Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: August 25, 2019
By: Laura Deni
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PBS TO SALUTE THE FABLED SHOWGIRLS OF LAS VEGAS

On the morning of August 20 the Las Vegas Vegas PBS affiliate hosted a group of former showgirls and showboys in full costumes, make-up and headdresses for a day of filming The Showgirl: A Las Vegas Icon, a documentary which will debut on PBS during the first quarter of 2020.

The documentary focuses on the history of the showgirl in Las Vegas. Some of the authentic costumes worn by the 15 performers are archived pieces from Lido de Paris; Enter the Night and Jubilee! Showgirl models used in the PBS special were a few former cast members from those and other shows.

The documentary will also feature historic videos from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority’s News Bureau and UNLV’s Special Collections.

Decade ago Sin City was noted for its production show featuring showgirls.

Long legged lovelies - some of whom required "Left" and "Right" to be taped on their shoes arrived in buses from unincorporated towns to seek fame - and a rich husband (or at least somebody to pay the bills) - in Sin City.

The first casino on the Las Vegas Strip to employ dancing girls as a diversion between acts was the El Rancho Vegas in 1941.

Showgirls were presented in Las Vegas in 1952 as the opening and closing act for Las Vegas headliners, sometimes dancing around the headliner. They were introduced at the Sands Casino for a show with Danny Thomas.

In 1957, Minsky's Follies took the stage at the Desert Inn giving birth to the topless showgirl in Vegas.

This was followed by a long-running The Lido de Paris at the Stardust Casino that ran for 31 years. In 1999 The Folies Bergere at the Tropicana Hotel celebrated its 40th anniversary in Las Vegas becoming the longest running theatrical production in the world. See Broadway To Vegas column of December 12, 1999

Scantly clag loveies many of whom developed neck or back problems from wearing heavy headdresses, who went on to various forms of fame included Claudine Longet who married Andy Williams and spent time behind bars for the March 1976 murder of her lover, America's most famous skier Spider Sabich in Aspen, Colorado. There was Valerie Perrine who went from topless showgirl to movie star. See Broadway To Vegas column of November 16, 1998

Now a job reduced to redundancy, PBS will spotlight the occupation in its special.

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Thank you for your interest.

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This is not your typical, totally boring textbook.

In the pages of How To Earn A Living As A Freelance Writer (the first to be lied to and the last to be paid) you'll find sex, celebrities, violence, threats, unethical editors, scummy managers and lawyers, treacherous press agents, sex discrimination; as well as a how-to for earning money by writing down words.

ART AND ABOUT

FACE THE MUSIC EXHIBIT FEATURES 41 LEGENDARY MUSICIANS PHOTOGRAPHED BY RICHARD EHRLICH Music and photography share a common nexus for experiencing feeling and are linked in contextualizing human emotion. During a five-year project led by photographer Richard Ehrlich, these two art forms came together in a unique and moving way and aimed to redefine the profound and transcendent influence music has on human emotion through facial expression.

Ehrlich accomplished this by capturing close-up facial expressions of artists listening to their favorite songs as seen in his photography book Face The Music published by Steidl. To showcase these portraits, the Grammy Museum proudly announces Face The Music, a new photography exhibit showcasing 41 legendary musicians including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Michael Bublé, Kenny Burrell, Sheryl Crow, Gustavo Dudamel, Quincy Jones, Iggy Pop, RZA, Esperanza Spalding, Ringo Starr, and many more. "It was an incredibly fulfilling once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, personally and professionally, to capture some of the world's most iconic musicians while they listened to their favorite songs," said Richard Ehrlich, photographer of Face The Music. "It is a dream come true to now showcase these photographs at the Grammy Museum."

Face The Music will offer an inside look, through portraiture, at how artists feel emotionally while listening to music of their choice. Some of Ehrlich's favorite moments from this project include capturing Wayne Shorter exuding an aura of calm, grace and mystery; Herb Alpert listening to Pavarotti with eyes closed and lost in reverie; Herbie Hancock, Michael Bublé, Rosanne Cash, and LeAnn Rimes all shedding tears during their listening session; Lars Ulrich's exuberant and emotional facial expressions while listening to Rage Against The Machine; and Iggy Pop shouting during Link Wray's "Rumble." These moments and more are discussed in the exhibit along with the music each musician was listening to, paired with each photo on display.

