HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAROL CHANNING!

HAPPY 89th Birthday, Carol Channing!

I want to take this moment to say THANK YOU for all the joy you have given to me and the world. You have made my journey on this planet a lot nicer by your very being!
Obviously, I'm not the only one who performs as Carol Channing! There is also Alan Palmer!
'Fabulous Divas of Broadway' Starring Alan Palmer Plays Josephine Theatre (Source: BROADWAYWORLD.COM)



The Fabulous Divas of Broadway starring Alan Palmer will play at the Josephine Theatre from February 12-14, 2010.


Friday, February 12 at 8:15pm?(Also on 2/13 at 8:15pm and 2/14 at 2:30pm )
Direct from a hit Off-Broadway run, the acclaimed Fabulous Divas of Broadway is a one-man, show business tale starring Alan Palmer who perfectly impersonates all of the legendary divas from Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews, Judy Garland and Chita Rivera, to Tony-Award winning stars of today such as Patti LuPone and Kristin Chenowith.
For tickets, call 734-4646.

For more information, visit http://www.josephinetheatre.org.
There is also a show called CHANNELING CAROL!
Opening: This is a cabaret of works inspired by Carol Channing and produced under the umbrella of Queerdo. The event is curated by Jeffry Lusiak, who was the final artistic director for the departed Outward Spiral Theatre Company. Ten artists will be featured, including Lusiak, Megan Mayer, Jaime Carrera, Kristin Van Loon and Rachel Nelson. (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; Bedlam Theatre, 1501 S. 6th St., Mpls.; $15, 612-341-1038 or www.bedlamtheatre.org.)


For the True magic of Carol Channing, look no further: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1imjF1LxoQ0






A BIT OF TRIVIA
The Superbowl halftime show has become a big deal in recent years, though it had a very inauspicious beginning.
The first few Superbowls featured the standard fare of marching bands.
The first celebrity to entertain at halftime was, oddly enough, Carol Channing in 1970.
For some time, the halftime show was usually an elaborate performance featuring marching bands and unctuous groups like ‘Up With People’.
Occasionally they’d bring in a real celebrity like the iconic Ella Fitzgerald in 1972 (Carol Channing also performed with her making her one of a few multiple time performers). 1993 saw a big Michael Jackson performance, and that really began the trend of featuring A list entertainers that exists to this day.
It also started the current practice of featuring a concert type of performance as opposed to a more traditional ‘halftime show’ with marching bands, dancers, etc.
Since then the Superbowl has presented major acts like U2, Aerosmith, Prince, The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen.
It also introduced the term ‘wardrobe malfunction’ to the American lexicon thanks to the infamous 2004 antics of Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson.


TAKE CAROL CHANNING HOME WITH YOU!
Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey - On Broadway [DVD]


$16 new, $16 used from 23 sellers
3 stars
All Music Guide rating


On Broadway was an ABC television special first broadcast in 1969 starring Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey, who were at the pinnacle of their fame as singers and performers. The special showcases duets between the two women with friendly banter tying them together. Like most TV productions of the time, the camera work is simple, but fine. Most will want to see this DVD for the music and the interaction between two of the most talented female Broadway entertainers. Judging On Broadway on those grounds gets mixed reviews.


Interestingly, many of the songs sung here were first written for men, putting On Broadway in an important feminist, historical context. Carol Channing sings "If I Were a Rich Man" and Pearl Bailey sings a medley as the Music Man. The duets of "A Little Girl From Little Rock" from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and "Won't You Come Home" are quite solid, as is Bailey's "If They Could See Me Now" from Sweet Charity.
The material never really transcends the concept. Channing first starred in Hello Dolly in 1964 and Bailey took over the title role a few years later.
The comedy is a bit stale and it isn't clear how much the two women want to perform with each other. Being that they are professionals, however, the show is entertaining. Channing's impersonations (especially of Marlene Dietrich) should be popular, and Pearl Bailey is a sadly forgotten diva.
Of course, the show's finale is a strong "Hello Dolly." Enjoyable, especially because this special was lost for 30 years.
The DVD also includes outtakes and bloopers. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=Carol+Channing&hl=en&oe=utf-8&cid=14531133135174360699&sa=title#p


Carol Channing - For Heaven's Sake $11 new

Intro, He Ain't Never Done Me Nothin' But Good, Joshua Fit' the Battle of Jericho, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, Roll Jordan Roll, Modesto, You're My Hometown!, Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans?, Razzle-Dazzle, Old Time Religion, God's Peace is Like a Gentle Rose, Medley of Memories: Ezekiel Saw the Wheel/All God's Children Got Shoes, Saint James Infirmary, Shine God's Love to Everyone, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, One More Valley, I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal, The Show Must Go On, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=Carol+Channing&hl=en&cid=2895692106128085619&sa=title#p


Carol Channing graced the Texas Education Theatre Association convention this past January 22nd. She spoke about her life in the theatre. She sang and joked- she even repositioned her chair because the interviewer was upstaging her!(seen here with Harry Kullijian)
Miss Channing will be 89 tomorrow. With her energy she will live to 121 (older than anyone has ever lived!)

This picture is special to me because the man with her is her beloved husband Harry. They met in junior high school; 70 years later they married!

