She's practically perfect in every way, and she turns 79 today!
She's the woman who embodies Eliza Doolittle, Cinderella, Guinevere, Mary Poppins, Maria Von Trapp, Millie Dillmount, Gertie Lawrence, Count Victor Grazinski, and Queen Clarisse Renaldi! And, if anybody on Tony Committee wants to give her a present, this Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar winner is long overdue for an Honorary Tony Award.
Happy Birthday, Julie! Thank you for sharing your artistry with the world.
I understand what you're saying CATSNYrevival, but I think history since 1995 has shown any such frosty relationship has warmed up. It's often forgotten that in respone to the outcry over Victor/Victoria, the Tony nomination process was changed to include more individual nominators. Julie has also presented at the Tony ceremony several times since the "controversy." In 2004, she hosted PBS's Emmy-winning "Broadway: The American Musical" and in 2006, wrote a children's book, "The Great American Mousical" celebrating the stage. As it stands, it's embarrassing that the Tony Awards have never honored such an immensely talented performer and wonderful supporter of Broadway.
Anyway..
Speaking of Victor/Victoria, here's one of the great movie musical moments:
I've lived in NYC for 35 years and am not star struck easily. Walking up 8th Ave last year, on the sidewalk outside of Ripley Greir building was Julie Andrews. I was with a friend. We stopped in our tracks and I could hardly breath. I was with my friend... we watched her from about three feet away. She Hailed a cab... we went up to the cab and both said "We love you Julie" like total morons! and she smiled and said "Thank you very much" and closed the door. I will never forget that. Julie Andrews smiled at ME and thanked ME! Happy Birthday Dame Julie!
"^ It may. But the more often such awards are given, the less they mean. I appreciate it more when they go to Broadway stalwards rather than drop-ins."
I wouldn't consider Julie Andrews a a "drop-in", it's not like she's this big movie celeb who sometimes does Broadway shows. Her roots are on the stage. Broadway is, was, and always will be a big part of Julie Andrews and her career. Yes, she has adapted to film and became a celebrity because of her wonderful work in film, but once a Broadway Baby...ALWAYS one.
"Showface, with all due respect, 4 shows over 60 years does not indicate a devotion to the stage."
Wilmington, a statement like that can only be made by someone who is ignorant of the breadth of Julie Andrews' long and varied stage career.
She began her lifetime of work in the theatre at the age of ten appearing in vaudeville with her mother and stepfather. In 1947, she appeared in a revue called "STARLIGHT ROOF" without her parents. From that point on, Julie worked in British vaudeville and pantos until 1954, when she was chosen to play the lead in "THE BOY FRIEND" on Broadway.
Moving to New York when she was 19, she became the toast of Broadway with her iconic performances in "MY FAIR LADY" in 1956 and "CAMELOT" in 1961. During this period, Rodgers and Hammerstein chose her to play the title role in their television musical, "CINDERELLA."
Of course, in 1964, "MARY POPPINS" premiered and it, along with "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" catapulted Julie Andrews to international stardom. After the failures of mega musicals "STAR!" and "DARLING LILI" in 1968 and 1970 respectively (films about stage performers, I should add), Julie spent much of the seventies and eighties devoted to the raising of her children with husband, Blake Edwards. When she did work, she was making pictures or televison specials that could easily incorporate the whole family. She famously said that one should do Broadway "either before or after you've had and raised children," which explains her absence from the stage. However, during this time she actually hosted the TONY AWARDS twice.
Al Hirschfeld's most frequent subject returned to the stage with a little Off Broadway Sondheim revue called "PUTTING IT TOGETHER" in 1993-- and not coincidentally at the same time as when her youngest children had graduated high school. This was just a warmup for her Broadway comeback vehicle, "VICTOR/VICTORIA" in 1995. During the early nineties, Julie was in the recording studio more than ever. She completed a cast album of "THE KING AND I," as well as two albums in a series simply titled "JULIE ANDREWS' BROADWAY." Her singing days were cut short in 1997 when a surgeon botched her throat operation. She has spent the ensuing years healing her voice.
But that doesn't mean Julie had to leave her love of the stage behind forever. In 1998, she played her last acting role on stage as the pre-recorded voice of Polynesia the Parrot in the West End's "DOCTOR DOOLITTLE." In 1999 and 2000, Julie appeared in PBS' "MY FAVORITE BROADWAY" where she sang publicly for the first time since the operation with Lerner and Lowe's "The Rain in Spain." In 2003, Julie found a new way to channel her talents for the stage by directing "THE BOY FRIEND" at Sag Harbor. This production would later go on tour. In 2005, Julie hosted PBS' documentary "BROADWAY: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL," which won her an Emmy.
In 2006, Julie co-authored a book with her daughter called "THE GREAT AMERICAN MOUSICAL" for children. In 2007, Julie served as Broadway's ambassador for Kid's Night Out and made an appearance in "THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE." In 2008, she published her autobiography "HOME: A MEMOIR OF MY EARLY YEARS." She said she drew inspiration from Moss Hart's "ACT ONE," and used her memoir to paint a potrait of a world that doesn't exist anymore: the stages of British vaudeville.
In 2012, Julie directed her second show, this time an original work based on her children's book "THE GREAT AMERICAN MOUSICAL." It starred Emily Skinner. In interviews, Julie indicated she hoped the show would go to Broadway. If it does, it could be the capstone on a career distinguished by a love and dedication to the stage. If it doesn't, I think Julie Andrews' career is evidence enough that she is a true stage performer and more than deserving of an honorary Tony Award. Updated On: 10/3/14 at 07:50 AM
Gorlois, I am well aware of her illustrious caeer. I was speaking only to her Broadway career. I have had the pleasure of meeting her on many occasions and she is all you would dream - warm funny, smart, irreverant. I am a big fan and always have been.
Wilmington, since you are fully aware of Julie's career, I hope you see why dismissing her as a drop in and unworthy of an industry honor seems shortsighted in view of all her work in the theatre. I'm very happy to know you've met Julie. I hope one day to be as lucky as you.
Again, I was adressing only her Broadway Career, not her work in the theater since she started in the British musical halls as a child. And I hope you get to meet her as well. She's a riot!