RAGTIMES COMES BACK TO BROADWAY!

RAGTIME
Announces Lottery Ticket Program
For Day Of Performances

Performances Began This Friday, October 23

­­­­­­­­­­­­The producers of the Broadway revival of RAGTIME have announced a lottery ticket program for the day of performances.
Two hours prior to each performance of RAGTIME, patrons will be invited to enter a lottery drawing at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street) for a limited number of $26.50 lottery tickets to that day’s performance. Names will be drawn at random ninety minutes prior to curtain.

There will be a limit of two tickets per person and tickets may be purchased using cash only.

Winners must be present with valid identification at the time of the drawing to purchase their tickets.


The John F. Kennedy Center’s new production of Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s Tony Award® winning musical RAGTIME, based on the E.L. Doctorow novel, features direction and choreography by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, and a majestic 28-piece orchestra led by musical director James Moore.

RAGTIME features a company of 40, starring Ron Bohmer (Father), Quentin Earl Darrington (Coalhouse Walker Jr.), Christiane Noll (Mother), Robert Petkoff (Tateh), Bobby Steggert (Mother’s Younger Brother), Stephanie Umoh (Sarah), with Christopher Cox (The Little Boy), Sarah Rosenthal (The Little Girl), Mark Aldrich (Willie Conklin), Aaron Galligan-Stierle (Henry Ford), Jonathan Hammond (Harry Houdini), Dan Manning (Grandfather), Michael X. Martin (J.P. Morgan), Mike McGowan (Stanford White), Donna Migliaccio (Emma Goldman), Josh Walden (Harry K. Thaw), Savannah Wise (Evelyn Nesbit), Eric Jordan Young (Booker T. Washington).

RAGTIME also features Sumayya Ali, Terence Archie, Corey Bradley, Jayden Brockington, Benjamin Cook, Carey Rebecca Brown, Jennifer Evans, Carly Hughes, Lisa Karlin, Valisia Lekae, James Moye, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Mamie Parris, Bryonha Parham, Nicole Powell, Kaylie Rubinaccio, Arbender J. Robinson, Benjamin Schrader, Wallace Smith, Catherine Walker, Jim Weaver, Kylil Christopher Williams.
RAGTIME is produced by Kevin McCollum, Roy Furman, Scott Delman, Roger Berlind, Max Cooper, Tom Kirdahy/Devlin Elliott, Jeffrey A. Sine, Stephanie McClelland, Roy Miller, LAMS Productions, Jana Robbins, Sharon Karmazin, Eric Falkenstein/Morris Berchard, Wendy Federman, Jamie deRoy, Sheila Steinberg, Lauren Stevens, Independent Presenters Network, Held-Haffner Productions, HRH Foundation and Emanuel Azenberg in association with The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Marcia Milgrom Dodge’s production debuted at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater on April 18 and played a sold out limited engagement through May 17, 2009.
Variety called the re-imagined musical “Simply stunning.” The Washington Post raved “Nothing short of heavenly. Looks and sounds so good. Glorious!,” while Bloomberg News said “Explosive and thrilling!”

At the dawn of the century, everything is changing…and anything is possible.
Based on E.L. Doctorow’s celebrated epic novel and set in the volatile melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York, RAGTIME weaves together three distinctly American tales — that of a stifled upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician — united by their courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future. Their personal journeys come alive as historic figures offer guidance and diversion – among them escape artist Harry Houdini, auto tycoon Henry Ford, educator Booker T. Washington and infamous entertainer Evelyn Nesbit.


Together, their stories celebrate the struggle between tradition and independence all in pursuit of the American dream.

The celebrated production team includes scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Santo Loquasto, lighting design by Donald Holder, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, hair and wig design by Edward J. Wilson and orchestrations by William David Brohn.

