Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: January 19, 2025
By: Laura Deni
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INAUGURAL BALLS: FOOD, DANCING, ENTERTAINMENT AND ICE CREAM!

This circa 1846 daguerreotype of Dolley Madison, was made by John Plumbe Jr.

Blame it all on Dolley Madison.

Dolley (Payne) Todd Madison (1768–1849) lived through three wars, knew eleven presidents, and was a gracious and influential personality in the political landscape of Washington for fifty years.

Her parents were Quakers, and in 1783 the family moved to Philadelphia where Dolley later married John Todd, Jr. Her husband and infant son both died during a yellow fever epidemic in 1793. Dolley and her other son, John Payne, barely survived.

A year later Aaron Burr introduced her to James Madison, whom she soon married. Following her 1794 marriage to Madison she was banned from the Society of Friends.

"Tall and plump with excellent posture, the first lady had a commanding presence. To enhance her looks in lamplight, she rouged, a risky practice when applied color was associated with less refined women," reported the Historical Society.

Dolley Madison hosted the first inaugural ball in Washington, DC on March 4, 1809, to celebrate her husband James Madison's inauguration as the 4th President of the United States. The ball was held at Long's Hotel on Capitol Hill. The ball was a grand affair, with 400 tickets sold for $4 each. James Madison described the ball as exhausting and unpleasant.

Despite her Quaker upbringing, Dolley played cards, dipped snuff, blew her nose on a bandana, and had the temerity to serve ice cream at her husband's second inauguration.

While it's so cold in Washington, DC this week that the festivities have been moved inside. That doesn't mean the music and food notched down. Famed caterer Ridgewells who has been responsible for the finger foods and assorted foods for 18 presidential inaugurations has divulged some juicy tidbits.

First of all there will be music.

Donald J. Trump

The swearing-in ceremony inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda will begin with a musical prelude by The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Combined Choirs followed by "The President's Own," by the United States Marine Band.

After the call to order by by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, the invocations by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, and the Rev. Franklin Graham of Samaritan's Purse and The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, tenor Christopher D. Macchio will sing "Oh, America!".

Following the vice presidential oath of office administered by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh "America the Beautiful," will be performed by Carrie Underwood backed by the Armed Forced Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club.

The presidential oath of office administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will be followed by "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," performed by the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club. Following President Trump's inaugural address and benedictions from Yeshiva University's President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, Imam Husham Al-Husainy of the Karbalaa Islamic Center, Senior Pastor Lorenzo Sewell of 180 Church Detroit and the Rev. Fr. Frank Mann of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn "The Star-Spangled Banner," will be delivered by opera singer Christopher Macchio.

After the swearing in there is an inaugural lunch. Donald Trump’s inaugural lunch menu for his first inauguration in 2017 included Maine lobster, Gulf shrimp, and Seven Hills Angus beef, to name a few dishes. The long-standing traditional event is hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Attending are both the newlysworn in president and vice president at the Capitol following the inaugural address.

The committee organized its first luncheon in 1953, when lawmakers welcomed President Dwight Eisenhower for creamed chicken, baked ham and potato puffs in the Capitol’s Old Senate Chamber.

President Barack Obama’s 2013 luncheon boasted a menu of steamed lobster, grilled bison and apple pie.

Trump’s, second inaugural luncheon, which will be held in the Statuary Hall, will feature three courses: The first, Maine lobster and Gulf shrimp with saffron sauce and peanut crumble, will be accompanied by a J. Lohr 2013 Arroyo Vista Chardonnay.

Riddgewells Catering waving the dessert flag. photo: Ridgewells Catering

This will be followed by grilled Seven Hills Angus beef in dark chocolate and juniper jus with potato gratin, served alongside Delicato Black Stallion 2012 Limited Release Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. For dessert, guests will feast on chocolate soufflé and cherry vanilla ice cream served with Korbel Natural "Special Inaugural Cuvée" California Champagne.

According to CNN "the champagne, which has been served at many inaugural luncheons, can be purchased for as little as $13."

In the evening there are the three Inaugural balls plus numerous private celebrations being held in museums, historical venues including the historic Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, rooftop patios, raw warehouse spaces, and cozy galleries.

At all of the party hearty places we're talking music and food.

Commander in Chief Inaugural Ball: Country music band Rascal Flatts and country singer Parker McCollum will perform at the ball geared toward military service members. Trump is scheduled to speak.

Liberty Inaugural Ball: Rapper Nelly, country singer Jason Aldean and disco band The Village People are scheduled to perform at the ball geared toward Trump's supporters. Trump is set to give remarks.
Starlight Ball: Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw will perform and Trump will speak at the third inaugural ball, at which guests are expected to be big donors of the incoming president.

Music and entertainment began with Roosevelt and have long been a part of the celebrations.