Carol and her husband support arts in the schools. Please help all students by encouraging schools to keep the arts. Remember, Einstein played the violin! (SOURCE: http://fromtexastoparis.blogspot.com/2010/01/carol-channing-at-teta.html)



Carol Elaine Channing (born January 31, 1921) is an American singer and actress. She is the recipient of three Tony Awards (including one for lifetime achievement), a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. Channing is best remembered for originating, on Broadway, the musical-comedy roles of bombshell Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and matchmaking widow Dolly Gallagher Levi in Hello, Dolly!
Channing was born in Seattle, Washington, to George and Carol née Glaser, and was their only child. Her father was a journalist whose newspaper career took the family to San Francisco when Channing was only two weeks old. Her father George later became a very successful Christian Scientist Practitioner, Lecturer, Editor and Teacher. She attended Aptos Middle School and Lowell High School in San Francisco. At Lowell, Channing was a member of its famed Lowell Forensic Society, the nation's oldest high school debate team.

According to Channing's memoirs, when she left home to attend Bennington College in Vermont, her mother informed her that her father, a journalist who Carol had believed was born in Rhode Island, had in fact been born in Augusta, Georgia, to a German American father and an African American mother. According to Channing's account, her mother reportedly didn't want [Channing] to be surprised "if she had a black baby".[1][2] Channing kept this a secret to avoid any problems on Broadway and in Hollywood, ultimately revealing it only in her autobiography, Just Lucky I Guess, published in 2002 when she was 81 years old. Channing's autobiography, containing a photograph of her mother, does not have any photos of her father or son.[3] Her book also states that her father's birth certificate was destroyed in a fire. (The November 4 2002 issue of Jet (magazine) reported, based on her autobiography, that Carol Channing's father was African-American.)
Channing was introduced to the stage while doing church work for her mother. In a 2005 interview with the Austin Chronicle, Channing recounted this experience:

"My mother said, 'Carol, would you like to help me distribute Christian Science Monitors backstage at the live theatres in San Francisco?' And I said, 'All right, I'll help you.' I don't know how old I was. I must have been little. We went through the stage door alley [for the Curran Theatre], and I couldn't get the stage door open. My mother came and opened it very well. Anyway, my mother went to put the Monitors where they were supposed to go for the actors and the crew and the musicians, and she left me alone. And I stood there and realized – I'll never forget it because it came over me so strongly – that this is a temple. This is a cathedral. It's a mosque. It's a mother church. This is for people who have gotten a glimpse of creation and all they do is recreate it. I stood there and wanted to kiss the floorboards."[4]

Channing's first job on stage in New York was in Marc Blitzstein's No For an Answer, which was given two special Sunday performances starting January 5, 1941 at the Mecca Temple (later New York's City Center). Channing then moved to Broadway for Let's Face It!, in which she was an understudy for Eve Arden. Decades later, Arden would play "Dolly" in a road company after Channing finally relinquished the role.

Five years later, Channing had a featured role in a revue, Lend an Ear. She was spotted by author Anita Loos and cast in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes as Lorelei Lee, the role that brought her to prominence. (Her signature song from the production was Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend.) Channing's persona was strikingly like that of the character: simultaneously smart yet scattered, naïve yet worldly.

Channing came to national prominence as the star of Jerry Herman's Hello, Dolly! She never missed a performance during her run, attributing her good health to her Christian Science faith. Her performance won her the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, in a year when her chief competition was Barbra Streisand for Funny Girl. She was deeply disappointed when Streisand, who many believed to be far too young for the role, signed on to play the role of Dolly Levi in the film, which also starred Walter Matthau and Michael Crawford.

She reprised the role of Lorelei Lee in the musical Lorelei. She also appeared in two New York revivals of Hello, Dolly!, and toured with it extensively throughout the United States. She also appeared in a number of movies, including the cult film Skidoo and Thoroughly Modern Millie, opposite Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore. For Millie she received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and was awarded a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture.

In 1966 she won the Sarah Siddons Award for her work in Chicago theatre. During her film career she also made some guest appearances on television sitcoms and talk shows. Channing also did a fair amount of voice over work in cartoons, most notably as Grandmama Addams in an animated version of The Addams Family which ran from 1992 to 1995.

Channing was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award in 1995[5], and an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts by California State University, Stanislaus in 2004.[6] That same year, she received the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre.[7] She and husband Harry are active in promoting arts education in California schools. The couple resides in the Central Valley, California city of Modesto.
She has been married four times. Her first husband, Theodore Naidish, was a writer. Her second, Alexander Carson, played center for the Ottawa Rough Riders Canadian football team. They had one son, Channing, who took his stepfather's surname and is now a Pulitzer-prize-nominated cartoonist publishing under the name Chan Lowe.[8] In 1956 she married her manager and publicist, Charles Lowe. They remained married for 42 years, but she abruptly filed for divorce in 1998. He died before the divorce was finalized. After Lowe's death and until shortly before her fourth marriage, the actress's companion was Roger Denny, an interior decorator.[9]

On May 10, 2003, she married Harry Kullijian, her fourth husband and junior high school sweetheart, who reunited with her after she mentioned him fondly in her memoir. The two performed at their old junior high school, which had become Aptos Middle School, in a benefit for the school. At Lowell High School, they renamed the school's auditorium "The Carol Channing Theatre" in her honor. The City of San Francisco, California proclaimed February 25, 2002 to be Carol Channing Day, for her advocacy of gay rights and her appearance as the celebrity host of the Gay Pride Day festivities in Hollywood. She shared the stage with Richard Skipper, a Carol Channing tribute artist.