The exhibit will open to the public on September 12 and will run through January 6, 2020 at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

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SWEET CHARITY

OVER THE EDGE FOR THE FLYNN with people rappelling nine stories down the side of the Courtyard Burlington Harbor Hotel. All of the proceeds support the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts' artistic programming and arts education programs, and help make it possible for the Flynn to reach 46,500 students, teachers, and families through the live performing arts each year.

Of the four ways to participate one of the most popular is Toss The Boss: Send your (willing) boss Over the edge by raising a minimum of $1500. Rally your co-workers to make it a company wide effort to raise funds and see your boss take that big step over the side of the Courtyard Marriott! Companies that participate in Toss The Boss will receive event day recognition.

Saturday, August 31, at the Courtyard Burlington Harbor Hotel in Burlington, Vermont.

DILDOS HAIL MAYOR JIMMY KIMMEL

The first Mayor of Dildo - Jimmy Kimmel

American late night television, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, who grew up in Las Vegas, has been declared the first mayor of Dildo, Newfoundland. In campaigning for the position Kimmel promised a one time round of free beer and declared that he would participate in the long honored Newfoundland tradition of kissing a cod.

Kissing the cod involves a codfish as well as a type of rum known as Screech.

Newfoundland Screech is a rum sold in Newfoundland with 40% alcohol by volume. The term screech is a colloquial term that has been used to describe almost any cheap, high alcohol spirit, including moonshine. The term is used in the brand name for this mid-priced rum to associate the brand with the tradition of kissing a cod.

Kimmel, who also has a comedy club in Las Vegas, ran unopposed - although a purported late entry in the race was Matt Damon.

The possibility of that opponent resulted in Kimmel saying: "You don't want a dildo running Dildo."

While Kimmel was bestowed the honor of Mayor, his television sidekick and good friend Guillermo Rodriguez was made an honorary citizen of Dildo through the Newfoundland tradition of 'screeching in,' which was shown on the August 15, 2019 broadcast of the Kimmel television show. That means that liquor was involved.

Picturesque Dildo Harbor. Photo: Dildo Tourism

Picturesque Dildo is located on the southeastern Dildo Arm of Trinity Bay about 60 kilometres west of St. John's. With a population of at least 1,198 there are some three star hotels.

Thanks to Kimmel, the hotels may be full. Reportedly, tourists are flocking to the place because of Kimmel's involvement.

There is also the Dildo Brewing Co. & Museum which, according to their website: "is located right on the waterfront with deck seating. We serve cold craft beer on tap in our full serviced tap room. Beer inspired menu, and daily soup, sandwich & dessert menu. New and exciting brews are always on tap! Enjoy inside or outside seating. Cozy seaside taproom that overlooks scenic dildo cove. Watch the whales, icebergs and birds in comfort! We also offer brewery tours & museum tours seasonally."

There are more varieties of English spoken in Newfoundland and Labrador than anywhere else in the world. Dating back four centuries, the accents are rooted in western England and southern Ireland. There are also French and Indigenous influences that have helped shape their colourful language. And since the place is off the beaten path, the multitude of dialects and traditions that have long since evolved in other countries remain preserved right here.

It's more than just accents; you won’t be surprised to find they have our very own dictionary and encyclopedia. The Dictionary of Newfoundland English was first published in 1982 and contains hundreds of words and phrases you'll find nowhere else.

Newfoundlanders are noted for being accommodating. The hit Broadway musical Come From Away emphasizes that aspect. However, that doesn't mean you can trapse all over somebody elses' property.

For instance, shutterbugs who want a picture of "that sign."

In Kimmel's political campaign to become mayor he installed a giant Hollywood inspired Dildo sign which generated excitement and photo ops - too many.

Tourists started tresspassing to get their picture taken with "that sign."

Officials stopped being their traditionally accommodating selves and posted "No Tresspassing" signs.

Andrew Pretty, committee member for the local service district, warned people to stop climbing up the steep hill. The follage, weeds and Dildo sign are on private property.

Pretty says the town is encouraging people enjoy the Dildo sign from the road, but if the trespassing doesn't stop the sign will have to come down.

