Following the longest preview period in Broadway history, Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark officially opens on Broadway in 2011.

Purlie, starring Melba Moore and Cleavon Little, opens on Broadway in 1970.

Hello, diva lovers. I'd like to dedicate today's column to one of the most gifted comedic actresses of her time, Madeline Kahn, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer last week. Kahn, who received a Tony Award for her riotous portrayal of Dr. Gorgeous Teitelbaum in Wendy Wasserstein's The Sisters Rosensweig, was equally at home on the stage or on screen, earning Tony nominations for her work in In the Boom Boom Room, On the Twentieth Century and Born Yesterday while meriting Academy Award nominations for such screen roles as "Blazing Saddles" and "Paper Moon." Though difficult to choose from her eclectic array of characters, I think my favorite Kahn performance was in the aforementioned "Paper Moon" as the good-bone-structured Trixie Delight, opposite the father-and-daughter team of Ryan and Tatum O'Neill. The operatically-trained performer had the ability to make you laugh with a simple inflection of the voice, and she could also move you in both song and the spoken word. This unique, multi-talented actress will be much missed. In lieu of flowers, Kahn's family asks that donations be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (One Penn Plaza, Suite 1610, New York, NY 10001).

Hello, diva lovers. I'd like to dedicate today's column to one of the most gifted comedic actresses of her time, Madeline Kahn, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer last week. Kahn, who received a Tony Award for her riotous portrayal of Dr. Gorgeous Teitelbaum in Wendy Wasserstein's The Sisters Rosensweig, was equally at home on the stage or on screen, earning Tony nominations for her work in In the Boom Boom Room, On the Twentieth Century and Born Yesterday while meriting Academy Award nominations for such screen roles as "Blazing Saddles" and "Paper Moon." Though difficult to choose from her eclectic array of characters, I think my favorite Kahn performance was in the aforementioned "Paper Moon" as the good-bone-structured Trixie Delight, opposite the father-and-daughter team of Ryan and Tatum O'Neill. The operatically-trained performer had the ability to make you laugh with a simple inflection of the voice, and she could also move you in both song and the spoken word. This unique, multi-talented actress will be much missed. In lieu of flowers, Kahn's family asks that donations be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (One Penn Plaza, Suite 1610, New York, NY 10001).

Playbill looks back at the actors, directors, choreographers, and other theatremakers who died in the past year.

An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, which marks the first time the two Tony winners have shared a Broadway stage since they dazzled audiences in the original Broadway production of Evita, began previews Nov. 16 at 8 PM at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.

One of Britain’s “national treasures” opened on Broadway in Peter Shaffer’s acclaimed comedy March 25, 1990—and ultimately earned a Tony Award.

“The World’s Foremost Authority” was the master of double-talk.

In 2015, School of Rock – The Musical opens on Broadway.

In 1984, Whoopi Goldberg opens her self-titled solo show at the Lyceum Theatre.

Matthew Lopez's Olivier-winning The Inheritance opens on Broadway on this day in 2019.

This month we speak to Elisabeth Moss (Speed-the-Plow, "Mad Men"), Eleanor Bergstein (Dirty Dancing) and Annette O'Toole (Kindness), and salute Edie Adams.

This month we speak to Elisabeth Moss (Speed-the-Plow, "Mad Men"), Eleanor Bergstein (Dirty Dancing) and Annette O'Toole (Kindness), and salute Edie Adams.

Playbill.com looks at the leading ladies and men of the Tony nominations, who have racked up the most nominations and wins over the years.

Playbill.com looks at the leading ladies and men of the Tony nominations, who have racked up the most nominations and wins over the years.