The irascible New York stage diva worked with numerous talents, including Noel Coward and Stephen Sondheim, and capped a late-career resurgence with her solo show “At Liberty.” (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
A versatile director of theater and films, Nichols staged everything from intimate dramas to big musicals, winning his last of many Tony Awards for a 2012 Broadway revival of “Death of a Salesman.” (Jennifer S. Altman / For the Times)
The founder of the beloved Bob Baker Marionette Theatre was a puppeteer in a nearly eight-decade career that took him to Hollywood and beyond. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
The formidable former music director of the New York Philharmonic and other notable institutions was an L.A. native who performed as an adolescent at the Hollywood Bowl. (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)
The venerated New York stage actress gained recognition for playing chilly WASP heroines in the dramas of Edward Albee, most notably “Three Tall Women.” (Jennifer S. Altman / For the Times)
The Italian conductor led some of Europe’s biggest opera and symphonic organizations, including La Scala in Milan. (Kevin P. Casey / Los Angeles Times)
The eminent British conductor and writer was a lifelong champion of Baroque music. (Jonathan Alcorn / For The Times)
The noted deaf actress won a Tony for her performance in the Broadway run of the play “Children of a Lesser God.” (Pictured: Bob Steinberg, left, Phyllis Frelich and Mark Medoff) (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
The Tony Award-winning director of the musical “The Wiz” became a familiar face on TV for his role as a spokesman for 7-Up. (Jack Mitchell / Getty Images)
