''Elaine Stritch at Liberty'' is an autobiographical one-woman show written by Elaine Stritch and John Lahr, and produced by George C. Wolf, which is composed of anecdotes from Stritch's life, as well as showtunes and Broadway standards that mirror Stritch’s rise and fall both on and off the stage.

Synopsis

The show consists of spoken monologues from Stritch following her life and career, interspersed with showtunes and pop standards which complement her stories. Many of these songs had been previously sung by Stritch in major productions, such as " The Ladies Who Lunch" from ''

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'' and " Civilization" from ''Angel in the Wings'' which she originated on Broadway. Her experiences and relationship with show business are focal points, but she also explores more intimate, personal themes like her alcoholism and romantic relationships.

Productions

Originally directed and produced by

George C. Wolfe George Costello Wolfe (born September 23, 1954) is an American playwright and director of theater and film. He won a Tony Award in 1993 for directing '' Angels in America: Millennium Approaches'' and another Tony Award in 1996 for his direction o ...

at The Public Theater, the show premiered on November 7, 2001. After quickly selling out, the original engagement was extended twice: once until December 30 and then until January 6, 2002. The show then transferred to Broadway, opening on February 21, 2002 in the Neil Simon Theatre, closing on May 26 of that year. Stritch continued to perform the show at regional and international venues.

Reception

The Broadway production was recognized with the 2002 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event and the 2002 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical.

Adaptation

The documentary adaptation directed by D. A. Pennebaker and Andy Picheta aired in 2004 on

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. It went on to win two

Primetime Emmy Awards The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...

for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special, and Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.

Song list

Songs are listed alphabetically, as presented in the Broadway program, with the note "the following songs may or may not be performed." *"All in Fun" (from '' Very Warm for May'') — Jerome Kern and

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in the musical theater for almost 40 years. He won eight Ton ...

*"Broadway Baby"§ (from '' Follies'') —

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March 22, 1930November 26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. One of the most important figures in twentieth-century musical theater, Sondheim is credited for having "reinvented the American musical" with sho ...

*" But Not For Me" — George Gershwin and

Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the 2 ...

If Love Were All "If Love Were All" is a song by Noël Coward, published in 1929 and written for the operetta '' Bitter Sweet''. The song is considered autobiographical, and has been described as "self-deprecating" as well as "one of the loneliest pop songs ev ...

" (from '' Bitter Sweet'') —

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

*"Can You Use Any Money Today?"§ (from '' Call Me Madam'') — Irving Berlin *" Civilization"§ (from ''

Angel in the Wings ''Angel in the Wings'' is a musical revue with songs by Bob Hilliard and Carl Sigman and sketches by Hank Ladd, Ted Luce, Paul Hartman, and Grace Hartman. In addition to contributing sketches, the Hartmans headlined the original Broadway produc ...

'') —

Carl Sigman Carl Sigman (September 24, 1909 – September 26, 2000) was an American songwriter. Early life Born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York to a Jewish-American family, Sigman graduated from law school and passed his bar exams to practice in ...

and Bob Hilliard *" Hooray for Hollywood" (from '' Hollywood Hotel'') —

Richard A. Whiting Richard Armstrong Whiting (November 12, 1891 – February 19, 1938) was an American composer of popular songs, including the standards "Hooray for Hollywood", "Ain't We Got Fun?" and "On the Good Ship Lollipop". He also wrote lyrics occasiona ...

and

Johnny Mercer John Herndon Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was an American lyricist, songwriter, and singer, as well as a record label executive who co-founded Capitol Records with music industry businessmen Buddy DeSylva and Glenn E. Wallich ...

I'm Still Here I'm Still Here may refer to: * ''I'm Still Here'' (book), a 2018 memoir by Austin Channing Brown In film and television: * '' I'm Still Here: The Truth About Schizophrenia'', a 1996 documentary film * ''I'm Still Here'' (2010 film), a 2010 mockum ...

" (from '' Follies'') —

*" I've Been to a Marvelous Party" —

*"I Want a Long Time Daddy" — Porter Grainger *"The Little Things You Do Together"§ (from ''

'') —

*" Something Good" (from '' The Sound of Music'') —

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most ...

*" The Ladies Who Lunch"§ (from ''

'') —

The Party's Over The Party's Over may refer to: Film and TV * ''The Party's Over'' (1934 film), starring Stuart Erwin and Ann Sothern, based on the 1933 Broadway play * ''The Party's Over'' (1965 film), directed by Guy Hamilton, starring Oliver Reed, with a ...

" (from '' Bells Are Ringing'' — Styne, Comden, and Green *"There Never Was a Baby Like My Baby" (from '' Two on the Aisle'') — Styne, Comden, and Green *" There's No Business Like Show Business" (from '' Annie Get Your Gun'') — Irving Berlin *"This Is All Very New to Me" (from '' Plain and Fancy'') — Albert Hague and

Arnold Horwitt Arnold B. Horwitt (July 21, 1918-October 20, 1977) was a writer and lyricist for Broadway shows and television. Horwitt was born in Richmond, Indiana and moved with his family to New York when he was three. He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High ...

*"Why Do The Wrong People Travel?"§ (from '' Sail Away'') —

*"Zip"§ (from '' Pal Joey'') — Rodgers and Hart ''Notes'' §: numbers previously performed by Stritch in professional productions

Recording

A recording of the original off-Broadway production was released on April 9, 2002 by DRG Records, containing both the musical numbers and selected spoken material from the show.Elaine Stritch: At Liberty
at AllMusic.com

References

External links

Elaine Stritch & George Wolfe on creating ''At Liberty''
14 December 2001 episode of PBS ''

Theater Talk ''Theater Talk'' is an American television talk show about live theater in New York City which aired on Thirteen WNET from 1996 to 2018. It was also syndicated from 2008 to 2018 on public television stations around the country both on TV and onlin ...

'' * * * {{EmmyAward VarietySpecial Plays for one performer Tony Award-winning plays American plays adapted into films Films directed by D. A. Pennebaker