On this day in 1979 Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler‘s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street opens at the Uris Theatre, to run 557 performances.
Happy 73rd birthday to Broadway diva Bernadette Peters.
Born on this day in 1899 contralto Marian Anderson.
Born on this day in 1802 author and playwright Victor Hugo.
On this day in 1973, the Prince-Sondheim musical A Little Night Music opened at the Shubert Theatre, to run 601 performances.
Happy 87th birthday soprano Renata Scotto.
Born on this day in 1927 soprano Régine Crespin.
Born on this day in 1921 actress Giulietta Masina.
Born on this day in 1953 Broadway diva Christine Ebersole.
On this day in 2020 a restudied production of West Side Story opened on Broadway.
Born on this day in 1911 or so actress Merle Oberon.
Born on this day in 1926 mezzo-soprano Rita Gorr.
On this day in 1904 Puccini’s Madama Butterfly had its disastrous premiere in Milan. Three years later, though…
Born on this day in 1908 ur-belter Ethel Merman.
On this day in 588 BC Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon laid siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah’s reign.
Happy 88th birthday to actress Kim Novak.
On this day in 1947 Christian Dior launched the so-called “New Look,” re-establishing Paris as the center of fashion.
Born on this day in 1925 actress Kim Stanley.
Happy 94th birthday soprano Leontyne Price.
Born on this day in 1909 samba singer, dancer, Broadway actress and film star Carmen Miranda.
Happy 34th birthday to soprano Lise Davidsen!
On this day in 1928 soprano Grace Moore made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimì.
Born on this day in 1899 actor Ramon Novarro.