"The Way He Was" - Arthur Laurents Estate Auction

Roughly a year ago, Broadway great Authur Laurents passed away. Yesterday, items from his estate were auctioned off downtown at Roland New York. The proceeds will go to the Laurents Hatcher Foundation, which provides an annual cash award each year to a play of social relevance by an emerging American playwright.

 

Naturally, the Broadway memorabilia peaked my interest and boy did they go like hotcakes. Set and costume renditions, awards, paperweights, portraits, needlepoint illustrations, a leather bound script of Gypsy from Bernadette Peters and a customized lunchbox from Patti Lupone and the cast of Gypsy were all up for sale.

Set and Costume Design Pieces

 

Irene Sharaff, "Hallelujah Baby" Costume Design sold for $5,000. Robert Randolph, "Gypsy": Two Set Designs sold for $2,250. And Theoni V. Aldredge "La Cage..." Costume Design sold for $5,000.

Needlepoint Illustrations

I loved this collection of small needlepoint illustrations symbolizing the following Arthur Laurents' works - Anyone Can Whistle, Home of the Brave, Hallelujah, Baby!, Invitation to a March, Do I Hear A Waltz, A Clearing in the Woods, Gypsy, The Enclave, The Bird Cage, and West Side Story. Of course, West Side Story received the highest bid at $600  

Sadly, none of my humble bids won. However, the world and me will always have access to the legacy left behind by the great playwright and director - Arthur Laurents.