Thefeature-length HBO documentary Elaine Stritch At Liberty will be released in theatres later thisyear, HBO original programming executive vice president Sheila Nevins announcedtoday (Apr 9).

The documentaryis named after Broadway legend Stritch's Tony Award winning one-womanshow and features live footage and testimonies from friends and colleaguesincluding documentary film-maker D A Pennebaker.

ElaineStritch At Liberty wasproduced in association with the BBC, Iambic Productions, Creative Battery, Zipand Pennebaker-Hegedus Films. John Hoffman served as supervising producer andNevins was executive producer.

'ElaineStritch is a larger-than-life character who never fails to dazzle a theatreaudience,' Nevins said in a statement. 'I'm tickled pink thatHBO will be bringing this electrifying performer to moviegoers and TV viewers.'HBO has not yet revealed plans as to how the theatrical release will behandled.

ElaineStritch At Liberty willdebut on HBO in 2004.The stageproduction ran on Broadway before switching to London in 2002 and tracesStritch's life from her Michigan childhood through to the loss of herhusband and the break-up with alcohol. The show goes on national tour nextmonth.

It is yet another example ofHBO programming its documentaries theatrically before an HBO premiere afterrecently released Amandla! A Symphony In Four-Part Harmony and forthcoming releases Spellbound, Capturing The Friedmans and Bus 174.