Lorna Luft
Lorna Luft (born November 21, 1952) is an American television, stage, and film actress, singer and author.
Lorna Luft | |
|---|---|
 Luft in May 2010 | |
| Born | November 21, 1952 Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, singer, author |
| Years active | 1963–present |
| Spouse(s) | Colin Freeman (m. 1996) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Sidney Luft Judy Garland |
| Relatives | Liza Minnelli (maternal half-sister) |
Early life
Luft was born on November 21, 1952, at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.[1] She attended University High School in Los Angeles during her senior year and was a member of the school choir. She studied theatre at HB Studio[2] in New York City.
Career
Stage and television
Luft made her show business debut at age 11 singing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" on the 1963 Christmas episode of Garland's CBS television series, The Judy Garland Show. Siblings Liza Minnelli and Joey Luft also appeared.
Luft soon joined the family act on a summer concert tour, the highlight being Garland's third and final appearance at New York City's famed Palace Theatre on Broadway in 1967.[3] In this month-long engagement, Garland "shared" the bill with Luft (then 14 years old) and Joey (12 years old). The show was recorded live and released on ABC Records as Judy Garland at Home at the Palace.[4]
Luft made her Broadway debut in 1971 at the Shubert Theatre as a replacement cast member in the musical Promises, Promises, adapted from the classic 1960 Billy Wilder film The Apartment.[5] It is best known for the hit song "I'll Never Fall in Love Again".
On October 7, 1981, Luft performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City, which was said to be the culmination of a lifelong dream. She starred in the 1981–82 national tour of They're Playing Our Song and in 1982 she played Paulette Rebchuck in Grease 2. In 1983, she played Peppermint Patty in the Off-Broadway production of Snoopy! The Musical, a sequel to You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.[6] Later that year, she costarred in Extremities with Farrah Fawcett.[7][8]
Luft appeared as Nurse Libby Kegler on the CBS television series Trapper John, M.D. during the final season of 1985–1986. She also appeared as Patti Bristol in a 1985 episode of Murder, She Wrote entitled 'Broadway Malady'. In the episode, Luft played the daughter of Vivian Blaine. Blaine had originated the role of Adelaide in Guys and Dolls on Broadway, while Luft would go on to play the same role in the 1992 National Tour.
From 1992 through 1994, Luft played Adelaide in the American and world tour productions of Guys and Dolls. In 1996, she appeared in an Irish production of Follies in Dublin with Mary Millar, Alex Sharpe, Christine Scarry, Aidan Conway, Enda Markey, Dave Willetts and Millicent Martin. In 2002, she starred as Mama Rose in a University of Richmond school production of Gypsy.
In December 1995, Luft released a cover version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" which was reworked as a "virtual duet" with Garland. Produced by Gordon Lorenz, it was issued as a CD single only in the UK by Carlton Sounds label. A music video featured Luft performing the song in a studio interspersed with classic footage of Garland singing to a then 11-year-old Luft on the 1963 Christmas episode of The Judy Garland Show, all placed on the same screen.[9]
In November 2006 through January 2007, Luft performed in the UK premiere of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, a new stage adaptation based on the film. She reprised her role in it the next year, playing the Edinburgh Playhouse from November 19 to December 8, 2007 and the Wales Millennium Centre in the Donald Gordon Theatre from December 13, 2007 through January 12, 2008.
Luft appeared in four episodes of the 2007–2009 Logo animated series Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World.
In October 2007, Luft released her debut CD Lorna Luft: Songs My Mother Taught Me in the United Kingdom. Produced by Barry Manilow and her husband Colin R. Freeman, the album celebrates Garland's music. In 2005 she toured Ireland with her stage show, Songs My Mother Taught Me. In June 2006, she surprised audiences at Carnegie Hall by performing a duet with Rufus Wainwright on the song "After You've Gone" at the end of Wainwright's tribute concert of Garland's triumphant 1961 comeback at Carnegie Hall.
Luft appeared in The Wizard Of Oz, a stage version of the movie that made Garland famous, at The Lowry in Manchester, England. She portrayed the role of the Wicked Witch of the West, played by Margaret Hamilton in the film.