According to the First Ladies Library: Dolley Madison technically oversaw the first inaugural ball in 1809, but the concept of a star-studded variety show began with Roosevelt’s third term. With Douglas Fairbanks Jr. taking on emcee duties in his British Navy uniform, the evening set a precedent for future inaugural galas by taking advantage of a burgeoning celebrity culture.

A 19-year-old Mickey Rooney performed a piano concerto before amusing the crowd with his Clark Gable impression. Irving Berlin performed "God Bless America," which Roosevelt had used as his campaign song throughout the 1940 election. And coming off the career-best success of his fascism satire The Great Dictator, Charlie Chaplin performed his character’s climactic speech during the gala’s most showstopping moment. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1957): A historic national anthem from Marion Anderson.

So where does all that food come from?

Ridgewells Catering.

Founded in 1928 in Washington, D.C., Ridgewells has been headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland since the 1970’s. They employ more than 180 gastronome specialists, and the company was ranked 15th for Washington’s Fastest Growing Companies by the Washington Business Journal in Fall 2023.

To inspire some of their creative direction for 2025, Ridgewells set out this year to research some of the menus (and epic moments) served up at previous Inaugural events. Some favorite gems they uncovered included:

In 1961, John F. Kennedy had 5 official balls, bringing back the glitz and glamour to the events which had been largely lost in recent decades due to war and economic depression. Some of the dishes chosen for his events were inspired by American favorites and New England classics such as Boiled Stuffed Lobster with Drawn Butter, and Patisserie Bateau Blanche (a white fruit cake, rumored to be a recipe provided by Jackie Kennedy).

In 1973, during Nixon’s Inaugural ball at what is today’s Smithsonian American Art Museum, a chicken got loose from an exhibit and crashed the party, cozying up to guests during what was reported to be quite the raucous party.

At Reagan’s 1981 Inauguration, guests consumed over 40 MILLION jelly beans, which were known to be his favorite snack after he quit smoking.

Bill Clinton attended 11 balls in 1993 and 14 in 1997 (whew!), and he had perhaps the most eclectic menus ever served. Highlights included a Shrimp, Oyster & Scallop Pie and Beggar’s Pudding with Quince Ice Cream.

Ridgewells works with creative partners who "fabricate custom décor, and those who provide exceptional furniture rentals, they really have a pulse on how to take an event and turn it into something memorable," said Ridgewells Catering CEO Susan Lacz.

Party gal Lacz continued, "Whether it’s a candlelit inaugural ball or a disco-lit bash featuring Warhol-style artwork of historic presidents, are the ones who go all out on the décor. We have such amazing creative talent in this city. Our vendor partners, especially those who your guests will cherish forever. This is an historic event, and investing in the creative side of things will bring the festivities to the next level.”

Dolley Madison would be proud. Every inauguration includes ice cream.

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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

EMMA FERRER

Emma Ferrer.

the Granddaughter of Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer and daughter of Sean Hepburn Ferrer and Lella Flannigan who are divorced, is making her painting debut. A graduate pf The Florence Academy of Art, she is considered a multi-material artist painting in both watercolor and oil as well as sculptural works in bronze, resin, and ceramics. Her style is influenced heavily by her residence in the Italian mountains and can be described as impressionistic.

Ferrer's work titled The Scapegoat emerges from Ferrer's deep fascination with ancient rites.

On display at the Sapar Contemporary Gallery + Incubator which is located in Tribeca, New York. The Ferrer painting is on display until February 15, 2025.

Ferrer made her magazine modeling debut on the cover of Harper's Bazaar September 2014 issue. Ferrer was signed by Storm Management. She additionally appeared in a number of editorial publications and campaigns, including Dior, Japanese luxury skincare brand Kosé, Givenchy, and Tiffany & Co. She played a supporting role in the feature film The Man in the Attic, a psychological thriller directed by Constantine Venetopoulos, released in 2019. Ferrer and her father both contributed to Audrey (2020), a documentary about her grandmother directed by Helena Coan.

Ferrer lived in New York City for 6 years from 2015-2019, where she worked as an art liaison and curator. Ferrer currently resides in Italy since 2019 where she works as a professional artist.

Ferrer is a spokesperson for UNICEF, and a UNHCR Ambassador to the United States. In December 2018, Ferrer was the keynote speaker at a UNICEF ball, in a continuation of her grandmother's work with the organization.

ART INSTITUTIONS LAUNCH $12 MILLION FIRE RELIEF FUND FOR L.A. ARTISTS led by the J. Paul Trust include a growing number of partnerships including the Mohn Art Collective—which comprises the Los Angeles-based museums LACMA, the Hammer, and the Museum of Contemporary Art—and many foundations set up in the name of artists Helen Frankenthaler, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Ellsworth Kelly, Mike Kelley, Willem de Kooning, Joan Mitchell, David Hockney, Sam Francis, and Carolee Schneemann, as first reported in ArtNew.

Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust said that several Blue Ribbon stars have also contributed, including Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Kate Capshaw.

