Zanie's Furry Friends, Lee Roy Reams, and Hayley Mills

I am thrilled that Sarah Rice has asked me to be part of the Zani's Furry Friends benefit at Birdland on Saturday, May 7th. I also am appearing with two of my favorite entertainers, Lee Roy Reams and Hayley Mills. I have been a fan of both all of my life.
Zani's Furry Friends is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to rescuing companion animals from New York City's shelters where, unfortunately, they are at significant risk for euthanasia due to overcrowding. As well as directly helping the animals we save, their rescue creates space at the shelter thus giving another shelter animal an opportunity to await a chance for adoption or rescue, thereby potentially saving yet another life. Zani's is a member of the Mayor's Alliance and a New Hope Partner with the Animal Care & Control of New York City (ACC of NYC). They are entirely funded by donations and depend on our great network of volunteers to continue our work.




Lee Roy has also been a major supporter of mine over the years and for that, I am truly grateful!
Lee Roy Reams is an American musical theatre actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, and director.

Born in Covington, Kentucky, Reams earned a Master of Arts degree and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He made his Broadway debut in Sweet Charity in 1966.

Reams was nominated for both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance in the original production of 42nd Street in 1980.

He played the role of Frank Schultz in the 1989 Paper Mill Playhouse production of Show Boat, which was televised on Great Performances by PBS .

Reams has appeared on concert stages and in cabarets throughout the country. At present he is serving as the resident director of the Theatre at Sea program sponsored by the Theatre Guild.
* 1966: Sweet Charity (Young Spanish Man)
* 1969: Oklahoma! (Will Parker)
* 1970: Applause (Duane Fox)
* 1974: Lorelei (Henry Spofford)
* 1978: Hello, Dolly! (Cornelius Hackl)
* 1983: La Cage aux Folles (Albin/Zaza)
* 1994: Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere)
* 1995: Hello, Dolly! (Choreographer)
* 1998: An Evening with Jerry Herman (Co-star & Director)
* 2006: The Producers (Roger DeBris)
Lee Roy will be a busy man tonight! Prior to The Bistro Awards, he is announcing The Astaire Awards!
(Source: Brian Scott Lipton)


The nominations for the 2011 Fred and Adele Astaire Awards, honoring the best in dance and choreography on stage and in film, will be announced on Tuesday, April 26 by actor Lee Roy Reams.

The ceremony be held on Sunday, May 15 at NYU's Skriball Center for the Arts. Joe Lanteri will direct the event. Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bebe Neuwirth, and Len Cariou are among the stars expected to be presenters.

The awards are presented by Ava Astaire in tribute to her father and aunt and Patricia Watt in tribute to her father Douglas Watt, who was the renowned drama, dance and music critic and a founder of the awards in 1982.

This year's Nominating Committee Chair is Sylviane Gold. Committee members include Reams, as well as Anna Kisselgoff, Damian Woetzel, Wendy Perron, Manny and Lani Azenberg, Donna McKechnie, Wendy Federman, Barbara and Buddy Freitag, Michael Riedel, Marge Champion, Margaret Selby, Melinda Atwood, Bryan Bantry, Adam Zotovich, Andy Sandberg, and Bruce Michael.

As previously reported, legendary dancer and choreographer Jacques D'Amboise will be honored with the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award.

For more information, visit theastaireawards.org.
Lee Roy Reams sings "La Cage Aux Folles" from Jerry Herman's 1983 musical of the same name.

This clip is an excerpt from the highly recommended DVD of the 1993 concert "Jerry Herman's Broadway at Holiday Bowl." Additional clips are available at http://www.thebestarts.com/JerryHerman/

Come say hello to Lee Roy this eve at the 26th annual Bistro Awards!


