At 83, the Second City founding member, Tony-award winning performer, and Oscar-nominated actor Barbara Harris passed away on August 21st of this year. Under the direction of Alex Beck (Disney's The Happiest Millionaire 50th Anniversary) and the music direction of Andy Roninson (Take a Ten Podcast), The Green Room 42 presented an evening of song and remembrance with "Gorgeous: A Barbara Harris Tribute" on October 2nd.
The cast included Nicholas Barasch (She Loves Me, Big River), Kerry Ipema (One Woman Sex and the City), AJ Blankenship (Bring it On), Michael Cummings (Don't Touch Your Eyes After Chopping Jalepenos), Justin Henry (The Love Show), Lindsay Morgan (SIREN), Cherish Myers (Disney's The Happiest Millionaire 50th Anniversary), Jason Pintar (The Underpants Godot), Cassandra Sandberg (The Producers), Jana DeBusk, and Adam Elsberry.
The evening also boasted lush video montages of Barbara Harris' work by Charles Pennington III. Longtime friends and collaborators of Ms. Harris shared their memories of her - some in person, and others via video interview, or with quotes that were read aloud by director and host, Alex Beck.
Ticket sales from Gorgeous benefited Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, an organization that became and remained dear to Ms. Harris after losing close friends to the epidemic.
All photos by David Myers, unless otherwise noted.
The cast, music director, and music director of "Gorgeous: A Barbara Harris Tribute." Cherish Myers, Andy Roninson, Nicholas Barasch, Lindsay Morgan, Michael Cummings, Kerry Ipema, Adam Elsberry, Jason Pintar, Jana Debusk, Alex Beck, and Cassandra Sandberg.
The director and host of the evening, Alex Beck.
Nicholas Barasch sings Hurry! It's Lovely Up Here from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
Nicholas Barasch sings Hurry! It's Lovely Up Here from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
Nicholas Barasch sings Hurry! It's Lovely Up Here from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
Jana Debusk sings I've Got What You Want from The Apple Tree.
Kerry Ipema sings Oh! To Be a Movie Star from The Apple Tree.
Jason Pintar and Adam Elsberry sing Yes Sir, That's My Baby as it was sung by Jason Robards to Barbara Harris in the film of A Thousand Clowns.
Frank Farrell, a longtime friend of Barbara Harris' shares some personal stories of their relationship.
Jeffrey Sweet, playwright and theater historian, shares stories from his long friendship with Barbara Harris.
Justin Henry, Cassandra Sandberg, and AJ Blankenship recreate the original Herbert Ross choreography to On the S.S. Bernard Cohn from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. Photo by Bill Goulding.
AJ Blankenship, Justin Henry, and Cassandra Sandberg sing On the S.S. Bernard Cohn from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
AJ Blankenship, Justin Henry, and Cassandra Sandberg sing On the S.S. Bernard Cohn from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
On the S.S. Bernard Cohn with Justin Henry, Cassandra Sandberg, and AJ Blankenship.
Jana Debusk sings It Don't Worry Me from Robert Altman's Nashville.
Cherish Myers and Cassandra Sandberg sing I'd Like to be You for a Day from Disney's Freaky Friday.
Cherish Myers and Cassandra Sandberg sing I'd Like to be You for a Day from Disney's Freaky Friday.
Kerry Ipema sings What Did I Have I Don't Have Now from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
Kerry Ipema sings What Did I Have I Don't Have Now from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
Lindsay Morgan sings Gorgeous from The Apple Tree.
Lindsay Morgan sings Gorgeous from The Apple Tree.
The audience enjoys clips from Barbara Harris' film work.
Michael Cummings sings Wealth from The Apple Tree.
Music Director, Andy Roninson.
John Cullum shares his experience of working with Barbara Harris in the broadway production of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
Austin Pendleton talks about doing Oh Dad Poor Day Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad with Barbara Harris for a year off-broadway.
William Daniels speaks on his collaborations with Barbara Harris in the film of A Thousand Clowns and the broadway production of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
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