Channing and her husband currently reside in Modesto, CA.
Theatre credits

* No For an Answer (January 5 and January 11, 1941)
* Let's Face It! (October 29, 1941 - March 20, 1943) (understudy for Eve Arden)
* Proof Through the Night (December 25, 1942 - January 2, 1943)
* Lend an Ear (December 16, 1948 - January 21, 1950)
* Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (December 8, 1949 - September 15, 1951)
* Wonderful Town (February 25, 1953 - July 3, 1954) (replacement for Rosalind Russell)
* The Vamp (November 10 - December 31, 1955) (Best Actress in a Musical nominee)
* Show Girl (January 12 - April 8, 1961) (Best Actress in a Musical nominee)
* Hello, Dolly! (January 16, 1964 - December 27, 1970) (left show in 1967)
* Four on a Garden (January 30 - March 20, 1971)
* Lorelei (January 27 - November 3, 1974) (Best Actress in a Musical nominee)
* Julie's Friends at the Palace (May 19, 1974) (benefit performance)
* Hello, Dolly! (March 15 - July 19, 1978) (revival)
* Legends! (January 7, 1986 - January 18, 1987) (national tour)
* Hello, Dolly! (October 19, 1995 - January 28, 1996) (revival; farewell tour)
Filmography
The handprints of Carol Channing in front of The Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.

* Paid in Full (1950)
* The First Traveling Saleslady (1956)
* All About People (1967) (short subject) (narrator)
* Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
* Skidoo (1968)
* Shinbone Alley (1971) (voice)
* Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) (Cameo)
* Alice in Wonderland (1985)
* Happily Ever After (1993) (voice)
* Thumbelina (1994) (voice)
* The Magic School Bus (TV series)(1994 - Episode "In the Haunted House") (voice)
* Space Ghost Coast to Coast: 'Girlie Show' (1995)
* Homo Heights (1998)
* The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars (1998) (voice) (direct-to-video)
* Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2003) (documentary)
* Family Guy: 'Patriot Games' (2006)
References in modern culture

Various Mystery Science Theater 3000 cast members have impersonated Channing - Usually Crow T. Robot.

Ryan Stiles often impersonated her on the American version of the improv comedy show Whose Line is it Anyway?, as did guest star Robin Williams in a single episode.

The red satin, sequin-bedecked costume, designed by Freddy Wittop, that Channing wore during Hello, Dolly! was donated to the Smithsonian by Channing and theatrical producer Manny Kladitis, following the thirtieth anniversary tour of the show. It is currently on display at the National Museum of American History.[10]

In the American sitcom Family Guy, Channing voices herself in a gag in which she defeated Mike Tyson at a celebrity boxing match, causing Brian to lose a $50 bet.

An outspoken liberal, Channing's name was included in Republican President Richard Nixon's now-famous "enemies list", and she has said that was the highest honor in her career.

During the movie Beverly Hills Ninja, Chris Farley's character Haru is impersonating a boisterous counterfeiting ink specialist to infiltrate the warehouse of his enemy. He reaches forward (blindfolded) and begins feeling the driver's face while saying, "Who's drivin' this buggy anywho... Carol Channing?!" (SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Channing)






Support THE ARTS! LIVE THEATRE! Go see a show this week! Send me your reviews and suggestions and I will put them in my next blog coming out next Friday! Here's to an ARTS-filled week! Don't forget to contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS: http://www.carolchanning.org/Foundation.htm

With grateful XOXOXs for your support!

Richard Skipper

Follow me on Twitter @RichardSkipper


HERE IS WHAT AUDIENCES ARE SAYING ABOUT MY WORK:
I LOVE Wednesday nights at the Iguana. It's always such a diverse lineup of talent that there's always something for everyone -- no matter what your musical tastes might be. Richard and Dana are not only talented and funny and great hosts....they are also just downright wonderful people. Amazing! Thank you.
Cindy Marchionda





Dear Richard
What a wonderful experience last night ... most enjoyable ... all such wonderfully talented performers and you and Dana was amazing and so dynamic and funny ...
I'm looking forward to next week and I'm getting all my friends there.
Thanks for the opportunity.
All the best
Anton Van Der Merwe, http://www.antonvandermerwe.com


Richard,
Sandee and I had a great time. The talent was terrific. Michelle Collier and Barbara Porteus were wonderful. David Vernon's performance was very emotional and just wonderful. My favorites continue to impress in Rob Langandar, Jenna Esposito and Diane and Frank Marino.. Enid's take on disco music was quite hilarious. You and Dana do a great job. Thank you for making us feel so welcome. We will be back real soon.
All our best to you and Dana.
Michael Janin





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NYC Now a night out in NY to see a show at a VERY AFFORDABLE price! Dana Lorge and I have put our OWN spin on the variety show format and are now hosting every Wednesday night in NYC at The Iguana VIP Lounge (http://www.iguananyc.com) in the heart of NYC (240 West 54th Street 8-11PM/with an intermission).



