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1954<\/b> Playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein<\/a> is born. He wins Tony Awards for writing and performing in his play Torch Song Trilogy<\/i><\/a>, as well as for his book for the musical La Cage aux Folles<\/i><\/a>, and his performance as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray<\/i><\/a>. Other works of drama include the plays Safe Sex<\/i><\/a> and Casa Valentina<\/i><\/a>, and the books for the musicals A Catered Affair<\/i><\/a>, Kinky Boots<\/i><\/a>, and Newsies<\/i><\/a>. As an actor, Fierstein becomes a familiar face in Hollywood hits such as Mrs. Doubtfire<\/i> and Independence Day<\/i>.<\/p>\n 1971<\/b> Stage legend Helen Hayes<\/a> gives the final stage performance of her career at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Upon finishing her final performance of Long Day\u2019s Journey Into Night<\/i>, the five decade long stage tenure of Helen Hayes is finally over. The reason for retirement is acute asthma.<\/p>\n 1972<\/b> Playwright Tennessee Williams<\/a> makes his stage debut in the Off-Broadway production of his play, Small Craft Warnings<\/i>. His run is both unexpected and short-lived, however; Williams was simply filling in for the actor who regularly played the role for three performances.<\/p>\n 1979<\/b> Broadway and film actor Jack Haley<\/a> dies. Haley is best known for playing the Tin Man in the classic film The Wizard of Oz<\/i>.<\/p>\n 1985<\/b> Herb Gardner’s play, I’m Not Rappaport<\/i>, about growing old as seen through the friendship between a black man and a white man, opens Off-Broadway at the American Place Theatre. The play starring Judd Hirsch<\/a> and Cleavon Little<\/a> plays 181 performances before transferring to Broadway’s Booth Theatre<\/a> to win Hirsch and Gardner Tony Awards for Best Actor and Best Play.<\/p>\n 2000<\/b> On the 25th anniversary of Ntozake Shange<\/a>‘s for colored girls who have considered suicide\/when the rainbow is enuf<\/i><\/a>, Tony-winning choreographer George Faison<\/a> (The Wiz<\/i><\/a>) mounts a version of the play at the American Place Theatre in New York. Carol Jean Lewis, Eleanor McCoy, Lizan Mitchell, Novella Nelson, J. Ieasha Prime, Katharine J. Smith, and Jackee star as the women representative of seven colors. <\/p>\n 2002<\/b> Hugh Jackman<\/a> and Audra McDonald<\/a> headline a concert of Richard Rodgers<\/a> and Oscar Hammerstein II<\/a>‘s Carousel<\/i> at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Jackman plays Billy Bigelow and McDonald plays Julie Jordan in the one-night-only event that benefits the famed music hall. Also on stage: Jason Danieley<\/a> as Enoch Snow, Judy Kaye<\/a> as Nettie Fowler, Lauren Ward<\/a> as Carrie Pipperidge, Blythe Danner<\/a> as Mrs. Mullin, Philip Bosco<\/a> as the Starkeeper, Norbert Leo Butz<\/a> as Jigger Craigin, and original Carousel<\/i> star John Raitt<\/a> as narrator.<\/p>\n 2002<\/b> Tom Mallow<\/a>, legendary booker and producer of national tours, dies at age 72. Time magazine dubs him “King of the Road.”<\/p>\n 2004<\/b> After a campaign urging Tony voters to “vote your heart,” Avenue Q<\/i><\/a> turns up the surprise winner of the Tony Award as Best Musical, beating the heavily favored Wicked<\/i><\/a>.<\/p>\n 2011<\/b> The American premiere of Through a Glass Darkly,<\/i> Jenny Worton’s adaptation of Ingmar Bergman<\/a>‘s Oscar-winning film, opens Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop. Produced by Atlantic Theater Company<\/a>, the drama about a woman newly released from an asylum stars Carey Mulligan<\/a>, Chris Sarandon<\/a>, Jason Butler Harner<\/a>, and Ben Rosenfield. <\/p>\n 2016<\/b> David Javerbaum<\/a>‘s An Act of God<\/i><\/a> has its second coming on Broadway, as Sean Hayes<\/a> opens in the comedy at the Booth Theatre. The play was previously seen on Broadway in 2015, with Jim Parsons<\/a> in the role of God.<\/p>\n Watch Harvey Fierstein and his Kinky Boots<\/i> collaborator Cyndi Lauper<\/a> receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame:<\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n