13 videos celebrating the Tony winner Betty Buckley

Video13 videos celebrating the Tony winner Betty Buckley

Playbill commemorates Buckley’s birthday on July 3 with this look back on unforgettable performances and the definition of choir.

Playbill celebrates the Tony winner Betty Buckley-Who Recently released Her latest solo recording, Betty Buckley Sing Stephen Sondheim, A composition with 24 tracks of nine of her releases in the past, plus two unique to this version – on her birthday with a look at some of the wonderful performances of the Broadway favorite over the years.

Performances were selected by and commented by senior news editor Andrew Gans.

Check in with … Tony winner Betty Buckley, star of Cats, sunset Boulevard, Hello, Dolly!, More

When I sit down to listen to music, I like to close my eyes, because different voices elicit different colors in my mind. When I listen to Betty Buckley, I always see the rainbow. These sounds and videos are some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them.

1. “He plays the violin”
It’s no wonder Betty Buckley landed her first Broadway role on her very first New York audition. Just listen to the beauty of her voice as she sings “he plays the violin” 1776 On her first original Broadway role distribution. Years later, Buckley would record the song “Meadowlark” containing the rule: “Her voice can match the angels in his glory.” I am often reminded of that Stephen Schwartz lyrics when I heard Buckley sing “Violin”.

2. “Old friend”
Here is a rare cut by Buckley that sings the beautiful Nancy Ford-Gretchen Cryer Ballad “Old Friend” The Mike Douglas Show. Buckley performed the tune for the first time I get my actions together and take it on the wayand fortunately it has been a staple of her repertoire since then.

3. “Memory”
After getting attention nationwide as Hip -Stiefma Abby Bradford in the ABC series Eight is enoughBuckley returned to Broadway and won a Tony for her haunting action as the faded glamor Cat Grizabella in the international hit musical Cats. Here is her award -winning version of “Memory” during the Tony Awards of 1983.

4. “About you”
In 1983, film audiences were given the chance to see what theatergoers had known for years: Buckley’s gifts as an actor and singer are a rarity. Here she sings ‘over you’ of the award -winning film Soft Mercy on The Tonight Exhibitwhere she blinded Johnny Carson, who told her that she was ‘wonderful’ after breathtaking actions from ‘Over You’ and ‘Memory’.

5. “Wind under my wings”
I especially love Buckley’s version of ‘Wind Bige Bige My Wings’ which she performed in her debut New York City concert, which was subsequently released on her first solo recording, Betty Buckley. Listening to her voice rises as she sings the final chorus of “Did you ever know you are my hero …”

6. “Write on the wall”
One of my favorite Buckley recordings is her simply exciting version of ‘Writing on the Wall’ of The Mystery of Edwin Droodwhich she builds to a beautiful final. I also love this Seth Rudetsky -“deconstruction” of her performance.

7. “Children will listen”
Buckley said she was a substitute at the last moment for the Stephen Sondheim celebration in Carnegie Hall, and because she had so little time to learn the arrangement, he spent a lot of time in her locker room and prayed that she would not be the disappointment of the evening. It appears that she was one of the highlights. I remember watching the PBS broadcast and being tears through her actions of ‘Children Will Listen’, backed by the Harlem Boys Choir. More than 25 years later, I was equally moved.

8. “Born to give my love to you”
I spent a lot of time in the 90s and caught Buckley at the narrow closed point. It was a wonderful place for the versatile singing actor, who always performed an eclectic mix of tunes from the worlds of pop, musical theater, country and more. Here she sings “born to give my love to you.”

9. “With one look”
In 1997, Buckley reopened the revamped London production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset BoulevardEarn critical Hosannas and a nomination of Olivier for her actions as the deceived silent movie star Norma Desmond. Here is her exciting version of “With One Look” during the Olivier Awards; Hear the beautiful, ethereal colors in the opening lines of the Lloyd Webber Ballad (around the 2:40 point).

10. “As if we never say goodbye”
Buckley’s other showstopper in Sunset Was her second act Aria, “as if we never said goodbye.” At her sold-out Carnegie Hall-Solo debut concert, she finished the first half of her program with a startling reading of the song.

11. “And Eve was weak”
At the end of her Sunset Run, Buckley hosted the above Carnegie Hall concert to benefit Broadway Cares. One of the most wonderful evenings I’ve ever spent in a concert hall was Buckley playing three different roles back to back with the costume changes on stage in between. The first of the three gave audiences a rare look at Buckley’s actions as religious zeal and mother Margaret White in Carrie. Linzi Hateley from London joined her for a disturbing (and Belty) “and Eve was weak.”

12. “Serenity”
Buckley followed her run Sunset Boulevard with the new musical Triumph or love. Just as she in Catsshe managed to stop the show nightly with her complete moving version of ‘Serenity’. Here she performs that tune with the Mac Awards.

13. “Rose’s turn”
Okay, another Carnegie Hall performance: The last verse of “with one look” in a phenomenal “Rose’s turn.” Here she is, world!

Bonus: My final choice is a soundtrack of her tremendous live album, Hope. Revel in Buckley’s haunting to Joni Mitchell’s “Shades of Scarlett Conquering.”

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From 1776 to hello, Dolly!: Celebrate the biggest stage moments of Betty Buckley