Stage to PagePlaybill Vault's Today in Theatre History: July 3Happy birthday to Audra McDonald, Betty Buckley, Tom Stoppard, George M. Cohan, and more!
By
Playbill Staff
July 03, 2021
1878 The original Yankee Doodle Dandy, George M. Cohan is born on the 3rd of July, not the 4th as family legend says. A member of the vaudeville team The Four Cohans with his parents and sister, he soon breaks out as a solo star, writer, and producer of such early 20th century hits as American Born, Billie, Dear Old Darling, Little Nellie Kelly, Pigeons and People, The Rise of Rosie O'Reilly, and The Merry Malones. His life becomes the subject of a musical in 1968, George M!, in which he is played by Joel Grey. His statue has stood at the center of Times Square at 46th Street for decades.
1999 The Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Cabaret marks its 500th Broadway performance. The production that received four Tony Awards (including Best Revival of a Musical), three Drama Desk Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, a Theatre World Award, an Astaire Award, and a special award from the New York Drama Critics) opened on Broadway March 19, 1998.
2018 The Australian production of the Tony-nominated Best Musical Come From Away opens in Melbourne. The musical by David Hein and Irene Sankoff tells the story of the passengers of 37 planes that were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, when U.S. air space closed due to the September 11 attacks. The story of the generosity of humanity earned seven Tony nominations, winning for Best Direction by Christopher Ashley.
The Fred Ebb Award recognizes excellence in musical theatre songwriting, by a songwriter or songwriting team that has not yet achieved significant commercial success.