Episode 119 - Hollywood, Broadway, and Beyond: A Deep Dive with Lorna Luft

In this captivating new episode of Hollywood Obsessed, host Tony Miros welcomes the incomparable Lorna Luft—performer, author, and daughter of entertainment icons Judy Garland and Sidney Luft, and half-sister to Liza Minnelli. Best known for her roles in “Grease 2” and “Where the Boys Are”, Lorna shares her unique perspective on growing up in a showbiz dynasty while remaining refreshingly grounded. She fondly recalls her mother simply as “the lady in the kitchen,” and speaks warmly of her godfather, Frank Sinatra—“Uncle Frank” to her.

Lorna reflects on her early training with legendary acting coaches Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof. She discusses the value of nurturing passion and creativity, and how she worries that today’s performers are too often judged by their social media profiles instead of their skill.

Tony dives into her Broadway debut in “Promises, Promises”. She also shares behind-the-scenes stories about singing background vocals on Blondie’s “Eat to the Beat”, meeting Debbie Harry, and becoming friends with songwriter Ellie Greenwich.

Of course, “Grease 2” takes center stage in their conversation. Lorna remembers how the movie evolved into a cult favorite, and why she’s proud to be a Pink Lady for life.

Lorna Luft

 

Lorna was born into Hollywood royalty as the daughter of iconic entertainer Judy Garland & film producer Sid Luft, with none other than Frank Sinatra as her godfather. She stepped into the spotlight at age 11, singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” on The Judy Garland Show alongside her siblings, Liza Minnelli and Joey Luft. A year later, she toured with her family, culminating in a celebrated run at New York’s Palace Theatre—the final time she performed onstage with her mother.

Her stage career took off when she made her Broadway debut in Promises, Promises, written by Neil Simon. Lorna toured the U.S. in They’re Playing Our Song and gained attention for her film debut in Grease 2, followed by roles in Where the Boys Are '84 and the intense stage drama Extremities. She also embraced television, landing featured roles in Trapper John, M.D., The Twilight Zone, and Murder, She Wrote, among others.

Lorna continued to shine in musical theatre throughout the '90s and 2000s with standout performances in Guys and Dolls, Follies, Gypsy, and White Christmas. Her powerhouse vocals and stage presence have thrilled audiences across the U.K., Ireland, and the U.S., and she’s headlined concerts at prestigious venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Madison Square Garden, London Palladium, and Carnegie Hall—where she surprised audiences with a duet alongside Rufus Wainwright during his Judy Garland tribute concert.

In 2007, she launched Songs My Mother Taught Me, a multimedia tribute to Judy Garland that toured internationally and was released as an album co-produced by Barry Manilow and Lorna’s husband, Colin R. Freeman. As an author, her memoir Me and My Shadows became an Emmy-winning TV miniseries, and her 2018 book A Star Is Born: Judy Garland and the Film That Got Away, co-written with Jeffrey Vance, offered a deeply personal and historical look at a Hollywood classic.

A tireless advocate, Lorna became a vocal supporter of cancer research and LGBTQ+ causes after her breast cancer diagnosis in 2012. She serves as a founding board member of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative and continues to perform regularly on the cabaret circuit.

Lorna Luft Official Website - http://www.lornaluftonline.com/

TICKETS - Cabaret:An Evening with Lorna Luft  on May 25 at 7 pm - https://theeldredpreserve.com/entertainment/cabaret-an-evening-with-lorna-luft/ 

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