The 2018 Drama Desk Awards were
presented at a ceremony at Town Hall hosted
by Michael Urie. There were no
surprises. Outstanding Musical was SpongBob
SquarePants and Play was Admissions.
Among the winning actors in a play were Andrew
Garfield and Glenda
Jackson and in a musical Ethan Slater and Jessie
Mueller. At the after-party at the
Marriott Marquis, I congratulated Lindsay
Mendez, who won Outstanding Actress in a
Musical, and performed with Alexander
Gemignani in the ceremony, one of the
highlights of the night. I
also congratulated Karen Ziemba, who
also performed, and is one of my favorite
actresses in a musical. It was a splendid
night among talented artists.
The 74th Theatre World Awards Ceremony was
held at Circle in the Square. The winners
included Ethan
Slater, Harry Hadden-Paton and Victor
Garber,
who received a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Among the presenters were Glenda
Jackson, Bernadette Peters,
and Lea
Salonga. Phillip
Boykin was
one of the performers, and Peter
Filichia was
the host. President Dale
Badway spoke
near the end to invite everyone to the
Copacabana for a party. It is always a
festive occasion.
The Irish Repertory Company 2018 Gala
Performance at Town Hall was a superb
production Alan
Jay Lerner: A Centennial Celebration, directed
by Charlotte
Moore. It featured a magnificent cast, a
large chorus and a full orchestra, directed
by John
Bell. The cast included Jeremy
Irons, Melissa Errico, James Barbour,
Stephen Bogardus, John Cudia, John Cullum, Angela
Grovey, Donna Kane, Maryann Plunkett and David
Staller. They performed a wonderful
selection of the lyricist's Broadway and
film musicals. Everyone was a highlight, but
mention must be made of Remarks
and Reminiscences by 88-year-old John
Cullum, seated on a bench with Charlotte
Moore, telling us about his first small role
in Camelot, and
being the understudy for Richard
Burton and Roddy
McDowall. He sang two songs, and his
voice was glorious. He is a Broadway
treasure! Also, Jeremy
Irons sang I've
Grown Accustomed
To Her Face, from My
Fair Lady, and he equaled the stunning
performance that Rex Harrison delivered
in the original musical. We celebrated the
marvelous evening at Bryant Park Grill with
a delicious dinner, lubricated with fine
wine and Jameson Irish Whiskey. Robert
Lindsay, who was on Broadway in Me
and My Gal, in 1986 with Maryann
Plunkett, (photo below) was there,
and we reminisced about their terrific
performance, and we sang Leaning
on a Lamp-post together. The end of a
perfect night!
American Ballet Theatre (ABT) presented Harlequinade,
choreography by Marius Petipa,
staging and additional choreography by Alexei
Ratmansky, music by Riccardo Drigo.
To celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Petipa'
birthday, Ratmansky created this delightful
production. It is based on commedia
dell'arte, the the Italian
comedy entertainment that was
popular during the 16th to 18th century in
Europe.
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They are stock characters, and in this
ballet very amusing. Jeffrey Cirio (Harlelequin)
and Sarah Lane(Columbine) danced
brilliantly, especially in the second act. Stella
Abrera (Pierrette) equally so. The
children from ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
School were well disciplined and danced
marvelously in the second act. The scenery
and costumes by Robert Perdziola, and
the sparking music played by the orchestra
under the baton of David LaMarche,
made it a lovely night to remember.
I photographed the Vassar & New York Stage
and Film's 34th Powerhouse Season at a press
Meet and Greet launch with the cast and
creative teams for this summer's shows. It
sounds wonderful. Unfortunately, it takes
place at Vassar College, and I only attend
theatre when it takes place in Manhattan.
Mont Blanc, 344 West 52nd St, celebrated
its first year anniversary with an
invitation to enjoy fine wine, beer and
delicious hors d'oeuvres at a reception in
the splendid restaurant. Among the guests, I
chatted with two Broadway actors Diane
Findlay and Walter Willison, costume
designer Mitchell Bloom for the
Metropolitan Opera, Broadway and film and
Broadway and Off- Broadway producer Douglas
Denhoff. It was a festive occasion.
I photographed Melissa Benoist (Supergirl) at
a press event before her Broadway debut this
summer in Beautiful-The Carole King
Musical at the Stephen Sondheim Theater.
She played and sang one song at the piano.
She sounds very good and looks beautiful!
The American Theatre Wing celebrated the
publication of a magnificent coffee table
book The
American Theatre Wing, An Oral History: 100
Years, 100 Voices, 100 Million Miracles at
a luncheon at Barbetta Restaurant, 321 West
46th St, followed by a Q & A with CEO &
President Heather
Hitchens,
the book writer Patrick
Pacheco moderated
by Julie
James.
It was a wonderful program beginning with a
champagne reception and photo op in the
courtyard, followed by a delicious luncheon
in the elegant dining room, with an
appetizer, a choice from three succulent
entrees, followed by a choice from three
mouth watering desserts, served with fine
white and red Italian wines. Among the many
guests were Lois
Smith, Veanne Cox, (the two actresses
in photo below), Renee Fleming, Alexander
Gemignani, Pia Lindstrom, William Ivey Long,
Joe Benincasa, Ari'el Stachel with
his proud father Aaron,
and many more too numerous to mention.
Barbetta is the oldest Italian restaurant in
New York and still owned by its founding
family. It opened in 1906 by Sebastian
Maioglio,
and now owned by his daughter Laura
Maioglio, located
in the 1874 and 1881 Maioglio-Astor
Townhouses. It was, as Cole
Porter would say,
a swell party!
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