Elaine Stritch passed away today. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in her memory tomorrow night, Friday, July 18th, at exactly 7:45pm for one minute in memory of this legend.
The American actress and singer was best known for her work on Broadway. The four-time Tony Award â – nominee has appeared in numerous stage plays and musicals, feature films, and many television programs. She also starred in several West End productions in London.
“Elaine Stritch’s big personality was matched by her big talent. Collaborating with some of Broadway’s greatest playwrights and composers throughout her lengthy career, her signature numbers and singular style created a memorable legacy,” said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of the Broadway League. “Elaine Stritch will always be remembered as an important part of Broadway’s rich history, and she will be missed by her many fans.”
Ms. Stritch made her Broadway debut in the comedy Loco in 1946. Notable Broadway credits include her four Tony Award â – nominated roles in the original production of William Inge’s play Bus Stop (1956), Noel Coward’s musical Sail Away (1962), Stephen Sondheim’s musical Company (1971), and the revival of the Edward Albee play A Delicate Balance (1996). Her one-woman show Elaine Stritch at Liberty received a Special Theatrical Event Tony Award in 2002. Stritch’s last turn on Broadway came in 2010 as Madame Armfeldt in the revival of the Stephen Sondheim – Hugh Wheeler musical A Little Night Music.
Elaine Stritch at Liberty was re-created for television, and Stritch collected the second of her three career Emmys. In 2003, she was saluted by The New York Landmark Conservancy as a “living landmark” for her contributions to the Great White Way. In 2013, the documentary about her, Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
In recent years, Ms. Stritch got raves performing her one-woman shows at the Cafe Carlyle. It was my pleasure to be invited to her suite after one of those shows to chat and interview her; something not easy to forget. Surely one of a kind! And she was quite gracious.
The Cafe Carlyle (a Rosewood Hotel) has put out the following statement on the passing of Elaine Stritch:
“We are deeply saddened by the news of Elaine Stritch’s passing today at her home in Michigan. We have been so fortunate to consider her a part of our family, not only as a long-term resident and supporter of The Carlyle but also as a performer to sold out crowds in the famed Café Carlyle. She will be missed by so many, but her legacy will certainly live on.”