RAGTIME originally opened on Broadway on January 18, 1998 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. The musical garnered four Tony Awards® including Best Book, Original Score and Best Orchestrations. The beloved Ahrens and Flaherty score features some of the award-winning team’s best-known songs including the title song, “Make Them Hear You” and the anthem “The Wheels of a Dream.”
RAGTIME tickets prices are $46.50, $86.50 and $126.50 (including $1.50 facility fee) and available by calling Ticketmaster at 212-307-4100 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
RAGTIME began previews October 23rd, 2009 and officially opens on November 15th, 2009 at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). RAGTIME will play the following preview schedule from October 23 – November 14: Tues., Thurs., Fri. and Sat. eve at 8p, Sun eve at 7:30p. Wed., Sat. and Sun. mat. at 2p. Dark Mon. Opening night November 15, 2009 and onward: Tues. eve. at 7p; Wed., Thurs., Fri. and Sat. eve at 8p, Wed. and Sat. mat. at 2p; Sun. mat. at 3p. Dark Mon.
www.RagtimeBroadway.com






IpAuctions™ to Sell Rights to The Judy Garland Shows
IpAuctions™ (www.ipauctions.com) will auction all of the USA Rights/Copyrights for the Judy Garland Show for the CBS 1963/1964 Television Season. Music producer Darryl Payne currently owns these rights.


This Classic Nostalgic 1960s series is being held in celebration of the 70th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz,” which starred young Judy Garland in 1939 and the 40th Anniversary of Judy’s passing in 1969.

This historic collection of 26 one-hour-long episodes includes an unprecedented list of guests – including Barbra Streisand, Mickey Rooney, Count Basie, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Ethel Merman, Bob Newhart, Donald O’Connor, Peggy Lee, Steve Allen, Jane Powell, Peter Lawford, Vic Damone, Jack Jones, and Garland’s daughter Liza Minnelli, among others.
Judy Garland also performed solo concert performances as part of this amazing wonderful TV show.
In 1962, the CBS Network won the right to broadcast Judy Garland’s musical variety show in an unheard-of pact worth $24 million.

From June 1963 through March 1964, the one-hour episodes were videotaped at CBS’ Television City in Hollywood, California, according to the Judy Garland Database online at www.jgdb.com.
There are once-in-a-lifetime musical pairings and duets between Garland and her guests. Some reviewers claim this collection is the only remaining audio/video in existence of the legendary diva at her physical and vocal peak.

“The purchaser of this historic library will also own the exclusive rights to all of the music and video footage performed on the shows, because the auction includes the original masters plus Digital Audio Tapes,” said Joe Popolo of IpAuctions™. The new buyer can license songs and music clips of the show to third parties for advance payments.


Digital Download, TV Broadcast, Home Video Rights and Direct Response Right are included in this entire classic Garland series.
This auction also entitles the Buyer to enjoy revenue streams generated by retail sales from The Judy Garland Show under an Agreement with Infinity Entertainment Group signed early in 2009.

Currently, Infinity Entertainment Group, based in Anaheim, Calif., has a DVD and Digital Download Agreement with the current seller.
Any retail sales conducted by Infinity on behalf of The Judy Garland Show collection of episodes provides the “revenue stream” that is being auctioned by IpAuctions, Inc., on behalf of the seller.
This Agreement is available for review by potential bidders.
To view Infinity Entertainment’s website and learn more about the company’s GARLAND revenue stream, please visit www.infinity-entertainmentgroup.com.
All sale details about this valuable auction starting November 9 can be examined at www.ipAuctions.com.

IpAuctions™ Inc. is the leading online auction firm specializing in the sale of intellectual property assets. The Company is a member of the National Auctioneers Association and the ABI.

For more information about this sale or other intellectual property, please contact Joseph Popolo, IpAuctions™, at 866-826-1300 or 348 Mill St., Reno, NV 89501 USA.












Dying Teen Records Dream Album
AOL News


A teenage ukulele prodigy refused to let his battle with cancer be his legacy. Instead, he spent his final months realizing a dream of cutting an album with world-class musicians and using the money to help other kids like himself.
Just weeks before his death in August, 16-year-old Killian Mansfield of upstate New York got to hold a copy of his professional CD.
"Somewhere Else" features the teen playing alongside such musical talents as Dr. John, Kate Pierson, John Sebastian, Todd Rundgren and Levon Helm.


