Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: June 1, 2025
By: Laura Deni
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THE 53RD INTERNATIONAL VENICE THEATRE FESTIVAL LED BY AMERICAN ACTOR WILLEM DAFOE

Oscar nominated Willem Dafoe heads Viena Theatre Festival.

The famed Venice Theatre Festival is currently taking place in Venice, Italy through June 15,2025. This year's event is focusing on "the actor’s body and its power to create an immediate community with the audience, especially in an era where so much of our experience is mediated by technology" titled Theatre Is Body - Body is Poetry.

This is how the Artistic Director Willem Dafoe commented on the first edition of the Festival under his directorship, also adding: "I want to refocus on the essential element: stage presence, which elevates the spectator and opens spaces of imagination. Theatre exists in the unique relationship between actor and audience. That intimacy is irreplaceable"

Last year Dafoe was named the new Artistic Director of the Theatre Department of La Biennale di Venezia for the two-year term 2025-2026.

Dafoe began his artistic career at age 19 when he joined Theatre X (1975-1977), one of the first experimental theatre groups in the US. In Europe, where he lived in 1976, he was at the legendary Mickery Theatre in Amsterdam, the heart of alternative international theatre. In 1977 in New York he co-founded The Wooster Group with which he performed for over twenty years until 2003.

Known for his diverse roles in both mainstream and arthouse films. Dafoe first gained attention for his performance as a counterfeiter in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985). He received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Platoon (1986). He's also known for his roles in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Shadow of the Vampire (2000), and as the Green Goblin in Spider-Man movies.
Currently underway, the program includes the American company The Wooster Group (founded among others by Elizabeth LeCompte, who will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement); the Swiss director and author Milo Rau (his work The Seer is played by actress Ursina Lardi, who will receive the Silver Lion); the young artists of Biennale College Teatro, Mariasole Brusa, Jacopo Giacomoni, and Athos Mion, as well as the Italian and international artists and companies featured: Odin Teatret, Romeo Castellucci, Yana Eva Thönnes, Davide Iodice, Gardi Hutter, Thomas Ostermeier, Anthony Nikolchev, Mary Rantou, Princess Isatu Hassan Bangura, and Thomas Richards.

The program also features further initiatives: talks with the main protagonists taking place June 1-15, a panel on Luca Ronconi on June 4, the round table Biennale ’75 ’25 - Cinquanta anni di nuovo teatro on June 5, a film series titled Spazio Cinema based on suggestions made by the artists participating in the Festival om June 6-8, and a Lectio magistralis by Richard Schechner on June 6th.

The President of La Biennale di Venezia Pietrangelo Buttafuoco commented: "The body is that exclusively human channel through which the poetry of words travels and becomes a voice, an action, a movement, a means of expression. Thus, in the midst of a decidedly evanescent era, Willem Dafoe has reaffirmed that physical presence cannot be replaced by promises of ubiquity or flattering omniscience; that the premise for existence lies in flesh and bone; and that the here and now is at once a precondition for theatre and a confirmation of our humanity".

The 2025 Golden Lion Award For Theatre honoring Elizabeth KeCompte takes place June 1st.

“Integrating the codes of music, painting, dance and the media, Elizabeth LeCompte composed works that would increasingly characterize what would become a reference point for avantgarde theatre over the decades. LeCompte has influenced creation for the theatre and opened it to the political and cultural debate, pursuing a consistent and unwavering path founded on extensive study and innovative technique – always centered on the integration of modern technology with the physical art of the actor. Theatre is a ‘physical action’, says LeCompte, to be proudly and obstinately practiced outside of the American production system, in an ongoing battle for creative independence, both individual and collective,” according to Artistic director Dafoe.

Elizabeth LeCompte and The Wooster Group presented in Venice their production, Symphony of Rats on June 1 at the Teatro alle Tese.

The Silver Lion Award will be presented to Ursina Lardi on Saturday, June 12 at the Ca’ Giustinian.

"An actress of consistently intense depth, ready to take risks and embrace directorial approaches based on different perspectives, Ursina Lardi is defining her own creativity as an actress in increasingly authorial terms. In her collaboration with the director Milo Rau in particular, Ursina Lardi has made her own individual story a collective one, taking upon herself, lucidly and with dignity, the contradictions of the bourgeois and capitalist West, almost as if the actress were, again and always, an incarnation of her own time," according to Dafoe.

