Well, another week has passed and we return to The Iguana tomorrow night! Wow, what a line-up! The reservations have been pouring in. Don't be left off. One of my favorite entertainers is kicking off the show tomorrow night. Maureen is one of the greatest gifts I have received performing at The Iguana in the last year and a half. Can't wait to see what she has prepared for us tomorrow night. Check out her website at http://www.maureentaylornyc.com
Lois Morton began writing songs in the late sixties, and at the suggestion of Pete Seeger, had several topical songs published in Broadside Magazine. After a long hiatus, which included raising a family, teaching, writing children's books and ESL textbooks, and directing a continuing education program at the YWCA, she returned to songwriting in the mid nineties. She currently focuses on humorous songs of social commentary on subjects such as CLUTTER, CELL PHONES, PSYCHOTHERAPY, et. al., which have delighted audiences at Acoustic Long Island, the Huntington Folk Music Society, and other performance venues. Her song "Confessions of a Clutterholic" received a standing ovation at the National Conference of Professional Organizers.
Diana LeBlanc returns. Diana is in the beginning stages of putting together a tribute show to Angela Lansbury! I can't wait! I don't think it has been done before! Tomorrow night, Diana will be previewing a song from that show.
And of course, there's Dana Lorge!
Warren Schein will be singing at the Iguana on Wed. Sept. 22, can't wait. He is terrific...
E.J. Decker returns! E.J, is in the process of recording a new cd and will be previewing an original song tomorrow night. You will also have the option of buying E.J.'s cds tomorrow night and/or enter in a drawing for our door prize featuring the cds of tomorrow night's artists. “It’s so nice to finally hear someone who knows what they’re doing!”
—Legendary jazz vocalist Laurel Watson (Basie, Ellington, Sonny Stitt)
New York City in the mid- to late-’90s produced an amazing group of talented jazz vocalists. After years of supporting each other's gigs, helping each other network and find new clubs and talented sidemen, singers such as Kendra Shank, Diane Hubka, Jody Sandhaus, Barbara Sfraga, Dena DeRose, Mary Pearson and Roseanna Vitro are all enjoying well-deserved accolades.
Now, E. J. Decker, another from this group, emerges with a stunning debut album entitled While the City Sleeps..., released on the Candela Records (EJ9265) label.
"The reaction of listeners was very positive, they mentioned your unique voice and melodism. Thank you again for your brilliant CD and songs you sing." —Remigijus Leipus Lithuanian Radio-1 programme (LR-1)
John Beebaut will also be joining us tomorrow night.
From Tavern-on-the-Green to Town Hall, she has sung all over town, performing for most of her life, with big bands, in summer stock and in clubs and cabarets including Paris Concerts in French and the Montmartre Jazz Festival. She has 6 CDs, 4 working with the great Mike Renzi. Some years back, Ted Story, George Ferencz & Cynthia opened and ran the IMPOSSIBLE RAGTIME THEATER (IRT), which had a great 100 play/10-year run. She co-chaired the FRIENDS OF THE JEFFERSON MARKET LIBRARY BELL, which brought voice back to OL’ JEFF, the 128-year-old BELL in the Venetian Gothic Tower of the Jefferson Market Courthouse Library. She also chairs MULRY ANGLE/WEST 11TH STREET BLOCK ASSOCIATION. Her website covers all of this. http://www.cynthiacrane.com Go and read about all the things that warms my heart. http://cdbaby.com/all/cynthiacrane
(The performers of 2009's Diversity Weekend. In this photo: Brad Loekle , Aunt Joanna, Jay Rogers , Cynthia Crane)
MARCUS SIMEONE RETURNS! Brand new show !!! Brand new CD !!!
Four shows only !!!
Fridays, Oct 29 & Nov 12 at 7:30 Saturdays, Dec 4 & 11 at 9:45
“King of the power ballads ! ” Back Stage “Silky and sinuous interpretations...! ” NY Daily News “Beautiful and haunting!” Worall Newspapers
Marcus Simeone returns to Metropoliltan Room with his brand new show featuring highlights from his thrilling new album, Haunted, on the Miranda Music label as well as evergreens from the Great American Songbook, As always with Marcus, there will be some very special musical surprises culled from his repertoire of 3000 songs.
After recording over 300 songwriters' demos for major artists (Trisha Yearwood, Reba McIntyre, etc.,) and two live CD's (At Last, Everything Must Change / Miranda,) the new album, Haunted, is Marcus's first full-length studio CD and features memorable – and haunting songs by many of today's most visible and popular songwriters including, John Bucchino, David Friedman, Heather Sullivan, Janis Ian, Stephen Schwartz, and David Zippell among others. The CD also features many of the original composers at the keys in unison with Marcus on this exciting project. The album is scheduled for release in December with a special celebration at the conclusion of this run.
In the liner notes to his first album, At Last, best selling author, critic and renowned song historian Will Friedwald gushingly referred to , “ … his beautiful voice, his extremely wide range, his ability to switch effortlessly from baritone to tenor to falsetto and, likewise, his multi-generic ability to move easily between the world's of pop, cabaret, theater music, soul and even jazz.”
Universally respected for his heart-wrenching interpretations of soulful ballads, red-hot jazz sensibility and powerful pop flair, Mr. Simeone's musical genius has also been compared to some legendary, eclectic greats in the industry including, Marc Anthony, Al Jarreau, Johnny Mathis and Jimmy Scott. He appeared on the original Star Search as well as Showtime at The Apollo as well as performing as part of the annual Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention at Town Hall and Jazz At Lincoln Center series on four occasions. Critics have frequently referred to Marcus's haunting vocals as mesmerizing. He has been honored by The Manhattan Association of Clubs with three vocal awards (and ten nominations) as well as the coveted Back Stage Bistro Award as Outstanding Male Vocalist. Theaterscene.net twice named him their Outstanding Artist of the Year. Reserve now to see this emotionally-charged, multi-octave tenor who sings with an emotional depth that is rare. This is one of those not-to-be-missed performances by an artist who is receiving national acclaim and attention.
STEVE (The Whistler) HERBST joins us for the first time!Steve Herbst has been dazzling audiences with his artistic whistling for over 48 years. A remarkable three-octave range on his "instrument" matches his enormous stylistic range, which encompasses classical music, jazz, blues, pop, and Broadway. His virtuostic control of pitch and powerful lyricism combine to produce a quality of expression that is rare among musicians at large, let alone whistlers in particular. At the 2002 International Whistlers Competition held annually in Louisburg, North Carolina, Steve won the International Grand Champion Prize, placing first in the classical category and second in the popular music category, a testament to his enormous versatility. At both the 2003 and 2004 Convention, Steve was awarded the prize of North American Champion as well as the coveted title, "International Whistling Entertainer of the Year", the most prestigious award in this entertainment venue, which he has just won again in 2005 for an unprecedented third time. The award acknowledges not just his competitive excellence, but his winning international acceptance for this musical art form wherever he performs: clubs, churches, festivals, plus television and radio media. Steve lives his motto, " whistling is an idea whose time has returned!"
MELISSA HAMILTON RETURNS! Melissa will be at Studio 100 on Thursday with guitarist Chris Bergson (just back from European tour) and bassist Neal Miner! Also, Melissa has a show coming up on November 2 at the Triad Theater which is called "Dear John Letter," a tribute to her favorite songwriters and performers named John! JACKIE DRAPER RETURNS! NANCY TIERNEY JOINS US FOR THE FIRST TIME!Nancy is a jazz-centric pop singer who loves to take songs from "back in the day" and kick them up with contemporary jazz arrangements. With this kind of wild mix of songs spanning 15 decades in her creative toolbox, she weaves both song and story into theme-driven musical shows with the intention of entertaining and uplifting anyone within earshot. As a graduate of the Conservatory of Music at University of the Pacific, Nancy was educated in classical music. She was going to be an opera singer until her first year at college when she discovered how ugly the opera world can be. But the training was invaluable. It taught her how to be a musician, not just a singer. She says, "I fell in love with the art of cabaret because it is the only performance art form I know of that allows the artist so much creative freedom. Anything goes. I can incorporate songs from any genre, pop, classical, jazz, rock, whatever works, A show can be funny, meaningful, inspirational, dramatic or just plain silly! It all has a place in cabaret. When I'm not creating and producing my own shows, like "In Your Wildest Dreams," "Insomnia," "Love and Lunacy," "Lovin' The Spin I'm In" and "In My Own Voice,” I perform on demand at fund raising events, special musical showcases, and at some pretty nice clubs and cabarets throughout the San Francisco Bay area."
