Bea Arthur Memorial Set for September 14 at Broadway's Majestic Theater - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

DLevine2 · 06-06-2009, 02:32 PM

The date for Bea Arthur’s memorial has finally been set. The show will take place at the Majestic Theater in New York on Monday, September 14, 2009 at 1pm. The afternoon will be hosted by Bea’s Bosom Buddy, Angela Lansbury who will be joined by Bea’s close friends, both professional and personal, as well as family.

The program will be a celebration of Bea’s life and career. All are invited and admission is free. Further information on the event is expected to follow shortly.

Before she became an iconic Emmy®-Award winning television star, Bea Arthur received a Tony Award® for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 1966 for her performance as Angela Lansbury's best friend Vera Charles in the original Broadway production of Jerry Herman's musical Mame, directed by Gene Saks, her husband at that time.

Ms. Arthur's Broadway career began in 1955 with the original musical Plain and Fancy and continued with roles in Seventh Heaven and Nature's Way. Among her Broadway credits, she played Yente the Matchmaker in the 1964 premiere of Fiddler on the Roof and appeared in Woody Allen's The Floating Lightbulb in 1981.

In 2002, she returned to Broadway starring in Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends, a collection of stories and songs based on her life and career. The show was nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Special Theatrical Event.

In a career spanning seven decades, the celebrated actress, comedienne, singer and writer became a television star as the title character, Maude Findlay, on the 1970's sitcom Maude, and as Dorothy Zbornak on the 1980's sitcom The Golden Girls. She won Emmy® Awards for both roles.

She is survived by two sons and two granddaughters.

ratherbwatchinGG · 06-06-2009, 05:31 PM

Wow! All are invited? I can't imagine how full that place will be. I'd love to be there.

catlover79 · 06-07-2009, 12:13 AM

Very cool!!

Schmoopie · 06-07-2009, 06:26 AM

Wow, that's wonderful that they are inviting everyone, but why is it so far away? I mean, it's only June. Just curious. I guess it takes a long time to plan these things...

80sTrivia · 06-07-2009, 08:56 AM

I'm certain it will be a lovely and wonderful tribute to the amazing Bea, full of laughter and emotion. I would love to attend!

OOliver · 06-09-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

Wow, that's wonderful that they are inviting everyone, but why is it so far away? I mean, it's only June. Just curious. I guess it takes a long time to plan these things...

To get so many people involved (friends, colleagues, etc), as well as footage from her work (television, theater), etc. it takes quite a while in pulling this all together. I would even say September may be too early!

browneyes106 · 06-30-2009, 03:54 PM

That will be a very fitting memorial tribute to Bea.

06-06-2009, 02:32 PM	#1
DLevine2 DLevine2 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2006 Location: Fayetteville, Ga. Posts: 2,961	Bea Arthur Memorial Set for September 14 at Broadway's Majestic Theater The date for Bea Arthur’s memorial has finally been set. The show will take place at the Majestic Theater in New York on Monday, September 14, 2009 at 1pm. The afternoon will be hosted by Bea’s Bosom Buddy, Angela Lansbury who will be joined by Bea’s close friends, both professional and personal, as well as family. The program will be a celebration of Bea’s life and career. All are invited and admission is free. Further information on the event is expected to follow shortly. Before she became an iconic Emmy®-Award winning television star, Bea Arthur received a Tony Award® for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 1966 for her performance as Angela Lansbury's best friend Vera Charles in the original Broadway production of Jerry Herman's musical Mame, directed by Gene Saks, her husband at that time. Ms. Arthur's Broadway career began in 1955 with the original musical Plain and Fancy and continued with roles in Seventh Heaven and Nature's Way. Among her Broadway credits, she played Yente the Matchmaker in the 1964 premiere of Fiddler on the Roof and appeared in Woody Allen's The Floating Lightbulb in 1981. In 2002, she returned to Broadway starring in Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends, a collection of stories and songs based on her life and career. The show was nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Special Theatrical Event. In a career spanning seven decades, the celebrated actress, comedienne, singer and writer became a television star as the title character, Maude Findlay, on the 1970's sitcom Maude, and as Dorothy Zbornak on the 1980's sitcom The Golden Girls. She won Emmy® Awards for both roles. She is survived by two sons and two granddaughters.

06-06-2009, 05:31 PM	#2
ratherbwatchinGG Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 06, 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 97	Wow! All are invited? I can't imagine how full that place will be. I'd love to be there.
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06-07-2009, 12:13 AM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Very cool!!
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06-07-2009, 06:26 AM	#4
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Wow, that's wonderful that they are inviting everyone, but why is it so far away? I mean, it's only June. Just curious. I guess it takes a long time to plan these things...
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06-07-2009, 08:56 AM	#5
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	I'm certain it will be a lovely and wonderful tribute to the amazing Bea, full of laughter and emotion. I would love to attend!
	__________________ Perfect Gift Books for Pop Culture Fanatics: Thank You for Being a Friend: A Golden Girls Trivia Book The Bouquet Residence: A Keeping Up Appearances Trivia Book Cooking With the Golden Girls: Fun & Delicious Recipes from a Hilarious Miami Kitchen Love in the Afternoon: The Ultimate Soap Opera Trivia Book The Last Great Decade: The Ultimate 90s Trivia Book Betty White: A Celebration

06-30-2009, 03:54 PM	#7
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,097	That will be a very fitting memorial tribute to Bea.