In April 2009, Luft completed a successful UK tour of the critically acclaimed Hugh Whitemore play Pack of Lies, in which she played the role of Helen Kroger. She starred alongside Jenny Seagrove, Simon Shepherd and Daniel Hill. In May 2009, she appeared in W magazine as a special guest performer for the acclaimed avant-garde Theo Adams Company's latest project, 'Performance', photographed by David Sims.[10] In July 2009, she appeared at the Mermaid Theatre, London to record for the radio series Friday Night Is Music Night. Lorna Luft and Friends – A Tribute to Judy Garland also featured John Barrowman, Frances Ruffelle and Linzi Hateley.
Luft participates in various children's and AIDS-related charities, including the annual Los Angeles AIDS Walk and The Children's Wish Foundation International.[11] She has been an advocate for drug rehabilitation and has spoken for the Council on Alcohol & Drugs.
In May - July 2015, Luft toured the UK in Judy - The Songbook of Judy Garland, a show highlighting Garland's life and music. The show featured her signature songs and recreations of film scenes from her MGM years.
Film
In films, Luft has appeared in Grease 2 (1982), Where the Boys Are '84 (1984), Fear Stalk (1989), 54 (1998) and My Giant (1998). She and her brother, Joey, made cameo appearances in the 1963 film I Could Go On Singing.
Author
Luft is the author of the 1998 book Me and My Shadows: A Family Memoir. Among its revelations is that she had an affair with Barry Manilow in 1971.[12] In 2001, it was adapted as an Emmy-winning TV miniseries Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows. It stars Judy Davis as the adult Judy, Tammy Blanchard as the teenage Judy, Hugh Laurie as Vincente Minnelli, Victor Garber as Sid Luft, and Marsha Mason as Ethel Gumm. Luft is the co-author (film historian Jeffrey Vance is credited as the other co-author) of the 2018 book, A Star Is Born: Judy Garland and the Film That Got Away which she describes as "a vivid account of the film classic's production, loss, and reclamation".[13]
Health
In 2013, Luft's radiographer informed her that she had grade-2A breast cancer. She called her close friend, Barry Manilow, who connected her with cancer specialist David Agus. To save her breast, she opted for a lumpectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation. She completed her final chemotherapy treatment in 2013.
In June 2015, Luft revealed that her cancer had reemerged. Consequently, the UK tour of Judy - The Songbook of Judy Garland concluded early on July 11, and she returned to the United States for surgical treatment.[14][15]
In March 2018, Luft was diagnosed with a brain tumour after collapsing following a London performance.[16] In late March, Luft underwent surgery to remove the brain tumour. The surgery was successful, and Luft has since recovered.[17]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Songs My Mother Taught Me | First Night Records |
Singles
| Year | Single | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | "Our Day Will Come" b/w "Is It Really Love At All" | Epic Records |
| 1978 | "Head Over Heels" b/w "I Did It All For Love" | Private Stock Records |
| 1981 | "Long Time" b/w "Something's Got A Hold On My Heart" | DJM Records |
| 1981 | "Get It Up" b/w "A Few Dollars More" | Silver Blue Records |
| 1984 | "Where the Boys Are" (with Village People) b/w "Prove Me Wrong" | Silver Blue Records |
| 1984 | "The Whole World's Goin' Crazee" b/w "Jesse's Theme" | Silver Blue Records |
| 1989 | "Born Again" b/w "Born Again (instrumental)" | Dessca Records |
| 1995 | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (with Judy Garland) | Carlton Sounds |
| 2011 | "When You Wish Upon a Star" | Silver Blue Records |
Cast albums
| Year | Album | Label | Songs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Grease 2 (film soundtrack) | RSO Records |
|
| 1990 | Girl Crazy (cast soundtrack) | Elektra Records |
|
Album appearances
| Year | Song(s) | Role | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | "Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?)" with Judy Garland | Lead vocal | |
| "Jamboree Jones" | |||
| "Together (Wherever We Go)" | |||
| 1979 | "Accidents Never Happen" with Blondie | Back vocal | |
| "Slow Motion" | |||
| 1980 | [Several tracks] with Hilly Michaels | ||
| 1984 | [Several tracks] with Adrian Zmed |
| |
