Judith Malina, the co-founder, with her husband Julian Beck, of The Living Theatre, and a central figure in the New York avant garde theatre during its most vital time, in the 1960s and ‘70s, died on Friday in Englewood, N.J. She was 88.

LIZA MINNELLI
For those of you who were unable to attend Liza Minnelli's recent Broadway "comeback" (personally, "I hate that word"), Minnelli on Minnelli, you can enjoy the experience via the live recording of her performance on the new Angel Records release, "Minnelli on Minnelli." Now in stores, the single disc captures the excitement of Minnelli's solo performance, which features both song and the spoken work. Highlights of the recording include a slowed-down, silky reading of "Baubles, Bangles & Beads"; a belty, emotional version of "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?"; the comical "I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore," which features new lyrics by the show's director, Fred Ebb; and a duet with her late mother, the legendary Judy Garland, in Meet Me in St. Louis's "The Trolley Song."

LIZA MINNELLI
For those of you who were unable to attend Liza Minnelli's recent Broadway "comeback" (personally, "I hate that word"), Minnelli on Minnelli, you can enjoy the experience via the live recording of her performance on the new Angel Records release, "Minnelli on Minnelli." Now in stores, the single disc captures the excitement of Minnelli's solo performance, which features both song and the spoken work. Highlights of the recording include a slowed-down, silky reading of "Baubles, Bangles & Beads"; a belty, emotional version of "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?"; the comical "I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore," which features new lyrics by the show's director, Fred Ebb; and a duet with her late mother, the legendary Judy Garland, in Meet Me in St. Louis's "The Trolley Song."

What's announced and what's in previews in the West End.

Kinky Boots, Gypsy, A Winter's Tale and Shakespeare's Globe lead nominations.

The West End is sending Broadway King Charles III and returning The Color Purple to sender as well (with the transfer of the Menier Chocolate Factory's production of the 2005 Broadway musical, just as they previously bequeathed Broadway its revivals of Sunday in the Park with George, A Little Night Music and La Cage Aux Folles).

Dame Angela Lansbury won her first-ever Olivier Award for her return to the London stage in Blithe Spirit after an absence of nearly 40 years. The Broadway import of Beautiful saw its two female stars win the awards for Best Actress in a Musical and best Supporting Actress in a Musical.

The London imports of Broadway's Memphis The Musical and Beautiful - The Carole King Musical lead the nominations for this year's Olivier Awards, receiving nine and eight nods respectively. The awards are presented April 12 at the Royal Opera House.

The London imports of Broadway's Memphis The Musical and Beautiful - The Carole King Musical lead the nominations for this year's Olivier Awards, receiving nine and eight nods respectively.

The shortlist for the 60th Annual London Evening Standard Theatre Awards — London's longest-standing theatre awards ceremony — has been announced.

As 2006 dawns following a year's worth of grim reports about deaths from war, natural disasters and terrorism, those of us who cling to the theatre as a life raft to help us navigate the stormy world can't help but think of those from our own community who left us in 2005.