LAUREN ROBERT RETURNS!Lauren Robert is a professional actor, singer, songwriter and playwright. She is a former Epic Records recording artist and her original songs have been produced by Stephen Bray (The Color Purple, Madonna) and Robert Nemiroff (Raisin). Lauren spent years recording and performing on the road at clubs, festivals and on national theatrical tours. For fourteen years Lauren hailed as the lead singer of the wildly popular Louisiana Zydeco-funk band Mojo Hand. Lauren is about to sign with a wonderful literary agent GOTHAM ARTISTS AGENCY...who will be representing Lauren as a writer and performer...with special attention to development of her play .22 CALIBER MOUTH. They are welcoming interest in the production and all comers should get in touch with GOTHAM ARTISTS!! Joey Infante (left in picture with his partner, Michael McDonald) returns!
MARILYN COONEY JOINS US DIRECT FROM SAN FRANCISCO! The following is taken from Marilyn's website: My life began with family sing-alongs, my father on piano and accordion. My love affair with the piano began the moment Dad placed my small fingers in C major position. Many years later, most of the songs on this CD were born on that family upright, which my mother had shipped to me from New York one Christmas. Growing up near New York City, I was raised on Broadway tunes, but credit also goes to Debussy, Irving Berlin, Motown, The Kingston Trio, and others whose music became part of me. I have always tinkered with words, but at 16, lyrics and music converged when my siblings bought me a pawn shop guitar. As I sang the works of Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary, Carole King, and Laura Nyro, I learned that everyday experiences could become universal songs. As a high school English teacher for 32 years, I was privileged to help students find their own writing voices, while they showed me the courage of self-expression. In the meantime I attended and led seminars in self-discovery, where I began to write songs. When I retired, my dear husband encouraged my devotion to music. The path led to the San Francisco cabaret community, where I encountered musicians who became friends, mentors and colleagues. It was Barry Lloyd who faithfully transcribed my songs into lead sheets, tweaking a chord here and there for flavor. He also taught me vocal interpretation and some simple ways to accompany myself. But Barry is the primary pianist on this album, and as you listen, you will know why his solo cabaret shows are acclaimed nationwide. Songwriting is a mysterious process. Sometimes it seems as if out of nowhere, notes and words come flying, and all I have to do is scribble them down before the moment is lost. Other songs require far more conscious effort, but all are gifts. I hope that my experiences and observations, collected here in musical form, will speak to you or encourage your own self-expression, for truly, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN A LIFE!
VICKI BURNS RETURNS!
Take Vicki home with you! http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/vickiburns
LINDA KOSUT MAKES HER DEBUT WITH US TOMORROW NIGHT!
TAKE LINDA HOME WITH YOU! http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/1912170-linda-kosut
AND Sunday, September 26 · 8:00pm - 9:30pm Location Don't Tell Mama
343 West 46th Street (Restaurant Row) New York, NY BISTRO AWARD WINNER - MAC AWARD NOMINEE
Having just completed a 4-show run at San Francisco's Rrazz Room, Linda Kosut brings a "tasting" to New York - - - a "flight" of the unexpected - - - blending jazz, folk & cabaret styles into sparkling arrangements of songs by songwriters as diverse as Peggy Lee to Tom Paxton to Annie Lennox.
Linda is joined by some of New York's finest musicians with TEDD FIRTH piano; TOM HUBBARD bass; JEFF LEDERER sax; JOE ABBA drums.
DON'T TELL MAMA SUN, SEPT 26, 8:15-9:30PM Cover $20 + 2-drink min (cash only) Reservations a must. www.donttellmamanyc.com
JUDY STADT RETURNS!Radio Host of THE LUNCH & JUDY SHOW! stories, songs and comedy www.thelunchandjudyshow.com
And don't forget:
GET READY FOR THE 2010 BC/EFA FLEA MARKET! JOIN DANCERS OVER $) AT THEIR TABLES!
AND DONATE GOODS TO HELP THE CAUSE!
Last year’s rain almost put the kibosh on the BC/EFA Flea Market, that had to move from West 44th St to Roseland! We HOPE the skies will be clear on September 26th for DO40's fourth foray into Flea Marketdom back in Shubert Alley! They can’t do it without your help! If you’d like to donate items for the DO40 table, and/or your time that day, please call the DO40 Hotline at 212-330-7016 and let them know how you’d like to help. They have a convenient midtown location where you may drop off donated items. They’re asking Volunteers to work the table for a 3-hour slot, between 9:00am and 7:30pm. You may also contact them at dancersover40@aol.com.
They will be selling our fabulous DO40 t-shirts, DVDs, CDs, books, posters and framed memorabilia and of course, the ever favorite Playbills!! Theyhave a framed poster of Michael Bennett’s Ballroom, signed by members of the original cast (including co-choreographer Bob Avian) and a mystery donor who never fails to surprise them with incredible items. Come and meet their Board of Directors, and many, many of the great dancer/members that make DO40 the great organization it has become! They will be located on the North side of West 44th Street near the Broadhurst Theater (unless they move them from where they were last year! - details have yet to be announced!) But you will be able to spot their great white and blue DANCERS OVER 40 banner from anywhere!
THE FOLLOWING ARE RECENT COMMENTS FROM http://www.richardskipper.com/guestbook.html
Richard and Dana, thanks so much for inviting us to perform at The Iguana recently. It was an especially smooth and enjoyable evening with wonderful fresh talent among the mix of wonderful familiar guests who are always entertaining. Richard, you were extra "on" that evening and had many of us in stitches. Dana, your song was great and you were gorgeous as usual. I spoke to two sets of new comers at intermission who said you both make people feel so warm and welcome and they plan to return. Kudos to you both. There is no stopping you, and nobody plans on it, so keep it up! We had a blast. Mary Lahti, Riverdale, NY
Richard, Congratulations on your great success Tuesday night (7/27/10). Your performance was a lovely example of true showmanship - funny, warm and completely Carol! Best, Peter Napolitano
If you would like to join the Channing-Kullijian National Coalition for returning arts education to public schools, email your contact info to info@channingarts.org to be added to our elist. With grateful XOXOXs for your support!
Richard Skipper
Follow me on Twitter @RichardSkipper
TILL NEXT WEEK...HERE'S TO A MUSICAL SEPTEMBER!
With grateful XOXOXs for your support! Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com
WHERE IS THIS YEAR GOING?It is hard to believe that it is August 25th! I am leaving Friday for Provincetown (where I open next Monday night...after an 8 year absence in P-town!). Then I fly out next Friday for Malibu (where I will be until the 12th!). I bought my first Lap top night before last. If all goes well, tomorrow everything will be synched up and I will be able to write my blogs from the road. Today & tomorrow is all about tying up loose ends. I'm sure most of you must know by now that we are in Mercury Retrograde. On some levels that explains the weird weather, the Long Island Railroad shutting down, and all the other strange occurrences of the last week. I, for one, have been having all kinds of problems with appliances in my home (often attributed to Mercury Retrograde).
However, yesterday, my dear friend Maureen Taylor told me it is also a time for tying up loose ends SO, since I like to look at the positive side of things, THAT is what I am focusing on. Friday, August 20th, 2010, Mercury the wise communicator—and universal trickster—turned retrograde at 19°01' Virgo, in the sign of the Virgin, sending communications, travel, appointments, mail and the www into a general snarlup! The retro period began some days before the actual turning point (as Mercury slows) and lasts for three weeks or so, until September 12, 2010 (the day I return from Malibu), when the Winged Messenger reaches his direct station. At this time he halts and begins his return to direct motion through the zodiac. Everything finally straightens out on September 27, as he passes the point where he first turned retrograde. Three or four times a year for three weeks at a time, you may notice that your computers glitch more than usual, your fax machines and cell phones malfunction, messages and car keys are lost, and you ask yourself “What the hell is going on here?” It is not unusual to run into someone who says, “Oh, Mercury must be retrograde.” If you honor Mercury now, he just might be willing to rescue you. He did that for Odysseus, slipping him an elixir made from the magical plant Moly (which grows underground and can only be seen by the gods). Moly inoculated Odysseus against Circe's seductions. She couldn't turn him into a pig like the others! An amazed Circe figured she'd met her match in Odysseus and immediately released his men and served them all an amazing feast. You can have a good time during the retrograde too if Mercury slips you some Moly. First you must resist the seductions of your usual ambitions, habits and deadlines. Slow down: a perfect enterprise for this Pisces Full Moon. Don't think too much or take yourself too seriously. Just listen, play, and let the chimeras of your imagination soak in.
Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/astrologicalmusings/2010/08/dana-gerhardt-on-mercury-retro.html#ixzz0xcq2WofF Mercury normally turns retrograde three times a year, but this year he turns tail four times, which is unusual. The effects of each period differ, according to the sign in which it happens.So fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride! Retrograde periods, although often problematic for us earthlings, are not particularly uncommon. Each planet retrogrades, except the Sun and Moon. Although a powerful astrological influence, Mercury is quite a small planet that travels at a relatively fast speed through the zodiac. Despite being the closest planet in our solar system to the Sun, Mercury is not always in the same sign as the Sun. Mercury turns retrograde this time in Virgo while the Sun is in Leo, but the Sun moves into Virgo on Aug. 23 (with Mercury still in Virgo). Mercury turns direct in Virgo on Sep. 12 with the Sun still in Virgo, but the Sun enters Libra at the equinox on Sep. 23, while Mercury remains in Virgo till Oct. 3. I'm becoming an astrologer! As a rule, retrograde planets mark a period of seemingly inevitable or fated events that relate to their sphere of influence. By fated events I mean those that circumstances thrust upon us, rather than matters we have consciously decided to implement or resolve. In particular, unresolved issues from the past tend to rear their heads and demand to be dealt with. Retro phases present us with a series of events over which we seem to have little or no conscious control, relating especially to the sign in which the retrogradation occurs. For example, Mercury retrograde in Libra (relationships; tastes; harmony) awakened quite different sets of circumstances from those generated when he retrograded into Virgo (analysis; critical ability). In general, Mercury rules thinking and perception, processing and disseminating information and all means of communication, commerce, education and transportation. By extension, Mercury rules people who work in these areas, especially those who work with their minds or their wits: writers and orators, consultants, commentators and critics, gossips and spin doctors, salespeople, teachers, travellers, tricksters and thieves. It is not exactly wise to make important decisions while Mercury is retrograde, since it is likely that such decisions will be clouded by misinformation, poor communication and careless thinking. Mercury is all about mental clarity and the power of the mind, so when Mercury is retrograde these intellectual characteristics tend to be less acute than usual, as the critical faculties are dimmed. Make sure you pay attention to the small print! Mercury sets out to restructure our thinking processes and for many of us this is painful and frustrating. Unresolved issues from the past tend to push themselves forward. Moreover, these experiences reveal flaws in our internal organization as well as our external planning, which can make us feel foolish and inadequate. Keep your eyes peeled; Mercury's retro period gives us the chance to find out just what has been missed! When Mercury is retrograde, everyone's thinking is more introspective; we tend to think about issues and concerns that relate to the sign involved. With Mercury retrograde this time in critical, discriminating, intellectual Virgo, people with this sign prominent in their charts will be especially prone to such introspection. Virgo is both the night-sign and the exaltation of Mercury, so Mercury here is especially potent and significant. It is a Mutable Sign, so the other Mutable Signs, Gemini, Sagittarius and Pisces are also likely to experience considerable conflict between heart and head, along with a good dose of typical disruption. This time, however, sexual connection will have a certain flavor of self-interest and looking out for Number One. Brooding, fantasy-prone Neptune is under severe pressure from both the ego-driven Sun and cold-blooded Moon, so deception and delusion are the order of the day. Chiron, the wounded healer, is also retrograde, receiving a difficult aspect from Mars and Venus. So the hope for sexual healing may not come to fruition, as the world lies under the shadow of the rare and stressful square aspect between stern Saturn, lord of karma, and obstructive Pluto, prince of the underworld, on Aug 21, just as Sun opposes retro Chiron. It is also interesting that the conjunction of Mars and Venus is right on top of the Behenian Fixed Star Algorab, used for magickal workings and having the delightful reputation for signifying scavenging, destructiveness, repulsiveness, malevolence, fiendishness and lying, suicide, greed, and injuries. Curiously, this is conjunct Elvis Presley's natal Mars. And with Mars and Venus right in there, it does not sound so good for "lurve" (as Elvis might have it). Death by fire, perhaps..? As Merc turns, the Moon is conjunct Vega, an important Fixed Star in the 16th degree of Capricorn (and this is conjunct Elvis's natal Sun!). Vega brings luck in politics, artistic talent, fleeting fame, associated with double dealing, generosity and practicality. It is the alpha star of the constellation Lyra, the Lyre, a musical instrument first invented by Mercury himself! That is hopeful, but only hours earlier, when the square to Mars and Venus was exact, the Moon was in tight conjunction with the very fortunate star Ascella, which brings lasting happiness, valuable gifts and love of women, though sadly when conjunct the Moon (as in this case) it tends to attract burning and poison. Ugh. More burning. Since it's square to Mars, the outlook is less than ideal, Mars ruling fire after all. The Sun entered Virgo on August 23, leading up to the powerful Full Moon last night in soulful Pisces (conjunct Elvis's natal Moon!). This is a good development, because the early degrees of Virgo are by and large fortunate due to their association with fortunate stars, particularly since this year we have Regulus, said by some to be the most benefic star in the universe, in the first degree of Virgo. Fixed stars do not move across the ecliptic like planets, but they do change their places very slowly in the tropical zodiac due to the phenomenon of precession. This is the movement of the tropical (or moveable) zodiac against the background of the sidereal zodiac (for more about precession, see Stars and Signs). Curiosity can lead us down many paths, mentally as well as physically. Exploring chemistry and diet are favoured, though be sure to maintain accurate and detailed records of anything you discover. It's not a good idea to start something completely new until after this phase is over. Drink adequate amounts of water (6-8 glasses daily) and especially a glass of water when the hunger sensation arises. This can offset those "sugar blues" and ward off excessive eating. All areas of communication are affected by this phase, especially in matters connected with science, analysis, the teaching and healing professions, especially those covering the nursing and veterinary fields; fire prevention and other human services, including the military, police and all types of consultants—particularly the communications, routines and organizational issues connected with these. This period brings travel snafus, mail mishaps and missed appointments of all kinds. Documents can go astray. Be sure to carry a diary and refer to it often. (Source: ASTROLOGY ON THE WEB: http://www.astrologycom.com/mercret.html)
TONIGHT AT THE IGUANA!WINNER FOR TWO 2010 MANHATTAN ASSOCIATION OF CABARETS AND CLUBS AWARDS (MAC) FOR OUTSTANDING VARIETY SHOW AND OUTSTANDING HOSTS! NOW IN ITS SECOND YEAR! RESERVE FOR TO NIGHT’S SHOW TODAY after 12 noon. You never know who you’ll see at the Iguana! Last week, we were SRO! THE RAVES ARE IN! THE FOLLOWING ARE RECENT COMMENTS FROM http://www.richardskipper.com/guestbook.html
Richard and Dana, thanks so much for inviting us to perform at The Iguana August 11th, 2010. It was an especially smooth and enjoyable evening with wonderful fresh talent among the mix of wonderful familiar guests who are always entertaining. Richard, you were extra "on" that evening and had many of us in stitches. Dana, your song was great and you were gorgeous as usual. I spoke to two sets of new comers at intermission who said you both make people feel so warm and welcome and they plan to return. Kudos to you both. There is no stopping you, and nobody plans on it, so keep it up! We had a blast. Mary & Jim Lahti I had the best time at the Iguana last night. It was a night to remember. Where else can you go and get that vast variety of a show? ) It was without a doubt the most entertaining night of my year! Thanks, DeOnzelle Green Thank you so much for hosting such a wonderful show at The Iguana, which I experienced for the first time last night. I've attended many cabaret shows, but never (yes, I mean never) before have I heard such a wonderful variety of music and such excellent vocalists with great performance abilities. God willing, I will definitely be back! I recommend this event to anyone looking for a great night out in NYC.Richard, I also want to express my appreciation for your generosity of spirit; you [and the very-funny Dana!] unselfishly promote all the performers' shows and CD's, not to mention the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs, a most admirable trait! Sophia Niarchos, Upper Brookville, NY
COME TONIGHT AND THEN ADD YOUR OWN COMMENTS! Aug 25 8pm IGUANA VIP LOUNGE, 240 West 54th Street, NYC WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE IGUANA Barry Levitt on keyboard & Saadi Zain on bass. Tonight's guests include: FRAN LEONARDIS, HELENA GRENOT, Alicia Littman, Barbara Porteus, ...and a few other surprises as well! $12.00 Music Charge/No food or drink minimum! Reservations a must (212) 765-5454
If you would like to join the Channing-Kullijian National Coalition for returning arts education to public schools, email your contact info to info@channingarts.org to be added to our elist. With grateful XOXOXs for your support!
