Threaded Order Chronological Order
| 1997: Liza @ The Life | |
| Last Edit: bitbybit 03:38 am EDT 03/16/22 | |
| Posted by: bitbybit 03:33 am EDT 03/16/22 | |
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| With Liza's birthday and the premiere of The Life at City Center tonight, does anyone else remember the magical night at the Barrymore in 1997 when Liza sang after the show? I was there for the dress rehearsal tonight, but I was also there in 1997 when Liza wowed the crowd with an impromptu performance with Cy Coleman at the piano. Incidentally, next week we are studying the original along with the Billy Porter version in my musical theatre writing class at BerkleeNYC. Very interesting because I've now seen both - and there are definitely some change worth talking about. If you were at the Barrymore that fabulous night in 1997, could you share your recollection of the evening? Michael |
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| Link | 1997: Liza @ The Life |
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| re: 1997: Liza @ The Life | |
| Posted by: VeronicaEagle 11:39 am EDT 03/16/22 | |
| In reply to: 1997: Liza @ The Life - bitbybit 03:33 am EDT 03/16/22 | |
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| YES! I was there. It was the performance after The Life lost the Tony to Titanic. I remember buying tickets for that night in advance because I was sure it would win. I was there with 2 straight friends. When we walked into the theater there was a crazy frenzy going on and we saw Liza go in. I flipped out and said to my friends, do you know who that was?? And my straight male friend exclaimed Yes! Elizabeth Taylor. All I could do was shake my head. The show was wonderful and exciting and at the end of the curtain call I believe Sam Harris brought Liza up to the stage. She talked about how she worked on the concept album for a bit and then went on to sing Use What You Got with Sam. She sounded amazing and the audience ate it up. Just when we thought she was done, she told us she wanted to sing something else—one of her mother's songs, which she said she never did. She sang You Made Me Love You (to my recollection), and of course, it was touching and beautiful. It felt like she was up there for a long time because I distinctly remember standing the whole time and my friends really wanting to leave. Apparently they were not impressed by Elizabeth Taylor. |
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| re: 1997: Liza @ The Life | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 09:24 pm EDT 03/17/22 | |
| In reply to: re: 1997: Liza @ The Life - VeronicaEagle 11:39 am EDT 03/16/22 | |
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| That's really a hilarious anecdote. Thanks for sharing it. Weren't they impressed that Liz Taylor could sing? |
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| re: 1997: Liza @ The Life | |
| Posted by: bitbybit 12:47 am EDT 03/17/22 | |
| In reply to: re: 1997: Liza @ The Life - VeronicaEagle 11:39 am EDT 03/16/22 | |
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| Yes! Yes! Yes! Thanks for reconstructing my memory. Much appreciated. You're friends crack me up, although it must have been frustrating for you. lol What an amazing night it was! Michael |
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| re: 1997: Liza @ The Life | |
| Posted by: NightMusic77 02:18 pm EDT 03/16/22 | |
| In reply to: re: 1997: Liza @ The Life - VeronicaEagle 11:39 am EDT 03/16/22 | |
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| Yes indeed! I was lucky enough to be there as well. It was my cast's one day off from summer stock and we drove into the city to see a show and were lucky to get tickets to The Life. There was a lot of buzz in the theatre before the performance because Liza was in the house. Sam Harris stopped the curtain call and then introduced Cy Coleman who came on stage to congratulate the cast's two Tony winners from the night before, Lillias White and Chuck Cooper. Coleman then went on to introduce Liza who congratulated the cast for performing "eight shows a day" (which made me chuckle) and they gave her an oversized THE LIFE t-shirt which she then put on over her sequins. Cy Coleman sat at the piano, and Liza and Sam Harris sang "Use What You Got" together. After that, she definitely sang "You Made Me Love You" and prefaced it by saying "when I told my mother I wanted to go into this business, she made me promise to never sing any of her songs. Tonight, I'm going to break that promise." It was such an emotional performance and truly an added thrill on top of what was already an incredible night. Don't know if it is still up, but Sam Harris had this content posted on his YouTube channel. Probably worth a search! |
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| re: 1997: Liza @ The Life | |
| Posted by: bitbybit 12:49 am EDT 03/17/22 | |
| In reply to: re: 1997: Liza @ The Life - NightMusic77 02:18 pm EDT 03/16/22 | |
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| Great memory. Better than mine. But it was a glorious performance. SO much energy in the room. I found the YouTube clip! Wow. |
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| Link | USE WHAT YOU GOT sung by Liza Minnelli and Sam Harris, LIVE on Broadway with Cy Coleman |
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| THANKS THANKS THANKS FOR THIS LINK!!!!! | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 02:39 pm EDT 03/17/22 | |
| In reply to: re: 1997: Liza @ The Life - bitbybit 12:49 am EDT 03/17/22 | |
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| What a delight. She looked and sounded great, and I'd forgotten how hot Sam Harris could be. What's he doing now? | |
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| re: 1997: Liza @ The Life | |
| Posted by: VeronicaEagle 12:49 pm EDT 03/17/22 | |
| In reply to: re: 1997: Liza @ The Life - bitbybit 12:49 am EDT 03/17/22 | |
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| Wow. I never knew it was recorded. Thank you so much! | |
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| re: 1997: Liza @ The Life | |
| Posted by: DistantDrumming 11:14 am EDT 03/16/22 | |
| In reply to: 1997: Liza @ The Life - bitbybit 03:33 am EDT 03/16/22 | |
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| That's wild. I can't imagine going to see that show only to be surprised by a one-hour set from Liza and Cy. | |
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