As for that sex toy name - According to Wikipedia - "The place name "Dildo" is attested in this area since at least 1711, though how this came to be is unknown. The origin of the word "dildo" itself is obscure. It was once used to reference a phallus-shaped pin stuck in the edging of a row boat to act as a pivot for the oar (also known as a "thole pin" or "dole pin"). It was used as early as the 16th century for a cylindrical object such as a dildo glass (test tube), for a phallus-shaped sex toy, as an insult for a "contemptuous or reviling" male, and as a refrain in ballads."

The place has been around awhile.

The Dildo area has a long history, going as far back as 2000 BC when Maritime Archaic aboriginal people resided at Anderson's Cove. By 700 AD, people of the Dorset culture inhabited Dildo Island. In 1613, Henry Crout, while sailing up Dildo Arm, came in contact with the Beothuks, who were residing on Dildo Island at this time. He traded with them and left gifts. In 1711 the inhabitants of Trinity Bay were ordered by Governor Crow to leave their homes during the winter, to defend themselves against the French, who burned their houses. Dildo Island was one of the places designated for this purpose. The town of Dildo was founded in the late 18th century and settled to exploit the abundance of marine resources such as fish (mostly cod), whales and seals.

As for Mayor Kimmel, his official swearing in involves kissing a codfish.

EXPLOITING DOWNTON ABBEY THE MOVIE

The cast of Downton Abbey: The Movie. Photo: promotion

If you watched PBS this past couple of weeks you've seen shows touting the upcoming film Downton Abbey: The Movie. The well conceived promotion specials have almost been relentless - and it appears to have worked.

The big screen continuation of the PBS mega hit series created by Julian Fellows has all of the making of being a blockbuster. According to digital movie ticket retailer Fandango, Downton Abbey The Movie enjoyed the biggest first day of advance sales of any 2019 drama, surpassing Quentin Tarantino’s latest Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and last year’s Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

The importance of advanced ticket sales can't be minimized.

Fellows and his colleagues have made no secret that they would like to turn Downton Abbey The Movie into a franchise, much like Star Wars.

Downton Abbey: The Exhibition has proved to be successful. To warrant a second movie the first has to be mega-profitable.

An informative course entitled Film Distribution: Connecting Films with Audiences offered by Britain's Film Distributors' Association is introduced by Lord David Puttnam, Chair of Atticus Education. A member of the House of Lords, he spent thirty years as an independent producer of award-winning films including The Mission; The Killing Fields; Chariots of Fire; Midnight Express; Bugsy Malone and Local Hero. Together these films have won ten Oscars, ten golden globes, twenty-five Baftas and the Palme D’Or at Cannes. Serving as lead educator was the personable Ian Wall who serves as Director of Education at The Film Space, an organization which develops teaching materials for the use of film in educational settings.

According to their class: "The cinema is still seen as the first release window and can make or break a film financially. The success of film in subsequent windows is dependent on success at the box office, even if the box office itself is not profitable. American films take most of the money at the box office.

"In the UK, the BFI (British Film Institute), and its predecessor the UK Film Council, have published a number of reports on the economic and cultural value of film. The most recent report on economic impact found that film contributed £3.67 billion to the UK economy.

"Another increasingly important aspect of film and screen production is tourism. Film tourism – visiting a place that features in a film or television program – is more and more popular. Approximately £840 million of tourism spending by overseas visitors (to England) can be attributed to film-induced tourism." Tours to Highclere Castle in north Hampshire, the place used for exterior shots of Downton Abbey and most of the interior filming, are popular.

Downton Abbey: The Movie has a lot going for it - including the triangle of power: talent, money and distribution.

The film is pre-branded, meaning it is based on a recognizable existing property - the television series.

As explained in the course: "The first window you're going to release it in is the theatrical release window. You're going to release it into cinemas. Now there's going to be costs associated with that, some very significant cost, very particularly in the UK and any of the major markets. It costs usually seven figures and more to release a film in cinemas in the UK if it's going into more than 300 cinemas.

"Usually about those five months later, the film will appear on DVD and digital platforms, transactional platforms. That's historically been more the more lucrative parts of film distribution. DVD was an explosion in the early part of this century, and although it's being eroded now, it's still a very robust means of income for a film distribution company. A film on DVD quite often generates more revenue for the film company than the theatrical release window.

