<p>We saw a new documentary about the legendary Elaine Stritch last night. If you love MT, or love someone who hopes to do it professionally, in my opinion it is very worth seeing. I found it fascinating from start to finish on numerous levels, but in particular the stories of her experiences in the business over the years, her persistent individuality and above all the transformation she experiences in front of an audience. Spellbinding.</p>
<p>I am a huge Elaine Stritch fan and am SO looking forward to this documentary – hope it makes it to the hinterlands where we live but might have to travel into Boston to see it. </p>
<p>I am really looking forward to seeing it! They did a little plug for it on NPR. I saw her live in A Little Night Music. What an honor.</p>
<p>It’s a wonderful documentary, but kind of sad to see her decline. CBS Sunday had a segment on her yesterday that was very interesting. She has moved back to Detroit to be closer to her family, after a long, hard life and a good amount of success.</p>
<p>The film does deal with her aging, which I found to be only one of its fascinating aspects. Her memory issues provided one of the most amazing scenes, demonstrating how masterful she is – even while struggling to find the lyrics – once in front of a live audience. I found it all very moving.</p>
<p>Is this going to be on theaters or on television?</p>
<p>It’s in limited release at theatres here, but I assume it will be released on DVD eventually.</p>
<p>I hope it will be shown in the Washington DC area. Her long-time music director and accompanist, Rob Bowman, is from Northern Virginia and I knew him slightly in high school.</p>
<p>Just saw this tonight - it came to a little art theatre for a limited run in my neck of the woods. Check it out if you get the chance!</p>
<p>What a huge presence. Her recent TV stint as Jack’s mother on 30 Rock was pure comedic gold. I have to wonder in today’s world, if Elaine Stritch, Ethel Merman, Carol Burnett and some other unique giants of Broadway would be passed over by many of these college programs if they were 18 and auditioning. </p>
<p>I hope it will be shown in the Washington DC area. Her long-time music director and accompanist, Rob Bowman, is from Northern Virginia and I knew him slightly in high school.</p>
<p>@prodesse - You will definitely want to see it, then, as Rob features prominently in the film. :)</p>
<p>
@CollegeSearchDad - I do think the schools that select only gorgeous, leggy, triple threat women (i.e. some of the programs with the best record of getting students on Broadway the fastest - often in ensembles) too often pass on the types of unique performers who go on to become true stars, but Elaine Stricht was drop-dead gorgeous when she was 18 so she might have made the cut. ;)</p>
<p>MomCares, you are right, the three I mentioned were all “lookers” when they were young. But even so, they were not conventional. I think that’s what I’m saying. Some schools would pass on the potential princess that can swim the moat! </p>
<p>@CollegeSearchDad - Totally agree! That’s one of many reasons I think ranking schools based on how many kids they rapidly send to Broadway can miss the more important big “entertainment career” picture. Being in a dancing ensemble is awesome for young invincibles, but often quirkier types ultimately have more career staying power, especially in this age of TV, film, and strong regional theatres.</p>
<p>I saw her live at the Disney Hall about two years ago in Los Angeles. She did forget some lyrics at times, but even with that, she was an incredible performer. If she forgot the lyrics, she would tell her accompanist to start the song over or help her out. In some cases, even when she sang a song completely, she would not like the way she had done it, so she would sometimes do it over! I also saw her years ago in her one woman play, sat in the front row! Love Elaine Stritch! </p>
<p>Read on Playbill or somewhere this week that Shoot Me was on video on demand. Motivated me to figure out the video on demand on my tv for the first time. Success! Loved it! Ordered the Netflix to the “Company” documentary from 1970 for the third time after that. Elaine’s Ladies Who Lunch took hours in the middle of the night to record and she still didn’t get it right until the next morning. If you have never seen it, and love Miss Stritch, wow!</p>
<p>RIP, Elaine. The MT world will never forget you.</p>
<p>My parents saw her in the original production of Company!! Incredible.</p>
<p>You can rent the film on Amazon for 3.99. :-)</p>