Richard Skipper
Follow me on Twitter @RichardSkipper
HERE IS WHAT AUDIENCES ARE SAYING ABOUT MY WORK (TAKEN FROM GUSTBOOK AT www.RichardSkipper.com)
As always, a top-notch performance at St. Luke's (7/27/10). Dancers Over 40 is honored to have Richard Skipper as one of its friends. I'd say Richard is a consummate performer, but some may confuse him with the soup..., so I'll just say, PLEASE continue to channel Ms. Channing, and continue to work with DO40 on our projects! All of Dancers Over 40 LOVES Richard Skipper! And we look forward to working with him on our Agnes De Mille panel/event on October 11th at St. Luke's Theater and our DO40 Legacy Awards (which he will be hosting...for the second year in a row!) on December 12th at SWING 46 in NYC, honoring DO40 members Harvey Evans, Fred Curt, Richard Korthaze, Ken Urmston and Stuart Hodes. Sincerely, John Sefakis, President, Dancers Over40
Richard,MUST have Carol Channing's DNA...it's a scientific miracle!!! And he makes the most of it all with his musical extravaganza and quick repartee!! I was recalling his equally smashing performance at my 60th Birthday Cabaret, and how our Board Members commented after about how wonderful Carol Channing looks and performs for 86!!!!! So happy that I was there to enjoy it on the 27th. It was all very exciting.....luv him......Anarene Barr, Boynton Beach, Fl
TILL NEXT WEEK...HERE'S TO A MUSICAL END OF AUGUST! With grateful XOXOXs for your support! Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com
Maureen Taylor brings her incredible show back to the Metropolitan Room!
TAYLOR MADE: BOB MERRILL is coming back to the Metropolitan Room on Saturday, December 5th at 5PM. If you missed this show the last time around, don't miss it this time! (34 West 22nd Street – 212.206.0440 – www.MetropolitanRoom.com ) Bob Merrill (May 17, 1921 – February 17, 1998) was an American songwriter, theatrical composer, lyricist, and screenwriter. Merrill was born Henry Levan in Atlantic City, New Jersey and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following a stint with the Army during World War II, he moved to Hollywood, where he worked as a dialogue director for Columbia Pictures. He began his songwriting career writing tunes for Dorothy Shay. One of his first major hits was the 1950 novelty song "If I Knew You Were Comin' Id've Baked a Cake",co-written with Al Hoffman and Clem Watts and recorded by Eileen Barton. You may not know him by name, but you’ll know many of his songs. From “How Much Is That Doggie In the Window” to “People”, Bob Merrill’s vast amount of work spans the simple to the sublime.
Numerous chart hits, novelty songs, Tony Award, Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations! Bob Merrill celebrated the “ordinary man”. TAYLOR MADE celebrates the “extraordinary” Bob Merrill!!!
The show is directed by MAC Award winner Peter Napolitano , with musical direction by Matt Castle – accompanied by Joe Brent on guitar and mandolin. Taylor met director Peter Napolitano, when she was asked to co- host at the Sunday Algonquin Salon. She met musical director, Matt Castle several years ago when he was coaching.
Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) For reservations: call 212.206.0440 or online at- www.MetropolitanRoom.com. There is a $20 cover charge plus 2 drink min.
$15 for MAC, Cabaret Hotline, AEA, AFTRA, SAG)
Visit: www.maureentaylornyc.com
Written by Roy Sander "Taylor Made: Bob Merrill"
Metropolitan Room - October 25, 26, November 2, 9, December 5
If I had been asked a few weeks ago whether a good show could be created from a mix of songs of highly varying quality—some of them mediocre at best—I'm not sure what I would have answered. Having seen Maureen Taylor's program of the songs of Bob Merrill, I can say, perhaps with a little surprise, that the answer is a resounding yes—and not just a good show, but a truly excellent show, and one that is very entertaining.
As most of you know, Bob Merrill worked in two artistic arenas: the field of pop singles, and the more rarified world of Broadway musicals. As evidenced by the selections in this show, his pop songs were good stuff—quite frequently frothy novelty numbers; however, though he wrote a host of wonderful theatre songs, his output in this realm was more uneven. Directed by Peter Napolitano, with musical direction by Matt Castle, the show is superbly crafted, very smartly giving less time to the B-level material and more weight to Merrill's first-class work. "Why do the lesser work at all?" you might ask. For one thing, because these songs are mainly unfamiliar and, so, of interest to anyone with a curiosity about either obscure songs or Bob Merrill's writing. For another, Taylor's interpretations are so insightful and so well realized that she makes it all land. Another factor is the artful programming. For example, the first song, "Travelin'" from Breakfast at Tiffany's, is far from being one of Merrill's proudest accomplishments, but it works marvelously as an opening number. Also, in a few cases, songs are combined into segments that are stronger than some of their individual components.
Among the evening's pop numbers are the infectious "Mambo Italiano," the seductive "Make Yourself Comfortable," the appealing "Candy and Cake," and the catchy "Ooh Bang Jiggly Jang"—the last, complete with sound effects. All of these are given model performances by Taylor and her accompanists (Castle on piano, Joe Brent on guitar, violin and mandolin), and all deserved to be the hit songs they were. We also get a bit of "Arfie, the Doggie in the Window," written by Merrill as a response to his hugely successful "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?"; it richly deserved not to be the hit it wasn't. But hearing it was fun.
Only a few of the theatre songs are well known: "The Music That Makes Me Dance" (music by Jule Styne) and "Take Me Along" are performed in severely truncated versions, mainly to set up the songs that follow, but Taylor gets to bring tenderness and warmth to ""Look at Him" from New Girl in Town. It may seem perverse not to have given us some of the exceptional songs from Carnival or other blockbusters from Funny Girl; however, Taylor does us a greater service by introducing us to several rarities, and while we can readily see why "I Did It on Rollerskates" was cut from Funny Girl, many of these discoveries are actually quite good—among them, "My Place in the World" from The Prince of Grand Street, "I Met a Man" from Prettybelle, "Kissed on the Eyes" from Hannah, 1939, and "When It Happens to You" from The Red Shoes (music by Julie Styne). Taylor gives all of them their full measure—even those that are performed in abbreviated versions, and a few times during the evening, Castle lends his pleasing baritone to the vocals.
Finally, there is the remarkable dress Taylor wears for the show. Designed and made by her mother years ago, it is quintessential late-'50s/early-'60s—the period of Merrill's heyday. Like everything else about this enterprise, it reeks quality and class.
Confirming numerous rumors and magazine reports, The Who will perform at the Super Bowl XLIV Halftime Show this February. As previously reported, the game will take place at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida on Sunday, February 7. CBS will broadcast the event.
The Super Bowl has hosted classic rock veterans likes Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince, the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney since Janet Jackson exposed herself at the event in 2004. The Who has not played a full show in the U.S. since 2008, though singer Roger Daltrey is currently on the road with his solo band.
A History Of Super Bowl Halftime Entertainment: I: Universities of Arizona and Michigan Bands. II: Grambling University.
III: “America Thanks” with Florida A&M University. IV: Carol Channing.
V: Florida A&M Band.
VI: “Salute to Louis Armstrong” with Ella Fitzgerald, Carol Channing, Al Hirt and U.S. Marine Corps Drill Team.
VII: “Happiness Is…” with University of Michigan Band and Woody Herman.
VIII: “A Musical America” with University of Texas Band. IX: “Tribute to Duke Ellington” with Mercer Ellington and Grambling University Bands.
X: “200 Years and Just a Baby” Tribute to America’s Bicentennial.
XI: “It’s a Small World” including crowd participation for first time with spectators waving colored placards on cue.
XII: “From Paris to the Paris of America” with Tyler Apache Belles, Pete Fountain and Al Hirt. XIII: “Super Bowl XIII Carnival” Salute to the Caribbean with Ken Hamilton and various Caribbean bands.
XIV: “A Salute to the Big Band Era” with Up with People.
XV: “A Mardi Gras Festival.”
XVI: “A Salute to the 60’s and Motown.”
XVII: “KaleidoSUPERscope” (a kaleidoscope of color and sound). XVIII: “Super Bowl XVIII’s Salute to the Superstars of the Silver Screen.”
XIX: “A World of Children’s Dreams.” XX: “Beat of the Future.”
XXI: “Salute to Hollywood’s 100th Anniversary.”
XXII: “Something Grand” featuring 88 grand pianos, the Rockettes and Chubby Checker. XXIII: “Be Bop Bamboozled” featuring 3-D effects.
XXIV: “Salute to New Orleans” and 40th Anniversary of Peanuts’ characters, featuring trumpeter Pete Fountain, Doug Kershaw & Irma Thomas. XXV: “A Small World Salute to 25 Years of the Super Bowl” featuring New Kids on the Block.
XXVI: “Winter Magic” including a salute to the winter season and the winter Olympics featuring Gloria Estefan, Brian Boitano and Dorothy Hamill.
XXVII: “Heal the World” featuring Michael Jackson and 3,500 local children. Finale included audience card stunt.
XXVIII: “Rockin Country Sunday” featuring Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Wynonna & Naomi Judd. Finale included flashlight stunt.
