Lainie Kazan News

On Sunday April 1 Kritzerland presented its monthly show, this time Take Me Along saluting composer/lyricist Bob Merrill at the all new Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal in NoHo. This also marked the opening night for the new venue. Bruce Kimmel hosted a lovely evening with singers Melody Hollis, Juliana Hansen, Julie Garnye, Kristopher McNeeley, Jeffrey Christopher Todd and special guest Lainie Kazan. Christy Crowl served beautifully as musical director at the piano. Shelly Markham played for Miss Kazan. As always, Kimmel told some interesting stories about the composer. As for Merrill, he composed all of his tunes on a toy xylophone and had a series of pop tunes in the 50s long before he had a Broadway success. Songs performed in the 90-minute set included these tunes as well as Broadway fare from hits like Funny Girl, Carnival and Sugar, as well as from flops Pretty Belle, Henry, Sweet Henry, based on The World of Henry Orient and Holly Golightly otherwise referred to as Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Kritzerland at Sterling's will host TAKE ME ALONG, a tribute to the great songs of Bob Merrill, both as composer/lyricist and lyricist, on April 1st at 7pm.

Further to Vantage Press's release of "The Persian Room Presents," New York's Plaza Hotel will be hosting a public signing for author and Plaza resident, Ms. Patty Farmer on Thursday, March 29th at 5:00 to 7:00 pm, at 768 5th Ave, New York. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to Childhelp for the treatment and prevention of child abuse.

The comedy Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words features a line-up of rotating performers who interpret the actual words and stories written by the famous and the infamous, in both solo and ensemble 'chamber' pieces.

Sporadically shedding its former skin as a mainly musical endeavor, last night's "The Coup" episode of NBC's musical dramedy series SMASH stepped outside the box and presented a drama-focused show heavy on the plot and light on the musical numbers - with surprisingly strong results, believe it or not. As has become abundantly apparent, in the seven episodes up until this point, SMASH seems to have excelled in its musical sequences which floated high, flying, adored (like Eva Peron in EVITA) above everything else; enlivening the proceedings where the story fell short - usually, with Ivy (Megan Hilty) dominating the Marilyn Monroe show-within-the-show songs and Karen (Katharine McPhee) making the very most of an impressive melange of pop covers - but, as penned by Scott Burkhardt and directed by GLEE veteran Paris Barclay, "The Coup" showed that SMASH has legs and can sustain a character/plot-focused story from time to time, too. And, anyway, it's hard to complain too much about a lack of songs when we were presented with perhaps the most unique and stylized pop musical number to date in the form of the Top 40-ready Ryan Tedder-written potential Marilyn burlesque routine - that is, if Derek (Jack Davenport) takes the show-within-the-show in an entirely new direction and leaves Tom (Christian Borle) and Julia (Debra Messing) by the wayside. That potential prospect seems highly unlikely, though - to say the very, very least. Speaking of high, "The Coup" flew the coop as far as daring to do what many may have thought unlikely or impossible - namely, weaving in almost seamless, fully-integrated musical sequences such as Ivy & company's down and dirty bowling alley cover song set to the funky 60s sounds of Sly & The Family Stone's "Dance To The Music", or, (almost) effortlessly managing to make a contemporary song in a musical theatre milieu actually function (more or less) and come alive in the form of the sexy and titillating 'Touch Me'. Yes, "The Coup" stylistically diverged from what has come before on SMASH, but the more risks taken, the more rewards reaped. Definitely don't count all the eggs in the SMASH basket before they're hatched!

Further to Vantage Press's release of "The Persian Room Presents," New York's Plaza Hotel will be hosting a public signing for author and Plaza resident, Ms. Patty Farmer on Thursday, March 29th at 5:00 to 7:00 pm, at 768 5th Ave, New York. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to Childhelp for the treatment and prevention of child abuse.

On Sunday, April 22nd at 7:30pm at the The Museum of Tolerance, 9786 West Pico, a benefit will be held to raise funds for The Survivor Mitzvah Project, in support of the elderly and forgotten Holocaust Survivors in Eastern Europe still suffering over 70 years after the start of the War. Featuring will be Ed Asner, Russell Brand, Frances Fisher, Elliot Gould, Valerie Harper, Lainie Kazan and Alan Rosenberg with more to be announced.

Kritzerland at Sterling's will host TAKE ME ALONG, a tribute to the great songs of Bob Merrill, both as composer/lyricist and lyricist, on April 1st at 7pm.

