WindyCityOperaman
Dan Soda (Windy City Operaman) is a Chicago native whose first visit to opera was at age 17 and Massenet’s Werther with Troyanos and Kraus. Nothing was ever the same. Opera and concert performances, recordings and video are an obsession. He prepares Parterre Box’s daily birthday and anniversary tributes. He also enjoys concerts, live theater and movies.
Happy 82nd birthday to soprano and actress Mary Beth Peil.
Happy 80th birthday actress and singer Michele Lee.
Born on this day in 1916 actress Irene Worth.
Happy 90th birthday to actress Prunella Scales.
Born on this day in 1921 actress and singer Judy Holliday.
Born on this day in 1911 actress Gail Patrick.
Born on this day in 1912 soprano Virginia MacWatters.
Born on this day in 1903 actress and soprano Jeanette MacDonald.
On this day in 1967 Barbra Streisand performed A Happening in Central Park.
Born on this day in 1910 actress Ilona Massey.
On this day in 1960 the film The Apartment premiered in New York City.
On this day the revue New Faces of 1956 opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, featuring an eclectic collection of talent including Maggie Smith, Jane Connell, Tiger Haynes, John Reardon, Bill McCutcheon and Inga Swenson.
Born on this day in 1910 comic actress Mary Wickes.
Born on this day in 1919 handmaiden of Melpomene Uta Hagen.
On this day in 1965, LIza Minnelli made her Broadway debut at the age of 19 in Flora, the Red Menace.
Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Miss Show Business.
Born on this day in 1891 composer Cole Porter.
Happy 82nd birthday singer and actress Nancy Sinatra.
Happy 59th birthday tenor Roberto Alagna.
Happy 68th birthday to playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein.
On this day in 1883, the Orient Express departed on its maiden journey, from Paris to Vienna.
Born on this day in 1907 actress Rosalind Russell.
Born on this day in 1906 actress, singer, dancer and Résistance operative Josephine Baker.
Happy 72nd birthday actress and singer Joanna Gleason.
Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
