POLLY BERGEN - BROADWAY THEATRE ACTRESS HANLEY DIES

Actress ELLEN HANLEY, best known for creating the role of THEA LAGUARDIA in FIORELLO, died of a stroke on Monday (12FEB07). She was 80. Hanley made her Broadway debut as MARY in the original production of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN in 1946 and starred in the musical BAREFOOT BOY WITH CHEEK, which earned her a Theatre World Award, the following year (47). She also starred in a well-received off-Broadway revival of THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE. Her other Broadway credits include the revue TWO'S COMPANY, FIRST IMPRESSIONS, in which she took over for POLLY BERGEN in the lead role of ELIZABETH BENNETT, and THE FIG LEAVES ARE FALLING. Her final Broadway appearance was in the original Broadway production of 1776, in which she succeeded VIRGINIA VESTOFF as ABIGAIL ADAMS.