XXIX: “Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye” featuring Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, Arturo Sandoval, the Miami Sound Machine and stunts including fire and skydivers. Finale included audience participation with light sticks.
XXX: Diana Ross celebrating 30 years of the Super Bowl with special effects, pyrotechnics and stadium card stunt. Finale featured Diana Ross being taken from the stadium in a helicopter.
XXXI: “Blues Brothers Bash” featuring Dan Akroyd, John Goodman and James Belushi. Also featuring “The Godfather of Soul” James Brown and ZZ Top.
XXXII:“A Tribute to Motown’s 40th Anniversary” including Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Queen Latifah, Martha Reeves and The Temptations.
XXXIII: “Celebration of Soul, Salsa and Swing” featuring Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and tap dancer Savion Glover. XXXIV: “A Tapestry of Nations” featuring Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton and an 80-person choir.
XXXV: “The Kings of Rock and Pop” featuring Aerosmith, *N’SYNC, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly
XXXVI: U2 XXXVII: Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting
XXXVIII: Janet Jackson, Kid Rock, P. Diddy, Nelly and Justin Timberlake
XXXIX: Paul McCartney XL: The Rolling Stones
XLI: Prince XLII: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
XLIII: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
XLIV: The Who
SONDRA LEE - HAS SLEPT WITH EVERYBODY - IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING
She was the original Tiger Lily in Peter Pan. She was also the lead producer of Charles Busch's Shanghai Moon and is currently working on the production of a musical based on women of Appalachian. She's had affairs with Baron Phillippe de Rothchilde, Italian film director Federico Fellini and Broadway impresario Billy Rose. She's coy about her sexual involvement with Marlon Brando saying; "let's just say he was my first love."
She didn't care for Frank Sinatra and she has some interesting stores about - a lot of bold names, which Sondra Lee has disclosed in her book I've Slept with Everybody: A Memoir.
Lee spoke with Broadway To Vegas about her 60-year career and the assorted - or sordid - affairs that went with it. Born and raised in New Jersey her father was one-fourth Albino and her mother was "dark like a Gypsy and a walking time bomb."
A sickly child who had pneumonia on a regular basis, Sondra was given growth hormone injections because "my family was alarmed that I was so tiny."
She doesn't recall any side affects of the shots and feels she is "living proof that the shots don't work."
"I never gave my height any thought, because my size has never been a factor in the theater. They always use my size but basically I've never been cast because of my size," she declared. As a teen-ager she crossed the river from New Jersey to New York and, in a fairy tale encounter, was almost immediately discovered by Jerome Robbins and catapulted into success. "I auditioned for Allegro choreographer Agnes DeMille. I did a couple of real stupid things, because I was real young and silly," she admitted. It seems that a well meaning advisor had told Lee to always answer in the affirmative if anybody inquired about her dancing abilities.
When asked if she danced modern, Lee said she did. Then she was asked who she studied under. "I knew there was Martha Graham and Katherine Dunham. I said - Katherine Graham," related Lee who was immediately dismissed.
Jerome Robbins had a dark side "I was walking down Shubert Alley. I saw these dancers hanging out. They said they had just auditioned for Robbins for High Button Shoes." Without a clue as to what they were talking about Lee entered the dark theater and demanded to know the whereabouts of Robbins.
"This guy said, 'I'm Robbins. Who are you?'" She told him she had just gotten dismissed from another group because, "I'm too short and I'm going home to commit suicide." "He asked me to dance for him," related Sondra. "I danced with vengeance. A couple of weeks later I received a call to come to the finals. I didn't even know what finals were," she laughed. "I did some routine that was given to us. I saw Monty Prosier and Robbins in this heated discussion. I kept edging closer trying to hear. 'I want the kid. I don't want to the kid' - back and forth like that. I heard Jerry say 'I want the kid with the fat legs.'
I was the kid with the fat legs. Jerry won. I got the job. There were 10 boys and 11 girls that were chosen for High Button Shoes. And, I became a Broadway baby."
Lee was barely 17 when High Button Shoes opened on Broadway at the New Century Theatre on October 9, 1947. The production closed on July 2, 1949 after 727 performances. Robbins has been reported to have had a dark side.
"He did have a dark side," confirmed Lee. "I was never really subject to his dark side because I never needed his approval. I was too young and I was too naive to know that I needed him to say - 'You're wonderful.'"
According to Lee when Robbins headed into a dark mood; "He actually turned dark - his eyes got blacker and it seemed that his skin even got darker. He would kick things. For me, his dark side was fascinating because I was never the center of it. I know people who were wounded by him, but not me. You got hurt by him if you really needed his approval - and a lot of actresses did." Raising her voice into a high pitched, effervescent tone, she mimicked - 'Oh, Jerry, did you like this?' Then you got skewered. Whatever that need was in those showgirls, it was something that he truly couldn't deal with."
Marlon Brando and Wally Cox were childhood friends. Cox died of a heart attack in 1973. Brando kept Cox's ashes in his closet, and when Brando passed away in 2004, both of their ashes were combined and scattered in Death Valley, California. Marlon Brando was Lee's best friend and his intimate confident, confessing things only to her - a confidence that has long been confirmed by Brando biographers and friends.
"We remained friends until the day he died. In a way he took my virginity, I guess you could say that. Just say he was my first lover. There was something much deeper than just a physical relationship between Marlon, myself and Wally Cox," related Lee who shared a rooming house with Brando and Cox, who became famous starring as Mr. Peepers on the hit 1952-55 television series. "Jimmy Dean was there at that time," Lee continued. "Jimmy really thought he was Marlon. He got a motorcycle. He even tried to go to the same analyst."
"I think Marlon Brando confided in me because I was young. I wasn't a threat. He was a very private person. There was a group of us - Maureen Stapleton, Billy Redfield, Wally Cox, Marilyn Gennaro, who eventually married Wally. We'd go out on motorcycles. Wally was making some money and he bought some land in Rockland County."
"We would go there and dig this big hole, fill it with twigs, put pieces of steak on long pointed sticks. We told each other stories about our families."
"At some point I think Marlon just elected me to be his younger sister. I knew his sisters, but I was like his kid sister."
Eventually that entire group became famous - each in their own way.
Sondra Lee rehearsing Tiger Lilly. 1954 photo by Bob Willowbe Lee created the role of Tiger Lily, leader of the Never-Never-Land tribe. Along with the late Mary Martin and Cyril Ritchard, who played Captain Hook, Sondra Lee, was one of the few cast members who appeared in the full Broadway run and all three television versions of Peter Pan.
The attention the Tiger Lily role cast upon Lee's career caused her to reassess her job opportunities. "I wanted to continue my career as a serious actor and dancer, but people only wanted to see Tiger Lily. To this very day, I get fan mail for Tiger Lily."
Lee's dancing talents took her to Europe which is where she met Frank Sinatra.
"I was very young and I'm not a drinker at all. I was in France and I went to the bar and I saw ladies ordering Gibsons. I ordered a Gibson and immediately got dead drunk. Then I saw this little figure at the end of the bar," said Lee.
It was Ella Logan who was nursing her wounds from almost being booed off a London stage.
"Ella had opened in London for Louie Armstrong and the audience didn't want to hear her. She was a big star but they didn't want to hear her," reiterated Lee about the star who created the role of Sharon McLonergan in the original Broadway production of Finian's Rainbow, singing the show's most famous song, How Are Things in Glocca Morra? "They wanted to hear Louie," recalled Lee about Ella's public humiliation. "She had gone to Paris to emotionally recover."
Logan decided that a better balm might be found in Spain and took Lee along for the ride. Frank Sinatra. Sondra Lee saw him with his legs dangling out a window and heard him insult Ella Logan, who originated the role of Sharon McLonergan in the original production of Finian's Rainbow, singing the show's most famous song, How Are Things in Glocca Morra? "When we were in Spain, Sinatra was there. He found out Ella was there and invited her to his hotel room. She took me along. That is how I met Sinatra. By that time he was a huge star. He was seated on the window sill of his hotel room with his legs dangling out the window. He made some really unkind and snide comments to Ella. I have no idea if he was drunk. He was showing off. He said things to Ella which wounded her deeply, which she didn't need. Things like - 'Tell us about your big success in London. Did you sing Glocca Mora?' It was snide and I thought he was a smart-aleck."
Sinatra excepted, Sondra Lee has fond memories of Europe. She co-starred in Les Ballets De Paris.
"The South of France is where I have spent some of my best times," said the pint size bundle of dynamite who had an affair with Baron Philippe de Rothschild. His vast holdings include the Chateau Mouton Rothschild vineyard. "He was an extraordinary man," she fondly recalled.
Lee had met him after he and his wife attended a show in which she was dancing.
