"First Lady" of American Theatre

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"First Lady" of American Theatre

Posted: 4/22/12 at 10:20am

I was thinking the other day about how every time Bernadette was on "Live with Regis and Kelly" he often referred to her as, "The First Lady of American Theatre". Do you agree? If not who do you think deserves that title and why?

"First Lady" of American Theatre

Posted: 4/22/12 at 11:27am

For my money, Christie Brinkley

"First Lady" of American Theatre

Posted: 4/22/12 at 11:30am

Who dethroned our beloved Helen Hayes??

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/22/12 at 11:47am

I'm sure Patti LuPone would disagree with Regis. I always thought that the title of "First Lady Of American Theatre" belonged to Julie Harris? from RC in Austin, Texas

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

Updated On: 4/22/12 at 11:47 AM

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/22/12 at 12:04pm

Julie Harris? Google "First Lady of American Theatre" and most of the hits will be for Helen Hayes -- a title I've heard in conjunction with her name since before I saw her live in a theatre production in 1967 -- School for Scandal on Broadway. And I remember hearing her referred to by that title in numerous interviews in conjunction with her cameo appearance in the film Airport.

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/22/12 at 1:06pm

Helen Hayes, with Angela Lansbury being the the Fist Lady of American Musical Theater.

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/22/12 at 1:52pm

Angela Lansbury is a "Fist Lady"? Who knew?!!

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/22/12 at 2:27pm

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/22/12 at 2:38pm

No Offense to Mrs. Hayes but I believe Regis meant that for a new era of performers and theatre the first lady of american theatre would debatably be Bernadette Peters.

#10

Fist Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/22/12 at 2:40pm

#11

Fist Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/22/12 at 2:49pm

We'll always be bosom buddies,
Friends, fisters and pals;

#12

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Posted: 4/22/12 at 2:51pm

#13

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Posted: 4/22/12 at 3:08pm

Elaine Paige is often referred to as the first lady of British musical theater isn't she? Obviously, because of Evita. It seems like Patti should therefor get the title over here.

Angela Lansbury was born in London so if anything she should be the queen of something or other. Helen Hayes is of a different era and should obviously have some sort of title as well, but not "first lady." Ah, hell, lets just give them all their own title.

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Posted: 4/22/12 at 3:24pm

I think Bernadette should get it over Patti.

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Posted: 4/22/12 at 3:29pm

Bernadette is definitely up there. Good thing this isn't an actual competition. Patti would break into a catfight for it probably

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Posted: 4/22/12 at 3:30pm

I always heard it was Helen Hayes. But a case can me made for Julie Harris who has 32 Broadway credits.

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

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/22/12 at 3:41pm

The title is usually reserved for the living (unless one wants to argue the theatre itself is dead).

Julie Harris (legit) and Angela Lansbury (musical).

If we confine the legit distinction to all actresses currently active in the American Theatre, then it would be Rosemary Harris.

Updated On: 4/22/12 at 03:41 PM

#18

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/22/12 at 3:41pm

and Five Tonys for Best Actress...Julie Harris

Updated On: 4/22/12 at 03:41 PM

#19

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/23/12 at 8:35am

I'm a little puzzled by much of this conversation. Who decided that the term "First ______" is reserved for the living? Do we no longer call the Wright Brothers "first in flight" but have now bestowed that honor on the current most famous pilot -- whoever that might be?
I understand that Helen Hayes received that title at a time when Sarah Bernhardt -- French born -- was considered the greatest actress. Although Americans don't bestow the term "lady" on those who excel in their fields, Helen Hayes was an American and so became "The First LADY of the American Theatre". Once she died, that shouldn't mean her title should then be transferred to some other living actress any more than after the death of George Washington, we should start calling any other president "The First President of the US."
Helen Hayes was given that title and in my book (and other books written on the subject) it is her title for all time. Call other great actresses anything you want -- "the greatest living actress in the US" or "the actress who has appeared the most on Broadway", but don't strip a legend of the title created for her, simply because she died.

#20

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/23/12 at 9:17am

Patash, of course it's a semantic issue and can be resolved however people wish to resolve it.

But wasn't Ethel Barrymore commonly called First Lady of the American Theatre before Helen Hayes was? I believe the title may have been bestowed on Hayes at a time when Barrymore became less active on stage (it seems to have happened well before Barrymore died).

Of course, perhaps some people may have argued, as you do now re: Hayes, that Barrymore remained the FLoTAT. Or perhaps people felt that Hayes's work surpassed Barrymore's. I'm not sure. If that were the case, I think many people could now argue that Julie Harris's and Rosemary Harris's contributions to the American stage have surpassed Hayes's.

In terms of a temporal transition of the title, I would think that would follow because "First Lady" is a term we generally associate with whoever is the President's wife at the time. But, as I said, that's all words. Perhaps no one ever decided the title had to be held by someone either living or enjoying an active career; but I don't think anyone ever decided that it didn't have to be held by someone currently living or enjoying an active career either.

It's not an exact science. But since few people living today have ever seen Hayes on stage, perhaps hers is no longer the name theatre lovers think of as the premier actress of the American stage.

Updated On: 4/23/12 at 09:17 AM

#21

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/23/12 at 9:27am

Minnie Maddern Fiske.

First Lady of American Theatre

Hands down.

#22

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/23/12 at 9:42am

OR, fist down.

#23

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/23/12 at 10:08am

Haaaahvey Fierstein

Right, Jordan?

*waits for him to explode*

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#24

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/23/12 at 10:12am

I do think it's sort of a funny expression. The First Lady of American Theatre would seem to imply that she merely only needs to be married to the President of American Theatre. No experience necessary.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#25

First Lady of American Theatre

Posted: 4/23/12 at 10:12am

Patash, your comparisons are false ones: Those people were "first _________" because they were, well, the first. Nobody is claiming that Helen Hayes was the first female actor in America.

I agree with your larger point: that the "title" needn't necessarily get handed down, generation after generation. But I don't think that means that folks can never feel someone else deserves it.

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