Cover: $12 - no food or drink minimums – but remember – the food is great!
This is a nice night
out with the family! A "throw back" to the variety shows we grew up with.

For more info, please call 845-365-0720 or visit _www.RichardSkipper.com_

RESERVATIONS A MUST!!!!!!!!
212-765-5454. No one admitted before
7:30.











Feb 3 : Michael Austin, Christopher Gerrard, Lucia Mozzola, Jane Schechter, George Stella, Jane Stuart

February 10th: MY BIRTHDAY SHOW! Glen Charlow, Jenna Esposito, Helene Feldman (who shares a birthday with Richard), Jeanne MacDonald, Stearns Matthews, Jim Speake, Maureen Taylor ...
...and a few other surprises as well!

February 17th : James Alexander, Sally Swallow


March 3rd: Danielle Grabianowski

March 10th: David Alpher & Jenny Litt, Louise Quick (pictured), Nicholas Tamagna, Pam Tate, Maureen Taylor

March 17th: Bending Threads and Cindy Marchionda returns!

March 24th, Jackie Draper and Julie Reyburn returns!


March 31st: Frank Basile returns


April 7th: Sina Lewis and RJ Shaw


April 28th: Kecia Craig and Frank Stern!
Keep checking http://www.richardskipper.com/schedule.html for upcoming entertainers and shows!

TILL NEXT TIME...

Liza Minnelli & Miley Cyrus Get Ready For Sex

Broadway personality and singer Liza Minnelli and teen sensation Miley Cyrus will be teaming up to join the cast of the Sex And The City movie sequel currently shooting in New York.

Movie insiders say Minnelli will be performing at a gay wedding, while producers are still trying to cross the “T”s and dot the “I”s with Cyrus' management.
But word is that Cyrus is such a fan that she's all but set to join the crew.
Minnelli, on her part, will be singing at Stanford Blatch's and Anthony Marentino's (played by Willie Garson and Mario Cantone) wedding, which insiders promise will be hilarious.

[Published: 10-Sep-2009]/SOURCE: http://www.star-ecentral.com
Biggest Beatles shocker: Never won top Grammy for best record (Source : Tom O'Neil)


Introduction this week of the new video game "The Beatles: Rock Band" reminds us of an odd fact about these music artists who were once widely considered to be the definition of avant garde: the Beatles have often been, really, one beat behind.


Believe it or not, up until now music by the Beatles has not been available for sale on the Internet.




With "The Beatles: Rock Band," players will be able to download up to 45 songs that they can perform with the Fab Four in such reproduced settings as "The Ed Sullivan Show," Shea Stadium and the Abbey Road recording studio. The first full album will be available for download on Oct. 20 ("Abbey Road"), then "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Rubber Soul" in November and December.
There were two reasons for the download delay: fight over money (Beatles want $2 per song, but iTunes only charges 99 cents) and a fierce legal battle over trademark (Beatles' Apple Corp. vs. iTunes' Apple Inc.). Those delays helped to contribute to the other major holdup: remastering the Beatles' music, which will finally be available for sale in fine digital format on CD and (to some extent) online this week.

The Beatles were also woefully behind at the Grammys during the Fab Four's heyday. Again, the reason was a fierce fight, but one that couldn't be blamed on the lads from Liverpool.
They were spurned by the conservative music establishment, which quickly came under attack for refusing to hail the rock revolution.
Back in those days, the likes of Henry Mancini, Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand and Roger Miller swept the top awards.
After the Grammys in 1964 — during the peak of Beatlemania — this was Variety's headline: "Beatles play 2d Fiddle in Grammys to Bossa Nova, Barbra, Mancini & Miller."
The article reported, "The Beatles may have swamped the music business during 1964, but that fact was not reflected in the Grammy award ceremonies."
The Beatles did win the Grammy Award for best new artist that year, beating Petula Clark, Astrud Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobin and Morgana King, but the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" lost best record to Stan Getz's and Astrud Gilberto's "The Girl from Ipanema" and "A Hard Day's Night" lost best song (bestowed to songwriters; best record goes to the recording artist) to "Hello, Dolly!"
The Beatles weren't nominated for best album for any of their LPs that year: "Meet the Beatles," "The Beatles' Second Album" or "Hard Day's Night."

President Barack Obama urged the nation's schoolchildren to take responsibility for their education and write their own destiny Tuesday and, in at least a few places, students were allowed to hear his message.

Nearly the entire student body filed into Shorewood High School's performing arts center shortly before 11 a.m. to watch live coverage of the event from C-SPAN projected on a giant screen.
Their fears stoked by the ramblings of wingnut pundits and opportunistic politicians, concerned parents and inundated school boards nationwide, with demands that Obama’s speech not be shown during school hours, or that they be given the choice to opt their children out of viewing it. Undoubtedly this made for an awkward emergency PTA meeting or two; one can almost conjure mental images of Helen Lovejoy aghast, shrilly shrieking “won’t somebody please think of the children?”

They applauded politely before and after Obama spoke, and they laughed when a girl made a funny face in the audience where Obama gave the speech.

With the stage set at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va., for President Barack Obama’s Tuesday address to students extolling the virtues of academic achievement, perseverance in the face of adversity and redistributing the wealth. Conservatives across the country were up in arms to defend the hearts and minds of America’s impressionable youngsters.


