The Stratford Festival is celebrating the award-winning actor-singer-comedian Andrea Martin with the 2019 Legacy Award.

“How fortunate am I to be honoured twice by the Stratford Festival?” Martin says.

“I was first honoured, in 1978, to be part of Stratford’s acting company. I was cast alongside Dame Maggie Smith and Brian Bedford in “Private Lives,” directed by Robin Phillips. And on alternate nights I pranced around the stage as the Old Lady with half a butt in the Leonard Bernstein operetta “Candide.” If 1978 was the cake, 2019 is the icing. Thank you Stratford for this glorious award.”

Stratford Festival artistic director Antoni Cimolino says he’s a big fan. “Her work on “SCTV” had me in stitches, so when I saw her live in “Candide” here at the Stratford Festival, I was ready to worship at her altar, and this goddess didn’t disappoint. Her vitality and enormous talent have made her an icon. It is a great pleasure to say thank you and celebrate her and her intersection with Stratford.”

Born in Portland, Maine, Martin moved to Canada in 1970 and immediately found work in film, TV and theatre. In 1972 she was cast as Robin in a Toronto production of the musical “Godspell,” with Gilda Radner and Eugene Levy, as well as Martin Short, Victor Garber and musical director Paul Shaffer, all three of whom with be paying tribute to Martin at the Legacy Gala, along with Festival company member Dan Chameroy.

Here’s a program featuring the original cast of “Godspell” at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre.

In 1993 Martin made her Broadway debut in “My Favorite Year” playing the role of Alice Miller. Martin’s show-stealing performance earned her her first Tony Award, as well as a Drama Desk Award and a Theatre World Award. In 2013 Martin’s performance as Berthe in the Broadway production of “Pippin” won her several awards including a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award.

More recently in 2016 Martin received a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in “Noises Off.” Other Broadway credits include Aunt Eller in “Oklahoma!,” Golde in “Fiddler on the Roof,” Frau Blucher in the Mel Brooks musical comedy “Young Frankenstein,” and Juliette in “Exit the King.”

The Stratford Festival launched its Legacy Award to honour important figures from its history. The first award was presented Christopher Plummer in 2011. Since then it has gone to Dame Maggie Smith, William Shatner, Martha Henry, Colm Feore, Eric McCormack, Gordon Pinsent and Megan Follows.

The Legacy Gala is co-chaired by Barry Avrich and Wendy Pitblado.

For tickets and more details visit: stratfordfestival.ca/gala
Call: 1-800-561-1233 x2402