Ursina Lardi will perform in Milo Rau's production, The Seer on June 12-13 at the Teatro alle Tese.

Other special events include:

Biennale College Teatro/ Mariasole Brusa - Golem_E Fango E l Mondo winner of the call Biennale College Teatro - Direction Under 35 (2024-2025)
Biennale College Teatro/Jacopo Giacomoni - Tacet winner of the Playwriting under 40 (2024-2025)
Biennale College Teatro/ Athos Mion - Orge Per George winner of Playwriting Under 40 (2024-2025)
Romeo Castellucci Societas - The Potato Eaters a performance in one act.
Simonetta Solder, Willem Dafoe - no title (An Experiment) from a text by Richard Foreman.
Bob Holman - We Are The Dinosaur an all-day performance on the streets and canals of Venice.
Gardi Hutter - Giovanna D'Arppo by Gardi Hunter and Ferruccio Caniero.
Industria Indipendente - More Than Heart, a sound performance party.
Industria Indipendente with Bob Holman - Talking Poery/ More than Heart II By and with Bob Holman & Industria Independente.
David Iodice - Pinocchio. What is a person? Concept, dramaturgy, direction, set design nd lighting Davide Iodice.
Istanbul Historical Turkish Ensemble Mevlevi Sema ceremony of the whirling dervishes.
Anthony Nikolchev/ The Useless Room - The (Un) Double by Anthony Nikolchev.
Odin Teatret/Eugenio Barba - Hamlet's Clouds, dramaturgy and direction by Eugenio Barba.
Thomas Ostermeier - Changes by Maja Zade.
Daniela Pes -Spira concert performance.
Princess Isatu Hassan Bangura -Blinded by Sight - an Oedipus Monologue written and performed by Princess Isatu Hassan Bangura.
Princess Isatu Hassan Bangura - Great Apes of the West Coast concept, test, direction, performance by Princess Isatu Hassan Banguara.
Evangelia Rantou/Mary Rantou/ Garage 21 - Mountains. Concept Garage 21.
Milo Rau - The Seer inspired by Philoctetus by Sophocles.
Thoms Richard/Theatre No Theatre - The Inanna Project by Thomas Richards
Yana Eva Thonnes - Call Me Paris text and direction: Yana Eva Thomas.
The Wooster Group - Symphony of Rate, text by Richard Foreman.

In addition, under the artistic supervision of Antonio Latella there will be five performances each of: Thom Luz. Academia Nazionale D'Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico - Hurray! I said nothing! - Sebastian Nubling, Jackie Poloni/ Sccademia Nazionale D'Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico - Grrrrr/ Grrrrr. - Alessio Maria Romano/ Accademia Nazionale D'Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico - No!

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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

V&A EAST STOREHOUSE

A working museum store. Photo: V&A East Storehouse

is now open in London.

A different place to explore.

Step inside this first-of-its-kind working museum store that’s open for you to explore. Go behind the scenes and take your own path through the worlds of art, design, performance, fashion and more than 250,000 objects from the V&A’s iconic collection. Be immersed in 5,000 years of creativity, get closer to objects of your choice, and become inspired by the limitless exploration V&A East Storehouse has to offer.

Every day you will have a unique chance to discover something new from the V&A collection, with regular Object Encounters offering drop-in sessions led by V&A curators – taking you closer to one of the many stories inside. Order an Object - From fashion and photography to ceramics and furniture, find inspiration and get closer to objects of your choice from the V&A collections. Book to see up to five objects at a date and time that suits you, and even bring a friend!

See large-scale objects displayed for the first time, including a section of East London’s Robin Hood Gardens, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office.

EDWARD BURRA | ITHELL COLQUHOUN at Tate Britain in London.

Edward Burra is one of the most distinctive British artists of the 20th century, renowned for his vibrant, satirical scenes of the uninhibited urban underworld and queer culture during the Roaring Twenties. A master of watercolor painting, the exhibition will show how Burra pushed the boundaries of the traditionally delicate medium to create bold and vivid scenes. Discover an in-depth view of Burra’s career with over 80 paintings and drawings along with material from the Edward Burra archive at Tate, providing visitors an insight into the artist’s extraordinarily imaginative creative process.

