Barbra Streisand Joins Broadway Legends Holiday Ornament Collection
October 08, 2015, 6:00am

BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS HONORS ICONIC SCREEN, STAGE AND RECORDING ARTIST

Original Christopher Radko Holiday Ornament
Designed by Artist Glen Hanson

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS proudly announces that incomparable superstar Barbra Streisand will be the 2015 addition to its Broadway Legends holiday ornament collection.

With the gracious permission of Ms. Streisand and her longtime manager, Marty Erlichman, Barbra becomes the eighth member of Broadway Legends series, joining Julie Andrews, Carol Channing, Angela Lansbury, Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon to be celebrated in a holiday glass ornament.

Barbra Streisand Joins Broadway Legends Holiday Ornament Collection

The Broadway Legends ornament features the star as the memorable Fanny Brice from Funny Girl in her iconic red, white and blue sailor costume. In 1964, a star was born and theatrical history was made when Funny Girl opened with a 21-year-old Streisand receiving a standing ovation and 23 curtain calls. As Fanny Brice, Streisand took Broadway by storm, belting out “I’m the Greatest Star.” This year, she will be the greatest star of anyone’s holiday decorations.

“Barbra Streisand is, simply, a legend, our ‘greatest star’ and Broadway’s all-time greatest export,” said Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. “Not only is she an extraordinary actress, director, singer, writer, composer, producer, designer, author and photographer, Barbra Streisand is a champion for the most vulnerable among us. She’s long been a generous and true friend to Broadway Cares and we’re delighted to welcome her to the Broadway Legends collection of stars known by their first names.”

For more than six decades, Streisand has had one of the most successful careers in the history of show business. She is the only artist ever to receive Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Directors Guild of America, Golden Globe, National Medal of Arts and Peabody Awards and France’s Légion d’Honneur as well as the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She is also the first female film director to receive the Kennedy Center Honors.

With last year’s release of her album “Partners,” Streisand now is also the only recording artist or group to achieve No. 1 albums in each of six consecutive decades of her career.

Streisand made her Broadway debut – and received her first Tony Award nomination – in 1962 for her comedic portrayal of Miss Marmelstein in I Can Get It For You Wholesale. She was then signed to play the great comedienne Fanny Brice in the Broadway production of Funny Girl. When the curtain came down at the Winter Garden Theatre on March 26, 1964, the star and the show were major hits. Her distinctly original musical-comedy performance won her a second Tony nomination. In 1970, she was honored with a special Tony Award as “Star of the Decade.”

For the Broadway Legends collection, the six-inch-tall glass Barbra ornament was designed exclusively for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS by artist Glen Hanson with the Christopher Radko Company. To purchase the limited edition ornament, visit broadwaycares.org.

In the exclusive series of Legends, three are still available in limited quantities to add to your collection: Liza in The Act, Julie in My Fair Lady and Gwen in Sweet Charity.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $285 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the major supporter of the social service programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative and the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic. Broadway Cares also awards annual grants to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations in all 50 states.

For more information, please visit Broadway Cares online at broadwaycares.org, at facebook.com/BCEFA, at twitter.com/BCEFA, at youtube.com/BCEFA and at instagram.com/BCEFA

Click here to order your ornament today.

Comments