"When I knew him he was a poet, a grandfather and one of the most successful vintners of the 20th Century. I met them and we had dinner first and then we went to the theater."
"Then we all went to Rumplemeyer's," she said referring to the once elegant cafe and ice cream parlor, which was on Central Park South near Fifth. "We were met by a bunch of people and it was - Oh, Philippe can you do this for me? Oh, Philippe can you do that for me? Then he turned to me and said, 'What can I do for you?'" Lee asked him to write her a Haiku. He did. "When I got home that evening the telephone was ringing and he was on the other end. He wanted to know if I was free on Saturday night. I said no, I'm not. He told me to 'break it'. That's how it all began. I'm not a quick, hot affair type. The love affair lasted a long, long time." Billy Rose was once married to Fanny Brice "Billy Rose was one of my lovers. He was Billy Rose production, let me tell you! He was a fascinating man. He said he could buy anything. I never found him difficult. I found him amusing. And, someone to learn from."
"I met Billy at Virgil Thompson's," she said of the man who was an American composer and critic from Kansas City, Missouri. He was instrumental in the development of the American Sound in classical music. "Thompson was like a magnet. There were painters, dancers and writers at his parties. I didn't know what Billy Rose was doing there. Billy wanted to know who everyone was and where they were from. One was from Spain. Another from New Jersey. I said - 'I just came from the Unemployment Office.' That's how it started. He said; 'What can I do for you?'
"I told him I'd love to go to the Ziegfeld Theater," recalled Lee about her reply to Rose in which she let him know that she had heard about his offices where he could see the stage from his window.
"That's where he took me," she fondly remembered. Then there were her romps in the hay with Federico Feline whom she calls "extraordinary." Sondra had been living in Spain and was cast in the Feline flick LaDolce Vita.
"He was a special man. They were all special men," she hastened to add. "He was a totally different personality and read on life than Billy Rose. He was a cartoonist before he became a film director. He doodled big time. I found him a very special person."
Lee insists she has no favorite production, "but I have favorite people."
5-time Tony Award Winner Angela Lansbury is co-starring with Catherine Zeta-Jones in the revival of A Little Night Music at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
"Angela Lansbury. She is an antidote for a hundred evils. She is a consummate artist. I worked with her in Parasido. She was a gift in herself. She is one in a million," she said of the legendary performer who is currently co-starring with Catherine Zeta-Jones in the revival of A Little Night Music at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
Broadway To Vegas threw out some names of people Sondra Lee has worked with and she replied:
Paul Newman - "I knew him from the Actors Studio. He was just a terrific person and a wonderful actor, as well. Just a good guy. There are very few people in the theater that you can say that about. You remember their performance, but you don't really know them. He was a great guy."
Dustin Hoffman - "A very talented person. He is very amusing and very needy. He just needs attention. He is very childlike."
Donald Sutherland - "I liked him a lot and he is a good actor."
"Stella Adler was my teacher. She was Marlon's teacher and he brought me to her. I taught for her for almost 15 years. She was one of the great influenced of my life. One day she called me very seductively and said; 'Darling, I want you to teach," said Sondra imitating Stella's affected vocal persona. "'I'd like you to teach style - because no one has it.'" "One time Stella was in Tiffany's, or one of those stores, and the sales clerk asked her if she was English. Stella puckered up her lips and said; 'No darling, just affected.'" Carol Channing, Sondra Lee who was Minnie Fay and Eileen Brennen, who portrayed Irene Molloy, at the original recording session Sondra Lee was Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly! alongside two famous Dollys - Carol Channing and Ginger Rogers.
She remembered a Christmas when Carol Channing was buying Christmas presents for the Hello Dolly! cast.
"It was before Christmas and Carol Channing asked everyone in the cast their initials - so we got all excited - thinking sterling. Then these boxes got delivered to our dressing rooms. One by one we all tore them open. The women got huge bloomers with our initials. The guys got these skinny ties which were stamped with their initials.
No, it wasn't a gag gift. It was the gift. Hello!"
"I went down to Carol's dressing room and I told her that I would keep them forever. She said; "Wonderful, wonderful," reported Lee imitating Channing's distinctive voice.
"I framed them and kept them in my bathroom!"
Richard Skipper as Carol Channing, Sondra Lee and Donna Hanover at the recent book signing and reading at Lincoln Center Barnes and Noble. Several years ago Dancers Over 40 (DO40) partnered with Lincoln Center Barnes and Noble "as an opportunity and a way to make these B & N events more enjoyable - by supplying refreshments for the crowd - and the talent," according to DO40 President John Sefakis. DO40 provided deserts and beverages Lee�s book signing. Referring to the presence of 'Carol Channing,' Lee explained, "When I am doing these presentation I ask Richard Skipper if he will come as Carol Channing. He is a very generous performer and an incredible person. He does a lot besides Carol. He's an actor." The event was moderated by Donna Hanover. Eileen Brennen created the role of Irene Malloy in the original Broadway production of Hello, Dolly! which opened at the St. James Theater on January 16, 1964.
"Eileen and I were actually very close friends. But we shared a dressing room and you can get on each other's nerves. She said - 'Well! I have exclusivity of the dressing. I said; 'Well, so do I?"
"So, they put up a curtain. But the curtain didn't work. It wasn't good enough. I was going to call my agent and she was going to call her agent. The producers told the theater to build a wall. They did. They built a wall in this tiny, stupid dressing room. The only thing is, she had the air-conditioner and I had the radiator. So, she froze in the winter and I was hot in the summer." Matthew Broderick. For him the wall came tumbling down. Broderick is one of several celebrities who penned an endorsement for the back cover of Lee's book "That wall lasted until Matthew Broderick was to have that as his dressing room. He tried to walk in and they had to take the wall down," she said of the dressing room Broderick used while starring in The Producers.
"Eileen and I have remained friends. She is a marvelous, wonderful person," emphasized Lee.
Broderick as well as Angela Lansbury, Jules Feiffer and Charles Busch have written book endorsements.
It was Sondra Lee that helped push Charles Busch into the well deserved spotlight. Lee produced Busch's famous show Shanghai Moon.
"Charles is a friend and I felt this particular show of his, which I was very familiar with, was great. I took it to a producer friend of mine who cocked around. Finally, I went to the Drama Department, which was an independent company. They said they would do it with me and that is how it got done." "I'm going to produce something else very soon," she disclosed about Hillbilly Women, a drama with music by Elizabeth Stearns, based on the book by Kathy Kahn. "It's a seven character musical play about the women of Appalachia. I think it has a great deal to do with America, especially in the 70's. These women are amazing. Nothing much has changed," said Lee about the play which Samuel French, Inc describes as; "Based on interviews in Appalachia, this docu drama features seven women who reveal in song and narrative their personal stories of survival against incredible odds."
"They are poor and a lot of them are products of incest," continued Lee. "They made the Levi jeans. They have black lung disease. I think it is an important piece of American history. I have music from The Judd's and Peter, Paul and Mary, old Union songs. Things that are meaningful."
"I'm a member of the Actors Studio and about 30 years ago I saw this play done - very differently - with very young actresses from The Actors Studio. This version is with much older actresses and it is just brilliant."
Most dancers don't get into The Actors Studio.
"I am a serous actress and also a serious painter," she explained. "You audition to get into Actors Studio. In its heyday, was an elitist gymnasium for actors to work on their craft. I learned to direct and experiment and work from feed back."
Enzo Stuarti was in the flop Reuben, Reuben but went on to become a Las Vegas headliner
Lee reports no bad career experiences, "although there was one that was a huge flop - Reuben, Reuben by Mark Blitzstein. It's like if you have a child that isn't quite right and somehow it's you favorite of all your children." "On opening night in Boston it was like being in Europe. People were booing and people in the audience turned on each other. I remember the Second Act opened in an insane asylum. Eddie Albert, who was the star, had the line - 'My God, I must have been crazy.' Somebody in the audience said - 'You are! You are!'"
"The people in the play were amazing, talented people," she said referring to Kaye Ballard, George Gaynes (pictured), Evelyn Lear, Karen Anders, Tony Dardell and Enzo Stuarti who would become a major Las Vegas headliner. "The score was remarkable. I'll remember it for as long as I live. The subject matter was about lack of communication that never clearly communicated that to the audience," she laughed.
Reuben, Reuben opened in Boston on October 10, 1955, but closed without going to Broadway.
"I did a dance in it, sort of a modern version of Romeo and Juliet - long before West Side Story. There was a wonderful young dancer named Timmy Everett who was in Dark At The Top of the Stairs. We stopped the show cold. They came and got us in our underwear to come and take an extra bow." Reuben, Reuben was reviewed by Stephen Arnold for the Tuesday, October 18, 1955 issue of The Harvard Crimson.
