Playbill looks back at the actors, directors, choreographers, and other theatremakers who died in the past year.

LOTTE LENYA SINGS KURT WEILL, The American Theatre Songs (Sony Classical)
Lotte Lenya emigrated to America with her husband Kurt Weill in 1935. Over the next 19 years, she appeared on Broadway in two short-lived Weill musicals (which ran a combined total of six months) and two plays by Weill's friend, neighbor, and sometime collaborator Maxwell Anderson (which ran four months). Which is to say, this distinctive and accomplished singer-actress was severely underemployed in the United States. Until 1954, that is, when Marc Blitzstein's adaptation of The Threepenny Opera -- with Lenya very much in evidence -- opened off-Broadway. Thus began a reexamination and rediscovery of the work of Weill, and a successful career on stage, screen, and disc for Lenya.

LOTTE LENYA SINGS KURT WEILL, The American Theatre Songs (Sony Classical)
Lotte Lenya emigrated to America with her husband Kurt Weill in 1935. Over the next 19 years, she appeared on Broadway in two short-lived Weill musicals (which ran a combined total of six months) and two plays by Weill's friend, neighbor, and sometime collaborator Maxwell Anderson (which ran four months). Which is to say, this distinctive and accomplished singer-actress was severely underemployed in the United States. Until 1954, that is, when Marc Blitzstein's adaptation of The Threepenny Opera -- with Lenya very much in evidence -- opened off-Broadway. Thus began a reexamination and rediscovery of the work of Weill, and a successful career on stage, screen, and disc for Lenya.

Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre on West 44th Street turns 100 on March 12. Martin Markinson and Jeff Tick, who own and operate the venue — first called The Little Theatre back in 1912 — will celebrate with a toast with friends, staff and guests. A more formal private centennial celebration is planned for May 24.