Joel Grey — who won a Tony and an Oscar for “Cabaret” — has given Eddie Redmayne his seal of approval as the “Fantastic Beasts” star revives the role on Broadway.
Grey celebrated his 92nd birthday at Thursday night’s preview performance of the musical, along with his daughter, “Dirty Dancing” star Jennifer Grey — who we hear flew in from Los Angeles, Calif., to surprise her dad.
A source tells us that Redmayne brought Grey onstage during a curtain call, and led audience members including VIPs Candice Bergen, Agnes Gund, Brooke Shields and Anderson Cooper in a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”
Grey starred in the 1966 show, and the 1972 movie with Minnelli. Everett Collection / Everett ColA spy tells us Jane Krakowski, David Rockwell, Molly Ringwald, Gina Gershon, artist Ross Bleckner and Maude Apatow were also in the crowd, along with the show’s original composer John Kander, current director Rebecca Frecknall and designer Tom Scutt.
After the show, there was a raucous reception in the “KitKat Club” Green Bar at the August Wilson Theatre for Grey.
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A spy tells us they saw the Broadway vet giving Redmayne a hug and telling him, “I’m leaving [the role] in your talented hands.”
The show, which also stars Gayle Rankin as iconic character Sally Bowles, opens this month. The show first ran with Redmayne and Jessie Buckley in London on the West End, winning seven Olivier Awards.
“Cabaret” debuted starring Grey on Broadway in 1966. The movie version, which also starred Liza Minnelli, came out in 1972.