| 1991 | "A Gift of Hope" | Lead vocal |
|
| 1992 | "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" |
| |
| 1996 | "Not Even Nominated" (Medley) |
| |
| 1998 | [Several tracks] with Rick Derringer | Back vocal |
|
| 2007 | "After You've Gone" with Rufus Wainwright | Lead vocal | |
| 2011 | "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You" with Matt Dusk |
| |
| 2019 | "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" with Randy Rainbow |
| |
DVD releases
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows | Buena Vista Home Entertainment |
| 2002 | Judy Garland: The Concert Years | Kultur Video |
| 2006 | Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl | Image Entertainment |
| 2007 | Rufus! Rufus! Rufus! Does Judy! Judy! Judy!: Live from the London Palladium | Geffen Records |
| 2009 | Lorna Luft: Live in Oz | Ovation Entertainment |
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1963 | I Could Go On Singing | Girl on Boat | Uncredited role |
| 1982 | Grease 2 | Paulette Rebchuck | |
| 1984 | Where the Boys Are '84 | Carole Singer | |
| 1989 | Fear Stalk | Doris | Television film |
| 1998 | My Giant | Joanne | |
| 1998 | 54 | Elaine's Patron | |
| 2017 | The Fabulous Allan Carr | Herself | Documentary film |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1963–64 | The Judy Garland Show | Herself (performer) | 2 episodes |
| 1973 | Love, American Style | Margie Currie | Episode: "Love and the Blue Plate Special" |
| 1975 | McCloud | Marlene Morgan | Episode: "Park Avenue Pirates" |
| 1985 | Murder, She Wrote | Patti Bristol | Episode: "Broadway Malady" |
| 1985 | Great Performances | Hostess | Episode: "Judy Garland: The Concert Years" |
| 1985–86 | Trapper John, M.D. | Nurse Libby Kegler | 19 episodes |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone | Sheila Cunningham | Episode: "Children's Zoo" |
| 1986 | Tales from the Darkside | Christine Matthews | Episode: "The Shrine" |
| 1988 | Hooperman | Peaches Markowitz | Episode: "The Naked and the Dead" |
| 1990 | Murder, She Wrote | Patsy Dumont | Episode: "If the Shoe Fits" |
| 1995 | The Nanny | Cousin Susan Rosenberg | Episode: "The Unkindest Gift" |
| 1995 | Caroline in the City | Travel Agent Mindi | Episode: "Caroline and the Christmas Break" |
| 2001 | Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows | N/A | Miniseries (co-executive producer) |
| 2003 | Style Court | Celebrity Juror | "Episode: September 2, 2003" |
| 2007–09 | Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World | Joanna (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | Sean Saves the World | Francine | Episode: "The Wrath of Sean" |
Stage productions
| Date | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 1967 - Aug 26, 1967 | Judy Garland at Home at the Palace | Herself (performer) | Broadway: Palace Theatre, New York City |
| Jul 5, 1970 - Aug 14, 1970 | The Boy Friend | Madcap Maisie | The Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta |
| Oct 18, 1971 - Jan 1, 1972 | Promises, Promises | Fran Kubelik | Broadway: Shubert Theatre, New York City |
| Feb 16, 1976 - Feb 27, 1976 | Eddie Fisher & Lorna Luft in Concert | Herself (performer) | London Palladium, London, England |
| Jul 8, 1980 - Jul 13, 1980 | Grease | Sandy Dumbrowski | E.J. Thomas Hall, Akron, Ohio |
| Oct 1, 1980 - Nov 16, 1980 | Carnival! | Lili | Club Bene Dinner Theater, South Amboy, New Jersey |
| Jan 19, 1981 - Jul 25, 1982 | They're Playing Our Song | Sonia Walsk | US National Tour |
| Feb 21, 1983 - May 1, 1983 | Snoopy! The Musical | Peppermint Patty | Off-Broadway: Lamb's Theatre, New York City |
| Jul 5, 1983 - Oct 2, 1983 | Extremities | Terry | Off-Broadway: Westside Theatre, New York City |
| Apr 15, 1986 - Apr 27, 1986 | Little Shop of Horrors | Audrey | Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, California |
| Jun 16, 1987 - Jul 12, 1987 | The Unsinkable Molly Brown | Molly Brown | Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre, Jupiter, Florida |
| Dec 1, 1987 - Jan 9, 1988 | Mame | Agnes Gooch | Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre, Jupiter, Florida |
| May 17, 1988 - Jun 19, 1988 | Girl Crazy | Kate Fothergill | Birmingham Theatre, Detroit, Michigan |
| Jan 18, 1989 - Dec 29, 1990 | Hollywood Celebration | Herself (one-woman show) | US National Tour |
