Critic / Play-doctor John Lahr sues Elaine Stritch

When Elaine Stritch opened her Tony award winning “Elaine Stritch At Liberty” in 2000, she did so with help from theatre critic and author John Lahr, best known for his essays, reviews and reportage at The New Yorker magazine.   Lahr received a “reconstructed by” credit in the Playbill for Stritch's show when it opened on Broadway after an initial run at the Public Theater.

According to the complaint filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court, Lahr is entitled to a royalty from each production of the show, including special engagements, but Ms. Stritch has allegedly failed to make payments in accordance with their agreement.

John Lahr is the son of actor Bert Lahr, who played the Cowardly Lion in the 1938 MGM motion picture, The Wizard of Oz

(Hat tip to Susan Grace's Gracenotes blog)