Show business' brightest stars will memorialize one of their own when they participate in A Tribute to Polly Bergen, today, March 26, at the American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd Street, from 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
An Emmy Award-winning actress and singer, Ms. Bergen's career spanned more than six decades in films, TV, Broadway musicals and concerts. She passed away from natural causes September 20 at age 84.
A Tribute to Polly Bergen, produced by Rex Reed and Michael Alden with creative consultant Deborah Grace Winer, will celebrate her life and career with a star studded lineup of participants. They include Christine Andreas, Harry Belafonte, Arlene Dahl, Raúl Esparza, Michael Feinstein, Gregory Harrison, Judith Ivey, Chris Matthews, Phyllis Newman, Kelli O'Hara and cast members from the 2001 revival of Follies. Special video tributes from: Chris Colfer, Mark Hamill and John Waters
Highlights of Ms. Bergen's long and accomplished career include earning an Emmy Award in 1958 for her portrayal of the alcoholic torch singer Helen Morgan on TV's Playhouse 90 anthology series. She won Emmy nominations for her roles in the acclaimed The Winds of War and War and Remembrance miniseries. She hosted her own TV variety series, was a favorite panelist on the To Tell the Truth game show and remained in demand in later years, appearing on The Sopranos, Commander in Chief and Desperate Housewives, for which she won another Emmy nomination.
Ms. Bergen played leading roles in numerous motion pictures, including Kisses for My President with Fred MacMurray and Move Over Darling with Doris Day and James Garner. She is perhaps best known for her role in the classic 1962 suspense thriller, Cape Fear, with Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum. Thirty-nine years later, Ms. Bergen earned a Tony nomination for best actress in a revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies. Her other Broadway credits include a revival of Cabaret and the comedy, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.
Ms. Bergen also made her mark as a businesswoman. She founded a cosmetics company that bore her name and also developed her own shoe and jewelry lines. She authored three best-selling beauty books and her memoir, Polly's Principles.
The Honorary Producing Committee for A Tribute to Polly Bergen includes Jan McCormack, Helen Bartlett, Tony Bill and Judy Katz, among others.
The event is made possible in part by support from Roundabout Theatre Company / Artistic Director Todd Haimes.
A limited number of tickets will be made available to the general public on the day of the tribute.
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