Laffing Room Only

New Conservatory Theatre Center crowns its 2015-16 season with the West Coast premiere of a whimsical reimagining of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, the classic American musical featuring music by Burton Lane, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, and a new book by Peter Parnell, based on the original book by Lerner. This mesmerizing and enchanting new look at the classic musical is just your typical musical comedy - about hypnosis, a gay florist with commitment issues, a love triangle with a therapist, and past life as a 1940s chanteuse.

A little know fact is that Carol Channing was Betty's roommate in the early days of their careers, before either of them became successful. About Betty's death, Carol had this to say 'No one could have had a dearer sweeter more unselfish roommate than Betty Garrett. To save me after I was fired from the Borstht Circuit (Camp Cataminm), she kept encouraging me. She was gorgeously talented and funny herself. My deep gratitude goes with her.'

Broadway star Betty Garrett died in Los Angeles at the age of 91. Garrett died Saturday at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, most likely from an aortic aneurysm, according to her son Garrett Parks. Garrett was in good health and even taught her musical comedy class at Theater West on Wednesday night. Theater West is a non-profit organization which she helped found. Friday, she checked into the hospital with heart trouble and died the next morning, with her family at her side.