Happy Birthday, Liza!
March 12 marks the 76th birthday of the beloved LGBTQ+ icon Liza Minnelli. In celebration of this momentous occasion here is a rundown of the five award winning performances that made her part of the ultra-exclusive EGOT club of entertainers.
Liza’s At The Palace – Best Special Theatrical Event Tony Award, 2009
Liza won the Tony that year for Best Special Theatrical Event. Of course, NYC’s Palace Theater was a venue her mother, Judy Garland, famously performed in. Theatergoers absolutely ate up the self-referential and meta-contextual aspects of this dazzling Broadway engagement.
Grammy Legend Award- 1990
Liza was part of the first group of musicians to receive this award in recognition of “ongoing contributions and influence in the recording field”. No one could ever argue that point with a catalogue as celebrated as hers.
The Act- Best Leading Actress in a Musical Tony Award, 1978
Directed by Martin Scorsese and featuring costumes by Halston, this musical with a book by George Furth, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb was written specifically to showcase the Liza’s unique talents.
Liza at the Winter Garden– Special Tony Award, 1974
The Tony’s wanted to honor Liza in 1974 for “adding lustre to the Broadway season” with her residency at the Winter Garden Theater.
Liza with a Z– Outstanding Variety Special Primetime Emmy Award, 1973
Arguably Minnelli’s most celebrated performance, this made for tv concert film sealed Liza’s icon status. Directed and choregraphed by Bob Fosse with music and lyrics from Kander and Ebb, this special was a critical and commercial success.
Cabaret– Best Actress Academy Award, 1972
Liza delivered the performance by which all future actresses portraying Sally Bowles would be judged. There are no words, just see for yourself.
Flora the Red Menace– Best Leading Actress in a Musical Tony Award, 1965
With a book by George Abbott and Robert Russell and music and lyrics by Kander and Ebb, the titular character of Flora would be Liza’s debut role on Broadway to much acclaim.
