Laurie Beechman
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Born Laurie Hope Beechman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 4, 1953, she was possessed of an incredible singing voice, powerful, yet subtle and nuanced.
Dropping out of NYU after a few years, she made her Broadway debut as part of the original cast of "Annie," playing five different roles. This led to small roles in the Public Theatre's production of "The Pirates of Penzance" and the film version of "Hair."
A detour in to rock and roll resulted in the 1980 Atlantic Records release "Laurie and the Sighs." With little support from a new management team at the label, the record quickly tanked and Laurie was once again looking for stage work.
She was the first woman to play the role of "The Narrator" in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat during its first Broadway production in 1982, earning a Tony Award nomination Best Actress (Featured Role -Musical) and a Theatre World Award.
In December of 1983 Laurie headed the First National Company of "Cats" as Grizabella The Glamour Cat when the tour opened in Boston. Withiin four months, she assumed the role on Broadway, replacing Tony winner Betty Buckley. Belting out the show's hit song "Memory" night after night, Laurie stayed with the show for more than four years and made occasional return engagements over the next decade, making her the production's longest running Grizabella.
Set to take over the role of Fantine in the touring production of "Les Miserables" late in 1988, Laurie was sidelined with a devestating diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer. After months of treatment, Laurie bounced back with a celebrated cabaret act at New York's legendary Ballroom. This was quickly followed by a new production of "Joseph" in front of a home town crowd at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre.
In early 1990, Laurie made her long awaited debut as Fantine in the Broadway production of "Les Miserables." She stayed for several months, eventually heading out on tour where she finally played the role in Philadelphia over Christmas of 1990. During this time, Laurie's self produced solo recording, "Listen To My Heart," was released to great acclaim. The following fall she celebrated regaining her health after fighting off a recurrence of her cancer by, as she put it, "throwing myself a nightclub act," returning once again to the Ballroom.
In the next six and a half years, Laurie fell in love, got married, recorded three more solo albums, performed countless concerts and club dates, sang at President Clinton's second Inaugral Gala, was awarded the Gilda'a Club "It's Always Something" Award, and returned to both the roles of Fantine and Grizabella.
In early 1995, 3 1/2 years into her second remission, Laurie's cancer returned. She spent an hour on the Phil Donahue show singing and discussing her condition and her incredible will to keep going.
Although her treatments were ongoing, Laurie contiuned performing until just a few months before her death on March 8, 1998 at the age of 44. One month later, a loving memorial was held for Laurie Hope Beechman on the stage of the Wintergarden Theatre, the home of "Cats," where Laurie had spent so many of her days and nights singing her heart out.
She was survived by her mother, stepfather, two sisters, and husband, Neil Mazzella.