Given months to live in his battle with cancer, 16-year-old Killian Mansfield spent the time he had left recording his dream album, titled "Somewhere Else."

On the CD he played ukulele alongside many world-class musicians like Dr. John, Todd Rundgren and Levon Helm.






Killian began playing instruments at age 3. He first took up the violin and then the fiddle before settling on the less common ukulele.
When his family moved to the Woodstock, N.Y., area, the boy became well known as a "teenage troubadour," carrying his instrument in a neon-orange case and jamming with local musicians, New York Magazine reported.

He was diagnosed at age 11 with a rare form of synovial sarcoma, a disease that invades muscle and bone tissue. Over the next five years he endured painful treatments and surgeries, including one that removed a large portion of his jaw.

Killian's album was first conceived last fall when he was told that he was out of medical options and only had months to live. The magazine detailed how the boy told his mother during that hospital stay that he wanted to record: "But I don't want to do it with friends." Smiling, but serious, he added, "I want to play with famous people."


To turn the improbable idea into reality, Killian turned to family friend Ralph Legnini, who has a recording studio in Woodstock. Legnini also has strong ties to the musical community in Woodstock, where many artists have homes. Those connections helped Killian to recruit the well-known talents who collaborated.

Musicians who jammed with Killian quickly forgot about his youth and medical condition when they heard him play.
Jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli told New York Magazine of his experience with the boy in a New York City hospital.


"When I got there, I sort of thought I was on a kind of a play date, right? Then Killian starts playing his ukulele, and I was like, 'Oh, really?'
He knew chord voicings that, for lack of a better way of putting it, I knew. Soon he was showing me things.
No joke, the kid was totally schooling me."
"Somewhere Else" features an eclectic set list of songs of escapism, all selected by Killian. He sang on two tracks and played the ukulele on the rest.

Recording sessions were dependent on Killian's health. To manage his pain, he took strong medications like Dilaudid, steroids and methadone. The drugs caused drowsiness that made it hard for him to work. He could only work for a few hours at a time, the magazine said.
Toward the end, he was not able to move his hands well enough to play. But the work was completed in time to allow Killian to review and approve the final tracks before its professional release.
Proceeds from the album's sales benefit the foundation that Killian set up before his death. The Killian Mansfield Foundation raises money for Hope & Heroes, the program at Columbia Presbyterian where Killian received treatment.

For more on Killian Mansfield's story, visit New York Magazine.
To find out more about the foundation, visit killianmansfield.org.


Liza Minnelli leaves SATC cast in tears



Liza Minnelli brought the cast of the new 'Sex and the City' movie to tears when she performed for them.


The iconic singer - who has a cameo appearance as herself in the upcoming film - played a song for the cast when shooting wrapped on her scene, before making an emotional speech.

According to gossip blogger Perez Hilton, actor Nicholas Rodriguez said: "Liza's scene is ginormous with a huge budget and pretty much everybody is in it, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Noth, Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall and Cynthia Nixon.
"After the shoot, Liza said, 'I would like to have everyone's attention,' and they pulled out a stool for her at the piano and gave her a mic and she sang a favorite of her mother, Judy Garland.

"Then she said, 'Thank you for letting me play with you guys.' It was so heartfelt and genuine.


I got choked up and several people were sobbing like a baby, but I'm not going to name names!"

Liza is a guest at the film's "shock wedding", rumoured to be that of the franchise's gay characters Stanford Blatch and Anthony Marentino.
The film is due for release in 2010.


We lost one of the greats this week: SOUPY SALES."I don't mind you guys comin' round my house," Soupy Sales once said to the off-camera guys who were cracking up at his jokes, "but why'd you have to bring cameras in?" His afternoon TV show, which was aimed at kids and ran in Detroit, Los Angeles and New York off and on from the 1950s through the '70s, had the seeming informality of a friendly fellow you would hire to entertain the tots. He'd crack venerable jokes, play with puppets, teach the occasional verity ("Don't eat just before dinner") and, at the end, get a custard pie in the face.
Simple stuff, really, but delivered with a brio that kept generations of children giggling. So his death on Thursday in a Bronx hospice, at age 83 after years of declining health, had to raise a tear, and a reflective silly grin.



