The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present Broadway and television actress Linda Lavin for two very special concerts on the historic stage this past week. The show, wryly entitled "My First Farewell Concert," is Lavin's personal story told in songs she loves. She performed favorites from the Great American/Brazilian/Yiddish Songbooks, with Billy Stritch at the piano, Steve Bakunas on drums, Ron Affif on guitar, Tom Hubbard on bass, and special guest Aaron Weinstein on violin. Songs included were "You've Got Possibilities," "No More Blues," and a medley of songs recorded by the late, great Bobby Short. Scroll down for photos from the concert!
Linda Lavin is currently starring on Broadway in Our Mother's Brief Affair at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater. She burst on the New York musical comedy scene with roles in Oh, Kay!, It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman and On a Clear Day, You Can See Forever. She also won kudos for her straight acting roles in Little Murders and Last of the Red Hot Lovers. TV beckoned and she soon became a household name as the star of the sitcom "Alice." During the nine seasons it was on the air, Linda nabbed two Golden Globe awards and an Emmy nomination. She even sang "There's a New Girl in Town" over the opening credits of the show.
Following this success, she focused her attentions once again on the stage. She earned renewed respect, in addition to critic's awards, for her diversified Broadway work in Gypsy, The Sisters Rosensweig, Collected Stories, Broadway Bound (1987 Tony award), Death Defying Acts (Obie award), The Diary of Anne Frank (Tony nomination), The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (Tony nomination), Other Desert Cities and Nicky Silver's The Lyons. She also appeared in Carol Burnett's autobiographical play Hollywood Arms portraying Burnett's grandmother, and in Paul Rudnick's The New Century at Lincoln Center.
Lavin has recently been seen on television in "The Good Wife," and "Mom," and on the big screen in "The Intern" with Robert DeNiro.
The award-winning Broadway at Birdland concert series takes place every week at Birdland, which is located at 315 West 44 Street, in the heart of New York's Theater District.
Photos by Kevin Alvey
Tom Hubbard, Linda Lavin and Ron Affif
Aaron Weinstein and Linda Lavin
Ron Affif, Aaron Weinstein, Tom Hubbard, Linda Lavin, Steve Bakunas and Billy Stritch
Linda Lavin and Tom Broeker
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