"Following on usually around 9 to 12 months after the theatrical release and about four to five months after the home entertainment transactional window, the film will enter one of two other windows. It might enter a paid-TV platform such as SKY. So it would be shown regularly on SKY. Or it might enter on Amazon Prime Instant Video or Netflix, two things which are called subscription video on demand platforms. They are effectively the films being exploited in what we refer to as the first pay window. Now that is people are paying still to watch the film directly. They may be paying either SKY, a pay platform, or they may be paying a subscription video on demand platform.

"They are effectively buying film content." The film is licensed one of those platforms usually for a fee. "And that will usually last somewhere between 9 and 12 months further. That would take you up to roughly around two years to two and half years after the theatrical release of the film whereby you can make it available to free television broadcasters, so Channel 4, or the BBC, or ITV. And they will also hopefully buy your film for a fee, which they would offset against the advertising revenue perhaps that they can get in that period whilst they're showing your film. So they will perceive your film to have a certain value on their channel.

"Then really the film goes into catalogue. It's a catalogue title. It's an old film, if you will. And you can still exploit the rights to that film continually through all media. It's unlikely that it's going to go back into cinemas unless it's a classic, and it gets programmed in repertory cinemas, which themselves are getting less and less available now. But most likely, it's going to have value for TV broadcasters, subscription video on demand platforms, or any platforms that aggregate content."

Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham (R) had a new nemesis in Lady Maud Bagshaw played by Imelda Staunton (L). Photo: promotion

The big screen adaptation of Downton Abbey includes the original principal cast from the PBS series, including Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley, 7th Earl of Grantham - Laura Carmichael as Edith Pelham, Marchioness of Hexham- Jim Carter as Charles (Mr.) Carson - Raquel Cassidy as Phyllis Baxter - Brendan Coyle as John Bates - Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Talbot - Kevin Doyle as Joseph Molesley - Michael C. Fox as Andrew "Andy" Parker - Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates - Matthew Goode as Henry Talbot - Harry Hadden-Paton as Herbert Pelham, 7th Marquess of Hexham Rob James-Collier as butler Thomas Barrow (who does get a gay kiss in the movie) - Allen Leech as Tom Branson - Phyllis Logan as Elsie Carson - Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham - Sophie McShera as Daisy Mason - Lesley Nicol as Beryl (Mrs.) Patmore - Douglas Reith as Richard Grey, Baron Merton - Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham - and Penelope Wilton as Isobel Grey, Baroness Merton.

Addition cast members for the movie include: Max Brown in a super secret undisclosed role - David Haig as The Royal Butler - Geraldine James as Queen Mary - Simon Jones as King George V - Tuppence Middleton as Lucy Smith (who falls in love with Tom Branson) - Stephen Campbell Moore as Captain Chetwode - Kate Phillips as Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood - Imelda Staunton as Lady Maud Bagshaw - Philippe Spall as the Royal Chef and Stephen Campbell Moore.

As a person who has watch every episode of Downton Abbey several times and even binged watched all seasons - my opinion is that the movie plot is kept almost too much of a secret; and the upcoming movie snippets aren't particularly dramatic or memorable. While I'm a big fan of any Merchant Ivory film, Julian Fellows has proved he is an expert on period drama. Downton Abbey the TV series was flawless. Thus, it seems almost disingenuous to speculate that his big screen adaptation will be nothing less than perfection. However, maybe it's the PR. I wish there was an expectation of more Sturm und Drang and less of a feeling that a cozy crisis will occur because a wrinkle has been discovered in the tablecloth or somebody didn't properly align the silverware.

The film is set in 1927, and features a royal visit to Downton Abbey by King George V and Queen Mary. Sybil's widower Tom finding happiness and Lady Mary having another baby are fine, but there needs to be a lot more. Sales for the first movie are based upon the enjoyment of the television series, which was free. In order for the public to pay for a second movie, this 122 minute film has to accomplish what the television version did in an entire season - entertain and keep the audience willing to wait - in the case of a second movie - another two years. That's a tall order.

Downton Abbey is theatrically released on September 13 in the United Kingdom and September 20 in America.

SPREADING THE WORD

BLYTHE DANNER stars in a staged reading of The Strangeness of Men and Women a play based on a true story by Eden Collinsworth.

