Frances Sternhagen, Gwen Verdon, Julie Budd and MORE!

Happy Birthday, Frances Sternhagen

Never underestimate your power to change yourself; never overestimate your power to change others.
-H. Jackson Brown Jr., American writer

Happy Wednesday!
It is the 13th day of the New Year and I already feel like it is whizzing by.
Did you watch or listen to the President's State of the Union address last night? Nothing excites me more than hearing our President address the nation and push us towards a future with more of our strengths and less of our weaknesses.
Last night, President Obama spoke a lot about investing in our young people's future.

Lisa Viggiano

As I sat down with my coffee this AM, I was listening to Lisa Viggiano in the background.
Please check her out if you're not already familiar with her.
I was raised in rural South Carolina, listening to many types of music including those from my parent's generation.  It seems like there are a million things that I can/should do to ensure success. There’s always the latest website, social media platform, or  marketing tactic just waiting to be implemented, with the promise to success just around the corner.  Be PRO-ACTIVE today!
Find the right hook with what you need to accomplish today.

I thank actress Wanda Richert for the following:
*POWER-FULL!* WE ARE BEING CALLED TO “WALK OUR TALK” IN 2016
by Patricia Cota-Robles
www.eraofpeace.org

In July of 2008, Wanda Richert became Reverend Wanda Richert, as she became ordained as an Interfaith Reverend...her biggest dream come true

As we Birth 2016, the 4th year of the New Earth, the Beings of Light in the Realms of Illumined Truth are sending forth a Clarion Call beseeching you and me and every Awakening man, woman, and child to live, move, and breathe within the profound Truth of Oneness and Reverence for ALL Life. We are being called to demonstrate this Truth with every thought, feeling, word, action, belief, and memory we express. This is the reality which we have been preparing for lifetimes to Cocreate. We already have all of the skill, wisdom, strength, courage, and ability we need to accomplish this Holy Endeavor. All we need now is the willingness and the Heart commitment to do so. Fortunately, the floodgates of Heaven have opened during the past three years and in addition to the Divine Momentum blazing in our Hearts, we now have more support from our Father-Mother God and the Company of Heaven than ever before in the history of time. This Divine Intervention is empowering every single one of us in miraculous ways.

Compared to when I was arrived in New York almost 37 years ago, the resources and promotional tools that are out there now are overwhelming, and I know it can seem daunting as you being your marketing journey.
Be grateful!That means if you book an interview, you should thank them, and send a follow up thank-you note after the interview.

I personally thank Julie Budd and Bill Boggs for agreeing to take part in the January membership meeting of the American Popular Song Society.
I realize that most people in the arts don’t always have the time to participate in my events, so I don’t get upset when they are not always available. When interacting with the media, the best thing you can do is create relationships.

This past Saturday, I produced an event at the American Popular Song Society that I am really proud of.

It was an afternoon with Julie Budd and Bill Boggs.


I was thrilled when, months ago, I asked Julie to do it and she said yes.
As we got closer to the date, we both felt that rather than doing a "full" concert, that she would

do about 25 minutes and then spend the duration of her time discussing her career.

Top Photo: Bryon Sommers, Margie Morris, ME. Second Photo: Julie Budd with Margie Morris

 

The first person I thought of was Bill Boggs. When I contacted Bill, he told me that he loved Julie and would love to do it, but that he was unsure of his schedule and if I could wait for confirmation. For him, the answer was an emphatic YES!
When I was first started promoting the show, it was "An Afternoon with Julie Budd (and a special surprise Guest)." I didn't even want to contemplate anyone else. Julie even suggested that I interview her. We did an onstage interview a few years ago as a benefit for St. Jude's. As I've done on stage interviews, most of them have been for the charity of their choice. Julie worked with Danny Thomas years ago and has a soft spot, as do I, for St. Judes. As flattered as I was by Julie asking me to interview her if Bill didn't come through, I wanted Bill. Next month, I will be interviewing Peter Filichia in celebration of his book, The Great Parade, which celebrates the Broadway season of 1963/64. I didn't think it would be appropriate for me to appear on stage two months in a row. I was thrilled when I got the email that Bill was available. Bill Boggs is correspondent for the PBS TV show My Generation, author, and four-time Emmy Award-winning TV host and entertainment industry insider. He has been a major figure in the lifestyle, business, food, music, travel, sports, news, and celebrity reporting and interviewing

for  years. Thank you, Bill!
 
