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Liza Minnelli

Liza Minnelli was practically raised at MGM studios, the daughter of Judy Garland and movie director Vincente Minnelli. While her parents worked long hours there Liza made her film debut at fourteen months of age in the movie In the Good Old Summertime (1949). Her parents divorced in 1951 and, in 1952, her mother married Sidney Luft, with sister Lorna Luft and brother Joey Luft subsequently being born. Her father, Vincente Minnelli, later married Georgette Magnani, mother of her half-sister Christiane Nina "Tina Nina" Minnelli.

At sixteen, Liza was on her own in New York City, struggling to begin her career in show business. Her first recognition came for the play Best Foot Forward which ran for seven months in 1963. A year later, Judy invited Liza to appear with her for a show at the London Paladium. This show sold out immediately and a second night was added to it. Liza's performance in London was a huge turning point in both her career and her relationship with her mother. The audience absolutely loved Liza and Judy realized that Liza was now an adult with her own career. It was at the Paladium that Liza met her first husband, Peter Allen, a friend of Judy's.

Liza won a Tony award at age nineteen and was nominated for her first Academy Award at age twenty-three for the role of Pookie Adams in The Sterile Cuckoo (1969). Other dramatic roles followed and, in 1972, she won an Oscar for her performance as Sally Bowles in the movie Cabaret (1972). The seventies were a busy time for Liza. She worked steadily in film, stage and music. She and good friend Halston were regulars at Studio 54, the trendiest disco club in the world. Marriages to filmmaker Jack Haley Jr. and Mark Gero, a sculptor who earned his living in the theater followed. Each marriage ended in divorce.

Over the past years, her career has leaned more towards stage performances and she has a long list of musical albums which she continues to add to. She teamed with Frank Sinatra in his Duets CD and Sammy Davis Jr. joined them for a series of concerts and TV shows which were extremely well-received.

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109

Performance / Tour

At "Cast Party," the Mike is Open and the Party is On

At "Cast Party," the Mike is Open and the Party is On

Source: Michael Ricci

By the time Liza Minnelli took the stage at Birdland, just after midnight, the party was in full swing: Michael Feinstein hugged the Broadway legend and a bubbly, upbeat crowd sang happy birthday to her. Parker Posey performed a wild, gyrating dance to “Fever," as TV and movie stars Judith Light ( “Ugly Betty") and Corbin Bleu ("High School Musical") cheered from their tables. Miranda, the Internet singing sensation, closed out the three-hour bash with an atonal rendition of “Orange ...

186

Performance / Tour

Liza Minnelli at the Hollywood Bowl

Liza Minnelli at the Hollywood Bowl

Source: Michael Ricci

Liza Minnelli played the Hollywood Bowl this weekend, and the incessant gigglers in the audience were clearly nervous about which Minnelli was going to show up.

Would it be the one whose latest Broadway outing, Lizas at the Palace, won a Tony or the erratic Minnelli of Minnelli on Minnelli, the show in honor of her director father, Vincente Minnelli, in which she tried to make another one of her comebacks before she was theatrically fit?

The answer turned out ...

268

Performance / Tour

Liza Minnelli Onstage: Resistance is Futile

Liza Minnelli Onstage: Resistance is Futile

Source: All About Jazz

Liza Minnelli performs “Liza's at the Palace," at the historic vaudeville theater in New York City. Liza is still somebody's idea of entertainment. Witness the frenzied scene a few nights ago at Broadway's Palace Theatre, where Liza is doing a one-woman show through Jaunary 4. For one thing, she looks a lot better on a theater stage than she does under the close scrutiny of TV cameras sleeker, steadier, slimmer. The spangly pantsuits flatter her. She sounded better too, at ...

139

Performance / Tour

B.B. King Liza Minnelli at Hollywood Bowl

B.B. King Liza Minnelli at Hollywood Bowl

Source: Michael Ricci

The Three Performers, Newly Inducted into the Venue's Hall of Fame, Give the Season an All-Star Start.

LIZA, LIVE: Liza Minnelli performed such hits as “Cabaret" and “New York, New York" at the Hollywood Bowl “Hall of Fame" Opening Night Concert on Friday. As the summer heat and a sense of nostalgia permeated the air, the Hollywood Bowl kicked off its 87th season Friday night with a stirring, fireworks-enlivened tribute to three new inductees into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Liza With A "Z" (A...

Jazz Doll Records
2013

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Cabaret... And All...

Jazz Doll Records
2010

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Liza's At The...

Jazz Doll Records
2009

buy

The Complete A&M...

Jazz Doll Records
2008

buy

Great Women's Voices

Jazz Doll Records
2006

buy

Liza With A "Z"...

Jazz Doll Records
2006

buy

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