For the last 70 years, the one constant in Edith Lauren of Rockville's life has been the theater.
She's collected more than 400 Playbills over the years. And now, her theater habit is part of history. She donated the mementos to the Smithsonian's archives.
WUSA9's Debra Alfarone sat down with Rockville-based theater buff Edith Lauren.
Edith: The first Broadway show I saw cost a dollar twenty. Kiss me Kate.
Debra: In what year?
EL: 1951. Who would have thought that holding on to that Playbill when I was 15 years old would wind up being part of the Smithsonian family?
DA: What was your reaction?
EL: I couldn't believe it. That somebody would actually want them!
But, the Smithsonian sure did. They came and picked up 401 Playbills to be exact. They were all collected over the life of octogenarian Edith Lauren. Since Lauren is a New Yorker originally, many are from Broadway. But, sine she moved to Rockville 11 years ago, she's seen plenty of plays at the Kennedy Center.
DA: You must have seen some big names?
EL: Ethel Merman. Mary Martin. Julie Andrews, Rex Harrison. Edward G. Robinson from a show I didn't even remember. But it all came back because I had the Playbills.
DA: What was the best show?
EL: Hamilton had to be...I never wrote a fan letter in my entire life and and I wrote it to the entire cast of that show.
The Playbills measure milestones, celebrations, and memories.
EL: My husband got his PhD and we went to go see Zorba the Greek. I turned 65, he took me to London to for the weekend.
Edith's husband Paul passed away 11 years ago. That's when she moved to Maryland. The theater has been a comfort and a constant.
EL: I did a lot of things spur of the moment. I would call Kennedy Center and say 'do you have one ticket for the Saturday matinee' and this was Saturday morning.
DA: What do you think theater has taught you?
EL: I don't know that it's taught me anything other than to enjoy life when you've got the opportunity and grab it.
Edith said she's already got tickets to two more plays coming up, and she plans to save those Playbills too.