I want to take the time to wish a very happy birthday to Frances Sternhagen. She is a part of the landscape of my life.
I've written many times about my arrival in New York in 1979. The first show I saw on Broadway was Frances Sternhagen in On Golden Pond. A friend of mine got the tickets and we went to see it in  October of 1979 at the Century Theatre, a small playhouse in the basement of the Paramount Hotel. Her performance is as vivid to me as it was almost 37 years ago!

 

Thank you to Ron Greenfield's Aspects of Entertainment for this:  Remembering the iconic GWEN VERDON today on her birthday. There are very people who serve as icons in the American Musical Theater and she is definitely one of them. A four time Tony Award winner who I had the opportunity to see in "Sweet Charity" and "Chicago" And as far as being the person who personifies the "Fosse" style, well it doesn't get any better than Gwen. It really doesn't .

I would also like to celebrate Michael Colby today. He has done and continues to do great work. 

What has he been working on most recently? Most recently, the award-winning Winter Rhythms series at Urban Stages

presented a "cabaret" edition of my book "The Algonquin Kid: Adventures Growing Up in New York's Legendary Hotel."  I hosted an incredible cast:  Robert Creighton, Natalie Douglas, Leah Hocking, and Martin Vidnovic, with Bill Zeffiro at the piano.  Against a backdrop of slides, we enacted excerpts from the book. The cast likewise performed songs associated with the hotel's illustrious guests,  from Noel Coward to Lerner and Loewe, Ella Fitzgerald to Alec Wilder, alongside George Gershwin, and Rodgers & Hart.  Plus there were songs from musicals I wrote and rehearsed at the Algonquin when I lived there with my grandparents, Ben and Mary Bodne 
(They owned the hotel from 1946-1987;  I lived there from 1969-19756).  
 What are you working on NOW?   I'm excited to announce that JAY Records will be releasing albums of several of my shows this Spring.  
There's the Colby/Paul Katz musical, TALES OF TINSELTOWN, whose dream cast includes Christine Bianco, Klea Blackhurst, Nat Chandler, Jake Epstein, Alison Fraser, Richard Kind, Harriet Harris, and Tony Yazbeck.  It has musical

Michael Lavine

direction by Michael Lavine and most of the orchestrations are by Tony winner Larry Hochman.  It was a labor of love for us all.  
Our album producer, Jeffrey Lesser (who has produced albums for Barbra Streisand, Joni Mitchell, Jason Robert Brown, and Kristin Chenoweth, has called it a classic score with great song after song).  

When John Yap of JAY Records decided to release the album, he also agreed to reissue CHARLOTTE SWEET, my 1982 musical which received Drama Desk nominations for me, the composer (the late Gerald Jay Markoe), and the leading lady (Mara Beckerman).  This will be the first time the complete show, about a high-voiced Victorian soprano addicted to helium balloons, will be available in CD format.  As a bonus for the first orders, JAY Records will also be giving out a free private recording (made by Gerald Jay Markoe) of LUDLOW LADD, the Christmas musical of which CHARLOTTE SWEET is a sequel.  Thus, JAY will be issuing three of my theme musicals:  the story of CHARLOTTE SWEET is told entirely through music-hall styles, LUDLOW LADD evolves through Christmas carols, and TALES OF TINSELTOWN evokes 1930s movie musicals. 

What is next for you? I'm booked for a series of "ALGONQUIN KID" presentations in various forms.  Peggy Eason will be doing an "Algonquin Kid" evening with me at the Players for the Dutch Treat Club on February 16.  On February 28, we'll be performing at the series, Music at the Mansion.  In addition, I'm in talks to do versions at the Lamb's Club, the Friars Club, various Haddassah venues, and Urban Stages wants me to arrange a return performance.
Anything else you would like me to include?  DANGEROUS, a 1930s gangster musical with a swingtime score, has just been optioned for Broadway by producer Neal Rubinstein.  This show is the brainchild of my writing partner on it, composer/librettist John C. Introcaso.  And, whether or not I make any profit from all this, I'm keeping my day job as a substitute teacher in New Jersey.

