Stewie Stone News

Friar Robert De Niro received the Club's highest honor -- the Friars Club Entertainment Icon Award -- at the Friars Foundation's annual gala at the Waldorf Astoria on October 7, 2014. The prestigious award has been bestowed only four times in the Club's 110-year history. Entrepreneur Carlos Slim was also honored with the Friars Foundation Icon Award for Philanthropy. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos below!

I don't think that there has ever been a person that has been in the Friars club who has not shared a laugh or left the Monastery not smiling. That in itself is a huge accomplishment, but the Friars do so much more than entertain themselves and enjoy their camaraderie. The Friars Club's Sunshine Committee (Tom DeBow chairman) is to the Friars Club what Ronald McDonald House is to McDonald's-they bring a ray of sunshine to those who need it most!

Last night New York's elite came together with music legends for Caron New York's 20th Annual Gala Fundraiser at the elegant Cipriani on 42nd in New York City, NY. The event raised over a million dollars, all of which will be used towards charity recovery services. Caron's own Harris Stratyner Ph.D , Honoree's Frankie Valli and Denise LeFrak Calicchio were joined by Paul Williams, James Lipton, David Johansen and comedianStewie Stone. The Goo Goo Dolls Johnny Rzeznik was also honored but at the last minute was unable to attend.

The Friars Club was full of laughter last night as Friar Mickey Freeman was remembered by a group of comics who dubbed themselves Mickey's Kids. Comics Mike Fine and Bob Greenberg produced the event and along with Dave Konig assembled these “kids” to recreate the humor and pay respect to one of the legends in the world of comedy. Mickey Freeman also gained fame as a character actor who appeared as a regular on The Phil Silvers TV Show (Sgt. Bilko). He also appeared on episodes of Naked City, the Lloyd Bridges Show and The Equalizer, in addition to his travels as a stand- up comic. Performers at the event were, Larry Stevens, Mike Fine, Jerry Coe, Dave Konig, Jake Ehrenreich, Bob Greenberg, Marc Eliot, Joe Franklin, Paul and Goldie Dver, and 99 year old Prof. Irwin Corey.

NJPAC will celebrate Governor Brendan T. Byrne's 90th birthday on Tuesday, April 1 at 5:30pm with a Roast and toast of the former Governor by his predecessors in the New Jersey governor's office, celebrity comedians and other New Jersey politicians. Held in NJPAC's intimate Chase Room and benefiting the Arts Center's education initiatives, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will act as Roastmaster and lead Tom Kean, James Florio, Donald DiFrancesco, Jim McGreevey, and Richard Codey, as well as Assemblyman Jon Bramnick in saluting New Jersey's 47th Governor. Joining the politicians onstage to roast Governor Byrne will be acclaimed 'Saturday Night Live' alumnus Joe Piscopo, comedian and former talk show host Joy Behar, Vice President of New York Friars Club, Stewie Stone, and New Jersey judge turned comedian Vince August. World renowned jazz singer and guitarist John Pizzarelli will provide musical accompaniment for the evening. Additional celebrity guests and politicians may be added to the lineup.

From 1941 to 1976 New York City subway and bus riders were treated to more than 9,000 posters of 200 attractive young women all dubbed 'Miss Subways' for the month. The women on the posters were the faces of New York. They were wartime nurses in the 1940s, college girls studying to become teachers in the 1950s, and secretaries who dreamed of singing careers in the 1960s. These amazing girls shared their stories and the hopes and dreams of their generation at the legendary Friars Club. Friar Stewie Stone created some extremely funny moments as he interviewed Miss Subways, and 'The Copa Boys' performed some Four Seasons tunes.

The Broadway production 'Old Jews Telling Jokes' came to the Friars Club last night for an evening full of laughter produced by Michelle Slonim. Creators Sam Hoffman and Peter Gethers gave an interesting talk and video presentation about the shows formation. Marilyn Sokol and Lenny Wolpe from the cast of 'Old Jews' told some side splitting jokes from the show. Stewie Stone 'head comic' at the Friars had some of his own hilarious stories and also introduced various Friars who contributed to the joke telling.

If the walls of the Friars Club could tell their stories the history of show business would come to life. Luckily this history is accurately retold and chronicled by each generation of Friars. Friar Historian Bruce Charet, a member of the Board of Governors and Friar Mark Simone Admissions Committee Chairman started the evening off by telling the overflow audience in the Milton Berle Room that "Tonight the Friars is the Copa"!

For over twenty-five years the Sunshine Committee (which is funded through an annual holiday raffle held at the Monastery) has been providing entertainment, companionship and tons of love to senior citizens and children's centers in the New York area. Whether they are sending singers, musicians, comedians or performance artists to brighten up the residents of nursing homes; or providing clowns, magicians and entertainment for disadvantaged children in group homes, the Sunshine Committee is dedicated to enhancing each and every life they touch.

Friar Regis Philbin just took part in a fun-filled night that celebrated his new book "How I Got This Way." Friar Bill Boggs interviewed Regis in a one-on-one discussion that shared his fascinating and hilarious celebrity stories. Stewie Stone also joined them as a special treat. Check out photos from the event below!

Due to recent health issues, Freddie Roman was unable to perform in the Friars Club Comedy Festival which he curated for the Mahaiwe and had planned to host. The show went on in Freddie's honor, with his long-time friend Stewie Stone, the Prior of the Friars, stepping in as host and with Freddies favorite, on-the-rise stand-up comics carrying on the Catskills comedy tradition. BroadwayWorld brings you photots from the big event below!

The Friars Foundation is an important contributor to the Performing Arts. Academia recognizes the Friars Foundation as an upfront organization due to their activist scholarship programs. Nine universities with solid performing arts departments have granted scholarships to qualified students. Over the past decade the Friars Foundation has been responsible for 360 Performing Arts scholarships. Many of these students are now employed on Broadway, Hollywood and wherever stages are being prepared for performances.

Yesterday, June 6, the Friars Club Foundation honored legendary singer Connie Francis and philanthropist Leonard A. Wilf at their annual Applause Award Gala. BroadwayWorld brings you coverage of the event below.

Friars Freddie Roman, Stewie Stone & Irv Welzer, Dick Capri held a mini roast for Friar Stewart F. Lane to kick off the release of his new book Jews On Broadway at The Friars Club on Wednesday night.

On Tuesday, January 15, 2008, The Friars Club hosted Lucie Arnaz who shared entertaining stories of her life in show-business as interviewed by Bill Boggs.

Dozens of stars from the stage and screen joined roast-master Lisa Lampanelli in kicking-off this year's Friars Club Roast of Pat Cooper on Friday October 19 at the New York Hilton, (1335 Avenue of the Americas).