GOTHAM GOSSIP |
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Written by: P: 212-332-9991 718-885-6576 A chatty, informative column of New York events featuring places, people and personalities and celebrities. demetria571@yahoo.com
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Sunday, May 17, 2009
 SIR ELTON JOHN, was the recipient of the coveted Drama League Award for "Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater". Held at the Marriott Marquis. more than 1,000 guests attended the luncheon which benefits the educational programs of the Drama League Directors Project. This amazing program was started by Julia Hansen twenty-five years ago. At a party in her home, the night before, JEREMY IRONSsaid he was looking forward to MCing the marvelous event which included Broadway stars Angela Landsbury who received an award for "Unique Contribution to the Theater". Other distinguished recepients included ARTHUR LAURENTS, for excellence in directing Herbert Blodgett - 75th Anniversary Leadership Award. BILLY ELLIOT, won as best musical, music written by SIR ELTON JOHN, and produced by SALLY GREENE. During his speech he honored the "team effort", as a joyous experience saying "BILLY ELLIOT' is "one of the joys of my life". Also he said "it aint successful, unless it's successful on Broadway". Admitting his age, his advice to everyone was "keep working". Thursday, April 23, 2009
 THE INNER CIRCLE: CAROLINE KENNEDY graced the stage at the annual INNER CIRCLE musical spoof about MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG. This year's musical was entitled "Terms of Endurement". Writing Chairman - Larry Sutton and his staff wrote satire lyrics - "so long Mike, time to make room for younger folks".and "he'll never leave, he changed the law so there would never be another" The fun included - "Octomom, you're really on quite a roll, You could use a lesson in birth control." Gabe Pressman played a reporter.Hillary Clinton was played by Mary Alice Williams.Kathy Beaver was the musical director and Randy Jones illustrated the book. Then it was the Mayor's turn to present his musical based on "The Little Mermaid". Flying into the Hudson river and running for Mayor underwater - "Brilliant" (he is a great actor too ********* just walking down West 45 St - saw MATHEW BRODERICK said hello and gave him the GOTHAM GOSSIP card. ********** On Earth Day, saw "Swimming with the Polar Bears", a one man show, by Mel England, produced by Paul Davidovac and sponsored by The Climate Project" founded by Nobel Laureate, Vice President AL GORE at info@theclimateproject.org, and ORIGINOIL, a breakthrough technology to transform algae into oil. Wednesday, November 05, 2008
  CONGRATULATIONS TO PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA and his family. And to the extraordinary race that Senator McCain ran as well as Senator Hillary Clinton. We are ready for a change. ***** ROBERT REDFORD was in New York at a dinner for the Sundance Film Institute at Roseland Ballroom. He is incredibly warm and social and down-to-earth and I enjoyed meeting him at the lovely benefit dinner. I look forward to going to the film festival and maybe I will make it this year. Also attending was the incredible and beautiful JANE FONDA who told me she will be coming to Broadway, after 46 years, to star in "33 Variations", a play about Beethovan. And KUDOS to AMY REDFORDYes, the daughter of Robert Redford. She smiles just like her Father. She has just directed 'THE GUITAR', an amazing movie just released in New York. Run to see it. It is marvelous. The acting by Saffron Burrows and cinematography is brilliant. It is an important movie because it is about transformation. Even in 3,500 BC, the Egyptians were very much aware of the same thing. It is important now for we all have that opportunity to transform our lives into positive living. www.theguitarthemovie.com **** And while you are running, go over to the York Theater Company in St Peters Church on E.54 Street, Lexington Ave. to see "My Vaudeville Man", a new musical ( this theater only does musicals and musical readings) by Bob Johnston and Jeff Hochhauser. Based on Jack Donahue's "Letters of a Hoofer to his Ma". They are having a benefit on Dec 8 at the Players Club ( E.20 & Gramercy Park). For info call 212-935-5824 SUPPORT AMERICAN MUSICALS, after all, we can't let Andrew Llyod Weber write everything. Monday, September 22, 2008