"Two facets of the production are excellent. The settings by William and Jean Eckart are ingenious and colorful. They have overcome the common musical comedy problem of the transition from scene to scene by integrating the stage changes into the opening moments of each succeeding scene. The chorography, under the direction of Hanya Holm, is responsible for the best number in the show, a ballad sung by Reuben and pantomimed by an extraordinary pair of dancers, Sondra Lee and Timmy Everett. Miss Holm has also staged a wonderfully humorous street fight, as well as a terrifying yet lovely ballet in an insane asylum. But these redeeming features cannot rescue Reuben, Reuben from a disastrous fatc-sheer incomprehensibility."
How did Sondra Lee get into that disaster in the first place? Lee was already in another show when she auditioned for Reuben, Reuben which caused director Robert Lewis to question her reasoning.
"I told him I have to work with Mark Blitzstein," she said of the man most remembered for his libretto and English lyrics for the Off-Broadway production of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht�s The Threepenny Opera, including Mack the Knife which became a standard. "Mark Blitzstein was there and heard me say that," she continued. "He said - 'She's in!'"
Generally Lee has gotten what she wants.
"Things have fallen into place." Childless and twice divorced, Lee says her pupils are her 'children'. "At least the gifted ones are my children," she joked.
"I care about them and I care deeply about theater people."
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I will be offering CAREER COACHING/WORKSHOPS AS WE END THE YEAR AND GO INTO THE NEW! (Seen here with the INCREDIBLE Sharon Daniels,http://www.sharondanielsvoices.com) (845) 365-0720 richard@richardskipper.com
Next Workshop - TBA MARKETING AND PROMOTING YOURSELF: GETTING THE VISIBILITY YOU DESERVE!
I am a critically acclaimed, multi-award winning performer, director and now consultant and am bringing years of experience to this workshop. The cost of the workshop is $125 for three hours. Please call (845) 365-0720 for more information and to reserve your space and/or create a specific workshop for YOUR needs (ASK ABOUT OUR SPECIAL OFFER!). There is a Paypal option on the left collumn of this page to reserve your space now. My one-man show continues to be a wonderful success around the country, and as I continue making his business great, he looks forward to sharing his experience with others.
This workshop will focus on how to get you the attention that you need. My shows have been sell-outs. Other topics will include how to use the internet to your advantage in marketing; how to get your name "out there"; cold calling; creating a contract specific to your needs; how to create a press kit that shows you to your best possible advantage and more! Richard gets a sense of the various levels of each workshop and custom makes, on the spot, a class catering to the needs of the actual group in the room. He will ascertain YOUR agenda prior to the workshop beginning so that each participant will leave with all of their questions answered, so come prepared!
On board with me is graphic designer, GLEN CHARLOW, who brings over 15 years in the business to the participants of this class and who will discuss the concept of image; how to use the internet effectively and how your website "sells" you even before you pick up the phone. To read more on Glen Charlow please visit: www.gcdtp.com. For general information on workshops or Career Coaching, please contact me directly at 845-365-0720 or Richard@RichardSkipper.com.
Always another stage on Liza Minnelli's horizon
By Jonathan Spicer NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Does a pure entertainer like Liza Minnelli, now 63 years old with 60 years of performing behind her, ever really retire?
"I'm a Minnelli, so there's always something to do," she said in an interview, adding that her career's greatest moment is yet to come. "I'll think of something. I always do."
Minnelli first took to the stage at age three. Her latest hit was the Broadway show "Liza's at the Palace...!", which won a Tony Award for best special theatrical event this year, and was filmed for television.
"To receive Tony Awards throughout your life and then at this stage to get one? Come on!" she said with her signature belly burst of laughter, hours before a recent screening of her show. "I really was surprised."
The daughter of generations of performers, Minnelli's singing and acting career has spanned film, television, theater and nightclubs. The award for "Liza's at the Palace...!" was more personal, she said, because it was a tribute in part to her god mother, the late actress Kay Thompson.
"It's hard when you have a whole lifetime of memories, to think of what stories to tell, and how to describe them," Minnelli said of Thompson, whose nightclub show inspired the second act of "Liza's at the Palace...!"
"I saw it when I was two. I remember the stage came up to here," she said of Thompson's nightclub act, peering out over her hand. "I remember the whole thing, I remember seeing these legs flying around, and her energy."
Having won Tonys in 1965 and 1984, and a special award in 1974, Minnelli is no stranger to Broadway. But ending up nearly a year ago at the Palace Theater, Broadway's vaudeville pillar, was a surprise, she said. Nobody thought we'd end up at the Palace, including me. But I was so passionate about this show, and my god mother, doing this," she said.
The entertainer who always has something to do can't talk about her next act -- a cameo on next year's Sex and the City film sequel -- offering only that the stars are "wonderful ladies, they really are talented, and generous."
(Reporting by Jonathan Spicer; editing by Patricia Reaney))
PHOTOFLASH: Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey at Paley Center's Liza's at the Palace Screening By: Tristan Fuge · Nov 25, 2009 · New York
The screening was followed a discussion by Minnelli and Michael Feinstein. Other celebrities at the event included Billy Stritch and Arlene Dahl.
Minnelli opened her show at the Palace Theatre on December 3, 2008. In addition to songs that have long been associated with the performer, such as Kander and Ebb's "New York, New York," the show featured a tribute to her godmother, singer, actress and vocal arranger Kay Thompson. A DVD version of the full two-hour production will be available on February 2.
Minnelli received a 2009 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event for Liza's at the Palace, as well as a special award from the Drama Desk Award for career achievement. She won additional Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for Flora the Red Menace and The Act, as well as a special Tony Award in 1974. She was also Tony-nominated for The Rink and has starred on Broadway in Victor/Victoria and Chicago. She won the Academy Award for Cabaret and the Emmy Award for Liza With a "Z".
Not Shy in the Way She Works a LyricReview of Baby Jane Dexter
By STEPHEN HOLDEN Published: November 25, 2009
Baby Jane Dexter, a singer with a mighty contralto, makes a persuasive case for uncovering new meanings in songs by wielding lyrics like blunt instruments. There is no beating around the bush for this longtime cabaret performer, whose new show at the Metropolitan Room is aptly named “All About Love” because it covers so many aspects. Her interpretations of everything from Bob Dylan to Rodgers and Hammerstein have the force of body blows. Richard Termine for The New York Times
Baby Jane Dexter in her show “All About Love,” with songs by Stephen Sondheim and R.E.M. Singing the plea “Lord above me/Make him love me,” from “I’ve Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good),” a prayer becomes an impatient demand. In her version of Stephen Sondheim’s “Not a Day Goes By” from “Merrily We Roll Along,” the layers of yearning and sadness that most singers put into it are stripped away to reveal a song whose narrator is in the hellish throes of a romantic obsession that she expects will haunt her for the rest of her life; her interpretation, with its hint of mental illness, is a little scary.
But because Ms. Dexter has a big heart and a broad sense of humor, her assaultive approach to songs, which she delivers in short, aggressive vocal bursts, feels less threatening than unapologetically dramatic and unfailingly honest.
Even more than in her previous shows, Ms. Dexter, accompanied by her longtime pianist, Ross Patterson, evokes an old-time blues and gospel belter before the age of melisma. The Bessie Smith standard, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” which gets a rough-and-ready treatment, inspires a monologue about her bad romantic choices. She used to prefer bad boys over nice guys, she recalls, and offers an amusing (possibly apocryphal) account of an experiment in bondage. She also confesses to a former dependency on the advice found in fortune cookies and newspaper horoscopes.
Ms. Dexter ended her show on Saturday with her signature song, R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts,” belted with a fervency that wrapped the audience in a bear hug of compassion and good will.
Baby Jane Dexter continues through Dec. 19 at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, Flatiron district; (212) 206-0440, metropolitanroom.com.
Carol Channing Releases A New CD ( Source:Tommy Garrett)
HOLLYWOOD —With thousands turning out for Carol Channing’s new CD release titled “For Heaven’s Sake,” Miss Channing proves she’s not only one of Hollywood’s greatest icons but still relevant in a changing industry. If theatergoers were to be polled about what they felt was the most memorable scene in musical comedy, most would probably cite the moment when the curtains part atop the stairs of the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant and Dolly Gallagher Levi appears in her red Freddy Wittop gown and begins her descent to rejoin the human race.
Carol Channing's latest project, “For Heaven's Sake,” is a gift to the human race and includes many of the songs she came to know and love as a child with spirituals that she learned from her family. The CD features handpicked spirituals from Carol's childhood, taught to her by her father as well as hymns and rousing classic gospel tunes that southern gospel fans and people of all ages will know and love. “I remember touring the country in ‘Dolly’ and everywhere we went, they all knew these songs. It was incredibly unifying,” Carol tells Canyon News. The album produced by Larry Ferguson and John Wyatt was recently released by Daywind Records in association with Ferguson Music with major distribution in both secular and Christian retail through New Day and Word Entertainment Association a Warner Brothers Company.
