Apologia, by Alexei Kaye Campbell, at the
Laura Pels Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center
for Theatre, is a production of the Roundabout Theatre
Company. An Art Historian (Stockard Channing)
celebrates her birthday in at her home in the English
countryside. Her two middle-aged sons visit with the ladies
in their life. She has written a memoir and has not
mentioned them. Their resentment for her neglect when they
were children has a corrosive effect on the celebration. The
five actors are superb, under the direction of Daniel
Aukin. It is a serious, intelligent play.
Ordinary Days,
music and lyrics by Adam
Gwon,
at the Clurman Theatre, Theatre Row is a Keen Company
production. Four performers sing a series of songs about
their life and problems living in New York, directed by Jonathan
Silverstein.
The music is pleasant and the cast sings well. Their stories
are less interesting. The opening night party took place in
the Theatre Row lounge with guests Melissa
Errico, Kate Baldwin, Hunter Fisher and Jen
Cody.
In the new downstairs cabaret room at Birdland, 315 West
44th St, which is a wonderful space, Jamie
deRoy & friends (photo
below) performed a benefit for The Actors Fund. The
program was marvelous, with Jamie introducing her guests
after singing two witty songs. She joined Gretchen
Cryer & Nancy
Ford in
the third song of their three numbers. Donnie
Kehr brought
the house down when he sang and played the piano with a
medley of popular songs, by songwriters like Billy
Joel, Elton John,
and others. Steven
Scott,
a stand-up comedian, added humor to the event. Allison
Blackwell was
one of the highlights of the show when she performed two
songs, and Joan
Ryan closed
the evening with two songs. Ron Abel,
piano, and Richie
Goods,
bass, accompanied the performers, directed by Barry
Kleinbort. It
was a magnificent evening of cabaret. |
The Horton Foote Prize was presented to two playwrights Jacklyn
Backaus (India
Pale Ale) and Lauren
Yee (Cambodian),
who was not able to be present, at the Lotos Club, 5 East
66th St. All the cast of India Pale Ale were present to
congratulate their playwright, as well as members of the Foote family,
and guests like Judith
Ivey, Elizabeth Ashley, Andre Bishop, and Lois
Smith. A reception before and after was held, and I had
the pleasure of photographing the charming female members of
the cast (photo below) and the playwright. It is
always a lovely event.
I went to a cocktail party at Tuscany Steakhouse, 117 West
58th St, to photograph American Idol star Diana
DeGarmo, who has a new television series. She is a
lovely lady, and we all congratulated her on her success.
The restaurant serves delicious food and fine wine. It is
always a pleasure to attend their events.
I was invited to a media preview of CMX CineBistro,
400 East 62nd Street, a brand new luxury multiplex cinema
that serves delicious food and cocktails and fine wine. The
many theaters are modern, comfortable and perfect for fine
dining while enjoying the films. Upon entering, we were
greeted with a flute of Prosecco to get us into the mood.
Members of the staff spoke explaining the concept, followed
by a VIP dinner and two films. If you love food, drink and
movies, you must visit this splendid addition to New York.
I attended a screening of the documentary Restoring
Tomorrow, by Aaron
Wolf, at the American Jewish Heritage Society, 15 West
16th St. The program began with an introduction by the young
filmmaker, followed by a Q & A after the screening, and a
reception to close the evening. The documentary tells the
story of The Wilshire Boulevard Temple, the oldest in Los
Angeles, built in 1929 and its restoration, thanks to
efforts of its rabbi. It wants to enhance the community and
encourage modern young Jews to return to their faith. It is
an inspiring story, and one learns the history of the temple
over nearly 100 years old, with newsreel clips, including a
scene from The
Jazz Singer, where Al
Jolson plays the piano and sings to his mother. It was
an interesting evening, |