Andrea McArdle Remembers Laurie Beechman

[@RalphOnofrio]

We had Laurie in our show band...She was 19 years old....3 years later, she's on Broadway....I knew she would be a star....Miss Laurie....RIP,my friend.

[@Juliaflo]

It has now been 25 years since Miss Beechman passed away after a brave battle with ovarian cancer. She was about 45 years old, and is still greatly missed.

[@fakerating]

Really nice tribute.. I wouldn't have known who Laurie Beechman was, had I not gone to some shows at her Theater... I had to look her up, and I vaguely remembered her voice for the Joseph cast album I had as a child. A lot of talent came from Philadelphia...

[@roberthammond487]

I remember taking the subway from Brooklyn to the Alvin Theatre in Manhattan with my sister to see my first Broadway show, Annie. I was mesmerized by Andrea McArdle and the rest of the great cast and of course the magnificent songs. During “NYC”, when “A Star to Be” (Laurie Beechman) sang her part, I vividly remember being blown away by the incredible power and quality of her voice. It amazes me how impactful her voice was for that relatively small part! It really stood out in a big way for me What a tremendous talent! I continue to listen to the original cast recording on a regular basis. It never gets old. I completely understand what Andrea meant when she said “Barbara who?”.

[@miamiracer]

I didn't know I had the great fortune to see and hear Laurie perform her number in Annie until much later when I knew her name and read the credits when I looked back at the playbill I have kept all these years. How is it that sometimes we don't fully appreciate our experiences in the moment.

[@erby2283]

Totally agree. I was today years old when I realized that was Laurie singing that part in NYC! I listened to that soundtrack a million times as a 5-10 year old little girl - even auditioned for Annie in a few local productions - but looking back I wonder how I never connected the pieces. Her voice wnd vibratto are so distinguishable. Feel so dumb now. Smh.

[@lindawagar976]

I knew Laurie in high school. She was amazing even then.

[@KJ_nyc]

Beautiful tribute from Andrea McArdle.

[@johnrinaldi8782]

What a beautiful tribute. I sawLaurie Beechman in that original production of Annie, and she really was A Star to Be. There was something extra special about her. She had that magical theater charisma that is innate and irreplaceable. And that voice! :)

[@tmf866]

Me too, several times (we went back to take my grandmother, because her name was Grace Farrell - we didn't tell her, and she was tickled pink) - it was a couple of lines, but they had to make it much longer because she just glowed... as a kid I loved the show, but even in that big production number she stood out as "she's playing a bit part but she's a *star*." IIRC she got a standing ovation in the middle of the number one of the times I saw it. (As I'm sure you know or could guess, that just doesn't happen on Broadway.)

[@johnrinaldi8782]

@@tmf866 she really was something special. I was lucky enough to also see her in Cats on Broadway. She floated that last note of the “Memory” just before intermission and it just spun there seemingly forever.

[@clurkroberts2650]

What a beautiful tribute. My heart.. kind of hurts from this loss and her tender memory

[@Hgood1]

When I was in college at NYU, you couldn’t get seats to Annie for a year. A snowstorm came and the city was shut down and that’s how I got to see Annie. Andrea was everything and everything was Laurie Beechman who let me join in-in snowball fights after the show with the cast. Laurie exuded such warmth abs heart and she was this huge bright life. I was crushed when I heard of her passing. This tribute by Andrea raised goosebumps from head to toe. One beautiful soul celebrating another. Andrea will be the only Annie to me. It was her role. Forever. To hear her live is something you can’t describe. She filled up that entire theater with such power. So much respect for her and so much love for Laurie and her gift. I always get goosebumps when ever I visit the Laurie Beechman Theater.

[@claudiabeechman1]

Thank you, Andrea.

[@JimBobSky]

Great tribute from one beautiful singer to another.

[@teamelitediamonds6362]

Laurie and Andrea are #1 and #1a as far as the greatest broadway singers ever.

[@kennrothman205]

I have been a fan of Broadway and musicals since I first saw "FUNNY GIRL" with Barbara Streisand at the Winter Garden Theater shortly after it opened. I caught the bug and went home as a member of my high school choir...and began doing shows. Then I moved on to Community Theaters and did more of them...on and off for almost 40 years. Sadly, and I mean VERY sadly, I knew nothing about Laurie Beechman until this year...thanks to KZbin. And now, I cry every time I see her, because she was SOOOO talented and taken TOOOOO soon, and I missed out on all of her talents except for what is here on KZbin. I hope she is resting in peace and knows how much she was and is loved and missed.

[@chrisbaerart]

I have always loved this song, from my favorite show. Next to Maybe, it's the track I most often play. I didn't get to see Annie with Laurie or Andrea in it (I was too young) but I was fortunate enough to see Laurie as Grizabella in the first national tour of Cats - and I will never, EVER forget that performance. Love to you Andrea - you are my musical hero. R.I.P. Laurie - may your star ever shine for us all to follow.

[@kevins.butler3402]

If you're reading this? Ms.McArdle..I'm sorry for the loss of your friend and fellow performer.

[@tomgallowitz4464]

Fitting tribute, to a fellow Philadelphian and a great friend.

[@thomascochrane3785]

Andrea. You are awesome! Great tribute

[@NickiraFierce]

Lovely and heartbreaking. Just beautiful.

[@lindawagar976]

Laurie was from South Jersey.. she was an amazing talent.

[@lindawagar7595]

I knew Laurie in high school in South Jersey. There was no doubt her talent would take her far. There’s a scar on my my nose from her dog Hamlet. Her mom Dolly doctored me and told me what coagulation meant. Silly but important.

[@lapis2267]

UGH MA FEELS

[@Hgood1]

Heartbreaking is that the West Bank Cafe which houses the Laurie Beechman Theater where I stage managed years ago is set to close unless an angel comes in to save it.

[@stephenacs]

Sobbing.

[@lilgiggler35]

Which roll did Laurie play in the original production of Annie?

[@peerah]

lilgiggler35 she was the “star-to-be” and part of the ensemble.

[@phillgreenland2390]

Star to Be, Sophie the Kettle, Cecile, and Perkins.