Confronted with a barrage of criticism, mostly from conservatives fearful the Democratic president would use speech and suggested classroom activities for political means, many schools declined to air the speech live. Some left the decision to teachers and principals.

In the end, Obama toed a neutral line. His assertions that students need to come to school and pay attention to their teachers and that hard work can overcome one's background could have been made by any educator.



"Every single one of you has something that you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer," Obama told students at Wakefield High School in suburban Arlington, Va., and children watching his speech on television and streaming video in schools across the country. "And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is."
Obama delivered an address that students of all ages and political stripes could agree with, said Mary Sellars, 12, a seventh-grader who watched while eating lunch at Shorewood Intermediate School.
"I just don't see what the problem could be in talking about kids staying in school," she said. "Personally, I'd rather hear that from someone like him that's done so much than someone who doesn't have as much experience or education."
Oconomowoc resident Stephen Foy, who pulled his 13-year-old daughter, Carly, out of her middle school so she could watch the speech live at home, also was disturbed by the controversy.
"Obviously, there were no boogeymen in there," he said. "I thought it was a good message, and I thought it was nothing out of the ordinary. . . .  I'll tell you the thing I'm not fond of, I don't like a simple message to be so politicized that people had to make a decision."

Shorewood showed the speech live at all four of its schools, giving parents the opportunity to opt their children out.


That decision came only after an earlier edict - to not show it live, but allow teachers to use it later if it fit their curriculum - was assailed by parents and residents.

Virginia Carlson, the parent of two children at Lake Bluff Elementary School, said she was glad for the change.

"I felt like it was a speech that really needed to be seen in a group setting as it was, so that's a good thing," said Carlson, who viewed the speech with first- and second-graders in Lake Bluff's cafetorium Tuesday. "It just feels like it wouldn't have the same impact at home. It was sort of a pep-rally talk."
Shorewood schools did not follow any of the classroom activities suggested by the U.S. Department of Education to accompany the speech. Some critics had attacked the recommended lesson plans as part of an indoctrination effort by the White House. One recommendation that the White House withdrew was to have students write essays about how they could help the president.


At St. Sebastian School on Milwaukee's west side, 10 seventh-graders decided to forgo recess to hear what their president had to say. Principal Paul Hohl allowed middle-school students to watch the speech live if they wanted to.


The choice to give the school's older students a chance to watch Obama during their break time came after Hohl received at least 10 phone calls from parents asking if the school was planning to show the speech, with some wanting to pull their children out of any such activity.
The school also would have had a tough time technologically trying to show it to all students at once, he said.

An e-mail from the school gave parents a Web site where they could watch the speech with their children.
"We really say that our parents are our first teachers, so that did really fit in with offering the Web site possibility and saying 'Watch this as a family,' " Hohl said. But "I think they missed hearing it together as a community. I think that would have been effective."
St. Sebastian's middle school encompasses the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. For some reason, however, the only students who chose to watch the president's speech were seventh-graders - more than a quarter of that class.
"That must be our political group," Hohl said.




Army Archerd, whose breezy column for the entertainment trade publication Daily Variety kept tabs on various Hollywood doings for more than a half-century, has died.
He was 87.


Archerd's wife, Selma, said he died Tuesday at UCLA Medical Center of mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs strongly tied to asbestos exposure. She said the cancer was the result of his time spent in shipyards while serving in the Navy during World War II.
She said he had become very ill over the last two years, especially in the last two weeks.







"He was the love of my life," said Selma.

Over the years, Archerd won praise from the Hollywood establishment for always checking the accuracy of his news tips before printing them.
He had an extensive phone directory of much-guarded private numbers that he would use to call movie stars and studio bosses directly to ferret out which rumors were true and which were not.

His biggest scoop came in 1985 when he was first to report that veteran leading man Rock Hudson had AIDS.
It was the first time a major Hollywood star was disclosed to be an AIDS victim, and it helped break down some of the secrecy surrounding the disease.
Archerd - born Armand Archerd in New York in 1922 - also broke the story that Julia Roberts had jilted fiance Keifer Sutherland in 1991 and that longtime bachelor Warren Beatty had married Annette Bening in 1992. His source for the Beatty-Bening story was Beatty himself. "I know it sounds like a cliche," said Selma, "but the time we spent together, it was just an outstanding life of knowing the most gorgeous people in the world, being very well accepted by them, traveling all over the world like millionaires, even though we were poor."

For more than 50 years, Archerd also served as the greeter-interviewer at the Academy Awards. Acting nominees and other celebrities were conducted to a platform alongside the red carpet for a brief chat with Archerd that was heard by the thousands of fans gathered outside the theater.


Don't forget to contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS: http://www.carolchanning.org/Foundation.htm

With grateful XOXOXs for your support!

Richard Skipper

Follow me on Twitter @RichardSkipper





HERE IS WHAT AUDIENCES ARE SAYING ABOUT WEDNESDAY NIGHT OF THE IGUANA:



Thank you for another wonderful Wednesday Night of the Iguana!!! I appreciate you including me so much!!
It was a great line up of wonderful talent and such a joy to be a part of!!!
XOXO,
Brent Winborn (9/9/09)

You are the best!! Passionate about everything that you do & always thinking of others.
You are an amazing entertainer - but, more importantly a sincerely generous person.




