Laurie Beechman - I Dreamed A Dream/Here Is The Heart www.lauriebeechman.com

[cynaraslover]

Heartbreakingly beautiful. In 1983, when I was a makeup artist at the now defunct specialty store Bonwit Teller in Boston, I did Laurie's makeup regularly (for every day, not for stage) for the entire run of "Cats" and I fell in love with her personality and her voice. I remember that last CD, -- it is all "songs of inspiration" -- they photographed her so carefully to disguise how gaunt she was, but one could tell how ill she was -- yet her voice still had such a amazing power and beauty.

[Schulzman94]

Is the fact true about Fantine dressing after dying for a boy and dies at the barricade or was it just a joke??? I'm confused!

[Ramshead]

@Schulzman94 It was true. After Fantine's death, Laurie would put on the knickers and the dirt on her face and go out on the barricade and die again. As she used to say she would, "die twice,sometimes three times depending on her performance!" LOL

[Schulzman94]

@Ramshead Yeah, but did that only Laurie or every Fantine?

[BassActor7]

@Ramshead We just did Les Miserables at a theatre program a church in my area runs every year, and we actually had our Fantine do the same thing, sort of a homage to this. In addition to dying at the barricade, she died again during Dog Eats Dog - Thenardier realizes she is only wounded while taking something from her, then kills her. She died three times every night!

[mzmiller52]

saw her downtown in "joseph". so young. all of us. she was the best part of the show.

miss her voice and presence in ny.

[kendoll59]

She was a good friend. I miss her

[Ramshead]

Check out the website for more music and videos of live performances. Laurie truly is amazing.

[smc3121]

i just recently discovered Laurie while searching for a powerful version of "memory" from Cats...what a voice...what feelings....what depth....a truly gifted individual whose voice and shining star was diminished much too soon.

[donmarn1234]

Fantastic, thank you for uploading

she will never be forgotten!

[FigaDealMe22]

What a fantastic tribute for a wonderful vocalist and actor. You are so lucky to have known her. Thank you for all of your thoughtful video posts. You are sharing her with the rest of the world. There is no voice to compare with Laurie's. I only saw her on television interviews but I, too, will never forget her fabulous voice. Thank you!

[jordanaking]

I am so happy that I have come across this video. I saw Laurie in a caberet forum at O'Neils in New York back in 1982. At that time she was also in Joseph and I fell in love with her powerful voice. Although I am no longer in New York, her amazing powerful, moving voice is with me always! Thank you!!

[MarjoleinNL]

The most beautifull voice ever heard!

[phillipBR]

thank you for this also. She has now become a hero of mine. She is great!

[SpiceboyMJ]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this!

[actrboi]

Her voice is so beautiful. She is missed greatly on broadway. R.I.P. Laurie Beechman

[toewhite]

She died?! When?! how?! No way! Man, I saw her twice on Broadway; hard to forget her! What a loss!

[maestromiller]

In 1988 Laurie was in Jupiter Fl doing a new show and she wasn't feeling 100% throughout the run. she returned to Philly to do a run in Les Miz, she had a complete physical and they discovered she had ovarian cancer. IN the 9 years since her diagnosis, she recorded 4 albums, returned to the broadway stage in Cats, all the while battling stage 3 ovarian cancer. She passed away on March 8, 1998. She will always be missed by me as well as the rest of the world.

[Angelofmusic74]

I have the urge to cry my eyes out everytime I see her or hear her voice. You're so lucky to have known her. I haven't even seen her live, but her voice touches me so much. Thanks for posting this.