Featuring Peter Eyre, Paul Hecht, and Erin Neufer. Directed by Eden Collinsworth. The Strangeness of Men and Women is based on the true story of one of the more remarkably bizarre divorce cases, certainly one of the most entertaining. Though the case takes place in 1920’s in London, it pits the male establishment against a new, very different generation of women and addresses the provocative issues between the sexes today. “The only difference between men and women is everything,” or so it has been said. Come and make up your own mind.

Wednesday, August 28, at Guild Hall in The Hamptons, New York.

THE DUBAI UAE PRESS CLUB has announced that the Social Media Influencers Diploma Program, the region’s first accredited diploma program for social media influencers, will begin on September 8.

Developed in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid School for Communication (MBRSC), of the American University in Dubai, the program seeks to train Arab social media influencers in strategic communications and enable them to produce effective content on social media platforms.

Mona Al Marri, president of the Dubai Press Club, said: "The program is in line with Dubai’s vision to develop and empower talented individuals in various fields and enhance their role and contributions in the advancement of their communities.

"The launch of the first academic program of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region for social media influencers will have a direct positive impact on the media content being produced on social media platforms across the region."

Ali Jaber, Dean of the MBRSC, highlighted the importance of the program and said it reflected the MBRSC’s strategy and commitment to developing talent in the fields of media and communication.

LIBERATING PARIS the first American soldiers entered the recently liberated city of Paris 75 years ago today, on August 25, 1944. They were accompanied by the renowned war correspondent Ernie Pyle.

Ernest Taylor Pyle was 44 when he set foot in liberated Paris, almost twice the age of the soldiers he was with. Originally from Dana, Indiana, he was bald and weighed less than 110 lbs., but was a hero in the United States. Since 1940 he had reported on the horrors of war, London during the bombings, the fight for North Africa, and the Allied landings in Sicily and Normandy, painting a picture of soldiers’ daily lives with humor and empathy.

He wrote some 40 articles from the frontlines and received the prestigious Pulitzer Prize before he was killed in April 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa in the Pacific.

AUGUST 25 is Whiskey Sour Day. August 26 celebrates National Cherry Popsicle Day. August 27 is National Pots de Crème Day. August 27 is Banana Lover's Day - that would be Prince Harry who is said to love anything banana. August 28 featurs National Cherry Turnover Day and August 29 touts More Herbs, Less Salt Day as well as Chop Suey Day which usually has a lot of sodium. August 29 is Lemon Juice Day while August 30 is National Toasted Marshmallow Day. August 31 is Eat Outside Day and International Bacon Day so eat some bacon outdoors.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

INTAR ANNOUNCES THE CREATION OF THE MAX FERRA DIRECTING FELLOWSHIP Named for INTAR Founder and Seminal Force in Latino Theater, Max Ferrá.

Generously funded by the Peg Santvoord Foundation, the M.F.D.F. is an annual fellowship given to an emerging Latinx director. INTAR defines “emerging” as an early career director, post graduate, although university study is not a requirement. INTAR Theater will be working closely with Stage Directors and Choreographers Society to provide Fellows with an introduction to the professional union, including a full one year associate membership. The fellowship seeks to identify an exceptional emerging Latinx director annually that best represents the passion and courage of Max Ferra and his vision for the American theater.

The Fellowship is named for INTAR’s founder Max Ferrá who died in 2017. He founded INTAR in 1966 to provide opportunities for Spanish speaking actors and directors. Although not conceived as an organization for social change, it quickly came to realize its responsibility as part of New York’s Hispanic community. By 1968 INTAR began providing free classes in acting, diction, dance and make-up, culminating with at least one full production by students each year. An effort was made to include different genres: in addition to theater, there was an art gallery, Cinema INTAR showcasing Latin American films, and a late night Café INTAR, offering free form entertainment.

Each year a panel of INTAR artists will select a candidate to serve as a fellow for the season. Each Fellow will receive $2000 cash award, will participate in a NewWorks Lab developing a new play, and serve an Assistant Directorship on INTAR’s Spring mainstage Off-Broadway production. Interested directors must submit a resume and artistic statement along with a digital link to examples of their work. Fellow must be a NYC resident or be able to relocate to NY for a year from January 1st 2020 to December 31st 2020.

