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Two Fair Ladies, Taking on a Grand New Role Two stage and screen veterans, both intimately associated with the role of Eliza Doolittle, have graduated to play My Fair Lady's deliciously imposing dowager, Mrs. Higgins. Liane Hansen goes backstage at the Kennedy Center for a chat with Sally Anne Howes and Marni Nixon.
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Two Fair Ladies, Taking on a Grand New Role

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Two Fair Ladies, Taking on a Grand New Role

Performing Arts

Two Fair Ladies, Taking on a Grand New Role

Heard on Weekend Edition Sunday

Two Fair Ladies, Taking on a Grand New Role

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Loverly: Sally Ann Howes took over the part of Eliza Doolittle from Julie Andrews in the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady. Friedman-Abeles/Photofest hide caption

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Friedman-Abeles/Photofest

Marni Nixon dubbed Audrey Hepburn's voice in the film -- and played Eliza onstage as well, in this 1964 My Fair Lady at New York's City Center. Alix Jeffrey/Photofest hide caption

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Alix Jeffrey/Photofest

Audio Extras

More from Sally Ann Howes on ...

Why Mrs. Higgins Might Be Anxious About a Flower Girl at Ascot

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A Dressing-Room Reunion With 'My Fair Lady' Creators Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe

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Nixon as Mrs. Higgins; Trevor Nunn's remounting puts My Fair Lady's characters in mourning blacks after the death of the English monarch. Joan Marcus hide caption

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Joan Marcus

Howes steps out of Nunn's production today, as the tour closes in Washington, D.C., and prepares to move to Chicago. Joan Marcus hide caption

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Joan Marcus