| Mar 18, 1990 - May 7, 1990 | Jerry Herman's Broadway Years | Herself (performer) | US National Tour |
| Feb 27, 1992 - May 24, 1992 | Hollywood & Broadway | Herself (performer) | UK and European Tour |
| Sep 15, 1992 - Feb 27, 1994 | Guys and Dolls | Miss Adelaide | North American Tour |
| Apr 12, 1995 - Jul 9, 1995 | The Magical World of Musicals | Herself (performer) | UK and European Tour |
| May 16, 1996 | Follies | Phyllis Stone | National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland |
| May 28, 1999 - present | Songs My Mother Taught Me | Herself (one-woman show) | National and World Tour |
| Feb 19, 2001 | Caged | Female Prisoner | Town Hall, New York City |
| Nov 21, 2002 - Nov 24, 2002 | Gypsy | Mama Rose | University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia |
| Nov 18, 2006 - Jan 28, 2007 | Irving Berlin's White Christmas | Martha Watson | UK National Tour |
| Jun 7, 2007 - Jul 7, 2007 | Babes in Arms | Mrs. Phyllis Owen | Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, England |
| Nov 19, 2007 - Jan 12, 2008 | Irving Berlin's White Christmas | Martha Watson | UK National Tour |
| Nov 29, 2008 - Jan 4, 2009 | The Wizard of Oz | Wicked Witch of the West | The Lowry, Manchester, England |
| Feb 2, 2009 - Apr 11, 2009 | Pack of Lies | Helen Kroger | UK National Tour |
| Nov 1, 2009 - Jan 10, 2010 | Irving Berlin's White Christmas | Martha Watson | US National Tour |
| Nov 16, 2011 - Dec 24, 2011 | Irving Berlin's White Christmas | Martha Watson | Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, New Jersey |
| Apr 28, 2015 | Follies | Hattie Walker | Royal Albert Hall, London, England |
| Jan 6, 2016 - present | The Great American Songbook | Herself (one-woman show) | US National Tour |
| Nov 1, 2016 - Jan 5, 2017 | Irving Berlin's White Christmas | Martha Watson | US National Tour |
| Nov 24, 2017 - Dec 31, 2017 | Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn | Louise Badger | 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, Washington |
| Nov 9, 2019 - Dec 29, 2019 | Irving Berlin's White Christmas | Martha Watson | US National Tour |
Published works
References
- "Judy's Children". Judy Lives. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- "HB Studio - Notable Alumni | One of the Original Acting Studios in NYC". Hbstudio.org. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- Judy Garland: At Home at the Palace (show) at Internet Broadway Database
- Judy Garland: At Home at the Palace (recording) at Allmusic
- "Lorna Luft - Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
- The New York Times, Display ad, February 21, 1983, p. C12
- Luft 1998, p. 321.
- "Extremities". Lortel Archives. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
- "Luft records duets with mom Garland". Variety. October 20, 1995. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- Stern, Danielle (April 23, 2009). "Theo Adams: More Liza Minnelli than Marilyn Manson". W. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
- Lorna Luft biography Archived May 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine at her official website, "Theatre and Concerts" section
- Luft, Lorna (May 1, 1998). Me and My Shadows: A Family Memoir. Living with the Legacy of Judy Garland. New York City: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0671018993.p. 20
- Luft, Lorna; Vance, Jeffrey (September 18, 2018). A Star Is Born (Turner Classic Movies): Judy Garland and the Film that Got Away. S.l.: Running Press Adult. ISBN 9780762464814.
- "Judy Garland Songbook tour shortened due to Luft cancer surgery". What's On Stage. June 23, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- "Lorna Luft's Breast Cancer Reemerges, JUDY UK Tour to Wrap Run Early". Broadway World. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- "Lorna Luft diagnosed with brain tumour after collapsing". The Guardian. London. Press Association. March 10, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
- Desk, BWW News. "Lorna Luft Undergoes Successful Brain Surgery to Remove Tumor". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lorna Luft. |
- Official website
- Lorna Luft at MySpace
- Lorna Luft at IMDb
- Lorna Luft at the Internet Broadway Database
- Lorna Luft at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- July 2008 interview with Lorna Luft on BroadwayWorld.com
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