    Hope everyone had a good summer. NIA VARDALOS, star and writer of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was in Brooklyn over the summer shooting a new movie - "I Hate Valentines Day". On location on 5th avenue in Park Slope, near where my Father's Florist stood for 70 years - Daniels Florist ( and is now called Blooms)- I met her said "yiasou" and spoke in Greek. She was very friendly and introduced me to her sister who was on the set. She is tall and beautiful and very warm. # ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS gave their prize to ALBERT MAYSLES and SHELLEY AND DONALD RUBIN of the Rubin Museum. Mr. Maysles is a well-known film- maker who is famous for his films of MARLON BRANDO the BEATLES, and most recently, GREY GARDENS, starring CHRISTINE EBERSOL. Christine sang at the occasion, accompanied by Scott Frankel. Also in attendance was Hal David, President of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Henry Holzer, VP-Communications, Metropolitan Museum of Art. This group serves the cultural commuity through research and advocacy and serves the public through cultural guides and calenders. In addition, they publish information on the arts, and cultural events and studies. # Kudos to Andres Aquino for his presentation of international fashion designers at Fashion Week. Thursday, June 12, 2008
Ruffy Met Mayor Bloomberg  IN MEMORIAM RUFFY, by Demetria Daniels I CALLED YOU RUFF AND SOMETIMES WUFF SO SWEET YOU LICKED MY FACE YOU LICKED MY FEET ALWAYS THERE WITH YOUR BARK YOU WARMED MY SOUL YOU WARMED MY HEART YOU CAME TO MOMMY WHEN I CALLED YOU LOVED THE PARK AVA GAVE YOU TO ME YOU GAVE ME JOY MY LITTLE BOY WHEN I HELD YOU WHEN WE WOULD PLAY YOU WERE THERE EVERY DAY WHEN YOU GOT SICK YOU THRIVED THEY CALLED YOU MIRACLE THE VETS AMAZED HOW YOU STAYED ALIVE EVERYONE LOVED YOU YOU GENTLE SOUL THE BROTHER AND EVEN CATZY WHO TOOK A SWIPE AT YOU AT SUNRISE THE BIRDS SANG FLOWERS PURFUMED THE AIR YOU DIED IN MY ARMS AND I KISSED YOU WITH CARE IN PEGGY'S GARDEN FOREVER BE PURPLE AND PINK FLOWERS ON YOUR GRAVE AND EACH MORNING A BIRD SYMPHONY AND YOU IN DOG HEAVEN IN GODS ARMS WHILE ANGELS SING Wednesday, March 12, 2008
 What a fantastic evening at the ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES event at the Waldorf. Produced by Joel Gallen the amazing evening had PATTI LA BELLE singing as well as JOHN MELLENCAMP, THE VENTURES, and THE DAVE CLARK FIVE, inducted by TOM HANKS, who shook hands with me and others at the private after- party And the superstar of the evening - MADONNA. MADONNA looked beautiful in a very conservative black and white dress. Her speech was amazing. She humbly said that her career was a "collaboration". She told the amazing story how she went to audition for Seymour Stein who was in a hospital bed. He told me at the after-party, that "I knew instantly she would be a hit and I wanted to sign her up there and then". He did sign her to Sire Records, where she stayed for over fifteen years. She thought it was funny at one of her concerts ( back in the days of black leather, fishnets, and studs) "that every girl was dressed like me." She learned how to play drums in a synagogue in NY. When she needed a manager she looked up the one for Michael Jackson , and went to LA to get him. She thanked her long-time publicist, Liz Rosenberg, and many of her managers. Did she make any mistakes? Some. Films, MTV, actress in 'Speed the Plough" on Broadway, singer,director, author,Mother, and wife - has she done it all? I bet there still is alot more to come. There is only one MADONNA and I am thrilled to meet her. Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Run right over and see the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival (NYIIFVF). Founder Stuart Alson has put together an amazing group of 200 films - shorts, docs, features from an international submissions showing at Village East Cinemas ( 12 st and 2nd ave), and ImaginAsian Theater, (239 E. 59 st.) From Greece, "Zoe", about attitude and volunteerism, from Japan an amazing animation "Eagle Talon The Movie:The Chancellor Only Lives Twice", from Australia, Spain, Sweden, Ireland, original films. There are short ones, - "Pop Your Panties with Paris, Lindsay $ Nicole" produced by Itsi Atkins and long features "Journal of a Contract Killer" - a true story about a woman who was hired by the Mafia to kill people., and a very cute one "The Lives of Angels, directed by Stephen Rubin. Lots to choose from. And to celebrate a party tonight , and a Birthday Party tomorrow for Breige McGarity the festival's publicist. Don't miss it. |
