Bill Boggs News

In a darkened Frank Sinatra Dining Room an off stage voice using that classic Dean Martin intro ' And Now Direct From The Bar' announced co-hosts Bill Boggs, Bruce Charet and countless actors, singers, celebrities and friends to toast one of the most beloved entertainers in show business…..Deana Martin.

Deana Martin, daughter of entertainment legend Dean Martin, is set to be honored with the official title of Trobairitz by the Friar's Club in New York City. The prestigious title will be formally presented to Martin on June 4 as part of 'A Deana Martin Toast.'

It was night that will long be remembered by fans (and who isn't) of Marilyn Maye and of American Songbook hero, Dick Robinson. Marilyn is currently celebrating her 90th year with her current engagement at Feinstein's/54 Below and her friend DIck Robinson, creator of Legends Radio and founder of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting is celebrating his 80th.

The Friars archives and Wikipedia have finally been corrected. Nineteen Eighty Eight was a watershed year for women. They gained membership to numerous private men's clubs that heretofore were off limits to women. The Friars, being one of the more famous of the bunch had an article heralding the event written by a less than factual reporter for The New York Times. The paper of record, in an early forerunner of fake news only listed the first 7 women and overlooked number 8...Jamie deRoy who was in that initial group, along with Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers, Brooke Shields, and other prominent female entertainment figures was not mentioned.

Happy Days Were Here Again at Lynn University last night because Ann Hampton Callaway sang the Barbra Streisand Songbook at Jan McCart's Live at Lynn Series. Arguably, one of the finest performers in the music world, Ann is also a composer and lyricist and her songs can be heard on seven of Barbara Streisand's albums. If you happened to be at Barbra's wedding to James Brolin you know that Ann's lyrics were sung by Barbra to the groom.

There was a lot of love in the RRAZZ ROOM at Mizner Park Cultural Center in Boca Raton with Deborah Silver last night, and BroadwayWorld was there. Check out photos from the event below!

Tough guy Robert Davi, one of the most recognizable actors on the planet made his Colony Hotel Royal Room debut last night and BroadwayWorld was there. The tough guy charmed the tough Palm Beach audience with his Sinatra style singing and persona. Check out photos below!

The winning bidder at The New York Pops Silent Auction, whose proceeds help finance The Pops/Ed Programs of The New York Pops, got something way above the original listed value. The auction item was for one pianist to play at your private party. However not only did the pianist show up at the appointed time, he was joined by some of the world's greatest pianists and entertainers for the special evening.

On Saturday afternoon, September 23, the 91 Annual Feast of San Gennaro will stage two celebrations : the Second Annual Little Italy Meatball Eating Competition in memory of John 'Cha Cha' Ciara, the unofficial Mayor of Little Italy who passed in November 2015. hosted by actor/singer Tony Danza; and the 100th Birthday of Dean Martin. hosted by TV personality Bill Boggs.

The 91st Annual Feast of San Gennaro will celebrate Dean Martin's 100th Birthday with a three hour tribute on today, September 23, from 2 to 5 PM on the Feast Performance Stage at the corner of Grand and Mott Streets in Little Italy.

As it bids farewell to its home of 11 years, the Metropolitan Room will present 24 continuous hours of free-wheeling entertainment -- from Sunday September 24 at 9pm, to Monday September 25 at 9pm. Featuring a mind-boggling 144 individual acts, with over a dozen emcees, and a battalion of musicians, technicians and hangers-on, the Metropolitan Room's 3rd annual Cabaret Marathon Extravaganza It's a Tradition was spawned by the Metropolitan Room's first record-setting (60-hour) entertainment marathon in January 2015. That massive undertaking shattered the Guinness World Record for longest variety show ever.

Eugene Pack's new comedy play, Sweet Birds, was presented as a benefit staged reading on Sunday, August 27 at 8pm at Guild Hall in The Hamptons, starring J. Smith Cameron (Rectify), Mario Cantone (Sex and the City), Chloe Dirksen, Emmy winner Tate Donovan (Manchester by the Sea, Fargo), Geraldine Hughes, Nick Fondulis (The Affair), Obie-winner Kathryn Grody, Oscar nominee & Emmy winner Carol Kane (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Molly Ranson (August: Osage County, Carrie: The Musical), and Drama Desk-winner Dayle Reyfel. The evening was hosted by Luann de Lesseps. BroadwayWorld has photos from the reading below!

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.

Last night Le Cirque welcomed it's creator Sirio Maccioni back to the legendary restaurant.  Sirio's many friends turned out for the occasion and enjoyed a Tuscon dinner from the recipes of his wife Egidiana  Maccioni. 

 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. 

Considered the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls, takes the stage at The Wick Theatre from March 9th through April 9th. Based on the short stories of Damon Runyon,  with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, Guys and Dolls won the Tony Award for Best Musical, ran for 1,200 performances on Broadway, and became an Oscar nominated film starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra. Tickets are $75 & 80, www.thewick.org or call 561-995-2333.

Considered the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls, takes the stage at The Wick Theatre from March 9th through April 9th. Based on the short stories of Damon Runyon,  with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, Guys and Dolls won the Tony Award for Best Musical, ran for 1,200 performances on Broadway, and became an Oscar nominated film starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra. Tickets are $75 & 80, www.thewick.org or call 561-995-2333.