Laurie Hope Beechman (April 4, 1953 – March 8, 1998) was an American actress and singer, known for her work in Broadway musicals. After her death, the West Bank Cafe Downstairs Theater Bar in New York, was renamed the Laurie Beechman Theatre.Beechman made her Broadway debut in the 1977 original production of Annie. For her role as the narrator in the 1982 original Broadway production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She 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. She would play the role on Broadway for over four years. She also starred in the Broadway productions of The Pirates of Penzance (1981) and Les Misérables (1990) and returned to the role of Grizabella for four months in 1997, when Cats became the longest running musical in Broadway history. In addition to her Broadway work, she had a career as a cabaret performer and a recording artist.
April 4, 1953, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died
March 8, 1998, White Plains, New York, United States
Place Of Birth
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Profession
Actress, Soundtrack
Education
New York University
Nationality
American
Spouse
Neil Mazzella (m. 1992–1998)
Siblings
Claudia Beechman
Albums
Time Between the Time
Nominations
Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Star Sign
Aries
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Fact
1
After trying out for another role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the role of The Narrater was reworked for her.
2
Originated the role of The Narrator on Broadway in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in 1982, for which she earned a Tony Award nomination as Best Actress (Featured Role - Musical).
3
She played Fantine in Les Miserables in 1990 and also played the role on tour.
4
Longest-running Grizabella in Broadway's longest-running hit, "Cats."
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hair
1979
Black Boys
The Fourth King
1977
TV Short
Feathers, the Sparrow (voice)
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 36th Annual Tony Awards
1982
TV Special performer: "Jacob & Sons", "Go, Go, Go Joseph", "Pharaoh Story"
Hair
1979
performer: "Black Boys"
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1997
TV Series
Herself
The 53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala: An American Journey
1997
TV Special
Herself - Performer: 'You'll Never Walk Alone'
The 36th Annual Tony Awards
1982
TV Special
Herself - Performer & Nominee: Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Known for movies
Hair (1979) as Black Boys
The Fourth King (1977) as Feathers, the Sparrow
The 36th Annual Tony Awards (1982) as Herself - Performer & Nominee: Best Featured Actress in a Musical
The 53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala: An American Journey (1997) as Herself - Performer: 'You'll Never Walk Alone'
$1 Million
