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Ten Time Tony Winner Tommy Tune is Still Tops!

Tommy Tune, Tonight!
with Tommy Tune and Marta Sanders-Cooper

Tommy Tune continues through next Friday at the Café Carlyle, 35 East 76th Street, Manhattan; 212-744-1600, thecafecarlyle­.com. 
It's too darn hot
It's too darn hot
I'd like to sup with my baby tonight
Refill the cup with my baby tonight
I'd like to sup with my baby tonight
Refill the cup with my baby tonight
But I ain't up to my baby tonight
'Cause it's too darn hot
-Cole Porter, Kiss Me Kate

Hi Everyone,

First, I want to wish you a Happy Friday!  I hope that today brings you and your family all of the health, happiness, and success possible!
As I sat down to start my blog today, Donna McKechnie was singing The Music and the Mirror from the original Broadway company of A Chorus Line.
Tommy and Ellen Easton last evening
She, of course, won the Tony Award for her incredible role of Cassie. Someone who had a desperate need to dance. Speaking of dance and Tony Awards, do yourself a favor and get over to the Carlyle to see a master at work.Catch Broadway icon Tommy Tune in his brand-new show Tommy Tune, Tonight! at Cafe Carlyle through Jan. 22.
Catch Broadway icon Tommy Tune in his brand-new show Tommy Tune, Tonight! at Cafe Carlyle through Jan. 22. Performances of the cabaret show kicked off Jan. 12. - See more at: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/broadwaycon-tommy-tune-and-matthew-morrisons-exit-what-not-to-miss-this-week-379784#sthash.4kFHOBLr.dpuf

Tune does it all; he performs, directs and choreographs. He's currently performing at Cafe Carlyle on the Upper East Side.We saw him last night and here is a clip of him talking about the show this AM on WPIX 11.
Tommy Tune is possibly the tallest dancer in the country!
He was in the New York Company of How Now Dow Jones when Ernest Lehman engaged him to play Ambrose Kemper in the film, "Hello, Dolly!".
When Tommy opened on the 12th, BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the performance! Check out photos HERE!

with Marta Sanders Cooper

I got a call last night from Tommy and his personal assistant, Peter Glebo, telling me about last night's show and I went into overdrive. I called my friend Ellen Easton to see if she would like to join us if I could make some heavy rearranging in a day that had already been planned out.
She said yes, that she would like a night out.

We already had plans last night.
Danny and I were scheduled to have dinner with our friends Gordon and Marta Cooper.
I called and asked if they would like to go to the Carlyle (as my guests).
They said yes. I called Danny to let him know that our plans had changed!
Then, I called to make reservations!
I am thrilled that Gordon and Marta were able to join us. Marta was part of the original Broadway company of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. 

Boy, am I glad I did! From the moment, I walked into the
Check out my blog on Tommy Tune and Hello, Dolly!
Carlyle and was welcomed with open arms by maitre' d Toma, we all were treated the way that hosts should welcome guests in every room in New York.


We all had a great dinner last night but the main course and reason why we were there was waiting in the wings.

The lights dimmed and the trio began vamping Tommy's opening number, Too Darn Hot.  Accompanied by Michael Biagi, his music director for nearly four
decades, this is one hot trio! They are joined by musical director Michael Biagi on piano, Marc Schmied on bass and John Myers on drums.Tommy danced his way on to the small stage at the Carlyle resplendent in a periwinkle blue custom made suit that I am envious of. As if that wasn't enough, his tap shoes, courtesy of Capezio, are a silver pair that Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz books would covet.
One thing I had always admired about Tommy, beyond his amazing talent, is his amazing style.
Like Dorothy's silver shoes, Tommy transported us to another time and place. A place of sophistication and grace and style and elegance and class.

As I sat there watching the show last night, I could not help but think about those glorious older movies in which the characters would go to an elegant supper club to see a show. When I see a great artist at work, it is one of the many things that keep me going to strive for my dreams. Tommy epitomizes the dream into reality paradigm. His father is a Texas restaurateur. Tommy acted in, directed and choreographed school productions, arrived in New York St. Patrick's Day, 1964 and, 24 hours later, had a role in the road company of Irma La Douce. He was on his way to an incredible career with many delightful ups and downs that has led him to this opportunity in which he is now holding court at the Carlyle.

I'm reminded of something I read in Roy Sander's column years ago when he was writing Bistro Bitz
in Back Stage. I may be paraphrasing a bit, but he said that if he didn't know an artist, he wasn't always interested in the autobiographical elements of a show. If he did know them, he was sometimes embarrassed by what they were sharing with an audience.  
However, when one has had the career that Tommy has had, we all want to drink in ALL that he has to share. 
I have somewhat been part of this show from the beginning. It has gone through various incarnations. I was lucky enough to be invited to the first performance Tommy gave in 2012 when we were invited to be part of the audience at a private performance at the Harvard Club. 
This was in anticipation of his upcoming run at the now defunct Feinstein's here in New York. 
 
