Rita Gardner, an original cast member of the long-running Off Broadway phenomenon The Fantasticks, died Saturday of leukemia at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. She was 87.
Gardner’s death was announced by her friend and colleague Alex Rybeck on Facebook.
In 1960, Gardner, who had recently appeared Off Broadway in the Jerry Herman musical review Nightcap, was cast in what would be her signature role: Luisa, or “The Girl,” in the Harvey Schmidt-Tom Jones musical The Fantasticks. Based loosely on Edmond Rostand’s 1894 play The Romancers, the musical told the allegorical story of two fathers who trick their children – The Girl, Luisa, and The Boy, Matt – into falling in love by pretending to oppose the union.
The production, at a tiny Off Broadway venue in Greenwich Village called the Sullivan Street Playhouse, became a huge success, spawning a hit song (“Try To Remember”), running 42 years and boosting the careers of...
Gardner’s death was announced by her friend and colleague Alex Rybeck on Facebook.
In 1960, Gardner, who had recently appeared Off Broadway in the Jerry Herman musical review Nightcap, was cast in what would be her signature role: Luisa, or “The Girl,” in the Harvey Schmidt-Tom Jones musical The Fantasticks. Based loosely on Edmond Rostand’s 1894 play The Romancers, the musical told the allegorical story of two fathers who trick their children – The Girl, Luisa, and The Boy, Matt – into falling in love by pretending to oppose the union.
The production, at a tiny Off Broadway venue in Greenwich Village called the Sullivan Street Playhouse, became a huge success, spawning a hit song (“Try To Remember”), running 42 years and boosting the careers of...
- 9/26/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
But first, the episode starts off with a look at The Wedding Singer, based on the popular Adam Sandler film. It starred newcomer Stephen Lynch and joining him in the role of Julie, the waitress with a heart of gold, was one Broadway's loveliest leading ladies, Laura Benanti. The musical features a score by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin and a book by Begluin and Tim Herlihy. Rounding out the cast was Kevin Cahoon, Matthew Saldivar, Amy Spanger, Rita Gardner, Felicia Finley and Richard H. Blake. Benanti told Ridge, 'I'm really proud of it. It's nice to play the girl next door. I have never done that. This is really my first brand new Broadway musical. So, I have learned a lot.'...
- 5/10/2020
- by BroadwayWorld TV
- BroadwayWorld.com
Feinstein's54 Below is where it's at, and Broadway knows it. In a brand-new, exclusive series, we're taking you underground for all of the Feinstein's54 Below scoop, directly from the Director of Programming- our host, Jennifer Ashley Tepper. Watch below as she chats with Nick Blaemire New Musicals at 54 Fallout - February 9, 7 amp 930pm, and Rita Gardner amp Tom Jones I Do, Do - February 14, 7 amp 930pm.
- 2/2/2016
- by Feinstein's/54 Below
- BroadwayWorld.com
Tonight the theater community will kick off The Fantasticks 50th anniversary year with an early curtain of the show (7Pm) and a post-performance cocktail reception at The Snapple Center with performances by Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent, Anna in the Tropics, Jack Goes Boating), Rita Gardner (original 1960 production of The Fantasticks, The Cradle Will Rock, The Wedding Singer), Orfeh (Legally Blonde, Footloose), Aaron Lazar (The Light in the Piazza, A Tale of Two Cities, Les Miserables), GrooveLily (Striking 12) and Jill Paice (Curtains, The Woman in White). In addition, The Office of New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will offer a special proclamation declaring Fantasticks Day in New York City.
- 5/5/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
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