A number of area artists have lost homes, studios, or significant holdings of work, including Christina Quarles, Diana Thater, Paul McCarthy, Martine Syms, and Kathryn Andrews.

Some cultural sites, such as the Bunny Museum in Altadena, have burnt to the ground.

On a personal note: a few years ago Broadway To Vegas donated a collection of decorative, quality items to the Bunny Museum. What I donated were "just things," some I had purchased almost 70 years ago. Some more expensive than others. It was time for me to let them go and I wanted them to belong to somebody who would have my same feelings towards them.

The Bunny Museum seemed perfect. I had donated them to the Bunny Museum years ago. They were gone from my life, but apparently not my heart. I never realized how deep the depth of my feelings would be to learn they were now ash and The Bunny Museum was gone. I can't begin to comprehend the emotions of those who have lost their homes, occupations, possessions and memories.

See Broadway To Vegas column of March 26,2017.

LOOK BACK: THE BEST OF BOB DYLAN presented by Morrison Hotel Gallery is an exclusive fine art photography exhibit of the life, and many lives of Bob Dylan as shot by 17 culture-defining photographers. This is a bi-coastal exhibit, at both gallery locations, West Hollywood and New York.

Look Back: The Best of Bob Dylan offers forth a rare exploration of Morrison Hotel Gallery’s exclusive and extensive fine art photography collection. It is a comprehensive retrospective that chronicles Dylan’s seismic career to date, capturing moments onstage, backstage, and off-stage in portraiture and live/reportage-style works.

The exclusive exhibit features rare and never-before-seen, including artist-printed and remastered pieces by Daniel Kramer with additional work by Jerry Schatzberg, Ken Regan, Don Hunstein, Danny Clinch, Barry Feinstein, Rowland Scherman, Elliott Landy, Lynn Goldsmith, Lisa Law, DA Pennebaker, Jay Blakesberg, Henry Diltz, Michael Zagaris, Joel Bernstein, David Gahr, and Peter Simon.

Kramer, who passed away April 29th, 2024, considered himself a "historian with a camera." His images here capture Dylan’s transformation from the darling of the folk scene to a full-blown rock star, wielding an electric guitar and fronting a full band.

This controversial evolution granted Dylan a career reset that kept him vital for many decades to come. Kramer was there for this cataclysmic time, and he shot the legendary album covers for Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited.

He also photographed Dylan in the studio, and sound-checking before his first electric show ever on August 28th, 1965 at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York. These images, among other of Kramer’s poetic Dylan snapshots—some of which are being shown publicly for the first time.

Look Back: The Best of Bob Dylan also showcases Dylan, the young, folk romantic, as shot by Don Hunstein in 1963. The exhibit includes images from Dylan’s myth-making, The Times They Are A-Changin’ era as documented by Barry Feinstein. And the collection features select images from Ken Regan’s "Rolling Thunder Revue" oeuvre.

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SWEET CHARITY

HELPING FIRE VICTIMS Grammy-winner Beyoncé is helping through her BeyGOOD charity foundation which is donating $2.5 million to help families rebuild after they’ve suffered losses. In addition to helping those who lost their homes and possessions, BeyGOOD will also assist churches and community centres. Eva Longori has donated $50,000. Rapper Snoop Dogg’s Clothing store has announced that it would offer free clothing to help rebuild lives of those affected.

Meanwhile, the Walt Disney Company pledged $15 million, while Paramount and Fox Corp donated $1 million with contributions to the American Red Cross and the Los Angeles Fire Department. Warner Music and Blavatnik Foundation announced an initial $1 million commitment. In addition to direct financial donations, Live Nation is planning to hold a FireAid benefit concert at Inglewood, CA’s Intuit Dome on January 30, 2025.

To help those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires as they rebuild, PayPal will match up to $1M USD in customer donations through February 12, 2025.

GARRY MARSHALL THEATRE in Burbank, CA is continuing their participation as a collection point to help those devastated by the fires.

This past Saturday they accepted NEW school supplies for displaced youth. They accepted NEW supplies: youth backpacks - pencil boxes - lunch boxes/bags - No. 2 pencils - sharpeners that catch the shavings - black ink pens - blue ink pens - spiral notebooks - packaged lined paper (wide ruled and college ruled) - scissors - 24 box of crayons - colored pencils - set of markers - white glue - glue sticks - 3-ring binders - reams of white printing paper - solid colored folders.

GMT also provided N95 masks "to anyone in need, no matter what."

GMT is also offering full scholarships "to our Broadway Bound program for displaced youth. This is a musical theatre driven program for ages 8-11 (9:30am-12pm) and ages 12-17 (12:30-3:30pm) on February 1, 8, 15, and 22, with a culmination presentation on February 23."

"We are also offering full scholarships for our Teen Tech: Stage Makeup Design class for ages 12-17."

