Happy Birthday Judy Garland

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 6/10/20 at 6:14pm

The legendary Judy Garland would've been 98 today. She was a treasure.

Updated On: 6/10/20 at 06:14 PM

[steven carter]

Posted: 6/10/20 at 9:04pm

You are so right! She was a treasure...a performer who gave 100%, and someone who raised the game on what a "Broadway concert" or "theatre concert" could achieve. Her Broadway engagements at the Palace in the 1951-52, 1956-57, and 1967-68 seasons gave audiences an electrifying experience. She was making real theatre, not tossing off a set of hit songs, as many theatrical concerts prior to Judy had done. Later theatre concerts such as "Lena Horne: Lady & Her Music", "Elaine Stritch At Liberty" and even the recent "Bruce Springsteen on Broadway" were able to do what they did because Judy laid the groundwork (listen to "Judy at Carnegie Hall" for illumination of what I mean).

I saw the 1967 "At Home At the Palace." And even though I was only 7 years old, the performance changed my life. When Judy sang a happy song, people around me were bouncing out of their seats with joy. When she sang a sad song, there was unashamed tears. I started to understand that what so many people call "entertainment" could really be so much more than color or sound in front of one's eyes. Judy was clearly really communicating on a deep level with the audience, and the shared experience showed me that "entertainment", specifically live performance in a theatre, could help me understand the meaning of my own life.

Thank you for that, Judy!