Upon the conclusion of six weeks of intense competition which began January 8, nearly a thousand patrons supported 20 of Southern California's newest and most dynamic, young musical theatre performers in LA's Next Great Stage Star 2012 at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, CA.
The Southern California Motion Picture Council (SCMPC) have proudly presented their 2012 Golden Halo Award to actress, singer and humanitarian, Ms. Barbara Van Orden. The Golden Halo is the SCMPC's highest award.
The Southern California Motion Picture Council (SCMPC) will present their annual St. Valentines Ball with Oscar winning actress, Miss Margaret O'Brien, as the evening's hostess. The highlight of the gala will be the presentation of the 2012 Golden Halo Award to actress, singer and humanitarian, Ms. Barbara Van Orden.
The Southern California Motion Picture Council (SCMPC) will present their annual St. Valentines Ball with Oscar winning actress, Miss Margaret O'Brien, as the evening's hostess. The highlight of the gala will be the presentation of the 2012 Golden Halo Award to actress, singer and humanitarian, Ms. Barbara Van Orden.
Call it the biography of a place, a collaborative memoir, a history-but whatever you call it, The Persian Room Presents will transport you to the most elegant and magical night spot New York has ever known. In this dishy, personal, and compulsively readable book, dozens of celebrities reminisce about their experiences performing and partying at the Plaza and they all agree on one thing: there's never been anyplace like it.
Lily Tomlin, Joanne Worley, Carole Cook, Bruce Vilanch along with filmmaker and multi TONY-winning Director and Producer, Dori Berinstein all gathered on one stage to salute a star, an icon and a legend - Ms. Carol Channing. On Wednesday night, the Paley Center featured these incredible talents as well as gathering many more in the audience for the Los Angeles premiere screening of 'Carol Channing: Larger Than Life.' The panel members, who also appear in the critically acclaimed documentary, gathered with other friends, colleagues and fans of the woman who has been dubbed, and deservingly so, 'The First Lady of Musical Theatre.' Seen among those in attendance were a who's who of TONY, OSCAR, EMMY & GOLDEN GLOBE award winners including George Chakiris, Charles Fox, Davis Gaines, Ilene Graff, Tippi Hedren, Michael Learned, Kate Linder, Julie Newmar, Connie Stevens, Ruta Lee, Rose Marie, Richard Skipper, Barbara Van Orden, Dee Wallace and co-producer, B. Harlan Boll, to enjoy a film that also featured such noted industry greats as Loni Anderson, Marge Champion, Tyne Daly, Jerry Herman, Angela Lansbury, Bob Mackie, Margaret O'Brien, Debbie Reynolds, Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune, Barbara Walters and many more.
It was an eclectic representation Hollywood talent that gathered on Thursday at the Egyptian theatre. From Broadway hits like "Grease" and "Peter Pan" to films such as "Westside Story" and "E.T. The Extraterrestrial" as well as cast members of many TV classics from "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "My Three Sons," "Bewitched," "Happy Days" and "The Waltons" to "Y&R" and "Hanna Montana" were present as Red Line Tours proudly unveiled their new series of collectible souvenir tickets designed by world-renowned artist, Andre Miripolsky. What do all these individuals share in common? Answer - A love for Hollywood History and its preservation.
LA's Next Great Stage Star™ 2012 bows to the New Year beginning Sunday, January 8th at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in Los Angeles.
LA's Next Great Stage Star™ 2012 bows to the New Year beginning Sunday, January 8th at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in Los Angeles.
After a an extended absence from the stage, due to the highly publicized accident that resulted in 18 surgeries, Ms. Barbara Van Orden brought her autobiographical cabaret act to Catalina's in Los Angeles this week. Ms. Van Orden began her singing career in the Catskill mountains at Grossinger's, where she opened for individuals such as Milton Berle, Don Rickles and Red Buttons. 'It was a great way to break into show biz,' says Barbara.
They say timing is everything. Well, with the success of AMC's 'Mad Men' and the pending release of the retro series for ABC entitled, 'Pan Am' as well as NBC's recently announced 'Playboy Club', it seems like the perfect time for the woman who opened for Sinatra and headlined at each and every one of the Playboy Clubs, Barbara Van Orden, to re-emerge, like Dolly Gallagher Levi in Jerry Herman's hit 'Hello Dolly!', in the public eye.
Veterans of the Great White Way, such as Kaye Ballard, as well as new comers to the boards of Broadway like Alison Arngrim, joined legend Carol Channing for a Palm Springs EMMY night party with a New York theatrical twist, featuring performances by Tony nominated Jonelle Allen (Two Gentlemen of Verona) singing 'Stormy Weather' and Kamilah Marshall's (Hairspray & Rent) moving rendition of 'Orange Colored Sky,' while Rex Smith (The Scarlet Pimpernel, Grand Hotel & Pirates of Penzance) offered 'This Is The Moment' and Davis Gaines (The Phantom of the Opera & Camelot) revived his role of Cornelius Hackle opposite Ms. Channing by singing 'It Only Takes A Moment,' as well as the still powerful voice of former Vegas and Playboy Club headliner, Barbara Van Orden, whose return to the stage gave patrons a bold and bawdy rendition of Chicago's 'When You're Good To Mama.'
Channing and celebrated friends will host a red carpet event featuring a live and silent auction, very special performances by Broadway personalities such as Jonelle Allen (Tony nominee for Two Gentlemen of Verona), Rex Smith (The Scarlet Pimpernel, Grand Hotel & Pirates of Penzance), Davis Gaines (The Phantom of the Opera & Camelot), Kamilah Marshall (Hairspray & Rent), and introducing Barbara Van Orden, as well as a special performance by young people representing the Valley's public schools' arts programs.
Channing and celebrated friends will host a red carpet event featuring a live and silent auction, very special performances by Broadway personalities such as Jonelle Allen (Tony nominee for Two Gentlemen of Verona), Rex Smith (The Scarlet Pimpernel, Grand Hotel & Pirates of Penzance), Davis Gaines (The Phantom of the Opera & Camelot), Kamilah Marshall (Hairspray & Rent), and introducing Barbara Van Orden, as well as a special performance by young people representing the Valley's public schools' arts programs.
They say timing is everything. Well, with the success of AMC's 'Mad Men' and the pending release of the retro series for ABC entitled, 'Pan Am' as well as NBC's recently announced 'Playboy Club', it seems like the perfect time for the woman who opened for Sinatra and headlined at each and every one of the Playboy Clubs, Barbara Van Orden, to re-emerge, like Dolly Gallagher Levi in Jerry Herman's hit 'Hello Dolly!', in the public eye.
'Who would have thought that a young boy from Weymouth would become part of such a large family of vagabonds,' remarked Hal Holbrook about the actors and industry professionals that gathered to honor him at the 15th annual TONY Award party in Los Angeles. 'Not all of us have been lucky enough to make a steady income from this profession we love so much. It's nice to know an organization such as the Actors Fund exists to watch our backs, while we concentrate on using our craft to make the world a richer place to live,' added Holbrook just after friend and colleague, Sean Penn, presented the accomplished thespian with the Julie Harris Award. Penn, who directed Holbrook in 'Into The Wild,' said 'Hal always got it in the first take, but you wanted him to do it again, just so you could watch him work.'
It was an all star rotating line-up at the CAP Theatre ('Complete Actors Place') in Sherman Oaks from Sunday, May 8th - Tuesday May 10th as noted screen, TV and stage personalities tackled various theatrical renditions, made famous by Eve Ensler, from what has become the most effective exercise in reclaiming feminine power -"The Vagina Monologues."
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.'
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