Bob Spiotto News

Dynamic songstress Beverly Taki takes the stage with the David Shenton Orchestra to entertain with her show, 'From Memphis to Chicago: Blues Classics' on Sunday, August 6th at 7 p.m. at the Metropolitan Room.

The security was tight in the Monastery last night as politicians, tennis legends, celebrities and Friars gathered in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room to pay tribute to David Dinkins on his 90th birthday.   The security protection wasn't good enough however to stop one of the greatest comedians on the planet, Dean Emeritus Freddie Roman (MC) to have some fun with the former Mayor.  As a matter of fact Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who made a special trip down from Albany to be at the Friars got some laughs himself during his heartfelt tribute to Mr. Dinkins.  There was much love, laughter, joy, and a few tears in the club during the evening, as there always is in the Friars Club.  I couldn't help thinking as I watched all the Democrats and  Republicans in the room enjoying each others camaraderie, how great it would be if all our representatives in Washington would become Friars, meet in The Monastery, feel the love, and solve the nations problems. 

Longtime communications director of the Friars Club was given a heartfelt Bon Voyage in the Milton Berle Room yesterday and many show business notables were present and in video to honor the man who has written most of the published words and history of The Friars for the last 25 years.  Barry Dougherty's words...

Bernie Fusrhpan, managing partner of the Metropolitan Room moved his club into the Friars Club last night and BroadwayWorld was there for the entertainment super special. 

Everybody Loved Somebody at The Friars Club last night as Dean Martin was celebrated in song and toasted by his fellow Friars. 

Photographs of America's most treasured composers are on the walls of the Friars Club. By some oversight David Friedman's is not.  After an evening of David and friends performing his music he will take his rightful  place among the music greats who have had their music echo through the hallowed rooms of the club.

The Friars Club's entertainment bench possesses an unbelievable amount of talent and they are called upon to perform at the club's unique in-house weekly dinner/shows.  Luckily, performers who were not famous when they first joined the club are generous with sharing their talents at these events after they become super stars. 

 An Evening With… are three of the most powerful words in the entertainment world and they are so often posted and signify an event that can only happen at the Friars Club.  In the early days of the club it was  an evening with James Cagney, George M. Cohan and other show business greats.  Then came evenings with Milton Berle, Frank Sinatra, and many other legends. 

There was only high comedy and some serious wine from one of the highest mountains in Greece at the Friars Club last night as Laura Slutsky hosted 'Whine Women & Wine'. 

Chazz, or 'C' as his friends called him in The Bronx told some great stories to his fellow Friars in the Frank Sinatra Room last night. It was after an Italian  Buffet Feast in the Milton Berle and Barbra Streisand Rooms at the 'Monastery' on 55th street that Chazz explained that he was doing nothing different then what he used to do as a youngster in The Bronx.  His friend's would say 'let Chazz tell the story.'  

Yankee Stadium has it's 'Legends Seats' and Monuments prominently displayed in the 'House That Ruth Built'.  Then the current team takes the field and future legends start to play ball.  In the Friars Club show biz past and present are always in the house.  Their photos are on the wall and names are engraved on the chairs in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room.  Then as so often happens an 'insiders' great show is produced for the members and those legends current and future entertain their fellow Friars.  So it happened last night as the Friars Club honored Bobby Short, the legendary cabaret singer/pianist who was best known for his three decade plus music residency at Cafe Carlyle in New York City.  The music of Bobby Short was brought to life by some current Cafe Carlye and Bemelmans Bar stars in a spectacular evening produced and hosted by Friar Jeff Leibowitz and Co-Produced by Friar Will Friedwald.

You didn't Have to talk back to your TV last night… Dick Cavett Was “Live” at the Friars Club. The tables, (and microphones) were turned on the legendary Talk Show Host as SIRIUS XM Radio personality Pete Dominick interviewed Mr. Cavett.  The “Monestary” wasn't at all quiet as Friars had a lively Q&A after the interview with the man who had Talk Shows on ABC, CBS, PBS and USA Networks.

