Friends of Gilda

Friends of Gilda was a 1993 ninety-minute television special made by CBC Television to benefit the Genesis Research Foundation,[1][2] the research fundraising arm of the University of Toronto’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.[3] Its original air date was 21 November 1993.[4]

The fundraiser was a tribute to Gilda Radner who died of ovarian cancer in 1989 and featured a long list of performers with whom she was friendly. Among these were the "surviving cast members"[5] who had shared the stage with Gilda Radner in the celebrated Toronto production of Godspell which was her professional stage debut.[5] Others appearing in the special knew her from Second City Toronto. Several—including Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin—fell into both those categories.[5]

The special was directed by Martin Short who had dated Radner when they were both in Godspell.[5] Short also appeared in the show itself and shared writing credit with Perry Rosemond. Paul Shaffer, who conducted and played piano for the same Toronto production of Godspell, appeared as music director.[4][5][6]

The special included songs from Godspell, backstage footage of the production, several clips from Saturday Night Live, and four comedy sketches:[4]

Other performers appearing in the show include Valda Aviks,[7] Jim Betts, Karl Blindheim, Valri Bromfield, Avril Chown, Beth Anne Cole, Nancy Dolman, Brian Doyle-Murray, Robin Duke, Patty Elsasser, Victor Garber, Marvin Hamlisch, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Mary Ann McDonald, Derek McGrath, Catherine O'Hara, Carole Pope, Rosemary Radcliffe, Gerry Salsberg, Don Scardino, Stephen Schwartz, Charlene Shipp, Kevan Staples, Rudy Webb and Robin White.[4][6]

See also

References

  1. "Genesis Research Foundation". Genesisresearch.org. Archived from the original on March 9, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
  2. "Canadian TV archive". Tvarchive.ca. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
  3. "Genesis Research Foundation". Genesisresearch.org. Archived from the original on March 9, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "SCTV Guide: 1993 TV Friends of Gilda". Sctvguide.ca. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Toronto's Legendary Production of Godspell". godspell.ca. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  6. 1 2 IMDb: Full cast and crew of Friends of Gilda
  7. "Valda Aviks". Lacarlotta.com. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
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