Laurie Beechman - Joseph Segment www.lauriebeechman.com

[zolochnaya]

Thank you so much for this vid. I often watch it and say to Laurie in Heaven, God Bless You Girl!

[Shaddow1966]

said it on the Laurie tribute page, and will try to recreate it also here. I purchased the original Cast CD of Joseph, and was captivated by Laurie's singing. I had not realized that she had passed away, and Googling her name across the tribute page. I wrote that God must have needed her Angelic voice more then we needed her here on Earth. Cried when I found she had passed.

[highkingpeter97]

This is a true belter!

[KidComedyOfficial]

Even though she wasn't THE original narrator, she was the first female narrator. But, SHE IS AMAZING!

[broadwaymaniac92]

the thing i love about laurie is she KNOWS how to belt. she's not a "screlter" like idina menzel....

[whitetiefilms]

Two people don't have ears. This is incredible.

[mysterywhiteboy41]

It's a shame that recent versions of joseph don't retain the insane amount of energy and vocal prowess that the original broadway did. The very synth heavy tour version of the early 90s really took out all the raw energy.

[cdgross]

I had the pleasure of seeing Laurie many times on stage and in consert. I agree that she was the best Narrator and was the first to play the role on Broadway. She was not the original Narrator ("Joseph" was first performed in the late 1960's) but she was the first woman to play the role. Since Laurie I don't think role has been performaned by a man in any major venue.

[MrTcolitti]

I saw Laurie in "Joseph" back in '81 or '82 just before I was in my High school performance of "Joseph". After the show she came out to meet our cast and wished us luck in our own performance. She was an amazing performer with a strong and powerful voice. She is missed!

[wew1llr0ckyou]

Bill Hutton's voice reminds me of Mandy Patinkin!

[TheaterMarine88]

Oh thank you!

[Ramshead]

No problem. Here to help!

[huntrdog]

Laurie is still missed by Broadway fans.  What a talent.

[TheaterMarine88]

Who is the guy who played Joseph?

[fiyeroberlin]

I don't like it, to have even the slightest emotion of feeling hate! Even regarding to someone that special!!!! Please people, don't compare!!!! STOP THAT comparisons! Laurie is/was/has been unforgettably grand! And there are others, who are just doing great and grand things. I guess, she would be happier, if you all would be more acting like *humans* HA

[ers586]

Simply wonderful. How fortunate we are that her performance was immortalized on the original cast recording.

[Sheherezade27]

I hate every other production of this show ever done, but the original was pretty damn cool.

[HidalgocreationTV]

I did my very 1st Broadway show with Laurie. Cats. I have done over 8 Broadway shows and Tours since then. Never Never Never have I been shown the level of love and support by anyone like I was shown by Laurie. I love her so much. I pray for her every day.

[Phantomja]

You were in Cats with Laurie Beechman on Broadway? Who did you play?

[HidalgocreationTV]

I played "Coricopat". I was a calico twin. I had an identical female counter-part and we had ESP. It was my very 1st Broadway show. It was the original 1st National. I was very young and naive. I wasn't liked much because of the many mistakes I made due to my over zealous nature. Laurie took me under her wing and knew I was a good person. She gave me lots of love and encouragement and told me to stay strong. I didn't have many friends, but she stood by me 100%. I will forever be grateful.

[Phantomja]

You were 16?

[AtLastOnTheGround]

Horrible, HORRIBLE, show , but Laurie is amazing.

[bsegal824]

im lauries neice, and its really amazing to hear her sing and see her beautiful image i was only one when she passed away but i feel shes stil here with videos like these thank you for posting

- beatrice dolly

[JDwpb1]

I met Laurie when she toured with the Music of ALW. Saw the show and met her backstage..... what a talent and what a warm person..... I got a big hug, lots of her wonderful smiles. I still have her autographed picture in my office.

[adknorth]

I've listened to this (on vinyl!) hundreds of times, and it still thrills. Laurie almost glowed when she sang. Such a beautiful interpreter. She was a super nice, and just generally cool lady too. Can't believe it has been ten years already. Bless ya, Laurie.

[NewNickTahoe]

Saw it 3 times on Broadway back then and Laurie was my favotite Narrator, but haven't seen this clip since it aired on the Tonys...WOW! She amazes me even more now than she did then. Laurie, you are missed.

[wweecw1]

going to see wicked november 1st in nyc cant wait

[VirgoStage]

In 1981 I saw Laurie Beechman, Bill Hutton and the entire original cast perform "Joseph" at the Entermedia Theater off-Broadway before it moved to the main stem. That performace, 27 years ago, is still etched clearly in my memory - led by the amazing Laurie Beechman. I can't believe that she's been gone 10 years already, her star shines brightly.

[donmarn1234]

wow, i saw her in cats but i was really young then, loved forever X

[FigaDealMe22]

Ramshead, thank you for posting/creating this video. I will never forget watching Laurie on Merv Griffin in the early 1980's singing "strange as it seems..." I will always remember how she "sparkled" as she sang. Thanks to you, in another video you have posted, I saw the same sparkle again. What a voice, what a loss to us all. Thanks for taking the time to do this in her memory.

[cassiebrite]

Wow, she was quite a stunning lady. What an original talent! Thank you for putting this together--I had no idea about Laurie Beechman.

[mandeley]

She really was a unique talent. A terrible loss and a very brave lady

[sensationsmag]

Laurie Beecham. Laura Branigan. Both phenomenal singers, both taken way too soon. Thank you for putting up this beautiful and fitting tribute to her.

[Shaddow1966]

When I bought the original cast CD of Joseph and found out that this very talented singer had passed on, I cried, but felt that God must have had a need for such an angelic voice such as Ms Beechman's.

[broadwaymaniac92]

omg, she's amazing.

[cytgirl1]

wow, thats all i can say. wow

[janephob]

Wow! This is so awesome. Laurie Beechman was really good and the medley was very nice-arranged. Thanks for posting this gem!!!

[Ramshead]

It is my pleasure to share these with you. I love listening to and watching Laurie and worked very hard on these segments. I miss her and this kinda keeps her memory alive to share with more people.

[maestromiller]

Can someone please give us closure and tell how wonderful Laurie passed away, we miss her but no one seems to know how she died, please help so we can understand and mourne so hard as we all wish to do..

 Thank you,

Stephen

[MilanWisteria]

Set to take over the role of Fantine in the touring production of "Les Miserables" late in 1988, Laurie was sidelined with a devastating diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer. In early 1995, 3 1/2 years into her second remission, Laurie's cancer returned. She spent an hour on the Phil Donahue discussing her condition. Although her treatments were ongoing, Laurie performed until just a few months before her death on March 8, 1998 at the age of 44.