Born Milton Supman in Franklinton, N.C., he served in the Navy during World War II and earned a journalism degree from Marshall College. In his first radio gigs, he called himself Soupy Hines, but he changed it to Soupy Sales when he got a radio-TV spot in Cleveland. He later said he left that job for health reasons — "They got sick of me."
He clicked in Detroit, though, with his first TV kids' show in 1953. Supported by puppeteer Clyde Adler and a crew that provided the laughter (Sales rarely worked before a live audience), he adapted the hip lunacy of TV's avant-comic Ernie Kovacs to his own sunny personality, frequently telling his viewers, "I love you and give ya a big kiss."
They returned the affection. Lunch with Soupy Sales soon gained converts of all ages and went national in 1959. For a brief spell in the early '60s, he was a prime-time star; Frank Sinatra showed up to get a pie in the face.


In a line of TV kids' comedy that stretched from Pinky Lee and Kukla and Fran and Ollie in the early '50s to Pee-wee Herman in the '80s — and which is all but extinct today — Sales was the sweetest and goofiest performer. Outfitted in a sweater and bow tie, his elastic features sporting a nonstop smile, as if he were laughing at his last or next joke, Sales was a Mr. Rogers for kids who didn't watch PBS. Yet there was educational value to his work.
And what was funny then still is today, if you look at the YouTube clips from his old black-and-white shows or can track down any of the three Soupy Sales DVD collections. Never too hip for the rec room, he connected with kids by telling jokes that were more venerable than the 2,000-year-old man — but they were new to 5-year-olds, who got a daily tutorial in how to make people laugh.
He would parry with two animals seen on camera only as long paws: White Fang, "the biggest, meanest dog in the United States," and Black Tooth, "the nicest dog in the United States." Or he would go to the back door and greet some (usually unseen) visitor. One was his "girlfriend" Peaches — represented visually by Sales in a blond wig and baggy dress and vocally by either Adler or Frank Nastasi, who did the puppeteering from the mid-'60s on — with whom he'd engage in buckshot banter.
(Peaches: "Will you always adore me?" Sales: "Yes!" Peaches: "Then let's run off and get married tonight!" Sales: "I can't." Peaches: "Why not?" Sales: "I've got a date.")
With a half-hour to fill five days a week, the show needed musical interludes, and it got them from Pookie the Lion, a primitive hand puppet. Pookie would "lip-sync" the non-lyrics to Clark Terry's "Mumbles" or break into Johnny Standley's evangelist rant "It's in the Book" or the Animals' version of "(Boom Boom Boom Boom) Gonna Shoot You Right Down," and Sales would madly cavort along, a dervish of prepubescent ecstasy. (The show gave you a music education too.) In the mid-'60s, he had a hit of his own: a dance record, Soupy Sales Sez Do the Mouse, whose song "The Mouse" ranks in the novelty-song category up or down there with John Zacherle's "Dinner with Drac" and Steve Martin's "King Tut." That got him a contract as a Motown recording artist. Didn't last long. (See an excerpt from Richard Zoglin's book Comedy at the Edge.)

Despite persistent urban legends, Sales never did blue material for the kids — though his staff did play a prank in which a topless balloon artiste danced to "The Stripper" while the on-set monitor indicated that the career-ending nudity was live on the air. (It wasn't.) He did make trouble for himself on New Year's Day 1965, when, annoyed by having to work on a holiday, he impishly instructed kids to tiptoe into their parents' bedroom, take out "green pieces of paper with pictures of guys with beards" and send them to his New York station.

The punch line: "And you know what I'm gonna send you? A postcard from Puerto Rico." For that he got suspended. He said that the kids were hipper than his bosses: many sent him Monopoly money. One adult enclosed a few dollars and wrote: "Now go to Puerto Rico."


