Dame Julie Andrews, the beloved star of stage, screen, television and recordings, will come to the Columbia College Chicago campus on Thursday, Nov. 17 to launch the college's second season of the popular 'Conversations in the Arts: Up Close With…' series. She will be interviewed by Debra Martin Chase, Columbia trustee and the producer of Andrews' hit films, The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement.
The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan, in the heart of Columbia's Campus. Ticket are $35 each; 866-468-3401 or www.ticketweb.com .
Born and raised in England, Julie Andrews was still in her teens when she launched her Broadway career in the 1953 musical The Boy Friend. She went on to create to classic roles for two Lerner and Lowe musicals—Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and Queen Guinevere in Camelot. She received Tony nominations for both roles. Thirty-five years later she returned to Broadway to reprise her groundbreaking role of Victor/Victoria in the 1995 stage adaptation of the hit movie, written and directed by Blake Edwards, her husband of 36 years.
As beloved as Andrews is to theatergoers, she is an icon of the silver screen. She earned an Academy Award for her title role in Mary Poppins as well as Oscar nominations for her starring roles in The Sound of Music and Victor/Victoria. Other film credits include The Americanization of Emily, Hawaii, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Star!, Darling Lili, 10, That's Life, and Duet for One.
Andrews also has a distinguished and award-winning television career including The Julie Andrews Hour, Julie and Carol at Lincoln Center and most recently Eloise at the Plaza, Eloise at Christmastime and the CBS live production of On Golden Pond.
Already a bestselling author of children's books, Andrews has recently entered the world of publishing with The Julie Andrews Collection, an imprint of HarperCollins committed to stimulating a sense of wonder in children and young readers.
Andrews received her honors as a Dame of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on New Year's Eve 1999. She was also a 2001 Kennedy Center Honoree.
'Conversations in the Arts: Up Close With…' continues with James Earl Jones on Feb. 16 and Debbie Reynolds, interviewed by Columbia alum Steve Kmetko ( '76 ) , April 6. Bill Clinton is in the works for Spring 2006.
Controversial Play Opens Dialogue About Black Gay Issues
Stage Directions is an award-winning production by Chicago playwright L. Trey Wilson: staged at Chicago Theatre Company ( CTC ) , the play-within-a-play revolves around direction for an on-stage kiss between two men—one straight, one gay. Fireworks ensue wherein a plethora of Black gay issues are brought to the fore. The play makes the audience think about broader issues as well as their own personal attitudes toward homosexuality.
The play has won numerous awards including the NAACP Theatre Award and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award. Lead actors Sati Word and Ronnel Taylor are both well known in the Chicago theater community. The play runs through Nov. 27. The theater is at 500 E. 67th St.
Judy Collins at Personal PAC Luncheon
Personal PAC, a Chicago bipartisan political action committee devoted to electing local and state pro-choice candidates, will hold its 12th Annual Awards Luncheon Dec. 6 at the Hyatt Regency. This year's guest speaker is Grammy-nominated music icon Judy Collins. Illinois's First Lady Patti Blagojevich and Carole Boron will be honored with Pro-Choice Leadership Awards while Joan Harris will be presenting the Irving B. Harris Spirit of Choice Award to Harriet Meyer.
Call ( 312 ) 422-0005; or e-mail alanas@personalpac.org .
