Playbill.com posed this question to over 100 theatre actors: If you could star in a Broadway revival of any play or musical, which show and role would you choose?

Dramatists Arthur Laurents, Romulus Linney and Lanford Wilson, producer Ellen Stewart, actor Tom Aldredge and his costume-designer wife Theoni V. Aldredge were among theatre people who left us in 2011. At year's end, Playbill remembers them and others who enriched our lives through their commitment to the stage.

Dramatists Arthur Laurents, Romulus Linney and Lanford Wilson, producer Ellen Stewart, actor Tom Aldredge and his costume-designer wife Theoni V. Aldredge were among theatre people who left us in 2011. At year's end, Playbill remembers them and others who enriched our lives through their commitment to the stage.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

In 2002, those we said goodbye to included a lyricist-librettist who infused musical comedy with touches of crazy impishness, a Nebraska-born actress who became known as a great interpreter of the classics in London and Broadway, and a veteran producer who embraced writers ranging from Euripides to Shakespeare to Terrence McNally.

LES MIZ THOUGHTS:

LES MIZ THOUGHTS:

A director in a famed theatre family. A celebrated actress of the 1950s who worked too little on the stage. A character man who would play a TV martian. An African-American actress who broke boundaries. An impish actor known for light comedy and serious drama on stage and screen.

A director in a famed theatre family. A celebrated actress of the 1950s who worked too little on the stage. A character man who would play a TV martian. An African-American actress who broke boundaries. An impish actor known for light comedy and serious drama on stage and screen.

Hello, diva lovers! Well, I must admit it was a bit daunting to open a blank Word Perfect document this past Tuesday morning to attempt to write a millennium-based diva column while finishing our January subscription issue and starting our February theatre edition. At one point I decided I would just write a regular weekly column and not deal with the approaching 2000 mark, but then I thought I would simply list many of the women of the musical theatre/cabaret worlds who have brightened our lives throughout the past few decades. So, in alphabetical order, here they are. (I’m sure I’ve left out many of your favorites, so please excuse any omission!) Following this grand diva list are more detailed thoughts and musings about some (but not all) 25 of my very favorite gals (alphabetically, of course). I hope you enjoy reading this column, and may the New Year bring every diva lover out there much joy and happiness, and may it also be diva-filled!

Hello, diva lovers! Well, I must admit it was a bit daunting to open a blank Word Perfect document this past Tuesday morning to attempt to write a millennium-based diva column while finishing our January subscription issue and starting our February theatre edition. At one point I decided I would just write a regular weekly column and not deal with the approaching 2000 mark, but then I thought I would simply list many of the women of the musical theatre/cabaret worlds who have brightened our lives throughout the past few decades. So, in alphabetical order, here they are. (I’m sure I’ve left out many of your favorites, so please excuse any omission!) Following this grand diva list are more detailed thoughts and musings about some (but not all) 25 of my very favorite gals (alphabetically, of course). I hope you enjoy reading this column, and may the New Year bring every diva lover out there much joy and happiness, and may it also be diva-filled!

For his March 25, 1998 STAGESTRUCK column, Peter Filichia announced his choices for the 100 top Broadway musical performers of all time. Playbill On-Line invited readers to suggest names that they would have added to the list -- and names they would have left off the list.

If you tune in VH-1 next week, you'll see five shows dedicated to the "100 Greatest Artists of Rock 'n' Roll."

If you tune in VH-1 next week, you'll see five shows dedicated to the "100 Greatest Artists of Rock 'n' Roll."

LES MIZ HITS 10
There was a good deal of pressure on the new company assembled to celebrate the 10th New York anniversary of Les Miserables; it's no secret that last fall a sizable shakeup of the Broadway production occurred, with the management dismissing a number of principal performers, asking others to re-audition, and bringing in many new ones. Then too, the 10th anniversary of Les Miz in London in 1995 was celebrated by a gala concert featuring a handpicked cast of veterans and telecast and enjoyed throughout the world.

LES MIZ HITS 10
There was a good deal of pressure on the new company assembled to celebrate the 10th New York anniversary of Les Miserables; it's no secret that last fall a sizable shakeup of the Broadway production occurred, with the management dismissing a number of principal performers, asking others to re-audition, and bringing in many new ones. Then too, the 10th anniversary of Les Miz in London in 1995 was celebrated by a gala concert featuring a handpicked cast of veterans and telecast and enjoyed throughout the world.

From the Special Tony Playbill: