The Drama League Honors Angela Lansbury

By Christopher Moore, Broadway Magazine

"I'm in love with Angela, she's the star of stars," sings Ann Hampton Calloway. She is literally singing the praises for Broadway icon Angela Lansbury, who was being celebrated by The Broadway League. Broadway.tv and Broadway Magazine were there to bring you a taste of the celebration.

"These things happen as time goes on. I'm going to try to enjoy it. That's what I'm going to try to do," says a humble Angela Lansbury about the honor she was receiving from The Drama League. In the past two Broadway seasons, Ms. Lansbury has been Broadway's singular sensation. If Broadway had true royalty, she'd be the reigning Queen.

Broadway Show: A Little Night Music

"Angela Lansbury, I mean who doesn't want to come out and honor her. She deserves all the accolades and all the awards...She's at the top of game at 84 years old," Bernadette Peters tells Broadway.tv at the event.

Last year, Ms. Lansbury earned the Tony Award for her very funny performance in the excellent revival of Blithe Spirit. This season, she could well earn another Tony Award for her work in A Little Night Music. With a distinguished career and established reputation, Ms. Lansbury continues to add to her legacy and remains a Broadway legend.

"From the word 'go' the first Broadway show I ever saw was 'Sweeney Todd' with her, and I was a kid, I was from Long Island. I took a bus in with some schoolmates," says Eddie Falco, one of many stars who turned out on a cold winter's night to honor Angela Lansbury.

"I tend to revere her. She's been such an inspiration to me," Victor Garber, who is currently starring in the excellent production of Noel Coward's 'Present Laughter' on Broadway.

"I grew up watching my grandparents stop the entire house to watch 'Murder She Wrote.' Then they would brag about how she was a theatre-lady, and that's why we liked her in our house. So, I've been a fan of Angela since I was very small," says Will Swenson, star of the hit revival of HAIR.

"She has done it all and done it all brilliantly," reflects Ann Hampton Calloway.

"I'm a huge fan," said Donna Murphy, who was also part of the Kennedy Center Tribute to Angela Lansbury.

What does Ms. Lansbury think? Well, she seems more comfortable talking about her current production than looking back at her tremendous legacy.

"Catherine is a great gal. She's wonderful in this part. She just has a lovely naturalness about her...she has a lovely voice," Ms. Lansbury says of her A Little Night Music co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones. The revival is a box-office and critical hit, and with its running time of nearly three hours...Ms. Lansbury may also qualify as a marathon runner.

"We can't believe that its taken us three hours to plow our way through, but we do...and we're pleased when the curtain comes down," laughs Ms. Lansbury.

Watch the entire video feature on The Drama League celebration of Angela Lansbury right here on www.Broadway.tv.