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Brigid Harrington Shines at Broadway's Gypsy of the Year Award Competition
After finishing her successful run as Jane Banks in Broadway's Mary Poppins, Brigid Harrington returned to the New Amsterdam Theater to compete in The 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year Competition. The two Gypsy of the Year performances come at the end of a six-week fund drive, where many Broadway, Off-Broadway, and touring companies raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
The fund drive is what is really important, and this year was an amazing success, raising a record $4,895,253. The two shows are where Broadway lets loose and has some fun, with over 300 performers representing the best of New York's theater community. These talented actors, dancers & singers performed skits for the standing room only audience. The New Amsterdam Theater was filled with a literal who's who of Broadway stars past and present.
 Hugh Jackman, Bernadette Peters and Daniel Radcliffe were among many of the stars present on stage and off, as Broadway personality & all-around talent, Seth Rudetsky hilariously hosted the event.
The original 1972 Broadway cast of Grease opened the show performing many of their show's best loved numbers. Then current Broadway productions took the stage one at a time performing incredible dance routines, vocal performances, and comedy skits that this event is famous for.
Among these performances was a skit written by Mary Poppins' Tom Souhrada featuring its young performers doing dramatic excerpts of the "junior editions" of some classic adult plays. A little inappropriate and extremely funny.
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Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? "I aaaammmm!!!"
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Brigid gets her "fierce" on backstage.
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Anthony Scarpone-Lambert & Brigid getting "into character"
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Brigid & Anthony rocked the stage & the crowd loved them!
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In Brigid's part of the skit she imitated Elizabeth Taylor from "Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf". She was joined by castmate Anthony Scarpone-Lambert who nailed the Robert Taylor role. Brigid and Anthony's "Martha and George" became an instant hit with the audience receiving what some reviewers said was the biggest applause of the show.
The entire skit by all its performers was a real crowd pleaser. The judges took notice by awarding Mary Poppins First Runner-Up for Best Stage Presentation.
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The Talented Creative Team Behind the Skit
 Brigid was honored to work with the creators of the award-winning skit, Director James Hindman and Writer/Performer Tom Souhrada |
Brigid practiced for weeks, while studying Elizabeth Taylor's performance in the classic film, to get her mannerisms and voice down. She wanted to make a full commitment to the scene, since the original was so intense.
The genius behind the skit was Director James Hindman and Writer Tom Souhrada. Tom also performed hilariously in the skit as its announcer. Brigid has been so lucky to work with them both everyday in Mary Poppins. Also, what was so special is that Brigid was able to perform one last time with her favorite "Michael Banks", Anthony Scarpone-Lambert.
The incredible wig by Gary Martori and Chris Calabrese, and makeup design by Amy Porter really helped make Brigid's "Martha" come to life. Seth Rudetsky said he is "completely obsessed with that little boy skipping around chanting, 'Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf, Virginia Woolf, Virginia Woolf...' and then the ten-year-old girl with a haggy Elizabeth Taylor wig raising her arms in frustration to heaven and screaming, 'I-I-I-I-I-I-I A-A-A-A-A-A-AM!!!!!!!'." On his Sirius/XM radio show Seth went on to say what was one of the keys to the skit's success is that it was "really well acted".
Brigid had the time of her life performing in The Gypsy of the Year Competition meeting different stars from other Broadway shows, and being able to display her talent to the entire Broadway community. What a way to exit the New Amsterdam Theater stage for one last time, being awarded First Runner-Up by none other than Daniel Radcliffe. She is very grateful to everyone who made this experience happen.
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