ADAM LAMBERT WANTS TO SELL YOU HIS HOUSE the house he bought in 2009 that overlooks the Sunset Strip in LA, the same year he appeared on American Idol, reflects his personality along with his penchant for drama. Now traveling the world almost full-time performing in tours and major guest appearances, the Grammy-nominated vocalist has recently put his West Hollywood Hills home on the market for $3.35 million.

Enjoying a view of Los Angeles city lights, the 3,799-square-foot home is surrounded by lush greenery, is very private and has a disappearing glass wall that opens to a large terrace that includes an outdoor living room, fire pit and contemporary free-form pool and spa. The master suite has two balconies, a sitting room, a huge dressing room and green marble bath with steam shower and soaking tub. Night lighting brings added drama to the pool deck and a party atmosphere. Built in 1947, the three-bedroom, four-bath house has undergone impressive updates over time. In addition to formal and family rooms, there is a chef’s kitchen with Viking appliances and large island, custom wine storage and a separate studio with private entrance.

MATTHEW PERRY IS A HOUSE FLIPPER and if you know what you're doing, that buy and sell ability can make you rich. In the case of Friends superstar Perry, he already had a few bucks in the bank and now is experienced in high end real estate deals. Over the last ten years, in addition to acting, writing and producing, he has been buying, restyling and reselling some fabulous California homes. The most recent that has come to market is a glamorous 40th-floor apartment in the celebrity-filled, paparazzi-proof, 42-story Century condominium. In 2017 Perry purchased the apartment, which covers the entire 40th floor of the building, right after selling another stunning home in L.A.’s Hollywood Hills Bird Streets. After bringing in his team of architect Scott Joyce and interior designer LM Paganoe, Matthew has recently put it on the market at $35 million.

The building rises above four acres of lush private gardens with a 75-foot-long swimming pool, screening room, yoga and Pilates studios and a wine-storage facility. The home measures in at 9,318 square feet with ceiling-to-floor views over Los Angeles - visually stunning in daylight and sparkling with lights at night. It includes enormous rooms - a living room with two fireplaces, huge master suite with multiple living areas. Overall, there are four bedrooms and eight baths, game room and home theater. The chef’s kitchen has island seating as well as a table for casual dining and a separate dining room with glass walls highlighting the views. Four terraces are perfect for entertaining and dining.

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THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY HAS ANNOUNCED that Eva Ayllón, Joan Baez, José Cid, Lupita D’Alessio, Hugo Fattoruso, Pimpinela, Omara Portuondo, and José Luis Rodríguez "El Puma," will receive this year's Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, Mario Kaminsky will receive the Trustees Award. The honorees will be celebrated during a private luncheon ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas on November 13, 2019, as part of the milestone 20th anniversary Latin Grammy week. Singer, composer and Latin Grammy winner Johnny Ventura, and renowned Mexican journalist Paola Rojas will be the hosts of the event.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to performers who have made contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music. The Trustees Award is bestowed to individuals who have made significant contributions, other than performance, to music during their careers. The Latin Recording Academy's Board of Trustees is the body that votes on both distinctions.



JOHN CULLUM: AN ACCIDENTAL STAR co written by Cullum and David Thompson who also directs.

Musical direction by Georgia Stitt.

Two-Time Tony Award Winning John Cullum relives New York’s Golden Age of Theatre in his new one man show. debuting at Feinstein’s/54 Below. In the show, the 89-year-old Cullum performs songs from his remarkable Broadway career which spans 56 years and includes such great hits as On the Twentieth Century; Shenandoah; Camelot; The Scottsboro Boys and Urinetown The Musical. In addition, he’ll share funny, touching and fascinating stories about working with the likes of Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Goulet, Hal Prince and Julie Andrews, among others.

A member of the prestigious Theater Hall of Fame, he also is well-known to millions of TV viewers for his roles on Northern Exposure, ER, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Mad Men, The Middle and Madame Secretary, among others.

John Cullum: An Accidental Star has lighting designer is Ken Billington. Jeff Berger is the show’s producer.

Performances at Feinstein’s / 54 Below September 2, September 4 through September 7 in New York City.

WIVES by Jaclyn Backhaus.

Directed by Margot Bordelon.

