If you would like to add your thoughts to this memorial page for Scott,
please email me here
If you would like to make a donation is Scott's name,
a organization near & dear to Scott's heart is:
Monmouth SPCA Animal Rescue http://www.monmouthcountyspca.org This is the shelter where he and his partner adopted Tigger in June of 2003.
The following are news dates that had originally been set to get posted just prior to Scott Schechter's untimely passing, plus a few immediately after.
Stay tuned, as we're going to try and keep this page as updated as possible.
* On Saturday, May 9th, Liza performed "Cabaret" and "New York, New York" on the German ZDF tv show "Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel" (Liza was in Germany this week doing publicity for her June tour there.)
* (from May 8, 2009)
From a Fox newsletter, an Update on the ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT Movie:
AD MOVIE UPDATE
Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz recently revealed that while he has no script yet for the upcoming AD film, the story is coming together bit by bit. "We have a lot of little pieces," said Hurwitz during a conference call with reporters. "I'm writing it with Jim Vallely, and we have all these little ideas and everything. But with the show, it's always been about tying all the pieces together, so – none of them alone quite make a movie yet. We're still assembling the pieces."
The movie is listed by the TV GUIDE issue of May 4th - 10th, 2009, as being "In Development" -- at FOX SEARCHLIGHT
* Interesting VARIETY article on the Tony Awards -- Note the observation about Liza's category. Also, keep in mind that Liza is loved; Goerge Bush is NOT .... even if he's played by Will Ferrell :)
One Extra Show Announced in Sydney
Due To A Stampede For Tickets
Monday 2 November, Sydney Entertainment Centre
Tickets On Sale 9am Thursday 14 May
“100% fantastic entertainment!”- New York Daily News
Chugg Entertainment and David M. Hawkins are thrilled to announce that due to a massive demand for tickets, Liza Minnelli’s first two Sydney concerts have now sold out, and a third concert has now been added. This third Sydney concert will be held on Monday 2 November at the Entertainment Centre and will go on sale at 9am on Thursday 14 April. Michael Chugg said “It is great to see that Liza is a popular as ever and that Australian’s can’t wait to see her on stage. The surge for tickets through the Sydney Opera House pre sale was so great that their computers crashed!”. Bringing her unstoppable Minnelli magic to Australia, Liza will tour nationally during October in an unmatchable concert performance. Based on her current hit Broadway show “Liza’s At The Palace”, the evening will feature an incomparable Minnelli songfest including many of her personal favourites and signature hits. Along with a twelve-piece orchestra the performance will feature Liza’s showstoppers such as “Cabaret”, “Maybe This Time” and “Theme From New York, New York”. One of the world’s best-loved entertainers, Liza Minnelli has just received a nomination for the 2009 Tony Awards in the category “Best Special Theatrical Event”, for the New York concerts that she has just performed – “Liza’s at the Palace”. This is just another accolade in a career that includes multiple Tony awards, Academy Awards®, a Golden Globe Award and BAFTA Award, an Emmy Award, and she was the recipient of a Grammy Legend Award in 1989, making her one of the few artists who have won entertainment's top six awards After an exodus of twenty years, these will be the most triumphant and eagerly awaited return concerts on the Australian musical stage this year. AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES – OCTOBER 2009
Friday 16 & Saturday 17 October Sydney, Sydney Opera House – SOLD OUT!
* Here's Liza on Monday night's edition (May 4th, 2009) of the Oz TV show CURRENT AFFAIRS (It's a great new 4 minute interview -- thanks to Glenn for sending it along):
NEW YORK — Jane Fonda, James Gandolfini, Angela Lansbury, Allison Janney, Liza Minnelli and Geoffrey Rush were among the 2008-2009 Tony nominees who showed up for a press reception in midtown Manhattan Wednesday.
Minnelli, whose show Liza At the Palace is a contender for special event, had this advice for aspiring performers: "Be prepared, because if you're not prepared and luck comes your way, you'll blow it. You just never know what's going to happen."
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POSTED MAY 6, 2009:
* LIZA'S AT THE PALACE has been NOMINATED for a TONY AWARD for BEST SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT. The awards are broadcast on CBS on Sunday, June 7th, 2009.
