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From Stage to Screen
October 1, 2005
Here are the five
actresses who originated a
Broadway character that
would later be
immortalized by Barbra
Streisand on the screen.
One of these illustrious
leading ladies even
appeared in an
off-Broadway show with
Barbra a number of years
earlier.
And did you know? In
October of 1965, "Funny
Girl," "Hello, Dolly!,"
"On a Clear Day You Can
see Forever" and "The Owl
and the Pussycat" were all
playing on Broadway at the
same time.
 Dolly
Gallagher Levi
Carol Channing,
1964
"Hello, Dolly!"
Carol Channing was playing "Dolly" on Broadway the same time
that Barbra was starring in "Funny Girl" a few blocks away.
"Dolly" was a history making Broadway smash that ran for
years, long after Barbra closed up shop at the Winter
Garden. And even though Channing won the Best Actress Tony
over Barbra in 1964, it was Barbra who landed the plum film
role. To this day, the controversy over why Carol Channing
didn't get to play Dolly in the movie rages on, mostly
fueled by Channing herself.
 Doris
W.
Diana Sands, 1964
"The Owl and the Pussycat"
Of all the leading ladies to originate a future Streisand
film role on Broadway, only one actually worked with Barbra.
Diana Sands and Barbra were ensemble players in the 1961
off-Broadway review, "Another Evening With Harry Stoones." The show
opened and closed after just one performance. 1961 was the
greatest year in Sands' short career. Immediately following
"Stoones," she appeared opposite Sydney Poitier in the film, "A
Raisin in the Sun." In 1964, Sands originated the role of Doris
in the Broadway production of "The Owl and the Pussycat." She
received a Tony nomination but lost out to Irene Worth ("Tiny
Alice") as Best Actress. Sands passed away in 1973 at the
young age of 39.
 Daisy Gamble
Barbara Harris,
1965
"On A Clear Day You Can See
Forever"
Barbara Harris originated the role of Daisy Gamble in the 1965
Broadway musical, "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever." The show
was just modestly successful, but playing Daisy turned out to be
a breakout performance for Harris. Her Best Actress nomination
fell short, however, losing out to Angela Lansbury for "Mame."
 Yentl
Tovah Feldshuh,
1975
"Yentl"
Another breakout
performance was delivered by Tovah Feldshuh in the 1975 drama,
"Yentl." According to the play's author, I. B. Singer,
Feldshuh's Yentl was an accurate portrayal of the character as
originally written (Singer did not like the film version).
Feldshuh was nominated as Best Actress in A Drama but lost out
that year to Irene Worth for "Sweet Bird of Youth."
 Claudia
Draper
Anne Twomey,
1980
"Nuts"
Anne Twomey played the role of Claudia Draper in the Broadway
courtroom drama, "Nuts." Her rendition was so good that she was
nominated for a Best Actress Tony (losing out to Phyllis Frelich
for "Children of a Lesser God"). Despite her success in "Nuts,"
Twomey's career never really took off. She only appeared on
Broadway two additional times, choosing instead, to work as a
featured performer in various television shows and films. |
