Barbara Van Orden News

The Great White Way seems to be buzzing lately with rumors about potential recreations of iconic characters that include that of Streisand mounting Merman's GYPSY, LuPone channeling Channing's DOLLY, and the as yet to be announced contender for Lansbury's MAME. While other's are talking the talk about these legendary characters, Rita McKenzie is walking the walk as her highly promoted 'Pre-Broadway Engagement' of ETHEL MERMAN's BROADWAY opened this weekend in Los Angeles at the historic El Portal Theatre.

On January 16, 1964 theatergoers at the St. James Theatre first experienced what was to become perhaps the most memorable scene in musical comedy, when the curtains part atop the stairs of the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant and Dolly Levi appears in her red Freddy Wittop gown to begin her descent to 'rejoin the human race.' Forty-seven years (not to mention over 5,000 performances) later and 3,000 miles away, patrons of the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles were able to revisit a little bit of theatrical history as Jerry Herman's first Dolly, Ms. Carol Channing, again entered through parting red curtains and took the stage wearing her original 1964 gown in celebration of her 90th birthday.

Paul Williams took center stage in the Crystal Ballroom of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel on Sunday, January 30th to praise the career of friend and colleague, Hal David. Singing snippets of Hal's hits like 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head,' 'I'll Never Fall In Love Again,' 'Close To You,' 'Walk On By' and many more, Williams declared 'If we tried to cover all of his work, we would have to continue this tribute tomorrow night.' An Honorary Committee that consisted of entertainment industry elite such as Charles Fox, Burt Bacharach, Michele Lee, Carl Reiner, and many more made the Music Center and Club 100's annual 'Magic Moments' gala THE place to be in Los Angeles on Sunday. Though many were on hand to praise Mr. David and his career, the patrons seemed to revolve around two primary tables. That of Mr. David himself, which included the evenings host, Paul Williams and Sally Kellerman (Who would later treat the audience to a selection of Mr David's songs from the stage) and table 10, hosted by noted cabaret singer Barbra Van Orden, which included Tippi Hedren, Florence Henderson, Robert David Hall, and Gary Austin. 'I had to be here tonight, if only to personally express my appreciation to Mr. David for his music and how much it has meant to me,' said Ms. Hedren. Ms. Henderson added, 'I thought I had a good idea about Hal's body of work when I arrived tonight, but as the evening progressed, I caught myself saying, 'He wrote that ... and that as well?' ... It's amazing to think how many great pieces of music he has given us.'

After years of rehabilitation that resulted from a horrific accident, the woman who opened for entertainers like Sinatra, Berle and Rickles, BARBARA VAN ORDEN (wwwbarbaravanorden.com), returns to the stage.

On Sunday November 7 Barbara Van Orden made a splashy return to the world of cabaret @ Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's after a three year absence in a new show directed by the ever resourceful Joe Giamalva. Van Orden belongs to the cabaret world of days gone by, when Sinatra was king and when tasteful music reigned supreme. Promising her audience at the top nostalgia and one exciting ride, she proceeded to captivate with a genuine warmth, fine voice and campy style of humor, all of which will grow even stronger as she continues to perform on a regular basis.