GIBSON AND GIBSON GIVES, FIRE RELIEF 2025 Community and Shelter Support: Gibson Gives is partnering with local organizations and brands to deliver essential life resources such as food, water, and apparel to all wildfire affected communities. In partnership with Vans, Liquid Death, and more Gibson will provide supplies including Gibson t-shirts, Vans socks, shoes, Liquid Death water and more.

Gibson, Gibson Gives, and Guitar Center the world’s largest retailer of musical instruments--as well as its charitable organization The Guitar Center Music Foundation have enlisted the assistance and support of many prominent manufacturers from the music instrument (MI) industry including AKG, AlphaTheta/Pioneer, Audio-Technica, Eastman, ESP Guitars, Hoshino (Ibanez Guitars/TAMA Drums), JBL Professional, C. F. Martin & Co., Pearl Drums, Remo Inc., Roland, DW, Saga, Schecter Guitar Research, Shure, Sony Music, Universal Audio, Vater Percussion, Yamaha, and Avedis Zildjian Co, in a massive and unprecedented donation relief effort for those impacted by the los Angeles wildfires.

For musicians, music professionals, or a nonprofit music program based in the Los Angeles area affected by the fires, the Guitar Center Foundation and Gibson Gives are donating a special one-time grant to replace instruments and gear. Los Angeles musicians who lost their instruments and gear can reach out and apply now through February 28th 2025. Proof of loss or address may be required.

The brands have now partnered with the NAMM Foundation's L.A. Wildfires Relief Fund as well as the NAMM Show, which is providing two L.A. Wildfire Relief Centers during next week’s 2025 show at the Anaheim Convention Center (January 23-25). These centers inform attendees how they can support the coordinated efforts of this initiative and will be located in Hall C and in ACC North Level 2.

"The recent wildfires have deeply impacted our artists and friends in Los Angeles," says Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson. "Gibson is committed to donating directly to these incredible organizations and working together with the music community to deliver immediate and impactful aid, and to help communities rebuild."

"I am deeply grateful to see such an outpouring of support from everyone coming together to assist musicians who have tragically lost their instruments in the fire. This collective effort is not just about replacing instruments; it’s about restoring the power of music in people’s lives—a vital source of healing, renewal, and strength as they navigate the journey of rebuilding their lives and communities."
-Myka Miller, Executive Director of The Guitar Center Music Foundation

THE JULIEN'S AUCTIONS MUSICARES CHARITY RELIEF AUCTION will feature instruments, outfits, posters auctioned by music stars for wild fire survivors.

Some of the items: a sequined jumpsuit belonging to Dolly Parton, a Stevie Nicks-signed top hat, a Telecaster signed by Olivia Rodrigo, a Gibson Les Paul guitar with pickguard signed by Neil Young, and items from Miley Cyrus, Brian Wilson, Lionel Richie, Sza, Ringo Starr, and Slash.

The annual auction event, held in conjunction with the MusiCares Persons of the Year celebration, raises essential funds that help music professionals recover from crises, including the unprecedented challenges posed by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County.

"Julien's Auctions is proud to partner again with MusiCares to celebrate the gift of music and its power to inspire and heal the world in our annual charity relief initiative," Martin Nolan, co-founder and executive director of Julien's Auctions, said in a statement. "The best of the best will be offered in this incomparable opportunity to own a piece of music history while making a difference."

ACTOR ZACHARY LEVI AND HIS NONPROFIT, NERD HQ hosted Breakfast with Zac & Super Friends – Smallville Edition at Fan Expo New Orleans, today Sunday, January 19, 2025.

The exclusive breakfast took place with Levi and stars of the TV drama, Smallville, Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum.

Fans were treated to handheld bites and assorted drinks over casual conversations with Levi, Welling and Rosenbaum, before the start of the Fan Expo New Orleans event. This extraordinary experience includes guests getting an item signed by the celebrities and photo opportunities.

"Breakfast with Zac and Super Friends is a fun way for me to meet fans and people who are also passionate about mental health,” said Levi. “It will be a great start to Fan Expo while contributing to Nerd HQ’s mission of providing free therapy to those who cannot afford it."

Funds raised from Breakfast with Zac & Super Friends – Smallville Edition go toward Nerd HQ’s mission of providing free therapy, 24-hour emotional support, self-care resources, and other online resources to those who cannot afford it. Levi hosted a similar breakfast in Columbus on December 8, prior to GalaxyCon, another pop culture convention, which raised $4,000 for Nerd HQ’s mission.

Nerd HQ recently partnered with TimelyCare, a virtual health and wellbeing provider, to provide free mental health therapy and access to mental health resources for one year for 400 people. Individuals will be able to register for free mental health therapy and resources through nerdhq.org on a first-come, first-served basis. Over 100 people have signed up for free mental health resources and therapy so far.

SPREADING THE WORD

GOOD NEWS!! Princes Kate has announced that her cancer is in remission. Great way to start the New Year! She also will be making her first formal appearance since her cancer diagnosis by attending the BAFTA awards. BAFTA is an Arts, Film and Television Association charity and one of the royal family’s patronages. William has been President of BAFTA since 2010.

The EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, hosted by David Tennant takes place Sunday, February 16, 2025.

THE RECORDING ACADEMY has announced that this year's Grammy Awards will go on as scheduled on February 2 in Los Angeles despite the devastating wildfires. The event, set to be broadcast on CBS, will raise funds for wildfire relief and honor first responders.

NAB SHOW LAUNCHES NEW SPORTS SUMMIT a three-day program exploring the tech and trends transforming the fan experience and driving new revenue streams.

A cornerstone for media companies, live sports draw millions of real-time viewers across streaming platforms, television, radio, and social media.

The 2025 NAB Show will connect industry leaders and equip businesses with the actionable insights and strategies needed to thrive in this dynamic ecosystem, showcasing how cutting-edge technologies like real-time analytics and immersive fan experiences are redefining content delivery. Additionally, the rise of athlete-owned media ventures and transformative changes like the NCAA NIL rule are creating new licensing opportunities and reshaping the media rights landscape.

The Sports Summit includes show floor sessions and an exclusive paid conference that will delve into the lucrative sports sector, where annual U.S. sports rights revenues are projected to rise from $29.54 billion in 2024 to $34.72 billion by 2027, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE has proposed protected status for monarch butterflies. As if a 2,000-mile annual migration wasn’t difficult enough, the monarch butterfly has spent the last 10 years traversing the long and winding road to obtaining protected status by the U.S. government.

In mid-December, the monarch reached the critical next step to formally receive that recognition: the public commentary phase. The Field Museum has announced that from now through March 12, the USFWS wants to hear what the general public has to say on the matter.

TONY WiNNER JAMES CORDEN is secretly performing for free in a 'panic attack inducing' immersive stage show You Me Bum Bum Train on the West End. Actually all of the performers are performing for free and keeping their mouths shut about it.

The immersive phenomenon takes place in a secret location in central London and the contents of the show are kept secret too to ensure audience members are completely surprised when they attend.

You Me Bum Bum Train's cast is composed entirely of volunteers and a string of A-listers have taken part, with Corden the latest to sign on "for the experience". The versitile performer first saw the show eight years ago and has wanted to take part ever since.

The show has triggered panic attacks in some audience members. if you want to know "why" you'll have to go see the show.

A SAFE RED DYE FOR YOUR FOODS use cranberry or pomegranate juice. Experiment until you discover how much it takes to achieve the shade you want. Then, reduce the liquid in the recipe to equal what you used for red coloring.

ROGER STONE former advisor to President Trump sending out missives worth reading.

"He doesn’t get enough credit for it, but in his first term, President Donald Trump shut down some of the worst taxpayer-funded animal abuses imaginable, from deadly dog and cat experiments to dangerous bat labs in Wuhan.

My old friends at the non-profit White Coat Waste Project have just released a four-point-plan for Trump 2.0 that can save billions and make America great again for animals: Defund dog and cat testing, cut off animal labs in China, reinstate Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency animal testing phaseout, and abolish Fauci’s National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Cutting all taxpayer funding for barbaric dog and cat experimentation is a no-brainer."

Tthe 2025 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas April 5-9, 2025 (Exhibits April 6-9) at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

RAISING MONEY FOR THEATER Theater Resources Unlimited presents TRU Producer Boot Camp Raising Money for Theater: Who, How and When to Ask on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

Workshop faculty will include: Broadway and off-Broadway producer and actress Charlotte Cohn; Jamie deRoy, award-winning producer with 14 Tonys and over 90 Broadway credits; Patricia Klausner, managing director Shotgun Productions; Cody Lassen, producer; Plus entertainment attorneys Lee Feldshon and Eric Goldman.

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ACTOR AND DIRECTOR TIM BLAKE NELSON will be presented with the 2025 Laurette Taylor Award on Monday, January 20th, at Court Square Theater in Long Island City, NY. The event starts at 7:00 pm and will include tributes, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and entertainment.

Michael Stuhlberg, the award-winning actor, will make the presentation.

Theatre East Board of Directors is thrilled to present Tim Blake Nelson, acclaimed actor, playwright and director.

Tim Blake Nelson is a masterful storyteller and a steadfast supporter of Theatre East. With a remarkable career spanning both stage and screen, he has captivated audiences in films like O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Old Henry, and Leaves of Grass—the latter of which he also wrote and directed. He also will be seen in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. As a playwright, his works such as Eye of God, The Grey Zone, and Socrates delve deeply into the human condition. His directorial projects, including O, The Grey Zone, Anesthesia, and Eye of God, further showcase his relentless curiosity and compassion in exploring the complexities and turbulence of humanity.

"Nelson's contributions consistently remind us of the power of storytelling to illuminate our shared struggles and triumphs" said Judson Jones, co-founder and artistic director of Theatre East.

