by Betsy Miller Imagine, at 19, making your Broadway debut, then a couple of years later originating the role of Ado Annie in Oklahoma, stopping the show night-after-night with the song, Cain't Say No. Imagine winning an Oscar for only the third movie you've ever made (Best Supporting Actress, Gentleman’s Agreement, 1947, above). Imagine being nominated two more times (Best Supporting Actress, Come to the Stable; 1949, Best Supporting Actress, All About Eve, 1950). Now imagine the 60-plus years since 1950, continuing to turn in interesting performances on stage and screen, including playing First Lady Florence Harding and even making a guest appearance on Archie Bunker’s Place. Those are just a few of the career highlights that will be explored when StageWorks/Hudson spotlights the wonderful life of Celeste Holm on May 21. The appearance, a "funraiser" (and fundraiser) for the organization, will be hosted by the campy and incomparable Hedda Lettuce. Long a fixture in the New York female-impersonator scene, Ms. Lettuce brings some expertise in classic cinema to the mix. In Manhattan, “I appear at the Clearview Cinema on Classic Movie Night,” she explains. “I open with some stand-up, then improvise a bit and interact with the audience. I try to talk about the fine points of the movie, and then introduce it on the big screen.”
And that’s what Ms. Lettuce will be doing in Hudson. A half hour of Q & A is scheduled, giving the 94-year-old Ms. Holm a chance to share some of her favorite stories about her life in the theatre. “I’ve done lots of research on Celeste—even visited with her in her apartment in the City,” she says. “My plan is to talk to her about her Broadway work and all the theatre she’s participated in—not just her film history.” Says Lettuce, “Her style is so natural. That’s the quality that made her so great. She’s very down to earth. Her work shows that. She was the girl who complimented the star.” As such, she would never be a character Lettuce would impersonate—her style is too natural to caricature. But swell to learn from. “She’s so knowledgeable in terms of theater and movie acting,” Lettuce says. “She’s very put together and curious about any actor who comes her way. It’ll be a great evening with lots of opportunities to learn more from her.”
And some of those stories may include another co-star for the evening, Frank Basile. In addition to being a respected bass-baritone who has appeared with The Metropolitan Opera, Basile just happens to be Ms. Holm’s husband. In a tribute to his effervescent wife, Mr. Basile is scheduled to sing some operatic arias, in addition to songs from the Great American Songbook that include some from the musicals in which Celeste has appeared. “This event will be like taking part in a Master Class,” Hedda concludes. Broadway, movies, directors, musicals, producers, early Hollywood—even a glimpse or two of her wild sense of humor. It’s a great opportunity to learn All About Celeste. Stageworks/Hudson's "All About Celeste"May 21, wine reception 7:30 p.m., show 8 p.m. Admission/$45.00 and up