I campaigned this past year for Tommy Tune's LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD to be presented LIVE! This show will tell you WHY it needed to be!

At that time, the show was entitled Taps, Tunes, and Tall Tales.Tommy has gone on to perform that show all over the country including the Carlyle. The show is better than ever and should be seen by all who can get to Cafe Carlyle to see it.
Tommy Tune performs Tommy Tune Tonight! at Café Carlyle.
(© David Andrako)
"I'm pinch-hitting for Chita," Tommy Tune announces several songs into his set. Chita Rivera had originally been scheduled to make her Carlyle debut this month, but sustained a pelvic stress fracture over the holidays. Fear not: She's slated to return in April. Few performers could fill such mythic jazz shoes. Luckily, the equally legendary Tommy Tune was available to step up to the plate. Read Zachary Stewart's review from TheatreMania. 


Tommy Tune at the Café Carlyle.

Michelle V. Agins / The New York Times
And from Stephen Holden in the New York Times: 
If the ageless song and dance man Tommy Tune seems to have one foot off the ground and his head in the clouds, one reason is that he stands tall (“5 feet 17¾ inches,” by his count) and can literally see over most people’s heads. At Tuesday’s opening night performance of his show “Tommy Tune, Tonight!” at the Café Carlyle, he was the suave, ebullient charmer we all know and treasure. Over the decades, this ingenuous grown-up boy from Texas has also acquired the glitter-crusted shell of a show business trouper like his “spiritual godmother,” Carol Channing.

And from TheatrePizzazz. 

Tommy Tune has enchanted audiences for decades and is one of the country's most prolific performers. He has received 10 Tony Awards, The National Medal of Arts and 8 Drama Desk Awards among countless other accolades. Additionally, he has been honored with his own star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame by Gwen Verdon. In 2009, New York Landmarks Conservancy designated Mr. Tune as a Living Landmark. Last year, he received rave reviews for his tap dancing and singing role in the Encores! Production of Lady, Be Good! at New York City Center.
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Café Carlyle
For tickets call: (212) 744-1600
CLICK HERE TO ORDER TICKETS 

Feinstein's at Loews Regency continues its 2012 fall season with the New York solo debut of nine-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune in Taps, Tunes, and Tall Tales, which plays Nov. 18-26. - See more at: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/tony-winner-tommy-tune-offers-taps-tunes-and-tall-tales-at-feinsteins-nov.--199863#sthash.aQt4nJYE.dpuf
Other Entertainment Related News
Congratulations to Dale Badway who has been re-elected President of the Theatre World Awards.
The Theatre World Awards, initiated in 1944, are the oldest awards given to debut performances for Broadway and Off-Broadway !

Thank you, Mark Walter for sending me this:  The Wall Street Journal's superb article on his father, Cy Walter, by Terry Teachout ... http://www.wsj.com/articles/cy-walters-cocktail-piano-with-a-twist-1452721350.

Lama Chime Rinpoche Tribute and Prayers for David Bowie.

Celine Dion's husband, Rene Angelil, has passed away. Please keep Celine, her children, and the entire family in your prayers during this devastating time. We love you, Celine, stay strong.. Amen..
They had such a beautiful love story.

Lynn DiMenna and Will Friedwald are producing a Dinah Shore Centennial Tribute March 12th for American Popular Song Society  With Paul Greenwood on piano, Tom Hubbard on bass, Eric Halvorson on drums.  The stars will be Lynn DiMenna, Jeff McCauley, Kimberly Hawky and Margi Gianquinto. So happy that this is happening.

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!

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Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!   
        
Tommy Tune has jumped in to replace an injured Chita Rivera at the Cafe Carlyle, but he says he's not exactly stepping into her petite shoes. Read MORE here.
d more here: http://www.centredaily.com/entertainment/celebrities/article54115105.html#storylink=cpy
Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!
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Keeping Entertainment LIVE!
 
TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED DAY

February 13th, Peter Filichia in conversation with Richard Skipper at American Popular Song Society 

with Musical Director Michael Lavine
Oleg Frish and an all star cast
join  Peter Filichia and Richard Skipper
to celebrate the 1963/64 Broadway Season
Talk/Performance/Book Signing

Call Richard Skipper Celebrates at 845-365-0720 if you need more details.
Many surprises are in store. Please contact me if any questions.
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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.
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