Doris Day, Rosemary Loar, Valerie Smaldone...and MORE!

What is Creativity?
The relationship between a human being and the mysteries of inspiration.
-Big Magic: Creative Living Through Fear By Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat Pray Love)

Happy April 3rd, 2016!
Happy Birthday, Doris Day! 💕 Take a walk down memory lane with 40s Junction: CLICK HERE. Today, is the birthday of one of my favorite entertainers. She turns 92 today, but she tells PEOPLE MAGAZINE she doesn't think about her age.Read MORE.
She retired from show-business over three decades ago, and has been living as a virtual recluse for longer than that, but still exercises a powerful hold on the public imaginationwhere her memory is especially revered. Last year, the entertainment media got themselves in a flap when a rumor emerged that Day was about to make a comeback in a film directed by her friend and neighbour, Clint Eastwood.

I am listening to her today on Sirius Radio. ALL DAY LONG! It's a Doris Day! She is an ICON worth celebrating. In addition to playing Doris Day all day on Sirius, the DECADES Binge this weekend is The Doris Day Show.   This series ran for five seasons (1968-1973) and features the dazzling Ms. Day in a role that perfectly captures the sweet, sunny disposition for which she was known.
April 3  is the 94th day of this year. There are 272 days remaining until the end of the year.

Read Ben Yagoda's Blog on the passing of Ervin Drake. Click HERE

In addition to Doris Day's birthday, today is also the birthday of my dear friend and amazing songwriter, Ervin Drake.Ervin Drake (April 3, 1919 – January 15, 2015), birth name was Irving Maurice Druckman, works include such American Songbook standards as I Believe and It Was a Very Good Year. He wrote in a variety of styles and his work has been recorded by musicians around the world. In 1983, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The last Broadway revival of South Pacific opened eight years ago today.

Danny Burstein who was in that production is currently starring on Broadway in Fiddler on the Roof. Great production and highly recommended.

On this date, 51 years ago, Liza Minnelli opened in preview performances of Flora the Red Menace in New Haven CT, prior to her Broadway debut, the following month, for which she earned her first TONY Award. (Thank you, Avi Duvdevani for this)

Today. I celebrate artists that carry on the traditions of those that paved the way, Rosemary Loar and Valerie Smaldone!

I start with Rosemary Loar! 

One of New York cabaret's strongest jazz singers, Rosemary Loar is the 2012 winner of the MAC Hanson Award for "Excellence in Cabaret"

She returns to THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440) on Wednesday, April 13th at 7:00 pm with her show The Quando Swing, which she debuted in 2006 when she returned to cabaret after a hiatus of 15 years while she was out and about flexing her theatrical muscles on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in regional theaters. This is part of New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits series produced by Stephen Hanks and R. Jeffrey Hamblin, MD.

The Quando Swing is a jazz smorgasbord: a feast of incredible tastes and textures. The show features Frank Ponzio (music direction/piano), Saadi Zain (bass) and Vito Lesczek (drums).
Rosemary makes it her business to give her audience the opportunity to sample each and every one of those exotic flavors. There is laughter and fun, poignancy and reflection, and an evening of wonderful music.
There is a $25 cover plus a 2-drink minimum.

Here is our mini interview
What is your Morning Motivation?
My morning motivation is usually the feeling of gratitude that I get to spend another day on this planet.

How do you approach social media marketing?
I think of it as a great tool to advertise my work but also a great way to connect with people that I haven't seen in years. I try not to let it run my life. I'm not one of those people who has to check Facebook every hour.

It’s Twitter’s 10th birthday. So how do you feel about it now – love it or hate it?
Have no opinion about Twitter as I really never use it.

 

What do you still want that you don't have now?
I would like to see my musical Water From The Moon on Broadway

What are you doing to make the world a better place?
I  try to bring my heart into everything I do. When I perform, when I teach, when I walk down the street. I also pick up litter whenever I see it.
I go for walks and bring a plastic bag and gloves and just pick up litter. I try not to curse the people who dropped it because they it's just a negative experience. I just love where I live and I want it to be clean. ( I do it often in NYC too).                              

WHAT TALENT DO YOU WISH YOU HAD?
I wish I could play the piano really well.

What makes you look so young at your age?​ (from Pat Cooper!)
I work out, I eat right and I think my energy is like someone who is 20 years younger than me so I appear younger.

How do you stay focused on what matters most?
I meditate and belong to a spiritual support group.

Don't Miss Rosemary Loar at The Metropolitan Room on April 13th in The Quando Swing

​

Valerie Smaldone 

Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and is well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on air position in the New York radio market. She has hosted, produced and created several nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with top recording artists such as Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Phil Collins, and Mariah Carey, among others.

On Tuesday night, Valerie will be moderating a panel discussion at the 92nd Street Y to discuss the life and career of Madeline Kahn. This is in celebration of William V. Madson's biography of Kahn,

MADELINE KAHN: BEING THE MUSIC, A LIFE, a panel on the life and career of Madeline Kahn (1942-99), the Oscar-nominated, Emmy and Tony-winning actress, on Tuesday, April 5, at 7pm at New York City's 92nd Street Y. Tony Award-winner Joanna Gleason and actor/director Austin Pendleton will join  Barbara Barrie (who starred with Kahn in her last film, Judy Berlin) and Maddie Corman (Kahn's niece on the George C. Scott sitcom "Mr. President"). Following the panel discussion, MADELINE KAHN: Being the Music • A Life will be available for purchase and signing. All proceeds from book sales will go to Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF).
I will be there and I hope you will as well. Here is our brief interview:

What is your Morning Motivation?