By the mid-'80s, Sales was back on radio, hosting a mid-morning show on New York's WNBC that was improbably sandwiched between Don Imus and Howard Stern. His cheerful comedic style seemed antique compared with the grouchiness of those two audio superstars. But even in the '50s and '60s, parading his encyclopedic memory for shtick, he was a throwback to every baggypants tummeler, every silent-movie clown. And like those masters, he knew that a pie in the face was the visual equivalent of a rim shot. Set up the joke, do the punch line, get a goopy Soupy face. He explained this precise, predictable rhythm in a 2002 interview with Ed Grant on the Manhattan cable-access show Media Funhouse: "Guy says, 'Where's the watercooler?' I say, 'Alaska,' and get hit with a pie."

Levity may not have attended the passing of Milton Supman. There were presumably no last rites with custard filling. But given all the knockabout pleasure Soupy Sales gave innocent kids and sophisticated adults, he certainly deserves a pie in the sky.

London, Oct 24 - ANI: American actress/singer Liza Minnelli will testify in her former chauffeur's sexual harassment suit against her later next month.

The Cabaret star has avoided taking to the stand since her ex-driver M'Hammed Soumayah filed papers in 2004 alleging he had been forced to "engage in sexual relations" with her, reports the Daily Express.

However, according to the New York Daily News, Supreme Court judge Paul Feinman has ordered the daughter of Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli to appear in court on 17 and 18 November.

Minnelli is counter-suing Soumayah for 166,000 pounds, alleging he threatened her after she cut his 158,000 pounds a year salary.


La Cage Tour Cancelled, Lack of 'Suitable Stars'
Date: 23 October 2009

The UK tour of the multi award-winning Menier Chocolate Factory revival of La Cage aux Folles, which was due to commence in February 2010, has been postponed until further notice.

A statement from producers reads: “Due to the non-availability of suitable star artists for the particularly challenging lead roles in La Cage aux Folles, the producers have regrettably decided to postpone the forthcoming UK tour.”
The tour was due to start at the Chuchill Theatre in Bromley on 5 February, before visiting the Milton Keynes Theatre, Brighton Theatre Royal, Sunderland Empire Theatre, Salford Lowry and the New Theatre, Oxford. Ticket holders should contact the point of sale for refunds.

Terry Johnson's revival of Jerry Herman’s 1983 Broadway musical comedy opened at the Menier Chocolate Factory at Christmas 2007, before transferring in October 2008 to the West End’s Playhouse. It has picked up multiple awards, including two Oliviers and two Whatsonstage.com Awards.

Since Olivier award-winner Douglas Hodge stepped out of his stilettos, the role of Albin/Zaza has been tackled by chat show host Graham Norton, Roger Allam and, currently, John Barrowman (See 1st Night Photos, 6 Oct 2009). Barrowman plays opposite Simon Burke as the new Georges, the role originally played by Philip Quast and subsequently by Denis Lawson.

It was recently announced that Douglas Hodge will return to the show this Christmas prior to a planned Broadway transfer in 2010 .

Based on the 1973 French play by Jean Poiret and subsequent 1978 French-Italian screen version, the musical focuses on a gay couple – Georges, the manager of a St Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and Albin, his star attraction - and the adventures that ensue when Georges' son Jean-Michel brings home his fiancée's ultra-conservative parents to meet them.

La Cage aux Folles has a book by Harvey Fierstein (Torch Song Trilogy) and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, whose other classics include Hello Dolly!, Mame and Mack and Mabel.
The score features songs including “I Am What I Am”, “The Best of Times”, “Song on the Sand”, “Masculinity” and the title number.



Support THE ARTS! LIVE THEATRE! Go see a show this week! Send me your reviews and suggestions and I will put them in my next blog coming out on Friday! Here's to an ARTS-filled week! Don't forget to contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS: http://www.carolchanning.org/Foundation.htm

With grateful XOXOXs for your support!

