John Lithgow: Actor as Artist, a look at the actor’s talents for drawing as well as drama, has been extended through Thursday, September 7, due to popular demand.
While on campus this spring, Lithgow stopped by to take in the display and to pose with a caricature of himself by Al Hirschfeld from the 1988 Broadway production of M. Butterfly. Lithgow, too, caricatured the show’s entire cast—himself included—in one of the many cast drawings currently displayed on the Library’s ground floor. Join us for this encore performance.
Caricatured by Al Hirschfeld (and myself) at @houghtonlib pic.twitter.com/DdWJu1LwAm
— John Lithgow (@JohnLithgow) April 28, 2017
John Lithgow enrolled at Harvard in 1963, intent on becoming a painter. Even as a professional actor, he has never lost interest in the visual arts. To honor Lithgow as this year’s recipient of the Harvard Arts Medal, Houghton Library presents an exhibition of the actor’s drawings, featuring designs for student productions at the Loeb Drama Center and caricatures depicting his career on Broadway and in television, including memorable performances in M. Butterfly, the hit sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, and Netflix’s The Crown.
Thank you, Harvard, for such an excellent exhibit.
As a former poet laureate of the special place Anne Dudley Bradstreet helped found in 1646, I am so happy to discover more about Mr Lithgow, one of her direct descendants.
I hope he has been able to see the Bradstreet Gate outside Harvard Yard. It was dedicated in 1997 and John may not even know of it.
I’m proud to live in North Andover, Anne’s town!
Shalom, Karen M. Kline
What a fascinating connection, Karen! Thanks for sharing it with us. The Bradstreet Gate is news to me (gasp!), so maybe John doesn’t know either. He should really make the pilgrimage to North Andover if he hasn’t already.