Best Special Theatrical Event
Liza’s at The Palace (Producers: John Scher and Metropolitan Talent Presents, LLC; Jubilee Time Productions, LLC)
Slava’s Snowshow (Producers: David J. Foster, Jared Geller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Judith Marinoff Cohn, John Pinckard)
Soul of Shaolin (Producers: Nederlander Worldwide Productions, LLC; Eastern Shanghai International Culture Film and Television Group; China on Broadway)
You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush (Producer: Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Steve Traxler, Home Box Office Inc., Gary Sanchez Productions, Bat-Barry Productions, Ken Davenport, Ergo Entertainment, Ronald Frankel, Jon B. Platt, James D. Stern, The Weinstein Company, Tara Smith/b. Swibel, Dede Harris/Sharon Karmazin, Arny Granat)
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POSTED MAY 2, 2009:
* Liza will have a BUSY day this Monday, May 4th, as she will appear at TWO events in Manhattan that evening. The first is at 6 PM -- Liza will be presenting at The 2009 Touring Broadway Awards, at the Hilton NY at 53rd and 6th Avenue in Manhattan. Then, at 7 PM, Liza will open / perform (with Billy at the piano) at the Acting Company's event (Chita Rivera will close the show).
Here's Playbill's website on the Touring Broadway Awards:
Minnelli and Zaks Will Be Presenters at Touring Broadway Awards
By Andrew Gans
01 May 2009
Liza Minnelli
Seth Rudetsky, the comic, musician, actor and Playbill.com columnist, will host the 2009 Touring Broadway Awards, which will be held May 4 at the Hilton New York.
Presenters for the evening will include Tony Award winners Liza Minnelli (Liza's at the Palace…; Cabaret; The Act; Flora, The Red Menace) and d irector Jerry Zaks (Six Degrees of Separation, Lend Me a Tenor, The House of Blue Leaves and Guys and Dolls).
The awards, which are presented by The Broadway League, "celebrate excellence in touring Broadway by honoring the artists and productions that visit cities across the country each year," according to press notes.
The 2009 Touring Broadway Awards categories include Best New Touring Musical, Best Touring Play, Best Design of a Touring Production, Best Musical Score of a Touring Production, Best Direction of a Touring Production, Best Choreography of a Touring Production, Best Long-Running Touring Musical (shows that have been on the road for over three years), the Touring Broadway Achievement Award (recognizing a performer, individual or organization that has shown exceptional dedication to Touring Broadway) and the Touring Broadway Audience Choice Award.
The Broadway League and its members bring Broadway theatre to nearly 30 million people in more than 240 cities across the U.S. and Canada.
The evening will begin at 6 PM.
The Hilton New York is located at 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan.
At Carnegie Hall, the New York Pops' held its 26th Birthday Gala, which included a salute to the 10th anniversary of the nightclub Feinstein's at the Regency. Superstar Liza Minnelli came out to surprise club owner (and best friend) Michael Feinstein -- much to the delight of the evening's host, journalist Liz Smith, and Regency Hotel owner Jonathan Tisch.
* Liza confirmed for June 1st ASTAIRE AWARDS in NYC
Alan Cumming, Liza Minnelli, Bebe Neuwirth, Geoffrey Rush Set for Astaire Awards
By: Dan Bacalzo · Apr 28, 2009 · New York
Alan Cumming will host the 2009 Astaire Awards, to be held at the Fashion Institute of Technology on June 1 at 7:30 pm.
Liza Minnelli will present American film director and choreographer Stanley Donen with the Douglas Watt 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award. Geoffrey Rush will present the award for Best Choreography in Film, while Bebe Neuwirth will present the Best Up and C oming Male Dancer Award. Additional presenters and performers will be announced at a later date.
The nominating committee for this year's awards include Anna Kisselgoff (New York Times), Damian Woetzel (New York City Ballet), Linda Winer (Newsday), Sylviane Gold (New York Times, Dance Magazine), and Wendy Perron (Dance Magazine).
Liza stopped by the GOOD DAY, NEW YORK webcast area with host Brett Larson, on Monday morning, April 27th, immediately after she appeared on their Fox TV show (she was their last guest, at about 8:50 AM).
WE'RE sure it has absolutely nothing to do with Sydney being the gay capital of the nation but interest in pre-sales for Liza Minnelli's Sydney concert tour crashed the Sydney Opera House's website yesterday.
The site went down at midday, with interest in the two Sydney shows - on October 16 and 17 - so great it took tech staff hours to get the site up and running again.
Minnelli, the daughter of legendary singer and movie star Judy Garland, will be accompanied by her 12-piece orchestra when she tours.
* Liza wowed the crowd (no surprise) at the Bistro Awards last night (she also again belted-out "New York, New York" at the opening of the second day of the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS event at the Minskoff Theatre, at 2 PM). At the Bistro's, Marilyn Maye introduced Liza. Liza then sang a bit of "There is a Time" (with Billy Stritch on piano, and Mike Berkowitz on drums, of course), before talking about Charles Aznavour, and presenting his award to him.
