration fee, there should also be a Renaissance fee, a Middle Ages fee and a Dark Ages fee. Someone must have men in the back room making up names, euphemisms for profit." (Emanuel Azenberg)
#8

re: Did Elaine Stritch ever play Vera in 'Mame' on Broadway?

Posted: 10/9/11 at 12:35am

[threadbump]
I know people who swore they saw her on Broadway as Vera somewhere between 1966 and 1969. Anyone else know if she was indeed in the NY production?

Updated On: 10/9/11 at 12:35 AM

#13

re: Did Elaine Stritch ever play Vera in 'Mame' on Broadway?

Posted: 10/10/11 at 9:44am

I believe there was a production, not sure if it was a tour or summer stock, with Elaine Stritch and Bea Arthur where they swapped roles every night.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#15

re: Did Elaine Stritch ever play Vera in 'Mame' on Broadway?

Posted: 10/10/11 at 11:37am

Except for the movie, I don't think Arthur ever played the role again after she left the Broadway production. Arthur apparently had been considered for the role of Mame when they were still having trouble casting it. Or at least Gene Saks was trying to make them consider her.

Perhaps Goth is thinking of the story Stritch has told — which may or may not be true — that she and Garland would joke about alternating as Mame and Vera.

Stritch did later play Mame in stock after having played Vera on tour with Janet Blair.

The two main Broadway Veras after Arthur were Anne Francine and Audrey Christie.
#16

re: Did Elaine Stritch ever play Vera in 'Mame' on Broadway?

Posted: 10/10/11 at 1:05pm

"That's not true, Goth. You're the only one who's ever said that was true."

Maybe Stritch had been tippling when she told me that or maybe she got mixed up and said Bea Arthur when she meant someone else. But that's what I heard from the Stritch's mouth. She has been known to fudge the truth just a wee bit.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#17

re: Did Elaine Stritch ever play Vera in 'Mame' on Broadway?

Posted: 10/10/11 at 2:03pm

I'm sure you were drunk when she told you that, Goth.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

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