The Laurette Taylor Award takes its name from a pioneer of acting whose work on the stage influenced generations of artists. Theatre East founded the Award in 2009 to pay tribute to the exceptional artistic contributions of this often overlooked warrior and to honor those industry members who have made vital contributions, on stage or off. Past recipients include Tom Oppenheim and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Dominic Chianese, Elizabeth Parrish and Richard Mawe.

SPECIAL AMBASSADORS TO HOLLYWOOD Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson and Jon Voight appointed by President Trump as special ambassadors to 'very troubled' Hollywood'.

President-elect Trump announced three special envoys on Thursday with the purpose of promoting business in Hollywood.

"It is my honor to announce Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone, to be Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform last Thursday.

"They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to Foreign Countries, BACK—BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!"

He added, "These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest. It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!"

PRESIDENTIAL MEDALS OF FREEDOM the nation’s highest civilian honor, were presented by President Biden at the White House on Januar 4, 2025.

The award honors individuals who have made "exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors," according to a press release.

Presidential Medal of Freedom honorees, included Jose Andres, Bono, Ash Carter, Hillary Clinton, Michael J. Fox, Tim Gill, Jane Goodall, Fannie Lou Hamer, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Robert Francis Kennedy, Ralph Lauren, Lionel Messi, Bill Nye, George Romney, David Rubenstein, George Soros, George Stevens, Jr., Denzel Washington and Anna Wintour.

KING CHARLES launched a time capsule celebrating the 35th anniversary of he King's Foundation - originally known as The Prince's Foundation when he was the Prince of Wales.

His Majesty launched the Foundation's celebrations at Dumfries House.

The Foundation, driven by the vision of fostering a harmonious society, operates through a variety of programs aimed at uplifting marginalized communities, protecting the environment, and preserving historical traditions. It also invests in preserving cultural legacies, ensuring that art, music, and traditional crafts continue to thrive. Over the decades, The King’s Foundation has become a leading force in demonstrating how heritage and innovation can work hand in hand to create a better future.

In starting the anniversary celebrations, The King launched a time capsule project that will unfold over the next 12 months. The capsule will be buried on the Scottish estate of Dumfries House, to be opened in 100 years. This symbolic initiative not only marks the past achievements of the Foundation but also looks forward to the next century of progress.

His Majesty had the honor of placing the first items into the time capsule, including a pair of secateurs he uses for gardening and a handwritten letter reflecting on the Foundation’s journey and hopes for the future. These deeply personal contributions underline The King’s lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship and the communities the Foundation serves. Other attendees, including students, alumni, and ambassadors, were also invited to contribute items that symbolized the achievements and legacy of The King’s Foundation.

As the year progresses, the Foundation will continue collecting items from individuals and groups that reflect its wide-ranging impact. From community projects and architectural designs to educational materials and craft artifacts, each contribution will highlight a different facet of the Foundation’s influence.

Kristina Murrin CBE, Chief Executive of The King’s Foundation, expressed her pride in the organization’s accomplishments: "We are so proud of what The King’s Foundation has achieved over the past 35 years. I hope those uncovering the time capsule in 2125 will recognize the positive impact both The King and His Foundation have had on the world and its communities."

In related news Sir Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster have been appointed by King Charles as ambassadors for King Charles’ charity foundation.

Rod and Penny were inspired to get involved in The King’s Foundation when they met people who’ve benefited from it at the foundation’s annual awards ceremony in June, according to a release.

Rod performed at the Platinum Jubilee of Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022 but didn’t sing at Charles’ 2023 coronation because he had a show in Las Vegas.



CELLINO V. BARNES written by Mike B. Breen & David Rafailedes.

Directed by Wesley Taylor & Alex Wyse.

Cellino V. Barnes is a comical rollercoaster that captures the wild partnership of notorious injury attorneys Ross Cellino and Steve Barnes, from their meteoric rise in the 1990s through their spectacular break-up in the 2010s.

Witness the hilariously absurd antics of two lawyers who prioritize outrageous personal squabbles over their billion-dollar empire, navigating a minefield of ethical dilemmas, personal demons, and outdated fax machines. As their budding friendship and business collide with unchecked ambition, they must decide whether to find common ground or torch it all. Inspired by their infamous real-life split, this riotous romp reveals the rivalry and redemption of two men who changed the face of their industry, one iconic billboard at a time.

Buckle up for a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud journey that posits the age-old question: can a bromance survive ambition, and can it happen in seventy-five minutes?

Starring Eric William Morris as Ross Cellino and Noah Weisberg as Steve Barnes. Barrett Riggins serves as Understudy.

The creatives are: scenic and props design by Riw Rakkulchon, costume design by Ricky Lurie, and lighting design by Aiden Bezark. Chaira Pizzirusso is the Sound Design Consultant. Derrick Weishaar serves as Creative Consultant, Allison Leah Hohman is thr Production Stage Manager and Emily Katherine is the Assistant Stage Manager.

