To make it worse.....last night I saw a rerun of Law & Order where she and her real life husband Danny Burstein play the parents of a trans female who was murdered. Watching her cry was just painful.
I think Rebecca Luker is one of the most underrated Broadway performers of her generation. She's really quite astonishing. That voice, and the emotion it carries, is wonderful.
Underrated? Seriously? If you mean she didn't WIN a Tony Award, at least she was nominated THREE TIMES. That is a nearly impossible achievement. She had many other awards and nominations, and sang literally all over the world with almost every major orchestra in every major city. She was in movies and on television. There was universal acclaim for her voice. I think you need to rethink your statement.
Gorgeous rendition of this song. Final note is like Phantom's in Music of the Night. Was lucky to see her as Christine, Magnolia, Marion and Maria. My favorite voice of the era. Thoughts of peace to Danny Burstein, their kids, and her parents, and family...and to her devoted fans. So, so sad.
She still sings beautifully after all these years. I was in Camelot with her in college. Of course she played Guenevere. She has been compared to Julie Andrews.'
I last saw Rebecca in a concert rehearsal at the York Theater company for "Sheldon Harnick and Friends". She was in a wheelchair. I was taking photos of the rehearsal, and some staged group photos. Rebecca was in a wheelchair, still very much upright and full of that sunshine we all knew her for. Still, I could sense this unspoken sadness among the company. We all knew what this meant. We all knew time with Rebecca was now in precious short supply. This was in March of 2020, still before any of us knew that the world was about to shut down for god knows how long. I left the theater that day knowing "This may very well be the last I ever saw her." During the pandemic, it broke my heart to see a video she made asking us to please speak out about a new potential treatment for ALS that had been shelved due to COVID. She had that one glimmer of hope, that maybe, JUST MAYBE she was lucky enough to live at a time when humanity had finally figured out how to beat ALS. I remember feeling like "This is on ME now! I know I could rally the troops. I know I could get 10 friends to call 10 friends to call 10 friends....... I know I could rally in the streets, lead a demonstration, block traffic with our bodies to demand they un-pause the search for a cure. I have a warped sense of my own potential sometimes and I really believe I could pour 110% of myself into any singular cause until it ceases to be. But I just felt so helpless. Who can make any sense of death or disease. All I know is she was taken from us too soon. The world was robbed of a bright, bright light.
This arrangement and Rebecca's singing really bring out the waltz tempo of this piece! How wonderful, I never really took note of it in any of the productions I've seen!
Goodnight, my someone, Goodnight, my love, Sleep tight, my someone, Sleep tight, my love, Our star is shining it's brightest light For goodnight, my love, for goodnight. Sweet dreams be yours, dear, If dreams there be Sweet dreams to carry you close to me. I wish they may and I wish they might Now goodnight, my someone, goodnight True love can be whispered from heart to heart When lovers are parted they say But I must depend on a wish and a star As long as my heart doesn't know who you are. Sweet dreams be yours dear, If dreams there be Sweet dreams to carry you close to me. I wish they may and I wish they might Now goodnight, my someone, goodnight. Goodnight, Goodnight.
I can't believe you have passed away. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! I can't believe what I just read. Your voice on Paul Schwartz' Aria recordings - so dewy, sensual, angelic, shimmering and warm like the most soothing blanket - was a most healing companion, and now you are gone forever........