Richard Skipper

Follow me on Twitter @RichardSkipper





HERE IS WHAT AUDIENCES ARE SAYING ABOUT WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE IGUANA:

What a fun evening! A well-rounded group of excellent performers with talent, charm and wit to burn! Lovely room, good food, easy location... just the whole package. Highly recommend this.




Wednesday evening found me at The Iguana on 54th Street for the appropriately named Wednesday Night At The Iguana. Hosted by Richard Skipper and Dana Lorge, this weekly showcase has really become a hot destination for performers in the city. Each week features five special guests, each of whom perform a short set, and "surprise" performers, who are mixed in among the special guests and each perform one song. The special guests this past week were Barbara Gurskey, Andrea Mezinsky-Kolb, Jonathan Long, Martin Vidnovic, and my sister, Kelly Esposito Broelmann! One of the special surprises for the night was Richard Skipper himself, who wasn't able to be at the first half of the evening, as he was performing elsewhere, but who opened up the second half of the show doing his renowned Carol Channing impersonation - in full Carol Channing dress, hair and makeup! The audience just adored it, and it was a very fun surprise! It was a great evening from top to bottom with some truly outstanding performances. I'm looking forward to going again soon!
Jenna Esposito, THE CABARET CHRONICLES (BROADWAYWORLD.COM) Posted 10/18/09

RICHARD! ~ It was so great to see you perform at the Iguana last WEDs night (Oct 7) ... My date and I agreed it was the best night we had spent in NYC this trip and plan on making it our regular routine henceforth ~ Truly the BEST bargain in town!! The venue, the talent, AMAZING ~ we couldn't have seen that much talent had we spent two weeks hitting the shows ... please give my kudos to EVERYONE. As for you, you stole the show that night with your singing of "I Am What I Am" ... never have I heard it sung with more clarity; and by that I don't mean just gorgeous sound, but a clarity of understanding and COMMUNICATING that to your audience ... BRAVO!!








FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NYC

Now a night out in NY to see a show at a VERY AFFORDABLE price!
Dana Lorge and I have
now put their OWN spin on The variety show format and are now hosting every Wednesday night in
NYC at The Iguana VIP Lounge (http://www.iguananyc.com) in the heart of
NYC (240 West 54th Street 8-11PM/with an intermission).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE IGUANA!
Each week
will showcase 5 entertainers.

Barry Levitt returns on keyboard and Saadi Zain on bass!
on bass. Time: 8 - 11:00 p.m.
Cover: $10 - no food or drink minimums – but remember – the food is great!

This is a nice night
out with the family!

A
"throw back" to the variety shows we grew up with.
For more info, please call 845-365-0720 or visit _www.RichardSkipper.com_
RESERVATIONS A MUST!!!!!!!!
212-765-5454. No one admitted before
7:30.








THIS WEEK, OUR HALLOWEEN SHOW!

October 28th: and we are having a best costume contest! So wear your most outrageous costume for a great prize! Christine Talbot-Sutin will be accompanying tonight's guests which include: Kathryn Allyn (joined by Sheldon Forrest on keyboard), Jenna Esposito, Laurie Krauz, Angela Schultz (joined by Brett Kristoferson), Jesse Lutrell

November 4th: Arianna, Moira Danis, Elaine St. George, Daryl Glenn, Lynn DiMenna

December 2nd: Cynthia Crane, The debut of The Marquee 5 (Mick Bleyer, Adam Hemming, Vanessa Parvin, Sierra Rein, Julie Reyburn) singing selections from their upcoming revue, "We Can Make It...The Songs of Kander & Ebb" and Hector Coris!

December 9th: Richard Holbrook, Josh Zuckerman, Helena Grenot, Jillian Laurain, Jerry Wichinsky

November 25th: OUR THANKSGIVING SHOW! James Alexander joins us!

December 30th: Linda Fields, Ritt Henn, Annie Hughes, Yvette Malavets-Blum, David Nathan Scott
Keep checking http://www.richardskipper.com/schedule.html