Friars Club News

Valley Forge Casino Resort (1160 First Avenue) laughs its way into the new year with performances from two comedy giants during Valley Forge Music Fair.

Insult comic Lisa Lampanelli will perform at the Treasure Island Theater Friday, February 10 at 9 p.m.

You know the joke. A Jew, an Irishman, and an Italian Walk into a Bar features Freddie Roman, Jeff Norris, and Richard Minervini in an evening of clean standup comedy that will have you rolling in the aisles. Featuring comedians with nearly 100 years of combined experience, A Jew, an Irishman, and an Italian Walk into a Bar is a comedy evening perfect for the whole family.

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.

As part of the upcoming New York Comedy Festival, the Friars Club, the New York Comedy Festival and Producer Rick Newman will present a Comedy Writers Round Table III on Wednesday, November 3rd at 8:30pm at The Friars Club (57 E. 55th St.).

After you've had enough turkey and family drama this Thanksgiving, why not join us for an evening of comedy, music and sequins! Liberace lived a life of flamboyance, sparkle, and lavish costumes. In this funny and touching tribute, the virtuoso musician gets one last chance to glitter and shine as he tickles the ivories through his favorite songs. Miss Peggy Lee is beyond description.

As part of the upcoming New York Comedy Festival, the Friars Club, the New York Comedy Festival and Producer Rick Newman will present a Comedy Writers Round Table III on Wednesday, November 3rd at 8:30pm at The Friars Club (57 E. 55th St.).

Returning for his 57th consecutive year as a Las Vegas headliner, internationally distinguished comedian, actor and entertainer Don Rickles will perform at The Orleans Showroom on Oct. 22 and 23.

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.

Touchstone Theatre presents the latest in their Christmas City Follies series, the theatre's annual holiday vaudeville, filled with jolly mischief, merry melodies, and holiday cheer. Christmas City Follies XVII runs December 1-18, 2016at Touchstone's home theatre at 321 East Fourth Street in Southside Bethlehem.

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! "  

WP Theater welcomes Obie Award Winning actress Zainab Jah (Eclipsed) and rising actress Jessica Luck, joining two-time Grammy-nominated comedian Lisa Lampanelli (HBO, Comedy Central, The Howard Stern Show) and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Ann Harada (Avenue Q, Cinderella) in completing the cast for the world premiere of STUFFED, a new play written by Lampanelli, with additional material by Ashley Austin Morris.

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.

WP Theater welcomes Obie Award Winning actress Zainab Jah (Eclipsed) and rising actress Jessica Luck, joining two-time Grammy-nominated comedian Lisa Lampanelli (HBO, Comedy Central, The Howard Stern Show) and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Ann Harada (Avenue Q, Cinderella) in completing the cast for the world premiere of STUFFED, a new play written by Lampanelli, with additional material by Ashley Austin Morris.

Beloved director, producer, screenwriter and actor Martin Scorsese was honored by the Friars Club with their highest tribute last night, and BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the evening below! The Entertainment Icon Award was given to Scorsese, whose career spans more than 50 years, and who will be one of only a handful of recipients of the award in the Club's 100-year history.

From journalist to skewer.

Returning for his 57th consecutive year as a Las Vegas headliner, internationally distinguished comedian, actor and entertainer Don Rickles will perform at The Orleans Showroom on Oct. 22 and 23.

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"!