The Provincetown Theater Foundation honored Liza Minnelli Saturday for
her commitment to the arts with the 2nd Annual Provincetown Theater
Foundation Award.
Judy Garland's daughter received the award from
Dennis Cole, a foundation board member, before her show at the Cape Cod
Melody Tent. Cole and Minnelli danced together years ago in Summer
Stock.
Liza Minnelli is one of the world's most multitalented and
popular entertainers. Minnelli's entertainment career began at the age
of two and, over the years, she has been the recipient of several
notable honors. At the age of 19, Minnelli became the youngest actress
to win a Tony for her role in Flora, The Red Menace. In 1972, she won
the Oscar for Best Actress for the film Cabaret, as well as an Emmy for
her television special Liza with a 'Z'. And in 1985, Minnelli won a
Golden Globe for her television movie A Time to Live. Minnelli's
vitality, acting talent and beautiful singing voice have made her a
quintessential entertainer for the last four decades, and she continues
today to be one of America's brightest stars.
"I
am so excited to see Liza again and to be able to present her with the
Second Annual Provincetown Theater Award For Outstanding Contribution
To The Performing Arts" said Dennis Cole, Provincetown Theater
Foundation board member. "Who knew what would happen to us 40 years ago
when we worked together in Summer Stock? She is so gracious to accept
this award and become a part of the Provincetown Theater Community."
The presentation of this award has great significance as it represents
the joining of the past, present and future of American Theatre in
Provincetown. The Provincetown Theater has just celebrated its first
birthday, a momentous event that has been cause for great celebration
in an arts community that had previously thrived without a permanent
theater space since 1977 when the Provincetown Playhouse burned to the
ground. Theatre in Provincetown is legendary—from the likes of Eugene
O'Neill to Richard Gere and Elaine Stritch, and now Idina Menzel, set
to perform in the town this summer.
The
Provincetown Theater opened at 238 Bradford Street as Provincetown's
first playhouse in over 25 years. Formerly the site of the old
Provincetown Mechanic's Building, the theater opened in 2004 and houses
two resident theater companies: The Provincetown Theatre Company (PTC),
a community-based theatre company, and the Provincetown Repertory
Theatre (REP), a professional theatre operating under arrangement with
Actors' Equity Association. In addition to being a permanent home for
the PTC and REP, the theater offers performance and meeting space for
other community, business and performing arts organizations on Cape Cod
and beyond.