One of the most radical artists of her generation, Ithell Colquhoun was an important figure in British Surrealism during the 1930s and 1940s. An innovative writer and practicing occultist, Colquhoun charted her own course, investigating surrealist methods of unconscious picture-making and fearlessly delving into the realms of myth and magic. Explore Colquhoun’s enthralling, multi-layered universe through writings, drawings, paintings, many of which have never been shown publicly before.

Edward Burra runs in parallel with an exhibition of works by Ithell Colquhoun, offering visitors the chance to see two influential British artists alongside one another.

Edward Burra | Ithell Colquhoun is open June 13 - October 19, 2025.

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SPREADING THE WORD

DO WE CONTROL OUR OWN FATE? Or are such things decided for us?

On 9th June 1865 Charles Dickens was travelling home by train, having holidayed in France for several weeks. Suddenly, the train was violently derailed, near a quiet English village called Staplehurst. What happened on that tragic day would change his life forever, exposing him to terrors which would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Join in at the Charles Dickens Museum on June 13th and 14th as they mark the anniversary of the Staplehurst rail crash — a real and harrowing moment that left a lasting scar on the mind of Britain’s most celebrated novelist.

The performance begins with intimate readings from Dickens’s own letters, where he recalls the horror with vivid, trembling clarity. From there, we descend into the chilling world of "The Signal-Man" — a ghost story born from trauma, echoing with premonitions and spectral warnings.

Finally, Dickens’s final years will be explored through extracts of his maniacal public performances and some of the last words he penned, uncovering a man haunted, not just by what he saw at Staplehurst, but by the ticking clock of his own mortality.

Expect an ethereal, gothic atmosphere — unsettling, theatrical, and powerfully human. Performed within the walls where Dickens once lived, this is more than theatre — it’s an immersion into history, storytelling, and the uncanny. Charles Dickens Museum in London.

NOAH WYLE guesting on Alan Alda's podcast Clear and Vivid is an episode not to be missed. Playing attending physician "Robby" Robinson in the hit HBO Max series The Pitt has given him insights into how the harrowing world of the emergency room could be improved in real life.

Intelligent. Articulate. important.

GOODNIGHT, OSCAR the musical starring Sean Hayes has announced a partnership with Steinway & Sons partnership.

Good Night, Oscar plays July 21 - September 21, 2025 at the Barbican in London.

The multi award-winning play Good Night, Oscar reunites with leading piano makers Steinway & Sons for this summer's run.

Sean Hayes returns to his Tony Award-winning role as concert pianist and comedian Oscar Levant who, during his performance, plays George Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' live on a magnificent Steinway Model D Grand Piano... the same piano that has been played on our stage by a spectacular host of leading musicians including Lang Lang, Ludovico Einaudi and Mac Richter.

This masterful production about fame, artistry, and the fragility of genius – featuring a Tony Award-winning production from Sean Hayes alongside Ben Rappaport and award-winning West End star Rosalie Craig. Playing for seven weeks only.

OPERATION MINCEMEAT the Tony Award nominated Best Musical and the 2024 Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical has announced a world tour, kicking off with 40 weeks in the UK in 2026.

Terrence McNally the five-time Tony-winning playwright and librettist who died at age 81 in March 2020, was immortalized May 30 with the unveiling of Terrence McNally Way, located on East Ninth Street between Broadway and University Place.

McNally had lived on East Ninth Street for 24 years. In 2008, he honored his beloved neighborhood in his play Unusual Acts of Devotion, which takes place on the rooftop of a Village apartment much like his.

The unveiling was attended by Tony winners Jonathan Groff and Brian Stokes Mitchell and featured a performance by Tony winner Brandon Uranowitz and Grammy nominee Caissie Levy. Also in attendance was New York City Council members Carlina Rivera and Erik Bottcher.