Miss Channing officially launched the CD at the National Gospel and Quartet Convention in Nashville to an estimated crowd of thousands. Miss Channing graciously signed an uncalculated number of CD’s for the adoring crowd that had gathered to see the living legend, until the last possible moment before her hectic schedule required she move on. Channing has had 10 gold records, including the original cast recording for “Hello Dolly!” which bumped the Beatle’s out of the number one spot, but this is her first gospel recording. Within hours of the launch, Miss Channing was on her way to sold out engagements at The Derby Theatre in Clarksville, Ind. and The Dixie Carter Theatre in Huntingdon Tenn.
It is true, that Miss Channing’s greatest focus is in her effort to secure a place for the arts back into the public school system, “It's got to be included in education because what it does, it fertilizes young minds. When they are exposed to the arts, they get brighter in everything else. That's what happened to me. We don't need to save the arts, we need to help the Arts save our children,” said Miss Channing. What began as a California based effort has grown with requests for Carol's help in other states including New York, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, New Jersey, Indiana and Illinois. So in June of 2010 the Dr. Carol Channing/Harry Kullijian Foundation for the Arts will go national starting in Nashville. “Anything we can do these days to support our youth and encourage their education is too important to ignore. Without the arts, a child’s ability to create and to dream is stifled. We can't afford to shortchange our children and our future by denying an arts education for all students,” says Harry Kullijian, Carol's husband and foundation co-founder.
Miss Channing will be celebrating 89 years of age in January 2010, just weeks after her husband turns 90 and neither are showing any signs of slowing down. In fact, Channing has already scheduled recording sessions for her follow up CD [A patriotic collection] and has given the green light to the production of a documentary on the ultimate Broadway baby's life to multiple Tony Award® winning director and producer Dori Berinstein. Earlier this year, Miss Channing was selected as one of the leading ladies of stage and screen for the Smithsonian Institute's first permanent Entertainment Exhibit.
In addition, Stars are in the works for Walks and Walls of fame in both Palm Springs and New York, respectively. What may shock most fans of the perennial blond is that the Kennedy Center Honors has never given tribute the original Jazz Baby, and, in fact, has declined honoring her every year for the last 10 years that friends and colleagues have been submitting her. When asked about it, Miss Channing simply replied, “It would be nice and I would be extremely honored, but I’m not taking it personal. Every time they announce the list I couldn’t agree more with their selections.” A bigger than life personality with a heart to match, is it any wonder that screen icon Johnny Depp recently announced that his dream role was to portray the legend on film. An idea that Miss Channing fully endorses and one that she hasn’t denied as being a possibility. “I can only report that we have been approached. Men have been impersonating me for years and I’m honored . Although, I confess I have often wondered if I come across as having some kind of hormonal imbalance.”
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 Saturday! 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: Last night was a real pleasure. As an artist it means everything to perform for an audience that is attentive and engaged. Richard and Dana, you are such gracious and accommodating hosts. Barry Levitt and Morrie Louden are fantastic, I love working with you and hope to do so again very soon. Peace, Love and Joy David Vernon: http://www.myspace.com/davidvernonny
Richard, what fun! Tonight was my first time (uh, attending the show that is)and I had a blast. It was nice to meet both you and Dana and you work so well together (I guess you got good marks in school under the playing well with others category.) You were charming from the moment you helped me try to get a seat, during the performance with your humor and talent, and after the show thanking me for coming. It was a wonderful way to spend pre-Thanksgiving and made me even more thankful to get to know such talent and places to go to see such talent. Keep it up and THANK YOU for a wonderful and also an affordable evening. See you again soon and I'll spread the word for sure. Mary Lahti, Riverdale, NY
You were fabulous! You made me cry when you recited the soliloqui from "Dolly". You look wonderful and are such a precious person all around. Keep on going ...pleease.... with your talent extraordinaire!!!! Sondra was a delight. I wish her the best of good fortune. Loved chatting with Donna Hanover. Our sons attended the same high school (not at the same time). She is so sweet and I am so glad she found happiness! Thanks for letting me come. Love, Lozita Van, New Jersey
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). WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE IGUANA!
Barry Levitt on keyboard and Morrie Louden on bass! on bass. Time: 8 - 11:00 p.m.
Cover: $10 - 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.
December 2nd: Raissa Katonah Bennett, Cynthia Crane, The debut of The Marquee 5 (Mick Bleyer, Adam Hemming, Vanessa Parvin, Sierra Rein, Julie Reyburn) singing selections from their upcoming revue, "We Can Make It...The Songs of Kander & Ebb" and Hector Coris!
December 9th: Richard Holbrook, Josh Zuckerman, Helena Grenot, Jillian Laurain, Jerry Wichinsky
December 16th: Jessee Luttrell and Susan Eichorn-Young
December 30th: Ritt Henn, Annie Hughes, Yvette Malavets-Blum, David Nathan Scott
January 20th: D'Yan Forrest and Scot Wisniewski Keep checking http://www.richardskipper.com/schedule.html
Well, another week has passed and we return to The Iguana tomorrow night! Wow, what a line-up! The reservations have been pouring in. Don't be left off. One of my favorite entertainers is kicking off the show tomorrow night. Maureen is one of the greatest gifts I have received performing at The Iguana in the last year and a half. Can't wait to see what she has prepared for us tomorrow night. Check out her website at http://www.maureentaylornyc.com
Lois Morton began writing songs in the late sixties, and at the suggestion of Pete Seeger, had several topical songs published in Broadside Magazine. After a long hiatus, which included raising a family, teaching, writing children's books and ESL textbooks, and directing a continuing education program at the YWCA, she returned to songwriting in the mid nineties. She currently focuses on humorous songs of social commentary on subjects such as CLUTTER, CELL PHONES, PSYCHOTHERAPY, et. al., which have delighted audiences at Acoustic Long Island, the Huntington Folk Music Society, and other performance venues. Her song "Confessions of a Clutterholic" received a standing ovation at the National Conference of Professional Organizers.
Diana LeBlanc returns. Diana is in the beginning stages of putting together a tribute show to Angela Lansbury! I can't wait! I don't think it has been done before! Tomorrow night, Diana will be previewing a song from that show.
E.J, is in the process of recording a new cd and will be previewing an original song tomorrow night. You will also have the option of buying E.J.'s cds tomorrow night and/or enter in a drawing for our door prize featuring the cds of tomorrow night's artists. “It’s so nice to finally hear someone who knows what they’re doing!”
Cynthia Crane is a SINGER, ACTRESS, WIFE (TED STORY), MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER (two 5th generation Native NYer grandsons), PRESERVATIONIST & ENVIRONMENTALIST.
(The performers of 2009's Diversity Weekend. In this photo: Brad Loekle , Aunt Joanna, Jay Rogers , Cynthia Crane)
Steve Herbst has been dazzling audiences with his artistic whistling for over 48 years. 
Nancy is a jazz-centric pop singer who loves to take songs from "back in the day" and kick them up with contemporary jazz arrangements. With this kind of wild mix of songs spanning 15 decades in her creative toolbox, she weaves both song and story into theme-driven musical shows with the intention of entertaining and uplifting anyone within earshot. As a graduate of the Conservatory of Music at University of the Pacific, Nancy was educated in classical music. She was going to be an opera singer until her first year at college when she discovered how ugly the opera world can be. But the training was invaluable. It taught her how to be a musician, not just a singer. She says, "I fell in love with the art of cabaret because it is the only performance art form I know of that allows the artist so much creative freedom. Anything goes. I can incorporate songs from any genre, pop, classical, jazz, rock, whatever works, A show can be funny, meaningful, inspirational, dramatic or just plain silly! It all has a place in cabaret. 
Lauren Robert is a professional actor, singer, songwriter and playwright. She is a former Epic Records recording artist and her original songs have been produced by Stephen Bray (The Color Purple, Madonna) and Robert Nemiroff (Raisin). Lauren spent years recording and performing on the road at clubs, festivals and on national theatrical tours. For fourteen years Lauren hailed as the lead singer of the wildly popular Louisiana Zydeco-funk band Mojo Hand. Lauren is about to sign with a wonderful literary agent GOTHAM ARTISTS AGENCY...who will be representing Lauren as a writer and performer...with special attention to development of her play .22 CALIBER MOUTH. They are welcoming interest in the production and all comers should get in touch with GOTHAM ARTISTS!!
Radio Host of THE LUNCH & JUDY SHOW! stories, songs and comedy www.thelunchandjudyshow.com
