Elaine Stritch at Liberty

Elaine Stritch At Liberty
Recording cover
Music	Various
Lyrics	Various
Book	John Lahr and Elaine Stritch
Basis	Life and career of Elaine Stritch
Premiere	November 7, 2001 (2001-11-07): The Public Theater, New York
Productions	2001 Off-Broadway 2002 Broadway
Awards	2002 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event 2002 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical

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. ^[1]

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. ^[2] 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. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

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." ^[6]

• "All in Fun" (from Very Warm for May ) — Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II
• "Broadway Baby"§ (from Follies ) — Stephen Sondheim
• "But Not For Me" — George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
• "If Love Were All" (from Bitter Sweet ) — Noël Coward
• "Can You Use Any Money Today?"§ (from Call Me Madam ) — Irving Berlin
• "Civilization"§ (from Angel in the Wings ) — Carl Sigman and Bob Hilliard
• "Hooray for Hollywood" (from Hollywood Hotel ) — Richard A. Whiting and Johnny Mercer
• "I'm Still Here" (from Follies ) — 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"§ (from Company ) — Stephen Sondheim
• "Something Good" (from The Sound of Music ) — Richard Rodgers
• "The Ladies Who Lunch"§ (from Company ) — Stephen Sondheim
• "The Party's Over" (from Bells Are Ringing — Styne, Comden, and Green
• "There Never Was a Baby Like My Baby" (from Two on the Aisle ) — Styne, Comden, and Green
• "There's No Business Like Show Business" (from Annie Get Your Gun ) — Irving Berlin
• "This Is All Very New to Me" (from Plain and Fancy ) — Albert Hague and Arnold Horwitt
• "Why Do The Wrong People Travel?"§ (from Sail Away ) — Noël Coward
• "Zip"§ (from Pal Joey ) — 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. ^[7]

Documentary film

The documentary adaptation directed by D. A. Pennebaker and Andy Picheta aired in 2004 on HBO, later winning two 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." ^[8]

Awards and nominations

2002 Broadway production

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref.
2002	Tony Award	Best Special Theatrical Event		Won	[9]
	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Solo Performance	Elaine Stritch	Won	[10]
		Outstanding Book of a Musical	John Lahr and Elaine Stritch	Won
		Outstanding Director of a Musical	George C. Wolfe	Nominated
		Outstanding Orchestrations	Jonathan Tunick	Nominated
	Outer Critics Circle Award	Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Solo Performance	Elaine Stritch	Won	[11] [12]
	Drama League Award	Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre		Won	[13]
	Lucille Lortel Award	Outstanding Lead Actress	Elaine Stritch	Nominated	[14]
	New York Drama Critics' Circle Award	Special Citation		Hon.	[15]
	Obie Award	Outstanding Performance	Elaine Stritch	Won	[16]
		Special Citation		Hon.

2004 Documentary

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref.
2004	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special		Won	[17]
		Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program	Elaine Stritch	Won
		Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program	Andy Picheta, Nick Doob, Chris Hegedus, and D. A. Pennebaker	Nominated

References

1. Suskin, Steven (2003). Broadway Yearbook 2001-2002: A Relevant and Irreverent Record , Oxford University Press, pp. 163-170
2. "It's Official: Stritch to Stretch at Bway's Simon Feb. 6-May 26, 2002; Tix on Sale Dec. 11"
3. Stritch Producers Are Exploring U.S., London Dates
4. "Stritch to Revive At Liberty in 2008". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
5. "Stritch Will Be At Liberty at the Austin Cabaret Theatre in September". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2024-12-04. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
6. Program for Elaine Stritch At Liberty at the Neil Simon Theatre, New York. Playbill, 2002.
7. "Elaine Stritch: At Liberty" at AllMusic.com
8. Dawn, Randee (20 Jun 2024). "20 years ago at the Emmys: An effusive Elaine Stritch has the time of her life". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 Nov 2024.
9. "2002 Tony Award Winners". Tony Awards. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
10. Simonson, Robert (May 20, 2002). "Drama Desk Awards Announced; Goat, Metamorphoses Tie for Best Play, Millie Scores". Playbill. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
11. "The 2001–2002 Outer Critics Circle Award Winners". TheaterMania. April 29, 2002. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
12. "2001–2002 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
13. Simonson, Robert (May 10, 2002). "Sweet Smell, Millie, Topdog Among Drama League Nominees; Awards Presented May 10". Playbill. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
14. "2002 Lucille Lortel Awards Nominees and Recipients". Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
15. "Albee, Stritch Win Drama Critics Prizes". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
16. Simonson, Robert (May 20, 2002). "Stritch, Plimpton, Wright, Wolfe, Esparza Win 2002 Obie Awards". Playbill. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
17. Heffernan, Virginia (September 20, 2004). "2004 Emmy Winners". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2026.

External links

• Elaine Stritch & George Wolfe on creating At Liberty 14 December 2001 episode of PBS Theater Talk
• ​Elaine Stritch at Liberty​ at the Internet Broadway Database
• ​Elaine Stritch at Liberty​ at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
• Elaine Stritch at Liberty (2002 film) at IMDb