1. Laurie Hope Beechman was an American actress and singer, known for her work in Broadway musicals.
16 Facts About Laurie Beechman
1. 2.
Laurie Beechman had a career as a cabaret performer and recording artist.
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Laurie Beechman then went on to be the first actress to play the role of Grizabella in the US national touring production of Cats in 1983, before replacing Betty Buckley in the Broadway production in 1984.
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Laurie Beechman starred in the Broadway productions of The Pirates of Penzance and Les Miserables and returned to the role of Grizabella for four months in 1997, when Cats became the longest running musical in Broadway history.
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Laurie Beechman performed in an acoustic folk-rock group with Rick Ferrante and Roy Baker called The Destiny Trio during the summers of 1971 and 1972 in North Wildwood, NJ, at a small club called the Manor Lounge.
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Laurie Beechman made her Broadway debut in the original Broadway cast of Annie.
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Laurie Beechman played various roles, most notably "Star to Be", a role which was written for her after the creative team heard her powerful voice, and she is credited in the original Broadway cast recording.
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Laurie Beechman played the lead role of the Narrator in the original Broadway cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat during its first Broadway production in 1982, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress and a Theatre World Award.
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In December 1983, Laurie Beechman headed the First National Company of Cats as "Grizabella, The Glamour Cat" when the tour opened in Boston.
10.
In early 1990, Laurie Beechman made her long-awaited debut as Fantine in the Broadway production of Les Miserables.
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Laurie Beechman stayed for several months, eventually heading out on tour where she finally played the role in Philadelphia during the Christmas season of 1990.
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Laurie Beechman spent an hour on The Phil Donahue Show singing and discussing her condition and her will to keep going.
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Laurie Beechman was survived by her mother, Dolly Beechman Schnall, stepfather, Dr Nate Schnall, two sisters, Claudia Beechman Cohen and Jane Beechman Segal, and husband, Neil Mazzella.
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Laurie Beechman was buried at Montefiore Cemetery in Rockledge, Pennsylvania.
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Laurie Beechman recorded three albums after Listen to My Heart: The Time Between the Time, The Andrew Lloyd Webber Album and No One is Alone: Songs of Hope and Inspiration From Broadway.
16.
In 1997, the Westmont Theatre in Laurie Beechman's hometown presented a sold-out evening of tributes to Laurie Beechman, who attended and received multiple standing ovations.