The Persian Room at the Plaza Hotel itself featured headliners including Liza Minnelli, Dolores Hope, Eartha Kit, Carol Channing, Diahann Carroll, Andy Williams, Lainie Kazan, Patti Page, and the Chairman of the Board/Ole Blue Eyes - Frank Sinatra, not to mention literary icons such as Eloise (courtesy of Hilary Knight). This week, representatives of Persian Room's history from the 1940's to the 1970's gathered to remember, admire and respect its legacy including Marge Champion, Tommy Tune, Barbara Van Orden, Carol Lawrence, Leslie Uggams, Eve Plumb and more to celebrate the launch of Patty Farmer's new book, 'The Persian Room Presents,' released by Vantage Press. See the photos below!

Special guests Marge Champion, Barbara Van Orden and Tony Butala join author, Patty Farmer Wednesday, March 7 at 7:00 pm, for a Q&A and to sign copies of "The Persian Room Presents." A portion of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to Childhelp for the treatment and prevention of child abuse. The event will be held at Barnes & Noble (82nd & Broadway).

Grammy-nominated recording artist, television, cabaret, and Broadway star, ILENE GRAFF, will be teaching a new Vocal Performance Workshop: MAKING THE SONG YOUR OWN, on Saturday, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24/2012 at 1 P.M. in Studio City. The sessions will cost $25 per class for this special introductory offer. ASCAP Award-winning composer Ben Lanzarone will be the Musical Director.

Grammy-nominated recording artist, television, cabaret, and Broadway star, ILENE GRAFF, will be teaching a new Vocal Performance Workshop: MAKING THE SONG YOUR OWN, on Saturday, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24/2012 at 1 P.M. in Studio City. The sessions will cost $25 per class for this special introductory offer. ASCAP Award-winning composer Ben Lanzarone will be the Musical Director.

Special guests Marge Champion, Barbara Van Orden and Tony Butala join author, Patty Farmer Wednesday, March 7 at 7:00 pm, for a Q&A and to sign copies of "The Persian Room Presents." A portion of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to Childhelp for the treatment and prevention of child abuse. The event will be held at Barnes & Noble (82nd & Broadway).

James Naughton, two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award winning star of stage and screen, will lend his talents once again to the National Meningitis Association Give Kids a Shot! Gala 2012: A Benefit to Save Lives in the Fight Against Meningitis, a Vaccine-Preventable Disease. Honorary Chairs are Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr. and Sharon Loeb and Nick Springer; Gala Chairs are Lenore Cooney, Cooney/Waters Group and Gary Springer, Springer Associates PR ; Master of Ceremonies is EMMY Award winning actor Richard Thomas. Auction Chairs are Matt Klarberg and Errol Rappaport.

GIVE KIDS A SHOT! National Meningitis Association Gala 2012 , A Benefit to Save Lives in the Fight Against Meningitis, a Vaccine-Preventable Disease, Honorary Chairs Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr. and Sharon Loeb & Nick Springer; Gala Chairs Lenore Cooney, Cooney/Waters Group & Gary Springer, Springer Associates PR ; Master of Ceremonies is EMMY Award winning actor Richard Thomas. Auction Chairs: Matt Klarberg & Errol Rappaport.

The Drama Desk Award-winning Celebrity Autobiography returns with its new edition, Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter, to the Triad Theater for two February shows-Monday, February 13 and a special benefit performance on Wednesday, February 15. Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter performs at the Triad Theater, 158 West 72 Street.

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.

On Friday January 13, Times Square Chronicles, MEDEA Vodka, and Columbus Circle Wines and Spirits launched Charities to Benefit, an innovative initiative to bring light to the charities of choice of a number of our favorite celebrities. Each bottle of MEDEA will be programmed with a special LED message and autographed by a celebrity. The bottles will be auctioned off online starting February 1st. Charities to Benefit will be a year long initiative with new celebrities and new charities added every few weeks.

Times Square Chronicles, MEDEA, and Columbus Wines and Spirits present: Charities to Benefit, an innovative initiative to bring light to the charities of choice of some of our favorite celebrities.

Hosted by Pamela Anderson, A Swingin' Affair! gala benefiting the Alzheimer's Association California Southland Chapter, which takes place Sunday, December 11, 2011 at the Riviera Palm Springs, celebrates Frank Sinatra's birthday in grand style.