WAITRESS headlines the Broadway Rose Theatre's Deb Fennell Auditorium in Oregon June 26-July 20. Pie making is already underway. Waitress Prop Designer James Sharinghousen took the time to provide the press office with the inside scoop on how many pies are needed (both real and fake), pie flavors, and more.
How many pies are you making for this production? The current estimate is 45, including all of the real, stunt, and display pies.
How many of the pies need to be edible?
Five of the pies have to be edible, or rather have edible slices/edible decoration. The Deep Dish Blueberry Bacon, A Little Wild Wild Berry Pie, Mermaid Marshmallow Pie, Pineapple Upside Down Pie, and the Devil’s Food Oasis Pie. That’s a lot of real pie per performance!
Do you use all fake ingredients or is there real food on stage?
Fake for the majority, but there will be practical food and beverage on stage. We’ll have a small prep kitchen set up backstage, similar to what we needed to do for all of the practical food in"Grease." Aside from giving the actors something to do during long scenes, it grounds the action in realism, and helps pull the audience into the story.

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STORK REPORT

FAMILY ADDITION The Prince and Princess of Wales - that's William and Kate - have proudly announced new additions to their family.

The couple's beloved dog, Orla, a Celtic name meaning "golden princess," welcomed a set of puppies as first reported in "The Sun."

"Mother and babies are doing well," a source told the outlet of the black cocker spaniel and her babies.

Orla is no stranger to publicity. She was seen in the official portrait of Princess Charlotte's 7th birthday.

On April 11, Prince William and Kate shared a rare image of Orla to celebrate National Pet Day. They marked the occasion with a never-before-seen Instagram photo of Orla staring into the distance in a grassy area with trees, her shiny coat seemingly wet from an adventure. "Celebrating the animals who bring so much joy, companionship and love to our lives this #NationalPetDay," the Prince and Princess of Wales' team wrote on their official social media accounts on April 11, adding a paw print emoji.

Since finding her forever home in Buckingham Palace, Orla has tagged along to several family events, from joining Kate to watch Prince William play in the Royal Charity Polo Cup in July 2022.



GOODSPEED MUSICALS after an extensive national search, announced that Vanessa Logan has been selected to be the new Managing Director of the two-time Tony Award-winning theatre. Logan will join Donna Lynn Hilton to form the executive leadership team at Goodspeed.

An accomplished arts administration leader with over 25 years of experience advancing arts organizations, Logan was most recently the executive director of Texas Ballet Theater (TBT). In this role she oversaw all administrative functions and played a pivotal role in the organization’s growth and expansion.

Prior to her role at TBT, Logan held senior leadership positions with renowned arts organizations, including American Repertory Ballet in New Jersey, Boston Ballet, The Palace Theater in Connecticut, and Connecticut Dance Theatre. Earlier in her career, she was a resident teaching artist for the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, where she authored and implemented several dance and academic syllabi.

Logan will join Goodspeed in August.



BEAU THE MUSICAL conceived and written by Douglas Lyons with music by Ethan D. Pakchar and Douglas Lyons, and lyrics by Douglas Lyons.
Directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes.

Beau the Musical features eight actor-musicians telling the story of Ace Baker (Rodin) – a young queer man whose life is forever changed when he discovers his deceased grandfather is actually still alive. Family secrets unravel as Ace rushes to make up for lost time with a man who changes his life by putting a guitar in his hand.

The production stars Matt Rodin as Ace Baker, Chris Blisset as Beau, Amelia Cormack as Raven, Seth Eliser as Standby, Andrea Goss as Nurse/Karina/Le-Ann, Cory Jeacoma as Ferris, Tyler Donovan McCall as Standby, Miyuki Miyagi as Daphney, Pearl Rhein as Standby, Derek J. Stoltenberg as Dennis, Lauren Jeanne Thomas as Standby, and Matt Wolpe as Larry.

The creative team includes scenic designer Daniel Allen, costume designer Devario D. Simmons, lighting designer Adam Honoré, sound designer Jordana Brenica, and prop designer Sean Frank. Jonathan Bach is Production Stage Manager and Mitchell Strong is Production Manager. Casting is by Robin Carus.

The production plays June 6 through July 27 at 154 Christopher Street in New York City (formerly The New Ohio Theater). Opening night is Friday, June 13.

ZEMLINSKYS ZIMMER/ZEMLINSKY'S ROOM with music by Alexander Zemlinsky, featuring his opera A Florentine Tragedy, based on a play by Oscar Wilde. German translation by Max Meyerfeld, with poems by Richard Dehmel and Ferdinand Gregorovius. New chamber orchestrations by Roland Freisitzer.

