Lyceum Theatre
149 West 45th St. between Sixth Ave. & Broadway
Tickets: $25-$226.50
www.loopedonbroadway.com
Born in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1902, Tallulah Bankhead, she of the unforgettable deep, scratchy voice, had an up-and-down fifty-year career onstage, in the movies, and on television, appearing in such films as George Cukor’s TARNISHED LADY, Alfred Hitchcock’s LIFEBOAT, and Otto Preminger’s A ROYAL SCANDAL as well as being a popular guest on such shows as THE TONIGHT SHOW, THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW, and THE RED SKELTON SHOW in addition to hosting her own program, THE BIG SHOW. She also played Black Widow in two episodes of BATMAN in 1967, and her stage work included such hits as THE LITTLE FOXES and PRIVATE LIVES. Matthew Lombardo’s new comedy, LOOPED, directed by Rob Ruggiero, brings Talullah back to Broadway in a none-too-flattering way; the play is set in 1965 as Bankhead (Valerie Harper), somewhat looped herself, is looping dialogue for what would be her final film, Silvio Narizzano’s DIE! DIE! MY DARLING!, in which she starred as “one mean mother-in-law” along with Stefanie Powers and Donald Sutherland.
“If you really want to help the American theater,” the perpetually scandal-ridden Bankhead, daughter of a politician who became Speaker of the House, once said, “don’t be an actress, dahling. Be an audience.” Although it costs $25 to $226.50 to be part of the LOOPED audience, twi-ny is giving away three pairs of tickets to see the show. Just send your name and daytime phone number to contest@twi-ny.com by Tuesday, March 2, at 12 noon and you’ll be eligible to win. All entrants must be twenty-one and older, and winners will be selected at random.