DIVA TALK: A Memorial for
Laurie
by Andrew Gans
originally published on Playbill
Online and reprinted here with permission
LAURIE
BEECHMAN
On April 6, approximately 1,000 friends and fans of Laurie Hope Beechman
piled into New York's Winter Garden Theatre to pay tribute to the star
whose untimely passing on March 8 touched all those who had ever come
in contact with Beechman, either as a person or a performer. The afternoon
memorial, which was organized by Beechman's long-time friend and director
Richard Jay-Alexander, was a beautiful tribute to the late star of Annie,
The Pirates of Penzance, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,
Cats and Les Miserables.
As the lights of the Winter Garden dimmed, the voice of Academy Award
winner Michael Douglas was heard over the speakers--a tape of the speech
that he had delivered at President Clinton's second inaugural gala when
introducing the evening's final performer, Laurie Beechman. The next
voice heard was that of Beechman, also from the inaugural gala, who
spoke about living with cancer and the optimism and hope that she never
let falter. Beechman's beautifully moving rendition of "Shiver Me Timbers,
" a track from her Listen To My Heart solo album was then played over
the sound system, and the majesty of her voice was once again heard
in the Winter Garden Theatre, the same theatre where she thrilled audiences
for years as Grizabella, the faded Glamour Cat in the Andrew Lloyd Webber
musical.
The first onstage speaker was a visibly moved Mark Linn-Baker, a friend
of Beechman who he said was "blessed with talent" and had "a voice that
reached out and grabbed me at the heart." Joking that many in the audience
had majored in theatre while minoring in "complaining," Linn-Baker explained
that Beechman possessed a "triple major in theatre, courage and love"
and had graduated with honors. Wardrobe supervisor Adelaide Laurino,
who met Beechman 23 years ago while both were working on Annie, compared
Laurie to a dose of fine brandy at an elegant party. Rich Affannatto,
who performed the role of Marius in Les Miz when Beechman portrayed
Fantine, read a letter from lyricist Tim Rice, who wrote, "I count myself
lucky to have known Laurie." Richard Jay-Alexander read another poignant
note, this one from a teacher in the South Bronx who explained how touched
she was by Laurie's ongoing concern for her students.
Andrea McArdle, who appeared in both Annie and Les Miz with Beechman,
spoke about hearing Beechman's wondrous voice for the first time. McArdle,
who was 12 at the time, remembered, "After that, I would say, 'Barbra
who?'" McArdle delivered a slowed-down, elegant version of "N.Y.C."--the
song that first brought Beechman to the attention of Broadway audiences--and
it was utterly moving. Laurie's friend and agent, Jim Wilhelm, spoke
about his special relationship with Beechman, a relationship that grew
in passion and depth through the years. Wilhelm discussed Beechman's
courage and optimism during the decade she lived with cancer and explained
that her performance at Clinton's inaugural gala was a special highlight
for both him and Laurie. Even President Clinton whispered to Laurie
after her powerful delivery of "You'll Never Walk Alone": "I am so proud
of you for so many reasons tonight." Wilhelm ended his thoughtful words
by adding, "Laurie's memory doesn't live again, it lives on." Despite
his fear of public speaking, Ken Prymus, whose seven-year stint as Old
Deuteronomy in Cats ended this week, spoke lovingly about Laurie. He
reminisced about their first meeting many years ago and the friendship
and love that grew between the two performers. He concluded his tribute
by reading a letter from Laurie's grade-school art teacher who said
that Laurie, even as a child, was able to touch her life dramatically.
Shubert Organization chairman Gerald Schoenfeld spoke briefly but insisted
it was "simply irresistible not to be her friend, her employer and her
advisor."
Fellow performer Sam Harris spoke from the deepest part of his heart
about his "friend, teacher and musical soul mate." Harris explained
that not too long ago he received a brand-new song from a young writer,
a song that Laurie had asked him to sing over the phone to her one afternoon
while both were in their respective dressing rooms. Laurie loved the
song, especially its lyric, and asked if it would be alright if she
also sang the song because she wanted to sing it to her husband Neil.
Unfortunately, Laurie did not live long enough to sing the song to her
husband, and Harris explained that he wanted to now sing that very song
in order to honor Laurie's wish. Harris's soaring voice and heartfelt
emotion brought tears not only to his own eyes but to most every member
of the
audience as well.
A letter from composer Henry Krieger was then read, and Joanna Ball,
one of the founders of Gilda's Club--a free support community for people
with cancer and their families and friends--spoke about the courage
and wonderful spirit that was a huge part of Laurie Beechman. Beechman's
mother, Dolly Schnall, explained how she was blessed to have such a
talented and beautiful daughter and spoke of Laurie's legacy of generosity
to other people.
Composer Alan Menken apologized to the many singers he had worked
with but had to admit that Beechman was his favorite singer. Menken
reminisced about the wonderful times he, Beechman and their friends
spent together when they were all just beginning to achieve some recognition
and fame. He delivered two songs in her honor, "These Are the Good Times,"
from his musical with Tom Eyen, Kicks, and "If I Never Knew You," which
he dedicated to both Laurie and her husband.
Flo Rothaker read a letter from President Clinton, and then Neil Mazzella,
Beechman's husband--who received a spontaneous standing ovation--spoke
about his wife, explaining that she was his hero. Catherine Hickland
read a letter from Gene Wilder (who also lost his wife, Gilda Radner,
to cancer) that he had written to Neil. Brenda Pressley led the audience
in prayer, and Loni Ackerman Kennedy discussed her glorious friendship
with Beechman.
The memorial concluded with Ackerman leading a chorus of singers (including
Karen Mason, Jamie DeRoy, Sam Harris and others) performing one of Beechman
and her husband's favorite songs, "I'll Be Seeing You," which Jimmy
Durante had recorded on one of the couple's favorite albums. The chorus
stopped just before the last few lines, and at this point, Laurie's
image appeared in the moon that is part of the Cats set, and Jimmy Durante's
voice was heard over the speakers singing, "I'll be looking at the moon,
but I'll be seeing you." It was truly a beautiful ceremony for a beautiful
soul who will be greatly missed.
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