I appeared with Hayley Mills (pictured here along with myself, John Wallowitch, and, Donna McKechnie
"FROM PICCADILLY TO TIMES SQUARE" on November 19th, 2001. This was a benefit performance put together by Margot Astrachan for The St. George Society for the British families & victims affected by the tragedy of 9/11. As sad as we were, it was a thrilling night for me to share the stage with such brilliant artists. John Wallowitch and I had been friends for years and remained friends until his death. We also share a birthday. Donna and I have remained friends. I cannot describe the feeling of being on stage and seeing the gorgeous Hayley Mills beaming in the wings. She was incredibly nice to me and it is hard for me to believe that that was 10 years ago! Of course, I have been a fan of Hayley's since The Parent Trap and Pollyanna. Hayley Mills is an English actress. The daughter of John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell, and sister of actress Juliet Mills, Mills began her acting career as a child and was hailed as a promising newcomer, winning the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer for Tiger Bay (1959), the Academy Juvenile Award for Pollyanna (1960) and Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress in 1961. During her early career, she appeared in several films for Walt Disney. Hayley Mills, daughter of the late Sir John Mills, was one of the world's most famous child stars with films such as Tiger Bay and Whistle Down The Wind. Now a grandmother, she lives in New York and south-west London with her actor partner, Firdous Bamji.

I love you, Hayley, and I am SO looking forward to this!
Hayley Mills and Lee Roy Reams are set to co-host Love Makes the World Go 'Round. The benefit concert will be held on May 7 at 4:30pm at Birdland, and will feature direction by JoAnn Yeoman. Once again,proceeds from the event will go towards animal rescue organization, Zani's Furry Friends.

Performers confirmed for the evening include: Elena Bennett, Carole Demas, Natalie Douglas, Rich Flanders, Janice Hall, Jon & Lynn, Sue Matsuki, Tanya Moberly, Sarah Rice, Steve Ross, Steve Schalchlin, ME, Julie Wilson, and David Vernon.


For more information, visit: http://www.zanisfurryfriends.org



FIRST PARK PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS THE NEIL SIMON PULITIZER PRIZE WINNING PLAY "LOST IN YONKERS"


First Park Productions (Committed To Promoting Diversity Through Theater), presents LOST IN YONKERS! Praised by Clive Barnes
in the New York Post "Neil Simon has done it again with a craftsmanship and skill probably unmatched in the contemperary English-speaking theater", Lost In Yonkers also won four Tony Awards, including Best Play. Set in New York in 1942, this play is filled with laughter, tears, and insight. With masterful Director Dick Volker, and talented cast members Liam Bobersky (Jay); Alex LaBrie (Arty; Jason Czernick (Eddie); Margaret Streeter (Bella); Kevin Moroney (Louie); Jen Wall (Gertrude) and Vickie Phillips (Grandma Kurnitz), this "play is being produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc."
Show dates are May 13 - 14 - 15 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 27 - 28 - 29. Friday and Saturday Showtimes at 8 p.m.. and Sunday Matinees at 2 p.m Presented in Franklin Hall of the First Park Memorial Baptist Church, located at the corner of Forest Park Avenue and Garfield Street, (in the Forest Park section of Springfield..
For Ticket Information/Reservations, call 413.654.9111. Advance Sale Discount Ticket Prices offered as follows: General Admission $15.00; Seniors/Students $12.00; At The Door $18.00 and $15.00. Discount for Groups of 12 or more also offered (All General Seating Admission).
Checks should be made payable to First Park Productions and mailed to FPP at 4 Garfield St., Springfield, MA 01108,

For the perfect way to end a Spring Day in May......Get LOST IN YONKERS!




Press Contact:
Vickie Phillips
413.885.2434
Vmpc18@aol.com



Don't forget The 26th annual Bistro Awards TONIGHT at The Gotham Comedy Club in NYC! (www.BistroAwards.com)
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Tomorrow's blog will be a recap of The Bistro Awards, Phoebe Snow, and Elena Bennett.

Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS: http://www.carolchanning.org/foundation.htm

TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED WEEK!


Richard Skipper, Associate producer of the 26th annual Bistro Awards , Richard@RichardSkipper.com