Cook to Receive National Arts Club's Medal of Honor

Legendary Broadway soprano Barbara Cook has been selected by the National Arts Club as this year's recipient of their Medal of Honor.

The award will be presented to Cook by the Music Committee and the Theatre/Drama Committee of the National Arts Club on January 11th at 6:30 PM at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South).  The award reception and dinner is not open to the public.

The National Arts Club aims to "stimulate, foster and promote public interest in the arts and educate the American people in the fine arts."  It was founded in 1898 by literary and art critic Charles de Kay.

Cook, who made her Broadway debut as the leading lady of 1951's Flahooley, received a Best Featured Actress in a Musical Tony Award for her portrayal of Marian Paroo in the original production of The Music Man. She also originated the roles of Cunegonde in Candide and Amalia Balash in She Loves Me. Other Broadway credits include Plain and Fancy, The Gay Life, Any Wednesday and The Grass Harp. In the last few decades, the former ingenue has increasingly turned to the worlds of concert and cabaret. Mostly Sondheim was nominated for a Best Special Theatrical Event Tony in 2002, and in addition to Barbara Cook's Broadway (available on DRG along with Mostly Sondheim), she appeared in Barbara Cook: A Concert for the Theatre. Her many albums include "Count Your Blessings," "It's Better with a Band," "Oscar Winners: The Lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II," "Close as Pages in a Book," "The Champion Season: Live at the Cafe Carlyle" and "Tribute."

Cook was also recently chosen as Musical America's Vocalist of the Year.

Visit www.nationalartsclub.org for more on the National Arts Club.