"The Sky Is Waiting To See What Kind Of Weather You Want Today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                              Those words were written by Elizabeth Swados, along with the music, for her celebrated 1978 production of "Runaways," done first at the Public Theatre and then on Broadway at the Plymouth.  They were sung by the ensemble as part of the haunting "No :Lullabies For Luis"--one of my favorites in the show--whose soloist was the great Josie De Guzman.

                              "Runaways" was a milestone in my theater going life.  I shall never forget seeing it on May 13, 1978.  And that cast--Josie, Trini Alvarado, (Oh, my God, when she sang "Lullaby From Baby To Baby...") Carol Imperato, Evan Miranda, Karen Evans, David Schecter, Bruce Hlibok, Rachel Kelly (who replaced Diane Lane!!!!!!!!) and Bernie Allison, on his skateboard.

                                 There has never been a youthful ensemble like it, before or since. And, while "Runaways" paved the way for "RENT," "Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk," and (ugh!) "Spring Awakening," it remains singular.

                                  The only other Swados work I saw was "Dispatches," a musical adaptation of the Michael Herr book, about the Viet Nam war, at the Public Theatre Cabaret, where "Runaways" had its success.  "Dispatches" was not that successful.  And I tried, like anything, to get tickets to "Alice In Concert," when it was at the Public, featuring a young up-and-comer, by the name of Meryl Streep!  I saw portions of it on television, as well as her musicalization of Sylvia Plath's poem, "Daddy," which was staggering.  I wish I remembered who preformed it!

                                   But Elizabeth kept plugging away, despite coming from a family whose mother was an alcoholic and mentally ill, eventually taking her own life, and her brother evolving into a schizophrenic, who died on the street.  She even chronicled her own battle with depression in a children's book she wrote called, "My Depression," to make the topic understandable to the young, facing it, or not.  And her family account, "The Four Of Us" is harrowing.

                                     The artistry never stopped--Broadway, Off, Off Off, La Mama, books, teaching, Elizabeth Swados was one whose appreciation may have been an acquired taste, but her
dedication was limitless, right up to the end on January 5.

                                        I sadly heard of her death, the following morning, and was saddened. She died, at the age of 64 (the same as my mother!) of surgical complications from esophageal cancer.

                                          Her like will never be seen again.   Hers was a special time for theater, when everything seemed to be constantly evolving.  No one ever imagined it would come to a crashing halt.

                                            And when it did, Elizabeth reinvented.

                                             Rest In Peace, Elizabeth!

                                     I will try and share some of artistry with readers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      First, a collage from the TONY Awards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Next, Trini's complete rendition of "Lullaby From Baby To Baby!!!!!!!!!"

And listen to Josie on the solo, "A woman gets a job in New York City......!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                          Elizabeth Swados will be deeply missed by so many because her work was felt so deeply, by so many!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!