LDK Productions is the General Manager and Rian Buksbazen is the Company Manager. Digital marketing and advertising are by Super Awesome Friends, group sales and promotions are by BroadwayPlus, and casting is by Geoff Josselson, CSA. Sarah Schetter is the Production Manager. Nathan Sheffield, Esq., is responsible for making sure no one involved in Cellino V. Barnes gets sued.

Presented by Mix and Match Productions with performances extended for the fourth and final time closing on March 30, 2025 at Asylum NYC.

CYMBELINE Andrea Thome’s modern verse translation of one of Shakespeare’s most compelling plays. The translation was commissioned by Play On Shakespeare. Thome’s update brings the play’s language into the present, highlighting new resonances and providing a more accessible version of Shakespeare’s play for today’s audiences

Directed by Stephen Brown-Fried.

One of Shakespeare’s final plays, Cymbeline tells the story of the British king Cymbeline and his daughter, Imogen. It is a tale of deceit and jealousy, with accusations of infidelity that often draw comparisons to Othello and The Winter’s Tale.

The all-femme, all-Asian American World Premiere features Amy Hill in the title role. She is joined by Purva Bedi; Annie Fang; Anna Ishida; Narea Kang; Jennifer Lim; KK Moggie; Maria-Christina Oliveras; Julyana Soelistyo; Sarah Suzuki; and Jeena Yi.

Presented by NAATCO, the National Asian American Theatre Co. in partnership with Play On Shakespeare.

Performances began January 18th at the Lynn F. Angelson Theater in New York City for a limited Off-Broadway engagement through February 15th only. Opening Night is set for Thursday January 23rd.

8-TRACK The grooviest concert musical of the season performing your favorite hits of the '70s live on stage.

Put on your boogie shoes and experience the music of the ‘70s with the fast-paced musical revue, 8-Track. With over 50 songs that defined the decade, this joyful concert will take you on a time-traveling journey back to an era of vibrant songs, electric choreography, and outstanding harmonies.

Featuring the music of The Bee Gees, Marvin Gaye, KC and The Sunshine Band, The Carpenters, Labelle, The Doobie Brothers, Barry Manilow, The Emotions, and more, 8-Track will bring the best of soul, pop, and disco to you.

January 23 - February 16 at the Broadway Rose New Stage in Tigard, Oregon.

E-Book

Soft back Book

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.

FINAL OVATION

LESLIE CHARLESTON who portrayed Monica Quartermaine for nearly 50 years died January 12, 2025 in Los Angeles. She was 79.

According to Variety, she had experienced "several falls", which caused problems with her mobility, and had been hospitalized from one of them the week before her death.

The Daytime Emmy-nominated actress starred in more than 2,000 episodes of General Hospital.

She began working on the ABC drama in 1977 and appeared in more than 2,000 episodes, and she was the longest-tenured cast member on the series, according to IMDb. She began working in the industry in the '60s with roles in "As the World Turns" and "A Flame in the Wind." After appearing in more than 1,400 episodes of "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing," she caught the eye of Ron Howard and starred as Mrs. Dorothy Kimber in an episode of "Happy Days."

She was divorced from Bill Demms. Their marriage lasted from 1988 to 1991.

DAME JOAN PLOWRIGHT died January 16, 2025 in England. She was 95.

In a career spanning 6 decades she received several accolades including two Golden Globe Awards, an Olivier Award, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award.

She was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004.

Plowright studied at the Old Vic Theatre School before acting onstage at the Royal National Theatre where she met her husband Sir Laurence Olivier. She acted opposite him in the John Osborne play The Entertainer on the West End in 1957 and on Broadway in 1958. She earned the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role in A Taste of Honey (1961). She won the Laurence Olivier Award for Filumena (1978).

Plowright made her stage debut at Croydon in 1948 and her London debut in 1954. In 1956 she joined the English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre and was cast as Margery Pinchwife in The Country Wife.

Among her television roles, she won another Golden Globe Award and earned an Emmy Award nomination for the HBO film Stalin in 1992 as the Soviet dictator's mother-in-law. Her pair of 1992 performances (Enchanted April and Stalin) marked only the second time an actress (after Sigourney Weaver, for performances in 1988) won two Golden Globes in the same year; as of the January 2023 presentation, only Helen Mirren (for performances in 2006) and Kate Winslet (for performances in 2008) have duplicated this feat. In 1994, she was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award.

In 2003, Plowright performed in the stage production Absolutely! (Perhaps) in London. She was appointed honorary president of the English Stage Company in March 2009, succeeding John Mortimer, who died in January 2009. She was previously vice-president of the company. She made her final filmed appearance in the British documentary Nothing Like a Dame (2018) alongside her friends and colleagues Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Judi Dench, and Dame Eileen Atkins.

Plowright was first married to the actor Roger Gage in September 1953. She later divorced him and in 1961, married Laurence Olivier shortly after the end of his twenty-year marriage to the actress Vivien Leigh. Plowright and Olivier had three children together. Both daughters became actresses. The couple remained married until Olivier's death in 1989. Plowright's younger brother, David Plowright (1930–2006), was an executive at Granada Television.