Directed by Director Philip Shneidman.

Conductor Tiffany Chang.

Experience the Italian Renaissance through the filter of fin-de-siècle Vienna! The little OPERA theatre of NY comes to BAM with the story of a love triangle and a murder. Zemlinskys Zimmer / Zemlinsky's Room is a chamber opera in three parts.

Sung in German with English Supertitles.

Starring Bass-Baritone Daniel Klein, Soprano Sara Kennedy, Soprano Mary-Hollis Hundley, Baritone Eric McKeever, Tenor Michael Boley, Tenor Oswaldo Iraheta.

The creatives are: Lighting & Scenic Design Seth Reiser. Projection Design Kylee Loera. Costume Design Lara de Bruijn. Assoc. Music Director Catherine Miller. Production Stage Manager Cordelia Senie. General Manager Jenni Bowman. Assistant Director/Supertitles Dalia Sevilla. Fight Director Brad Lemons.

This June 5-8, 2025 event is presented by the little OPERA theatre of ny.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR soundtrack by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and EGOTTim rice.

Directed by Donald Rice, Tim's son.

A timeless and iconic classic, this beloved rock opera is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally known series of events but seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. Loosely based on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Jesus Christ Superstar follows the last week of Jesus Christ’s life. With a soaring and spectacular soundtrack by the legendary team of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar continues to resonate as it moves and thrills audiences across the world. Our production is directed by Tim's son, Donald Rice.

Starring: Austin Turner as Judas. Sophie Madorsky as Mary, Nigel Richards as Simon, David Sattler as Pilate, Ethan Hardy Benson as Jesus, Jamari Darling as Caiaphas, Matt Donzella as Solider, Kolby Lamont Bates as Peter and Joshua Bess as Soldier, France Tomaino as Annas, J’Quay Gibbs as Herod. Paige Anne Mills, Nigel Richards, Kailee Regan Brandt, Karma Jenkins, Maya Fortgang, Alexis Papaleo, Ryaan Farhadi, Nick Traficante, Jessica Minter, Timothy Matthew Flores and Parker Aimone.

Musicians: Julie Bridge (French Horn). Robert Bridge (Percussion). Michael Caporizzo (Guitar). Michael Fittipaldi (Bass). Matthew Petty (Guitar). James R. Spadafore (Woodwinds).

The creatives are: Phil Colgan (Choreographer). Megan Larche Dominick, CSA (Casting Director). E. Renée Gamez (Assistant Music Director.) Mollie Heil (Assistant Stage Manager). Tiffany Howard (Costume Designer). Jeffrey D. Kmiec† (Scenic Designer). Daniel Lundberg† (Sound Designer). Nico Padilla (Assistant Stage Manager). Marshall Pope (Props Designer). José Santiago† (Lighting Designer). Matthew Silar (Production Stage Manager). Alexander Tom (Music Director). Mary Tyler (Hair & Makeup Designer).

Returning to the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse stage in Auburn, New York for the first time in 41 years, Jesus Christ Superstar is on stage through June 17, 2025.

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

TAINA ELG a Tony Nominee died May 15, 2025 in an assisted care facility in Helsinki, Finland. She was 95.

In 1975, Ms. Elg was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance as Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez in Where's Charley? Elsewhere on Broadway, she appeared in Look to the Lillies, Uncle Vanya, The Utter Glory of Morrissey Hall, Strider, and Nine, where she originated the role of Guido's Mother in the Best Musical winner.

She starred in national tours of Irma La Douce, Two by Two, Gigi, and Titanic. Her final Broadway appearance came in 1998 when she served as the standby for Mary Louise Wilson as Fraulein Schneider in the lauded Sam Mendes revival of Cabaret.

Part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's movie musical golden age. For her performances in "Les Girls", she received the 1958 Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actress, tying with her co-star in the film, Kay Kendall. Ms. Elg remains the only Finnish actor to receive the honor.

She appeared in her first film at age 10, danced with the Finnish National Ballet in Helsinki and went on to study ballet in Sweden in Stockholm and Gothenburg and in London with the Royal Ballet.

