Ann Talman: Elizabeth Taylor and The Shadow of Her Smile” – A Heavenly 92nd Birthday Celebration

Light the candles! Get the ice out! The Laurie Beechman Theatre will present a special brunch matinee performance on Sunday, February 25 at 2pm of “Ann Talman: Elizabeth Taylor and The Shadow of Her Smile.” Ms. Talman, recipient of 2023 Bistro and MAC awards for this show, was in attendance at the Oscar-winning actress’s 50th and 60th birthday parties, and this encore performance will be in celebration of Ms. Taylor’s 92nd heavenly birthday (February 27, 1932).

Ann Talman is an actor, singer, storyteller, award winning documentary filmmaker, and four-time Broadway veteran. She joined Actors’ Equity with co-star Elizabeth Taylor in 1981 when she landed the plum role in The Little Foxes playing Taylor’s daughter on Broadway. The show traveled the world for eighteen months and their loving friendship lasted for the rest of Miss Taylor’s life. Ann’s new cabaret show, Elizabeth Taylor and The Shadow of Her Smile, is directed by Bistro and MAC Award winners Lina Koutrakos with musical direction by Alex Rybeck. The show received critical and audience acclaim when it debuted at 54 Below in March 2022 and then again when it enjoyed a two-night encore engagement the following September. In February 2023, the show was then presented at The Laurie Beechman, followed by engagements at Feintein’s in San Francisco, CA and Carmel IN, as well as Del Ray Beach FL. This will be the second engagement at The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

The show is a celebration in story and song about Ann and Elizabeth’s amazing bond. It is filled with hilarious and touching stories that only Ann can tell, woven with Broadway and Great American Songbook gems. Ann’s imitation of Elizabeth is so spot on, if you close your eyes, you’ll swear they’re together again!

“Elizabeth loved cabaret,” says Ms. Talman. “If she were alive, she’d be here right now holding court!”

“I had the great pleasure of seeing Annie’s beautiful, poignant, and funny show,” shares actress Kate Burton. “She nailed the gleaming and mercurial light that was….my stepmother! I laughed and cried inequal measure.”