Had a great time last nite at the Iguana. That was a wonderful show with marvelous talent.
The most fun I have had in a long time. Thanks for your generosity and your great spirit.
I will come again soon! It was a great crowd.




PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT AN OPEN MIC!




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NYC
Now a night out in NY to see a show at a VERY AFFORDABLE price! Joan Crowe
started this Wednesday night series.
Dana Lorge and I have
now put their OWN spin on it and are now hosting this weekly variety show in
NYC at The Iguana VIP Lounge (http://www.iguananyc.com) in the heart of
NYC (240 West 54th Street 8-11PM/with an intermission). WEDNESDAY NIGHT OF
THE IGUANA!
Each week
will showcase 5 entertainers.
Barry Levitt returns on keyboard and Saadi Zain on bass!
on
bass. Each week will be different. Time: 8 - 11:00 p.m.
Cover: $10 - no food or drink minimums – but remember – the food is great!


CASH ONLY PAID AT THE DOOR! This is a nice night
out with the family! A
"throw back" to the variety shows we grew up with.
For more info, please call 845-365-0720 or visit _www.RichardSkipper.com_


RESERVATIONS A MUST!!!!!!!!


212-765-5454. No one admitted before
7:30.







September 16th: Ann Dawson, Lou Iacovino, Sara Rice, Val Ryder, & Bill Zeffero


September 23rd: Risa Benson, Stewart Brodian, Jenna Esposito, The Kim Schultz Improv Group, Frank Torren,

September 30th: Wendy Lane Bailey, Bobby Belfry, Ben Rauch, Rick Younger, Josh Zuckerman

October 7th: Edd Clark, Marianne Meringolo, Wendy Russell, Marcus Simeone, Maureen Taylor

October 14th: Kelly Esposito- Broelmann, Barbara Gurskey, Jonathan Long, Andrea Mezvinsky-Kolb , Martin Vidnovic

October 21st: Esther Beckman & Stearns Matthews, Leslie Orofino, Susan Winter


October 28th: Hector Coris returns!, Laurie Krauz & Wicked’s very own Walter ONeil, Angela Schultz, Mauricio Villa-Lobos!


November 4th: Arianna & Moira Danis, Elaine St. George

December 30th: Ritt Henn, Annie Hughes

Keep checking http://www.richardskipper.com/schedule.html for updates

I'm The "Greatest" Star?

I very excitedly went to see Funny Girl Saturday night in Asbury Park starring Steve Brinberg. I LOVE STEVE BRINBERG! Presented by Revision Theatre at The Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park. The following is from Peter Filichia's column and the letter the subscribers got from The Revision Theatre. I debated as to whether or not I would post it in my blog today. I chose to place it here because I love this theatre and what they are trying to accomplish in Asbury Park (Not an easy task in today's tough economy!). But they have proved themselves time and time again.

Last summer, I had the pleasure of playing Carol Channing as Dolly Levi in a fully staged production of HELLO, DOLLY along with Charles Karel as Horace Vandergelder (who was in the original production with Carol Channing!) This was the kick-off for the theatre and their first big introduction to Asbury Park! What a great honor to be part of this new journey for them. Steven Bishop Seeley, Thomas Morressey, and David Leidholdt who founded Revision Theatre are three men to watch in the theatre. I was so excited to have this opportunity that I showed up at the first rehearsal completely off book! I wanted to honor the original vision of Michael Stewart, Jerry Herman, Gower Champion, and Carol Channing without any editorial nudges. Even though it was being presented as a "concert version" of the show, my expectations were higher. Halfway through the first rehearsal, Jim Weitzer (Cornelius Hackl) and Chris Gunn/pictured here (Barnaby Tucker) said that I had set the bar very high. They chose also to be off book and before you knew it, the entire company was off-book. From my first rehearsal with John Fischer, the musical director (as he was with FUNNY GIRL), it was an INCREDIBLE experience. Connor Gallagher, our choreographer (he directed/choreographed Funny Girl), and Thomas Morressey (director), and the entire company strived to make this an exciting night at the theatre. The three (who's counting) standing ovations attested to that.

I know how much time the "Funny Girl" company had to put this show together. I don't blame the creative team. I blame Steve Brinberg. I love him but why didn't he know the script? Especially at these prices! Our top ticket price was $50.00 on Dolly. This was $100.00.

I feel that Steve let the company down, his audience, and more importantly himself. I hope he realizes this. The apology came from the wrong people.




Does It Take More Explanation Than This?
Peter Filichia, Theatermania.com

I know that today I was supposed to tell you all about my London trip, but something came up.

Funny Girl at the ReVision Theatre of Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Not a full production, but a concert version, starring Steven Brinberg. He’s spent most of the last 15 years imitating Barbra Streisand in concert, here, there, and around the world -- from London to Australia to Hong Kong. Indeed, when Streisand herself was asked to perform at Donna Karan’s birthday party, she asked Brinberg (through her people, natch) to go in her stead.
So the idea sounded good, especially when also promised was a 14-piece orchestra, which is larger than we get at some Broadway shows. Better still, Lainie Kazan, who was Streisand’s original understudy, would be on hand to introduce the show and sing “The Music That Makes Me Dance” -- thus freeing Brinberg to do “My Man” at show’s end.


