Liza Minnelli - Kennedy Center Honors

[SheridanSq]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 7:53pm

I am trying to get Liza Minnelli a Kennedy Center Honor and hope all of her fans will help.

It's pretty much the only award she doesn't have but its an important one. As you probably know, the Kennedy Center honors a group of 5 individuals who have each made a special contribution to American arts. Had Liza never performed after 1973 she'd be worthy of this award.

I've been in touch with the Kennedy Center and they have invited her fans to write them with a letter on her behalf. Liza has also been made aware of this effort and naturally is flattered.

Letters can be sent to:
Michael Kaiser
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F Street, NW
Washington DC 20566

Or you can email a letter to Michael Kaiser to:
[e-mail]

And to make it even easier, I have drafted a letter below that you can cut and paste:

Dear Mr. Kaiser:

I look forward to the Kennedy Center Honors each year and am aware that receiving this award is one of the highest achievements an artist can obtain.

I hope you will consider including Liza Minnelli in the 2006 ceremony.

Minnelli is one of the great American entertainers of our time.

Her major achievements include:

• The Academy Award for her landmark performance in Cabaret.
• 3 Tony Awards for her Broadway appearances
• The Emmy Award for her television special Liza With A Z (which was recently rereleased to much critical acclaim)
• 1 Grammy Legend Award for her many recordings

While the above is a list of her best known projects, Minnelli’s greatest contribution comes every time she steps on stage. She is a great singer and commands the stage like no other today. Many of the songs she performs are now considered standards and were written especially for her by one of the theatre’s great songwriting teams (John Kander & Fred Ebb – former Kennedy honorees).

I hope you will agree that Liza Minnelli deserves to take her place among the other esteemed artists honored by the Kennedy Center.



Many thanks in advance to all the readers at Broadwayworld.com who will be contacting the Kennedy Center on her behalf.

- Scott Gorenstein

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 7:59pm

I'll copy and paste the letter and send it as an email. She deserves this honor!! Great idea!

[bwayboi4life42]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 8:58pm

I'm sending it right now. Liza does deserve it.

[Blanche]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 9:39pm

Sending it right now. What a wonderful idea. Thank you for doing this!!

[DAME]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 8:51pm

bumping.. but make sure to change to this year

[jv92]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 9:36pm

She and Jerry Herman are in due need of the honor.

[A Director]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 11:11pm

I could see Jerry Herman being honored.

I would rather see Barbara Cook honored long before Liza. What memorable roles has Liza created on Broadway?

[jewishboy]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 12:12am

I agree with Cook before Liza.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 12:22am

Kennedy Centers is not limited to Broadway. Cook has no international cache. Sorry.

Liza is a star all over the world. Cook isn't. Should I go on?

Updated On: 5/19/09 at 12:22 AM

[A Director]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 3:04am

Liza Minnelli wasted her talent and know every gesture has become a cliche. Her performances are frozen in time and she stopped growing as an artist years ago. She hasn't done a major movie, television program or musical in years.

Barbara Cook has not wasted her talent. Over the years her performances have grown and deepened. She is a major interpreter of the American Songbook. Should I go on?

[jv92]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 4:18pm

Funny, I thought Cook go it already. If not, she too is in due need of the honor.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 4:28pm

I think Idina Menzel is long overdue.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 4:35pm

Should I go on?

Nah.

Posted: 5/19/09 at 6:43pm

Who's Barbara Cook?

[DAME]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 2:54pm

If you E mail they write back!

[all that jazz]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 3:07pm

I already sent it!

[theaternut]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 3:33pm

Definitely time for Minnelli. And with Chita in the committee this year it is more of a possibility.

[theaternut]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 3:33pm

Double post. Sorry.

Updated On: 6/14/13 at 03:33 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 8:36pm

They should be announcing real soon.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 6/15/13 at 2:53am

Hey guys, you don't even need to write letters or emails. This year (for the first time, I believe) they've allowing the public to recommend honorees. Go here to fill out the web form to suggest Liza (or, you know, the fat boy from Matilda or whoever).

Also, good news for Liza fans, according to GoldDerby, Chita Rivera is on the newly formed Artists Committee:

"The Kennedy Centers Honors is expanding the selection process by welcoming suggestions from the public. Last year, various advocacy groups pointed out that only two Hispanics -- Placido Domingo (2000) and Chita Rivera (2002) -- numbered among the 185 people feted to date.

Rivera is to be part of a new committee that will winnow down the list of potential recipients from 20 to 10. Joining her are 2011 honoree Yo Yo Ma; opera singer Harolyn Blackwell and ballet dancer Damian Woetzel who sit on the Artist Committee; and board members Cappy McGarr and Elaine Wynn.

The Artist Committee, which comes up with the original list of 20, is to be expanded as well to ensure the broadest of representation. And the public can petition the committee with their choices.

However, even with these new mechanisms in place, the five honorees still will be determined by the executive committee of the Kennedy Center board of trustees. They will act on the recommendations of the Center chair, president and the producers of the kudocast who willl cull from this list of 10 possibilities."
Nominate Liza here!

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 6/15/13 at 3:18pm

Thanks for the link!

I'm not nominating Liza, but thanks!

[theaternut]

Posted: 6/15/13 at 6:51pm

I nominated Liza. I bet Barbra Walters will also make the list.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/15/13 at 7:59pm

Nevermind I saw that the original message was written in 2009
Here's Jerry's Kennedy Honor in full
JERRY GETS HIS HONOR Updated On: 6/15/13 at 07:59 PM

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 6/15/13 at 8:22pm

Naturally, I am voting for my girl...

[Gorlois]

Posted: 6/15/13 at 8:33pm

Julie Andrews is my diva of choice, but she's already been honored. I submitted Liza-- I'm a little surprised she hasn't yet been honored. She's such an accomplished icon; not to mention whenever I see her on TV or somewhere I immediately light up. Love Liza!