Lincoln Center Theatre presents a new My Fair Lady
beginning March 15 at their Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Directed by LCT’s wizard of revivals, Bartlett Sher, the production stars Lauren Ambrose in her musical debut as Eliza Doolittle.March 15 was also the date the original production, starring Julie Andrews, opened on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre (pour one out). To commemorate the occasion, take a look at the Broadway Elizas and some others singing the character’s first Lerner & Loewe song “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly”.
Julie Andrews, Broadway’s OG Eliza
"It is the definitive role for a woman in the musical theater," Julie Andrews told The New York Times in 1993. "It's terribly demanding. You're a screaming cockney girl to start, with all those rage-filled songs, followed almost immediately by pure singing, followed almost immediately by long scenes of acting. Maria Callas came backstage once and said she couldn't believe we did eight performances a week.”
Her advice to future Eliza’s: “"to find the places where you can pace yourself."
Christine Andreas, Eliza in the first revival in 1976
Melissa Errico, Broadway’s most recent Eliza and star of the 1993 revival
Lisa O’Hare, Eliza at Chicago’s Lyric Opera in 2017
Martine McCutcheon, Olivier-winning Eliza at London’s National Theatre in 2001
Sarah Cetrulo, Eliza in the International Tour in 2014
Maggie Griffin-Smith, Eliza in the Broadway Theatre of Pitman production in 2015
Liz Robertson, Eliza in the 1979 West End revival
Aurora Florence, Eliza on the 2012 Tour
Amy Nuttall, Eliza in a Manchester production in 2005
Sharin Apostolou, Eliza in Virginia's Ash Lawn Opera production in 2015
Tony winner (and Once On This Island star) Lea Salonga
Shoshana Bean
Norm Lewis
Melanie Chandler, Eliza in Texas' Colleyville Heritage High School, 2016
See Lauren Ambrose perform "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" live at LCT's Vivian Beaumont Theatre.