Plowright's vision declined steadily during the late 2000s and early 2010s due to macular degeneration and in 2014, she officially announced her retirement from acting because she had become legally blind.

RICHARD FOREMAN a playwright of the avant-garde theater, died Saturday, January 4, 2025 David Herskovits, the artistic director of Target Margin Theater in Brooklyn and a co-executor of Mr. Foreman’s literary estate, said the death, at Mount Sinai West Hospital, was from complications of pneumonia. He was 87.

The Ontological-Hysteric Theater, which he founded in 1968, presented more than 50 of his plays, among them “My Head Was a Sledgehammer” and “Permanent Brain Damage.” The venue won numerous Obie Awards and Foreman received a a MacArthur fellowship in his late 50s.

Mr. Foreman established his company in 1968 and went on to present more than 50 of his own plays; for many years the group was housed at St. Mark’s in the Bowery, the historic East Village church. The company name refers to the metaphysical study of the nature of existence and to Foreman’s conviction that the situations he worked with were, as he told John Rockwell of The New York Times in 1976, "basically hysteric — repressed passions emerging as philosophical interactions."

Suffering from light sensitivity, Foreman said, he usually rose well before dawn, covered the apartment’s skylights with fabric and went to bed around 7 p.m.

Richard Foreman was born Edward Friedman on June 10, 1937, in Staten Island. He was adopted by Albert Foreman, a lawyer, and his wife, Claire (Levine) Foreman; the Foremans soon moved to Scarsdale, in Westchester County.

He graduated in 1959 from Brown University, where he majored in English and helped form the student theater group there; he also sometimes designed sets. Three years later, he received an M.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama (now the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale).

His father helped him get his first job, managing apartment buildings in New York, Foreman said in the Biography Project interview. That gave him a flexible schedule and allowed him to pursue artistic projects. His father then helped him again, showing one of his early plays to someone at the influential Shubert organization, who encouraged him and introduced him to a producer.

Foreman married his high school friend Amy Taubin, an actress who became a New York film critic, in 1961; they divorced in 1972. In 1988, he married the artist and actress Kate Manheim, who has appeared in a number of his plays. She is his only immediate survivor.

DAVID LYNCH visionary film maker and artist died January 15, 2025. He was 78.

The pioneering filmmaker was known for dark and surrealistic movies like Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive, as well as the TV show Twin Peaks.

"The surrealist filmmaker shined an eerie light on hypocrisy, moral corruption and sexual violence, revealing the darkness lurking even in sweet-as-cherry-pie small towns. His work explored the sinister recesses of the human psyche with an unsettling blend of melodrama, whimsy and nightmarish horror," wrote The Washington Post.

Lynch had several long-term relationships. In January 1968, he married Peggy Reavey, with whom he had one child, Jennifer Lynch, born in 1968, who is a film director. They filed for divorce in 1974. In June 1977, Lynch married Mary Fisk, and the couple had one child, Austin Jack Lynch, born in 1982. They separated in 1985 and divorced in 1987. Lynch developed a relationship with actress Isabella Rossellini, with whom he lived between 1986 and 1991. In 1992, he and his editor Mary Sweeney had a son, Riley Sweeney Lynch. Sweeney also worked as Lynch's producer and co-wrote and produced The Straight Story. The two married in May 2006, but filed for divorce that June. In 2009, Lynch married actress Emily Stofle, who appeared in his 2006 film Inland Empire as well as the 2017 revival of Twin Peaks. The couple had one child, Lula Boginia Lynch, born in 2012. Stofle filed for divorce in 2023. A divorce settlement agreement was reached on December 20, 2024, but a final divorce decree had not been issued by the court at the time of his death.

BOB UECKER Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster, died January 16, 2025 at his home in Menomonee, Wisconsin. He was 90.

Uecker had been battling small cell lung cancer since 2023.

Uecker also spent six seasons as a catcher in MLB, winning a World Series in 1964 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

However, his talent as a baseball player was questionable. He gained world wide fame for his delightful, self effacing sly sense of humor. He'd say things like - "Sporting goods companies would pay me not to endorse their products."

Johnny Carson dubbed him "Mr. Baseball" while he guested on one of his over 100 appearance on the late nighter.

Uecker served as the play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball for 54 seasons.

The Baseball Hall of Fame honored him with the Ford C. Frick Award in 2003 to celebrate his contributions from the broadcast booth.

Uecker and his first wife, Joyce (died 2015), had four children: Leeann (1957–2022), who died of ALS in March 2022; Steve (1959–2012), a cowboy, who died of complications of San Joaquin Valley fever; Sue Ann; and Bob Jr. Uecker and his second wife, Judy, were married in Louisiana in 1976 and divorced in 2001. At the time of the divorce, he lived in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Next Column: January 26, 2025
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Laura Deni