Photo Flash: Rachel York's One-Woman Show At The Magic Castle

Russia has its ballet, Italy has its opera, England has its legitimate stage, but the United States has Broadway: the birthplace of the Musical Comedy. An art form responsible for giving American's some of its greatest legends and icons - Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, Chita Rivera, Angela Lansbury, Pearl Bailey, Bernadette Peters, to name only a few. Now, clearly the name Rachel York is well on its way to being etched into that illustrious list as anyone who attended her one-woman show entitled "For The Love Of It," will agree. The show was produced for Los Angeles patrons as part of a cabaret series at the city's fastest growing hot spot, Cabaret at the Castle, located in the Inner Circle of the world famous Magic Castle.

A celebrated list of leading actors, directors, producers and musicians were on hand to experience Rachel York's brilliant performance, including Marc Cherry, Bud Freidman, Betty Garrett, Ilene Graff, Tippi Hedren, Terry Hughes, Roland Kickinger, Kate Linder, Joe Luckinbill, and Tuc Watkins.

Beyond her stunning stage presence and her perfectly pitched pipes, Rachel York is the very definition of entertainment. Under the musical direction of Eugene Gwozdz, the evening included a diverse repertoire of chart toppers such as "Don't Rain on my Parade," "He Touched Me," "I Dreamed a Dream," "I Want to Be," "My Heart Will Go On," "Those Were The Days," "Defying Gravity," and a Burt Bacharach medley (for the lovers in the room), as well as a rendition of "Lonely Goat Herder" that spawned audience participation. It is no wonder that Ms. York was selected to portray Lucille Ball in the CBS movie LUCY, as her perfectly timed comedic banter and spot on impersonations of industry royalty from both Broadway and the silver screen such as Cher, Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli and, if you closed your eyes, a Dame Julie Andrews you would swear was in the room herself, left the audience slack jawed in approval. Among her catalog of voices was that of the hushed toned Marilyn Monroe, which was in fact the voice used to launch her Broadway career in "Company of Angels." "I made my Broadway debut on a bed ... Naked," recalled Ms. York, "Mother was so proud."

Mark your calendars, Grammy-nominated recording artist, television and Broadway star, Ilene Graff (www.ilenegraff.com), is the next distinguished artist scheduled to appear on Sept. 14th and 15th, accompanied by her Musical Director-husband Ben Lanzarone, in "First You Dream."

In addition to being the world's most famous club for magicians and magic enthusiasts and home to The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc., The Magic Castle is has long been THE showplace for some of the greatest talent around the world. A structure, that with great pride to its co-founders, Milt Larsen and Irene Larsen (wife of the late co-founder Bill Larsen) is celebrating it 100th anniversary (construction having been completed in 1909) in September. The mansion has watched Hollywood grow and change over the years while never losing its original charm.

For more information on the Magic Castle, visit www.magiccastle.com.
For more information on Rachel York, visit www.rachelyork.net.

Photo credits: Brian Putnam