Broadway remembers Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher

Bright lights dim for fallen stars.

by Anne-Katrin Titze

Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher remembered on Broadway
Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher remembered on Broadway Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Last night, Broadway theatre lights were darkened for one minute at 7:45pm in remembrance of Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher. At Simon McBurney's Complicite production of The Encounter, the house manager of the Golden Theatre told me that Simon left New York due to the death of a dear friend who turned out to be John Berger (January 2, 2017).

Simon McBurney's Complicite production of The Encounter at the Golden Theatre
Simon McBurney's Complicite production of The Encounter at the Golden Theatre Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Fisher Stevens and Alexis Bloom's documentary Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher And Debbie Reynolds was screened at the 54th New York Film Festival and Carrie Fisher attended without her mother.

Debbie Reynolds died on December 28, 2016, one day after the death of her daughter. They were first on Broadway together in the 1973 revival production of Irene, initially directed by John Gielgud, who was replaced by Gower Champion before the play opened in New York. In 1983, Debbie Reynolds replaced Raquel Welch who took over for Tony winner Lauren Bacall during the Broadway run of Woman of the Year, the musical directed by Roger Moore at the Palace Theatre. The musical is based on the Ring Lardner Jr. and Michael Kanin screenplay for the 1942 film Woman Of The Year, directed by George Stevens, which first teamed up Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.

Lights go out on Broadway in honor of Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher on January 6, 2017
Lights go out on Broadway in honor of Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher on January 6, 2017 Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Carrie Fisher starred as Sister Agnes, following Amanda Plummer and Mia Dillon in the 1982 production of John Pielmeier's Agnes Of God, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg at the Music Box Theatre. Plummer won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.

Debbie Reynolds' 1976 Broadway revue, Debbie, played at the Minskoff Theatre. Carrie Fisher's one-woman play Wishful Drinking based on her book (Simon & Schuster 2008) opened on Broadway at Studio 54 in 2009.

Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher And Debbie Reynolds premieres tonight on HBO.

The Seasons In Quincy: Four Portraits Of John Berger, produced by The Derek Jarman Lab as a quartet of individual film essays, directed by Tilda Swinton, Christopher Roth, Bartek Dziadosz and Colin MacCabe will be screened at the Glasgow Film Festival on February 24.

Share this with others on...
News

Expanding the possible Fernanda Salgado on fantasy, reality, Jan Švankmajer and Ana, En Passant

A burning thing Sneha Mehta and Teddy Stern on falling in love with Mumbai, and making Getar Hero

Nothing is impossible Paul Rowley on moving to New York, the Pulse massacre, and Gays Against Guns

‘The only thing that makes a story universal is emotions’ Warsaw’s Industry panel discuss reaching audiences abroad

The only thing worth saying Chuko and Arie Esiri on adapting Mrs Dalloway and making Clarissa

European Film Academy shortlist announced 68 features vie for nomination

More news and features

We're bringing you all the latest news and reviews from the London Film Festival and Newfest.



We're looking forward to the Belfast Film Festival, Halloween Frightfest, the Cheltenham International Film Festival and the Leeds International Film Festival.



We've recently brought you coverage of the New York Film Festival, Grimmfest, Beyond Fest, the San Sebastian International Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, the Toronto International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon, Instagram and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


London Winners announced


Tallinn Black Nights UK co-production joins Works In Progress


Warsaw What Belongs To Others takes top prize


Tallinn Baltic Competition, Rebels With A Cause and Critics' Picks titles announced


Dinard I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning named Best Film