She was discovered in London by American film producer Edwin H. Knopf and, in the wake of the Hollywood success enjoyed by fellow Scandinavian Anita Ekberg, signed to a seven-year contract by MGM.

She appeared in a variety of films throughout the 1950s, including "The Prodigal, Diane, Gaby, Les Girls, Imitation General, The 39 Steps," and "Watusi."

On the small screen, Ms. Elg played Dr. Ingrid Fischer on the soap opera "Guiding Light," and Olympia Buchanan, the first wife of tycoon Asa Buchanan, on the soap opera "One Life to Live." Her death sequence on the latter program is still considered one of the more shocking twists in soap opera history.

She is survived by her son, jazz guitarist Raoul Björkenheim.

MATTHEW SILVER respected stage manager died May 11 after a multi-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 60.

Silver was known for his longtime association with the Atlantic Theater Company.

The son of Lee Silver, an executive at the Shubert Organization, the young Silver's first theatrical job came while he was still in college, running props for the original Off-Broadway production of "Little Shop of Horrors" at the Orpheum Theatre. He then became an ensemble member of the Atlantic Theater Company, where he also served as a stage manager and production manager. He also managed the Atlantic’s softball team in the Broadway Show League.

Silver also worked on various Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional productions, including many memorable summers at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. His work as production stage manager included the plays "The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Lonesome West, James Joyce's The Dead, Speed-the-Plow," and "Race" to name just a few. Starting in the 1990s, Silver toured the world with the sleight-of-hand artist Ricky Jay, managing his productions of Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants and Ricky Jay on the Stem.

Silver is survived by his wife of 22 years, Cynthia, his daughter, Sadie Roy, as well as his extended family.

LORETTA SWIT who shot to international fame portraying "Hot lips" Houlihan on M@A@S@H died Friday, May 30, 2025 in her New York City residence. She was 87.

Swit made her Broadway debut in "Same Time, Next Year" opposite Ted Bessell and toured with Susan Hayward and Celeste Holm. She would go on to play the title role of "Mame" in New York and Pennsylvania.

In her lifetime, Swit was honored with numerous awards, including the People's Choice Award, The Genie Award, The Silver Satellite Award, The Jean Golden Halo Award, the Pacific Broadcasters Award, and two Emmy Awards. With 10 Emmy nominations and four nominations for the Golden Globe, she most recently received her third Career Achievement Award.

Her television career boasts over 25 movies. She appeared in "Games Mother Never Taught You" with Sam Waterston, "Hell Hath No Fury" with Barbara Eden, "The Execution" with Rip Torn, "Dreams of Gold" with Cliff Robertson and "A Killer Among Friends" with Patty Duke. Swit also appeared in "The Muppet Show" with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

She starred in "Stand Up and Be Counted" with Jacqueline Bisset, "Freebie and the Bean" with James Caan and Alan Arkin, "Race With the Devil" with Peter Fonda, "Beer" opposite Rip Torn, "S.O.B." with Julie Andrews and William Holden, "Whoops Apocalypse" with Peter Cook and Herbert Lom, "Forrest Warrior" with Chuck Norris, and "BoardHeads" with Bronson Pinchot.

Swit was also known for her passion for animals. She set up the SwitHeart Animal Alliance to prevent cruelty and end animal suffering. She also raised awareness of other nonprofit organizations and programs that protected and rescued animals in need, as well as wildlife preservation. She created her critically-acclaimed art book, "SwitHeart," which featured 65 full-color paintings and drawings. It raised money for numerous animal causes. She also launched a fragrance, SwitHeart, where all proceeds go to SwitHeart.

JEFFREY MARGOLIS award-winning television executive producer and director has died. He was 78.

Jeff's legendary career in television began humbly, holding cue cards for his uncle, Monty Hall, on "Let's Make a Deal". From those early days, he rose to become one of the most prolific and respected producers and directors in the world of variety television. Over several decades, he shaped some of the industry's most iconic broadcasts - including eight years directing the Academy Awards, 22 years at the helm of the American Music Awards, and 16 years producing the Screen Actors Guild Awards. His signature vision also brought to life specials for legends such as Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, and Elizabeth Taylor.

He is survived by his children, Adam, Erin, and Samantha, and his grandsons, Max and Milo.

Next Column: June 8, 2025
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Laura Deni