The gym. It is something I do nearly every morning. Even if it is a 30 minute bike ride on the stationery bike.  It's the process of getting up, putting my gym clothes on, and walking the 3 1/2 blocks to the gym and back that I embrace. I figure first thing in the morning, I have already walked 7 blocks to jump start the movement for my day. It clears my head and gives me structure and purpose.

How do you approach social media marketing?
That is a great question because it is an area that we all need to navigate and manage. I think some people just share too much information all the time at every moment of the day. That is overkill.
For me, I try to create posts that will inform or entertain people, or provide links to content I have created that merit promotion.
A good photo that I take can make it's way to Instagram, usually when I am at an event or having a great meal or glass of wine at a fun place or exotic location.

It’s Twitter’s 10th birthday. So how do you feel about it now – love it or hate it?I didn't get Twitter at first. It seemed overwhelming. But in time, I have come to appreciate it and use it often. I actually get a lot of information from Twitter, and used properly, can build good business relationships. So, I would say, if I have to choose love or hate, although I am not that passionate about it, I would choose love.

What do you still want that you don't have now?
Total peace of mind!

What are you doing to make the world a better place?
Empathy. Niceness. Highly under-rated in this self-absorbed selfie obsessed world. I try very hard to look around me and see people who may need assistance, where others simply don't see it. If we all made it a point of being aware and observant and find a way to help others in even small increments, societal norms would indeed shift. Also, I (literally) lend my voice to charities I am partial to like The Point Foundation and Broadway Sings for Pride. Coming up on April 11, I am the "Voice of God" for The Point Foundation Honors gala, as an example.

Batman or Superman?

I think I have to go with Batman because I am partial to bats and he has a cool car.

​What makes you look so young at your age?​ (from Pat Cooper!)
Well, that is a matter of opinion, dear Richard! But I think the reason I still fit into clothes that I had in my 20's is the gym, movement, and passion.

How do you stay focused on what matters most?

Please visit Valerie's Website for More Info.

Ah, that is a spiritual query. I think about dear ones close to me who have passed on. Their last weeks and days stay with me, and the phrase, "here today, gone tomorrow" resonates in my head.
This is an ephemeral world. We all think we have control, but we simply do not. When things are falling apart, when stress reigns supreme, when things seem bleak, I try to focus on the fact that 1) in the long run, it will mean nothing and 2) when you look back on this episode in a week, a month, a year, it will simply not matter and others will have moved on.

Barbara Barrie, Maddie Corman, William V. Madson, Joanna Gleason celebrate Madeline Kahn April 5th, 2016 at the 92nd Street Y

Please join me on Tuesday Night as I continue to celebrate Valerie Smaldone, William V. Madson, and Madeline Kahn!
As a proudly Jewish organization, 92Y enthusiastically welcomes and reaches out to people of all ages, races, faiths and backgrounds while embracing Jewish values like learning and self-improvement, the importance of family, the joy of life and giving back to our wonderfully diverse and growing community, both locally and around the world.
You can can buy tickets by clicking HERE. 

In Other Entertainment News
 JORGE’S MUSICAL CHRONICLES:  Jorge posted reviews to the last batch of cast recordings he has listened to. They are: KINKY BOOTS / MERMAN’S APPRENTICE / THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME / MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS / SALAD DAYS / BEND IY LIKE BECKHAM.
You can read the reviews by clicking HERE

New York Times says that Marieann Meringolo is, “Impeccable! A vocal resemblance to Barbra

Streisand!”Click HERE to order Tix.

Let's Play Dress-Up: Dressing Them Up - Iconic Costumes of Broadway Musicals. Mark Robinson's Wonderful Blog. Click HERE to see more.

Thank to ALL of the artists mentioned in this blog for the gifts they have given to the world and continue to give!

With grateful XOXOXs ,

 

Check out my site celebrating the legacy of Dolly Gallagher Levi

Doris Day in Hello, Dolly! READ MORE!

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!                

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

Richard Skipper Celebrates May 25th  AND Anna Bergman (and OTHERS!) at The Triad in NYC 8PM Show... Reservations a MUST! You Never Know Who You Might See There!
Order your Tickets HERE

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Bridging the Past with the Present: GO SEE A LIVE SHOW TONIGHT!
 

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

Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com


 PLEASE CELEBRATE WITH US THURSDAY NIGHT! April 7th in NYC


Don't Tell Mama Presents...

Wendy Scherl returns in What Do You Do All Day?  Directed by the incredible Helen Baldassarre with great musical direction by Matthew Martin Ward. Wendy is an amazing vocalist with a rangy and rich sound.

“This is someone to watch!” Go see her, you can thank me later.
- Sue Matsuki   In “What Do You Do All Day”, Wendy Scherl shares anecdotes and song about the numerous hats she wears every single day as a wife, a mother of two boys and two dogs, a short order cook, a daughter, a house manager, a chauffeur and Cabaret Singer! Her show is both touching and real, theatrical and funny!
This show WILL sell out! So reserve today and be a part of his star studded audience!
You will truly be amazed by what this full-time executive director of a family of four accomplishes every day!
Wendy will wow you with both her choice of material and her talent!
After graduating from Northwestern University with a BA in Theatre, Wendy performed in numerous regional theatre productions around the country, including some of her favorite productions: Hair (Theofficial 20th Anniversary Production in Chicago), Grease (numerous roles), Annie (Grace), The Pajama Game (Babe), and Godspell.  

$20.00 Cover/Two Drink Minimum Cash Only Reserve at 212-757-0788 (after 4PM or through me)

$5.00 OFF COVER OF ALL MAC MEMBERS
Richard Skipper Celebrates is the publicist for Wendy Scherl and What Do You Do All Day? at NYC's Don't Tell Mama. For press reservations, interview requests, or more information, contact Richard Skipper at Richard@RichardSkipper.com or 845-365-0720