Women in Theatre: Barbara Cook

Taped: 12/16/2004. Singer and actress Barbara Cook remembers her Broadway prime in such plays as Oklahoma, Plain and Fancy, Flahooley, and The Music Man, and her past 30 years as a celebrated cabaret singer.
The acclaimed television series 'Women in Theatre' provides a unique look into the lives of some of the gifted women who create and sustain theatre in the United States -- with major directors, designers, actors, lyricists, composers and producers -- conducted by Linda Winer, theatre critic for Newsday. The series' theme song is "The Glamorous Life" from 'A Little Night Music' by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Alex Rybeck, noted pianist and music director. Watch more at www.tv.cuny.edu...

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

Intelligence still exists! Great interview with sensitive questions asked and received honestly by a truly great leading lady. I got to know Babara Cook and will treasure my recordings of her even more. The voice of musical theatre.

[@1marilynable]

She is such a legend !

[@TheRavenal]

Sadly, Barbara Cook passed August 2017. The interviewer Linda Winer 'resigned' as a theater critic April 2017.

[@Gertyutz]

Winer's shows are being replayed on an irregular schedule here on WNYE-TV. Barbara's work is constantly being replayed at my house.

[@joshdrayton1230]

The last book show Cook did was actually "Carrie". It's interesting that she completely wipes it from her history. She clearly hated it that much!

[@stephenstephen1505]

A great star

[@JRobbySh]

Totally professional.

[@jennifersmall4027]

The interviewer needs to know that she is not the subject of the interview,

[@itstheburnz]

Linda was not well prepared...Barbara had to correct her enough..

[@JRobbySh]

Agree.

[@jaygatz4335]

Linda seemed nervous and uptight, as though she couldn't relax in front of the great barbara.

[@thomasmiles340]

Wish she had asked how she became involved in Jules Feiffer's "Little Murders."

[@10tubular]

feminist interviewer and a rational thoughtful adult

[@wewper]

It's too bad that Barbara Cook chose to whitewash the Carrie debacle instead of holding it up for what it was-a truly noble failure. Her version of "When There's No One," seemingly available now only on bootlegs and dim KZbin videos, remains definitive. Written especially for her, it is so clearly tailored to her particular strengths. Even if you prefer Betty Buckley or Marin Mazzie or someone else, you can't listen to their versions without somehow hearing in the background Barbara's floated high notes. That's how indelibly she can claim ownership of the song. Carrie is a bad show with a bad book, and it can't be fixed without dropping the half of the score that doesn't involve Carrie or Margaret. Barbara could have come to terms with the show's flop status, included "When There's No One" in her concerts, and we would all have been richer for it. But that's just should-a, would-a, could-a. Gore and Pitchford were interviewed in Stars in the House and it's clear how bitter they were with people they blame for Carrie's failure, Barbara included. (Listen to it and count how many times Michael Gore referred to the "German producer.") It's hard to blame her for just wanting to put the experience behind her. Barbara was one of the greats. I miss her. On another note: Linda Winer laughing at "Death is always a surprise" is so horrifyingly inappropriate. What a fool.

[@miltsar]

awful interviewer.....

[@mjji21]

linda winer is a horrible interviewer!!!!!

[@trschaefer]

Yes... really bad in this interview...

[@Rysanekfan]

I found myself similarly uncomfortable with the interviewer's questions and was reminded of Jiminy Glick (or Skip E. Lowe) as she assumed certain answers or, worse yet, brought up the subject of weight gain. Cook handled it so well and even pointed out how tiresome it became during interviews after she launched her cabaret career. I'll need to watch it again, but it seemed Winer didn't get the hint... : (

[@TotzkeMike]

Good, sensitive interviewer ... who listens.

[@TotzkeMike]

@Charlie Charlie I don’t agree.

[@TotzkeMike]

@Charlie Charlie Rude asshole.