Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
zamedy
Broadway Star Joined: 6/27/07
#1Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 10:09pmAmazing tribute to Beverly Sills at the Kennedy Center Honors. And Broadway was, of course, well represented with the likes of Kelli O'Hara, Sutton Foster, Laura Osnes and more. Had to wonder about any backstage awkwardness/tension between Glenn Close and Patti LuPone considering the whole Sunset Boulevard past. They performed virtually right after one another in the tribute to Sills. If there was any awkwardness, I'm sure it was only on the side of Patti since.. let's face it.. Glenn is a much bigger star in the eyes of the public outside Broadway.
indytallguy
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/08
#2Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 10:10pmBarbara Cook, not Beverly Sills is who they were honoring.
#2Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 10:17pmLove Glenn Close (and her oft-criticized singing in the SUNSET BLVD cast recording) but she killed "Losing My Mind." I really enjoyed the rest of the medley though, Rebecca Luker has a gorgeous soprano and her singing with Kelli O'Hara was pretty great! Foster seemed to be having a blast with "Everybody Says Don't" and Audra McDonald during the finale was terrific.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#3Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 10:19pmReally enjoy it. Always so exciting to wait with anticipation as the announcer is set to reveal the next famous performer!
#4Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 10:22pm
It looked like Meryl enjoyed it more than Barbara.
And Anne Hathaway's reaction to Glenn Close singing "Losing My Mind" reminded me of the first time I heard that song sung (by Dorothy Loudon) -- a mess of dripping admiration.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#5Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 10:28pm
I think Meryl was crying!
Also, did anyone else notice that the program was sponsored by THE IRON LADY?
#5Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 10:28pmYo-Yo Ma seemed to be enjoying himself, too. He leaned over to say something to Meryl after Rebecca Luker and Kelli O'Hara sang. And seemed to LOVE "Make Our Garden Grow."
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
#7Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 10:36pm
I wonder if maybe "Losing My Mind" was more affecting seeing it live given Anne Hathaway's reaction or if they just edited the reaction shot in.
I agree that Barbara Cook seemed the least overwhelmed of the bunch during her own tribute. Meryl cried when everyone started singing "Make Our Garden Grow" and yes, Yo-Yo Ma seemed to love the medley as well!
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#8Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 10:37pmThe tribute was absolutely breathtaking. I feel like an idiot for even asking, but what was the piece that Laura sang? I recognize the tune, but it's driving me crazy.
#9Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 10:37pmYo-Yo Ma seems to love Colbert as well!
theatreguy
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/31/03
#10Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 10:48pmLaura Osnes sang This is All Very New To Me from Plain and Fancy.
zamedy
Broadway Star Joined: 6/27/07
#11Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 10:49pmI feel like an idiot. Barbara Cook, of course!! Thank you, indytallguy.
#12Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 10:56pmI don't know Plain and Fancy at all, but I adored that snippet. I may have to look into it.
#13Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 11:32pm
We saw Barbara Cook at Feinstein's a few nights after they taped this, and she was still overwhelmed by the evening and the honor. She had she had to keep pinching herself because it didn't seem real to her that they were paying this tribute to her.
She said she understood why they would give this honor to Meryl Streep and Yo-Yo Ma, but it didn't make sense, she said, that they would include her.
She said, about Meryl Streep, "She was sooooo nice to me." That was cute.
SondheimFan5
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/20/10
#14Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 11:38pmMost honorees do not emote quite as much as Yo-Yo Ma did during his. Last year Jerry Herman hardly smiled except when Lansbury and Channing took the stage together. I think it can be tough to be put on the spot like that -- especially as a performer, when other people are singing "your" songs; though I am sure there was no jealousy with Cook, she's a very humble person. Wonderful tribute. A great night overall.
#15Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/27/11 at 11:46pm
PalJoey, that sounds like a great story and a great thing to experience seeing her live so soon after the show!
SondheimFan5, you're right, some people are definitely more emotive than others, and just because you're not being expressive in front of a camera, it doesn't mean you aren't as grateful or overwhelmed (if not more) than those who are being expressive.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#16Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/28/11 at 12:07amI'm so glad I recorded the show on my dvr. On the subject of G.C.....______________________. from RC in Austin, Texas
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
#17Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/28/11 at 1:04am
I've never understood all the hatred for Glenn Close and her singing. Hell, at least she always acts the hell out of a song and knows when to stop if she can't hit a note or something. I'll take a good actress over a good singer any day of the week. I actually found her South Pacific to be surprisingly well sung, even if she was too old for the role at that point. Her rendition of Send in the Clowns is also one of the most effective versions for me.
Was it just me or did she seem a little nervous tonight? A little shaky or something. Don't know if it was a character choice for the song or the fact that she was probably the only non-singer in the group.
The tribute was wonderful, though! Everyone was on fire. Meryl totally seemed to get a kick out of it, didn't she?
singingbackup
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/06
#19Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/28/11 at 1:47pmBut, Send in the Clowns was written for Glynis Johns. She really didn't have a singing voice. Then, Dame Judi Dench sang it, again, without a really singing voice. To me, its one of those songs that someone who can't sing can still perform by speaking on pitch. A la Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady.
"Ok ok ok ok ok ok ok. Have you guys heard about fidget spinners!?" ~Patti LuPone
#20Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/28/11 at 4:04pm
It's incredible that people are saying Glenn "can't sing."
Maybe she doesn't belt and riff the crap out of every note, but the woman can most definitely sing and she sings very well! =D
Recreation of original John Cameron orchestration to "On My Own" by yours truly. Click player below to hear.
#21Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/28/11 at 5:27pm
I think Glenn Close would have faired far better if she sang randomly in a tribute like Anne Hathaway did. Dude, she's not a trained singer plus she had to follow Rebecca Luker and Kelli O'Hara - that's not exactly a recipe for success...
Updated On: 12/28/11 at 05:27 PM
#22Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/28/11 at 5:37pm
Like I said, I thoroughly enjoy Glenn Close's singing and defend her when people attack her singing in the SUNSET BLVD cast recording, I've also enjoyed her singing on other occasions...but come on, that rendition of "Losing My Mind" was just not good.
Either way, it's obviously nice to see her there, both for Barbara Cook and for her friend Meryl Streep. I'm sure she'll be honored by the Kennedy Center soon enough (unless I missed the memo and she already has).
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#23Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/28/11 at 5:50pm
I saw Glenn on opening night of Sunset Blvd in LA and she couldn't sing it at all.
I really think you need to be able to sing if you are starring in a musical...
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
#24Kennedy Center Honors: Patti and Glenn
Posted: 12/28/11 at 6:18pm
This probably belongs on the "unpopular opinions you hold" thread, but . . .
I love Glenn Close and think she's one of our very finest actors. But as much as I disliked her singing in "Sunset" I thought her acting was inexcusably worse--much closer to Lon Chaney than Gloria Swanson.
I know she won the Tony and that it's a well-thought-of performance, so I just chalk it up to something that I didn't get.