Jamie deRoy's Friar Membership and her long running Jamie deRoy & friends Variety Show are about the same age.  Jamie became a member in 1988 along with Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers and Brooke Shields.  Jamie brought this edition of the show to the Friars Club last night and the Frank Sinatra Dining Room was filled with Friars and Jamie's friends as they dined and were entertained by some of the best in the business. 

TV producer and comedian Angela LaGreca hosted the Sunshine Commitee's Comedy & Raffle Night at the Friars Club last night and BroadwayWorld was there for the fun.  A group of very funny comics kept the Friars laughing in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room as they raised funds for the important work of the Sunshine Committee.

The 90th Macy's Day parade balloons will not pass by the Friars Club on 55th street but the celebrity guests at the club got to see some great photos of them yesterday at the club.  Sheldon and Margery Harnick hosted a Book Launch Party for Matt Harnick who has a wonderful new book © Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: A New York City Holiday Tradition, Rizzoli N.Y. 2016, which is filled with exclusive photography by Matt, along with archival images of the spectacular floating balloons.  The book offers a never-before-seen look at the planning and preparation of the parade.  Italy features text by Stephen M. Silverman, Foreword by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Afterword by Terry J. Lindgren, Chairman & CEO of Macy's Inc. in conjunction with this milestone anniversary.  The guests in the Milton Berle Room of the Friars Club were also treated to a performance by Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin and a conversation with Sheldon Harnick, Matt Harnick and Amy Kule, Executive Producer of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  It was a great afternoon and it was nice and warm watching the parade go by inside the club.

Still witty, smart and funny at 95 years of age, the legendary comic Marty Allen was hosted (not roasted) at a Friars Club lunch.  Emmy Award winning Friar Bill Boggs interviewed Marty about his long career in show business.  Marty worked as an opening act for stars such as Sarah Vaughan, Eydie Gorme and Nat King Cole gained enormous fame when he teamed up with singer Steve Rossi and made 44 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.  In 1961 and 1962 Allen appeared on Broadway in Let It Ride! at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre and then went on to perform in the pre-Broadway tour and Broadway performances of I Had A Ball.

The Friars Club hosted a one night only event last night that will be remembered for many years by Ben Vereen.  Chita Rivera brought him to the club for what Ben thought was a small dinner in his honor.  When Ben walked out of the elevator the huge mahogany  doors of the Milton Berle Room and Barbra Streisand Room swung open to a capacity crowd of Friars shouting "SURPRISE" and singing Happy Birthday.   It was an emotional happy celebration as Ben's many friends toasted the legendary performer and humanitarian.  Friar Board Member and Chairman of the Friars Admission Committee Bill Boggs officially made Ben Vereen an Honorary Friar.  As Bill pointed out to Ben in his presentation,  " I have the power to bestow this title on you….. being an Honorary Member entitles you to walk into the club at any time, enjoy a great meal in the Frank Sinatra dinning room…..and pay for it! "  

Freddie Roman, of Catskills On Broadway fame and past Dean of the Friars Club was the MC of a Borscht Belt evening in the Jerry Lewis Monastery last night and BroadwayWorld was there.

Last night, with photos of some of the greatest entertainers looking down at him in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room, Billy Stritch -- one of the most talented and creative musicians on the planet -- entertained his fellow Friars. I don't know if the velvet fog ever sang in the Monastery, but the closest you will ever get to his music is to hear Billy Stritch perform his Mel Torme show. It's the definitive interpretation of Mel's extraordinary musical genius, performed by the unequaled artistry of Mr. Stritch.

Michael Riedel, theater columnist for the New York Post and author of the best selling book RAZZLE DAZZLE The Battle For Broadway, led a panel discussion at the Friars Club last night.  The book is advertised with the slogan, "everything you wanted to know about Broadway, but were afraid to ask"!