Wives "traverses time and place, from the brawny castles of 16th Century France (where King Henry II is about to die in the aftermath of a joust), to the rugged plains of 1960s Idaho (at the freshly dug site of Ernest Hemingway’s, aka Big Ern’s, grave), to the strapping fortresses of 1920s India (where Maharaja Madho Singh II has fallen “under the influence of his travel partner and fave concubine the noted WITCH Roop Rai”). In each setting, we’re introduced to the wives and paramours of these Great Men - and shown what happens once the crushing weight of their Greatness has been lifted. In this kaleidoscopic comedy, Jaclyn Backhaus pushes past patriarchal cliché to reach an ecstatic breakthrough, untethering stories and history - and language itself - from the visions made by men."

Wives features Aadya Bedi as Wife 3; Purva Bedi as Wife 1; Sathya Sridharan as Man; and Adina Verson as Wife 2.

The creative team includes Reid Thompson (Scenic Design), Valérie Thérèse Bart (Costume Design), Amith Chandrashaker (Lighting Design), Kate Marvin (Sound Design and Original Music), J. Jared Janas (Hair and Wig Design), and Erin Gioia Albrecht (Production Stage Manager).

In previews at Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater in New York City. The production officially opens Monday, September 16.

APPROPRIATE by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

Directed by Ola Ince in its UK premiere at the Donmar.

The Lafayette family gather at their late father’s home in Arkansas to bury the hatchet and prepare the former plantation for its Estate Sale. Until, that is, they make a discovery which changes everything. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins takes on the rich tradition of American family drama in his gripping play about ghosts and the legacies we are left with.

Starring Jaimi Barbakoff, Monica Dolan, Charles Furness, Edward Hogg, Steven Mackintosh, Isabella Pappas, Orlando Roddy, Oliver Savell, Tafline Steen, and Ed Thorn.

The creatives are: Designer Fly Davis. Lighting Designer Anna Watson. Sound Designer Donato Wharton. Casting Director Julia Horan CDG.

Currently on stage at the Donmar Warehouse in London.

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This is not your typical, totally boring textbook.

In the pages of How To Earn A Living As A Freelance Writer (the first to be lied to and the last to be paid) you'll find sex, celebrities, violence, threats, unethical editors, scummy managers and lawyers, treacherous press agents, sex discrimination; as well as a how-to for earning money by writing down words.

WHO'S WHERE

WEIRD AL YANKOVICand his Strings Attached tour - backed by a full symphony orchestra are performing both hits and classics along. As expected, Al will bring his usual epic production, with costumes, props and a video wall. On Monday, August 26 the tour stops in - Bismark, ND at the Bismark Event Center. Thursday's show is in Indianapolis, IN at the Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn. On Friday the event is in Peoria, IL at Peoria Civic Center. Saturday's gig is in - Kansas City, MO at the Starlight Theatre. Next Sunday, September 1, the stage party is in North Little Rock, AR at Verizon Arena.

OAK RIDGE BOYS perform on August 30 at the Country Tonite Theatre in Pigeon Forge, TN, Next Sunday, September 1, they'll be singing their hits at the Canton Labor Day Festival in Canton, NC.

PINK MARTINI in the spotlight Monday, August 26, in Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay San Diego, CA.

MIRANDA LAMBERT on stage Friday, August 30, 2019 at the Allentown Fairgrounds, Allentown, PA. Saturday's stop is at the MIXX, Borgata Resort Spa & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

CHER at the Park Theatre MGM-Grand Resorts in Las Vegas with shows Wednesday, August 28, Saturday, August 31, and Sunday, September 1, 2019

FINAL OVATION

HABIB YOUSUF ABDALLAH AL SAYEGH a prominent Emirati poet and intellectual, died on Tuesday, August 20, 2019. He was 64.

He was editor-in-chief of Al Khaleej newspaper, chairman of the Emirates Writers Union and secretary general of the Arab Writers Union.

Born in Abu Dhabi, UAE he received his Bachelor of Philosophy in 1977 and completed his Master of Comparative Linguistics from the University of London in 1998.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, tweeted a tribute to him, saying: “Today, the UAE has lost one of its icons of media, journalism and literature. May God bestow his mercy upon Habib Al Sayegh and place him in paradise.

"His work, poetry and writings will remain as a testimony of his great love of the nation, as well as the greatest legacy he left behind. The nations will always remain as a testament to persons of letter. May Allah grant his family patience and solace”.

Next Column: September 2, 2019
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Laura Deni

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