I love what John Hoglund wrote about David Bowie. Reprinted here with his permission: A sad loss

to the rock world. Yet, he crossed so many boundaries, his artistry is not limited to one genre. 
To many, that artistry was a soundtrack they grew up with. He was fearless. Many of his varied melodies and works influenced countless performers. Full of curiosity and abundant charisma, he was an original. An authentic artistic genius.  

In MY news department: I will be doing my 16th annual FREE concert at the Helen Hayes Atrium on February 14th. I will be celebrating my 55th Birthday, Valentine's Day, my return to performing...and so much more! Please join us as we celebrate a sweet 16! I will be joined by MAC nominated Peggy Eason, the Chocolate Diva herself and Michael Lavine on piano. Please contact Richard@RichardSkipper.com for more info. 

Actor-writer-music supervisor and  am-AH-zing Playbill.com columnist Seth Rudetsky chronicles the making of his Broadway show Disaster! A New Musical. From day one of rehearsal all the way to opening night, check in for regular updates — stories, backstage photos, videos and more — from Seth on the realization of his Broadway dream.

Hairspray Will Be NBC's Next Live Musical

The production will hit the airwaves later this year.

David Gordon • New York City • Jan 13, 2016 (Source: TheatreMania.com)
and from Variety.

Marissa Jaret Winokur and Harvey Fierstein as Tracy Turnblad and Edna Turnblad in the 2002 Broadway production of Hairspray.
(© Paul Kolnik)

I got this announcement today:Dear Readers of The Clyde Fitch Report,
You may wish to mark off next Tuesday, Jan. 19, on your calendars. Following an exciting redesign, our site will relaunch and we wanted you to be the first to know. There will be lots of new articles, think pieces, op-eds, colorful posts -- and new navigation, too. Plus we have some totally new projects in the works for 2016 -- so we want to thank you for your readership, support and interest.

With appreciation,
The Curators and Contributors of The Clyde Fitch Report

After performing 6 critically acclaimed shows in 2015, Pamela Lewis brings her unique interpretation of Long Island icon Billy Joel’s songbook to New York’s Metropolitan Room, NYC, on Saturday, February 6th at 7 pm for ONE FINAL PERFORMANCE!!!!!
I received the following from Pamela (Champagne Pam):  Friends! I hope you are all healthy & happy so far in the new year!
 
I have enjoyed performing this show so much in 2015.
If you have seen the show - Thank you! for endorsing me, supporting live music and for being part of the magic! If you enjoyed it (I hope!) please forward this invite to anyone you think would enjoy it as well - because this is the last chance to catch it!!
CHEERS!!!!

Thank to ALL that are mentioned in this blog for the gifts you have given to the world and continue to give! 

Make 2016 the year of YES!

With grateful XOXOXs ,

 

 

Check out my site celebrating the legacy of Jerry Herman's Hello, Dolly!

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.  FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!

Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!   

        

Oscar Winners and Susan Hayward and Loretta Young

Here's wishing all those in the running a successful day tomorrow when the 2016 Oscar nominations are announced!

Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!

Please leave a comment and share on Twitter and Facebook

Sylvia Sydney: In 1973, Sidney received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams.

Keeping Entertainment LIVE!
 

TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED DAY

Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com

Jim Brochu!

February 13th, Peter Filichia in conversation with Richard Skipper at American Popular Song Society  Local 802 AFM 322 W 48th St, New York, New York 10036  AT 1:30PM! with Musical Director Michael Lavine Jim Brochu and an all star cast join  Peter Filichia and Richard Skipper to celebrate the 1963/64 Broadway Season Talk/Performance/Book Signing http://www.americanpopularsongsociety.org  Call Richard Skipper Celebrates at 845-365-0720 if you need more details. Many surprises are in store. Please contact me if any questions. Please LIKE Richard Skipper Celebrates on Facebook Admission is Free for Members/$15.00 for Non-Members . Doors open at 12:30 for those who want to buy sheet music Also members can take tables and sell their stuff. 2:30 -1:30 "Flea Market" 1:30 seating - showtime: 1:45 - 3:30. JOIN US AND SEE AN ALL LIVE SHOW!