Just discovered Laurie Beechman

She must have been one of the best Broadway singers ever....so sad she died so young. Anyone see her in anything?

Updated On: 12/8/12 at 09:22 PM

One of my favorite things she ever did ...

As If We Never Said Goodbye

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Thanks for the share besty....she was a beautiful and talented woman....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAJQWpxbUeE I remember this Phil Donahue special about her when it aired. It looks like most of it is online...

I haven't been able to find it online but Laurie "Beechman" performed at Clintons Gala which was shown on TV. Michael Douglas introduced a video segment about Laurie where she was discussing her battle with cancer and all that has happened in her life.

After the video she performed an amazing version of You'll Never Walk Alone. Then she introduced the newly elected President. What wasn't known at the time was that she was in a lot of pain but come Hell or High Water she was going to perform. Hopefully someone on here will be able to track it down.

Also I was at her Memorial Service which was held at The Winter Garden Theatre.Too much to go into here but it was a beautiful memorial. At the end of the service the song I'll Be Seeing You came from the theatre speakers. When it got to the last line of the song. "I'll be looking at the moon, but I'l be seeing you." Her face was projected on to the moon on the Cats set. Beautiful and quite sad moment.

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Check out www.lauriebeechman.com (note the correct spelling of her name) for audio and video highlights of Laurie's career. She was a tremendous talent and a funny and gracious human being. Her life was tragically cut short too early, but I'll never forget the times I was blessed to experience her and that beautiful voice from the audience. I saw her as the narrator in Joseph at the Walnut St Theater in Philly (with Hugh Panaro in the title role), as Fantine in Les Mis, and in multiple concert performances which highlighted her magnificent voice and wicked sense of humor.

I remember a moving benefit concert she gave in 1997 for friend (and fellow Philly performer) Doug Wing to help pay medical bills incurred after a cancer diagnosis. It was especially poignant because, although it was never mentioned, she also was living with the disease. We lost her the next year.

Thanks for letting me share some great memories. She is missed.

Updated On: 12/7/12 at 10:48 PM

I first experienced Laurie when she was in the national tour of CATS in Boston. I will never forget that moment where she stood to sing the final verse of MEMORY. It was as if every seat in the theater had an electric wire and everyone got a big JOLT at the same time. I still remember the person I was with turning to me with a slack jaw, as if to ask, "Have you ever heard anything like THAT before?" I hadn't.
I went back to see her again a few weeks later (not to see CATS but to see HER) but she had already left the tour and joined the Broadway cast. I saw her on Broadway 3 more times in CATS and once in LES MIZ. She was unbelievable in both.
Here she is singing MEMORY in full CATS costume:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbS_60VbF7g

You can see her entire Josef Tony performance here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVs5daGcCAs

I didn't know you worked on those albums, bk. Well done, indeed!

And thanks to all for the correct spelling.

I do know it's "Beechman", but monkey see, monkey do.

This is the first time I've heard a recording of Laurie Beechma (heard her lovely interpretation of As If We Never Said Goodbye). bk...what is the name of the book you mentioned? from RC in Austin, Texas




LaurieBeechman.com

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Updated On: 12/9/12 at 08:09 AM

This clip of Laurie Beechman performing on The Rosie O'Donnell Show breaks my heart and still gives me all the feels:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhuxA_lHDd4