Some nice Broadway names would be attached, too. Loni Zoe Ackerman would be Mrs. Brice, Gene Castle was tabbed for Mr. Keeney, and Harvey Evans would portray Flo Ziegfeld.

I wasn’t the only one looking forward to it. When I approached the Paramount Theatre on the famous Asbury Park boardwalk, I was stunned at how many people had turned out for the show: Hundreds of heterosexual and gay couples, many powers-that-be from New Jersey theater, and plenty of New Yorkers. On my way in on down the aisle to my seat, I shook hands or said hello to more than a dozen people I knew.
1,600 others filled the large orchestra and substantial mezzanine, too.

And were we all primed for this evening! Kazan delivered the goods on some bittersweet stories and her song, and as the lights dimmed, the crowd roared its approval. Then came what I consider to be musical theater’s greatest overture (and yes, of course I’ve heard Gypsy). Even strangely out-of-tune-sounding violins couldn’t put a damper on what was to come.
Brinberg certainly can sing a la Streisand. He knows how to put a breath between “that,” “same” and “night” in “Sadie, Sadie” and how to mimic many other of the lady’s affectations, too. The problem, though, was one that we heard about Debbie Gibson’s stab at the role some years ago – that “they should have changed the title to just Girl.”

In short, Brinberg didn’t know how to whack a joke from here to Hackensack. He was slightly better in Act Two when he didn’t have to be funny, but his serious acting chops could have used some additional attention, too.

My theory is that Brinberg is best when he’s imitating latter-day Streisand, the one he knows from the videos of her all-too-infrequent concert appearances. He has less access to the 21-year-old who starred in Funny Girl on Broadway in 1964.
One could argue that he has that 1968 film to guide him, but Streisand was a very different animal by then. Listen to the cast album and then the soundtrack, and you’ll see that on the latter disc, she’s playing with the songs, not quite singing the notes that Jule Styne wrote for her, but is riffing on many of them. In this film, Streisand, despite a performance that won an Oscar, distanced herself a little from the material. So did Brinberg.

To be fair, staged concerts of musicals are famous for having little rehearsal time, so with a few extra days or weeks, a director might have been able to draw what was missing from Brinberg. Too bad, for much of the rest of the cast was up to their assignments, though the actress who played one of Mrs. Brice’s poker-playing buddies was so over-the-top and intent on stealing the show that she embarrassed herself.

All right. We all went home, and were prepared to forget about it. But then something happened that, in the 48 consecutive years that I’ve been paying attention to Broadway, I’ve never experienced.

For on Monday morn, this is what I found from ReVision Theatre in my e-mailbox.

We know that some were disappointed with this past Saturday evening’s presentation of FUNNY GIRL.

For those who have seen our shows in the past, you know our quality has been exceedingly high. Our past productions included "Hello, Dolly!" with the incomparable Richard Skipper as Carol Channing, our sold out production of "Hair" last summer in the Carousel House, the hysterical "Scrooge in Rouge" this past December, and, this past spring, "Kingdom" an innovative and fresh new hip hop rock musical. All of these shows received rave reviews from audience members and critics alike and all of them involved our willingness to take risks.

We pride ourselves on producing new works and classic works in a new way. Our company is founded on the belief that risk taking produces great theatre. When you take risks you sometimes succeed and sometimes fail. History has shown that very nature of live theatre produces more flops than hits.

Everyone will not always like all of our shows. Theatre is, as is all art, subjective, but the commitment to quality we put into it will never be less that top notch.

Steven Brinberg, a cabaret artist came to us highly recommended with a huge reputation as the premier Barbra Streisand impersonator. His cabaret act has been seen and loved by thousands throughout the world. Knowing that, we thought that as a benefit performance he would shine as Fanny Brice in FUNNY GIRL.
In FUNNY GIRL we had a wonderful cast and ensemble of Broadway veterans and Connor Gallagher the director/choreographer did an amazing job. The dance numbers were fabulous and we were delighted with Lainie Kazan as she introduced the evening.

FUNNY GIRL was a benefit and billed as a concert. We modeled the presentation after the Encores series in NY at City Center which are produced with limited costumes and sets, and with the performers on book. With our presentation, this is necessary because all of the performers are working professionals who are volunteering their time to help support live theatre here in Asbury Park. As such, they are only available for an extremely limited number of rehearsals. Ticket sales for our full main-stage productions only cover a portion of a show’s expenses. Benefits and other donations are necessary to help make up the difference.

As a benefit, FUNNY GIRL raised much needed funds to help us continue our mission as a professional regional theatre in Asbury Park. We are exceedingly grateful for your support and we know we cannot do what we do without you.

We also realize that the adage "you're only as good as your last show" is true. If you are among those who felt that FUNNY GIRL did not meet your expectations we apologize. If we had the chance to go back in time we would certainly make some very different decisions.

We hope, however, that you will continue to support us and to support the process that is vital to exciting live theatre.

Please join us for our next full main-stage production of THE FULL MONTY which runs from August 12 thru September 6 in the Carousel House on the Boardwalk in Asbury Park and be a part of that process.

We welcome your comments or feedback at any time. Please email us at info@revisiontheatre.org to offer your comments.

