Elaine Stritch at Liberty

Elaine Stritch at Liberty is an autobiographical one-woman show written by Elaine Stritch and John Lahr, and produced by George C. Wolfe, based on Stritch's personal anecdotes, as well as showtunes and Broadway standards that reflect her life both on and off the stage.

Synopsis

The show consists of spoken monologues from Stritch following her life and career, interspersed with showtunes and pop standards that complement her stories. Stritch had previously sung many of the songs in major productions, such as "The Ladies Who Lunch" from Company and "Civilization" from Angel in the Wings, which she originated on Broadway. Her experiences and relationship with show business are focal points, while she also explores more intimate, personal themes like her alcoholism and romantic relationships.

Productions

Originally directed and produced by George C. Wolfe at The Public Theater, the show premiered on November 7, 2001. After quickly selling out, the original engagement was extended twice: once until December 30 and then until January 6, 2002. The show then transferred to Broadway, opening on February 21, 2002 in the Neil Simon Theatre, closing on May 26 of that year.
Stritch continued to perform the show at regional and international venues.

Reception

The Broadway production was recognized with the 2002 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event and the 2002 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical.

Song list

Songs are listed alphabetically, as presented in the Broadway program, with the note "the following songs may or may not be performed."

"All in Fun" — Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II
"Broadway Baby"§ — Stephen Sondheim
"But Not For Me" — George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
"If Love Were All" — Noël Coward
"Can You Use Any Money Today?"§ — Irving Berlin
"Civilization"§ — Carl Sigman and Bob Hilliard
"Hooray for Hollywood" — Richard A. Whiting and Johnny Mercer
"I'm Still Here" — Stephen Sondheim
"I've Been to a Marvelous Party" — Noël Coward
"I Want a Long Time Daddy" — Porter Grainger
"The Little Things You Do Together"§ — Stephen Sondheim
"Something Good" — Richard Rodgers
"The Ladies Who Lunch"§ — Stephen Sondheim
"The Party's Over" — Styne, Comden, and Green
"There's No Business Like Show Business" — Irving Berlin
"This Is All Very New to Me" — Albert Hague and Arnold Horwitt
"Why Do The Wrong People Travel?"§ — Noël Coward
"Zip"§ — Rodgers and Hart

Notes §: numbers previously performed by Stritch in professional productions

Live album

A recording of the original off-Broadway production was released April 9, 2002 by DRG Records, containing both the musical numbers and selected spoken material from the show.

Documentary film

The documentary adaptation directed by D. A. Pennebaker and Andy Picheta aired in 2004 on HBO, later winning two [Primetime Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Awards|Emmy] awards: Outstanding Variety Special and Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for Stritch. Stritch's exuberant acceptance speech—during which she danced up to the stage, uttered profanities, expressed gladness that her fellow nominees lost, reeled off a long list of comedic dedications, and declared that she would not leave until forcibly removed—has been described in retrospect as "something of an Emmy legend."