Broadway will salute four-time Tony Award-winning actress Angela Lansbury in a star-packed gala Sunday, Nov. 17 at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway.
The event will benefit the American Foundation for AIDS research (AmFAR) and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Tickets cost $50 $250.
The event comes 31 years (less two days) after Nov. 19, 1965, the date that producers of the musical Mame formally offered the title role to a film-and-TV character actress with one stage musical to her credit.
The theatrical magic that has resulted from that decision will be duly marked in a salute to the unlikely, late-blooming song-and-dance Broadway actress whose four Tony Awards wound up equaling Gwen Verdon's record as the Tony-est musical star of all.
"Angela Lansbury: A Celebration" will be co-hosted by Rosie O'Donnell and Nathan Lane, and the list of stars scheduled to appear (and, one hopes, perform) dazzles even in its still-incomplete state: Lucie Arnaz, Bea Arthur, Lauren Bacall, Nell Carter, Jane Connell, Barbara Cook, Tyne Daly, Davis Gaines, Sam Harris, George Hearn, Jennifer Holliday, Donna McKechnie, Phyllis Newman, Chita Rivera, Liz Smith, Elaine Stritch and Raquel Welch. The tribute will be produced and directed by Barry Brown, with Arthur (Gypsy) Laurents serving as creative consultant.
Long a supporter of AmFAR and a deeply committed friend to all people with HIV/AIDS, La Lansbury will be presented with a humanitarian award at this star-packed celebration at the Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street) in New York.
The theatre has proved to be the star's favorite (and truest) medium, and the feeling is quite mutual. Her Broadway performances in Mame, Dear World, Gypsy and Sweeney Todd received Tony Awards, and she won Golden Globe Awards for films The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Manchurian Candidate. Otherwise, her work in films and TV (including Jessica in the long running drama "Murder She Wrote," and the voice of Mrs. Potts in the Disney cartoon Beauty and the Beast) has never received prizes -- this despite three Academy Award nomination and 16 Emmy Award nominations.
A champagne supper/gala cast party will immediately follow the 7 PM performance.
For ticket information, call Projects Plus Inc., at (212) 997-0100 or AmFAR at (212) 682-7440.