THE FULL MONTY TICKET OFFER to help make it easier for you to come back! Use code: MontyOffer and receive 25% off your tickets but HURRY! Offer expires this Wednesday July 15 at Midnight. Order online at www.ReVisionTheatre.org or by phone at 732-455-3059. Please continue your support of risk taking theatre!

Sincerely,
The entire producing team of the ReVision Theatre.

Have you ever seen a written apology from a theater? Oh, I can recall some shows that opened to putrid reviews and said, “Come, and if you don’t like it, we’ll give you your money back.” But I’ve never seen a theater admit that it offered a not-so-hot show.


Of course, e-mails make this easier, and don’t involve much labor or any postage. If theaters of years past sent out such a letter when a show bombed, the post office wouldn’t now have a deficit, and Central Park would be nothing but grass, because all the trees would have been required to be chopped down to make enough paper for the apologies.


One could argue that this is just a different way of sending out a “Buy now at a discount!” ticket offer, but I see it as a healthy move. Many theaters would have blithely insisted that it had delivered the goods, and said that if you didn’t like the show, hey, that was your problem.


But because I saw Hair and Kingdom -- and thought they were marvelously done – I have a feeling that ReVision Theatre is letting its considerable audience know that it can tell a good show from a bad one. Isn’t that the height of NON-nonchalance?


GO SEE A LIVE SHOW THIS WEEK! Don't forget to contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS: http://www.carolchanning.org/Foundation.htm

With grateful XOXOXs for your support!

Richard Skipper

Follow me on Twitter @RichardSkipper


AND DON'T FORGET: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NYC



WE WERE SRO LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT (7/8/09)!
Now a night out in NY to see a show at a VERY AFFORDABLE price!
Richard Skipper, along with Dana Lorge, is hosting a weekly variety show in NYC at The Iguana VIP Lounge in the heart of NYC (240 West 54th Street 8-11PM/with an intermission). WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE IGUANA! What they are doing is NOT being done anywhere else! Each week will showcase 5 entertainers. Other entertainers that show up will be inserted throughout the show as time permits/this is done by lottery!
AND each are joined by Barry Levitt on keyboard and Saadi Zain on bass.Each week will be different. The price is ONLY $10.00 with NO food or drink minimum (although the food at The Iguana is top notch). This is a nice night out with the family! The show will also be done with class and elegance.
A "throw back" to the variety shows we grew up with. For more info, please call 845-365-0720 or visit www.RichardSkipper.com. RESERVATIONS A MUST!!!!!!!!! 845-365-0720. No one admitted before 7:30.
TONIGHT (July 15th) guests include: Suzannah Bowling, Diana LeBlanc, Mitch Kahn, Gretchen Reinhagen, and Kim Schultz Improv Group... and a few other surprises as well! Remember $10.00 Cover/No food or drink minimum!

July 22nd: Michael Austin, Jonathan Long, Sue Matsuki, Maria Ottavia, and Felicia Strassman AND Sharon McNight


July 29th: 2009 Bistro Award Winner for Outstanding Debut: Deb Burman, Kristopher Monroe, Marcus Simeone, Maureen Taylor, and Susan Winter.


August 5th: Sandi Durell, Bobbie Horowitz, Carolyn Ohlbaum, Brent Winborn, and Yaffa

August 12th: Barbara Gurskey, Rachel Stone and Leslie Orofino confirmed (Others TBA)



THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ARE FROM 7/8/09
"What a bright, warm, funny host you are! Thank you so much for allowing me to jump up and enjoy my craft last night. Looking forward to the next one!” –Sierra Rein”



“That was a great evening, glitches or no glitches. My friend Deb Mayer (who I introduced you to, and is a fabulous actress) said she absolutely loved the format you have devised. XXXOOO Diana LaBlanc

“Such a deal!! 3 hours of excellent live entertainment for $10 deserves SRO every week!!!!” Carolyn Kalmus

“Thank you so much for last night! And thanks to Dana also! I had an absolute ball! Looking forward to coming back on August 5, and hopefully sooner.”
Carolyn Ohlbaum


AND TOMORROW NIGHT!July 16
8pm
TIM MCCLOONE'S SUPPER CLUB, 1200 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ
LEGENDARY LADIES
Starring Stephen Brinberg as Barbra Strisand, Tommy Femia as Judy Garland, and myself as Carol Channing joined by Christopher Denny on piano! ALL LIVE! NO LIP SYNCH!! ALL ON ONE STAGE

Steven Brinberg writes and stars as Simply Barbra which is updated annually as he travels the globe with the show. This year he appears with Marvin Hamlisch and the Symphony Orchestras of Dallas, Milwaukee, Buffalo and Norfolk. Prior appearances with Mr. Hamlisch include one with Barbara Cook and the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and another at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh. He recently narrated the New York City Gay Men's Chorus concert at Avery Fisher Hall, written especially for him by Terrence McNally. That program was also seen in Seattle.

Tommy has won an unprecedented 5 MAC Awards for Outstanding Impersonation and a Back Stage Bistro Award for his work. Tommy also received a 6th MAC Award for Outstanding Musical Comedy Duo for "Judy Garland & Liza Minnelli Live!," co-starring Christine Pedi (Forbidden Broadway, The Sopranos) as Judy's daughter Liza Minnelli.

And ME!
Now we join forces for what promises to be quite an exciting evening!

RESERVE NOW!