On her way out, Liza stopped (with Charles) to be interviewed by ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT -- so start checking their show, beginning tonight (she talked about a few things -- including the upcoming TONY AWARDS, and her first time nominated in 1965 .... So there could likely be additional segments that will feature sound-bites from Liza).
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POSTED APRIL 27, 2009:
* Liza is presenting the award to Michael Feinstein, tonight, Monday, April 27th, at the NY POPS Concert, at Carnegie Hall.
* Liza has JUST decided to OPEN the 23rd annual EASTER BONNET Benefit for BROADWAY CARES / EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS Event, at the MINSKOFF Theatre. She's opening the show with "New York, New York." I've not much info on tickets, but the theater is HUGE, so .... But here's what their website says:
Save The Date
Monday, April 27, 2009,4:30PM
Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 2:00PM
The Minskoff Theatre
200 West 45th Street
New York, NY 10036
TICKETS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE ONLINE
FOR THIS EVENT
A limited number of tickets will be available to purchase prior to each performance at the “Will Call Reception Table” located in the lobby of the Minskoff Theater. Ticket Sales will begin at 3:00PM for the Monday performance and 12:30 for the Tuesday Performance.
EASTER BONNET TEAM RAISER
(Support Your Favorite Show! Fundraise Online! Make a Donation!)
The Easter Bonnet Competition features a parade of bonnets hand-crafted by the cast and crews of dozens of participating productions which are presented in song, dance and comedic sketches. A "must-see" for the Broadway fan, the show is always a highlight of the spring season, with moments both hilarious and heartfelt.
This annual spring event is the culmination of an intensive six-week fundraising effort by the companies of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions.
Curtain speeches, sales of autographed posters and programs, auctions and cabaret performances are just some of the activities that enable these companies to bring in generous contributions from audiences on Broadway and across the country.
Honors are awarded to the companies that raise the largest amounts of money on behalf of BC/EFA during the fundraising drive. Companies offering the best designs and presentations of bonnets are also recognized.
Since 1987, 22 editions of The Easter Bonnet Competition have raised over $35 million for BC/EFA which, in turn, has supported programs at The Actors Fund including The AIDS Initiative, The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative, as well as over 400 AIDS and family service organizations across the country.
Come be a part of the good work and great fun!
* Here's the three new appearances dates
Friday, JUNE 5 CONNECTICUT MOHEGAN SUN
Saturday, JULY 11 RAMA, ONTARIO CASINO RAMA
Thursday, JULY 16 SANTA BARBARA, CA CHUMASH CASINO
Saturday, JULY 18 CABAZON, CA MORONGO CASINO
* DRAMA DESK AWARD Nominations announced this morning:
"Liza's at the Palace" was nominated for OUTSTANDING MUSICAL
AND
Liza is being awarded a special Drama Desk Award for "her enduring career of sustained excellence, and her glorious performance in 'Liza's at the Palace'"
Drama Desk nominees will receive their official Nomination Certificates at a cocktail reception on Friday, May 1st, 4:00-6:30 PM, at II Bastardo Restauraunt, 191 Seventh Avenue (between 21st and 22nd Streets)
The 54th annual Drama Desk Awards will be held Sunday, May 17th, 2009, in the LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center. The awards show will be webcast live for the seventh year in a row by TheaterMania.com
* MANY MORE MINNELLI Dates coming down the pike here in Liza Land, so stay tuned. The big news overseas is the OZ TOUR -- Liza returns to AUSTRALIA for the FIRST TIME since 1989! See PRESS RELEASE and ALL THE DATES and info below. The OZ TOUR has a LOVELY NEW WEBSITE in support of the event -- Check-out our new sister site, at LizaMinnelli.au It's really a beautiful site, and our thanks to DAVID HAWKINS for making this all possible -- and the kind link to Liza's official site.
Here in the U.S., we can ALSO be prepared for A LOTTA LIZA. Gary just told me of TWO NEW DATES:
Friday, June 5th, 2009 : MOHEGAN SUN CASINO in CT.
Saturday, July 11th, 2009: TORONTO, Ontario / Rama
More info and more DATES to come ASAP ....
Now, here's the Press Release for the OZ TOUR :
****
MEDIA RELEASE
26 April 2009
Liza Minnelli - Australian Tour 2009
Tickets On Sale 9am Wednesday 6 May
“A Triumph of which Show-Business Mythology is made! A True legend!” - The New York Post
“Liza Minnelli is a pure entertainer and there is none purer!”
- The New York Times
Chugg Entertainment and David M. Hawkins are proud to present the long awaited return of award winning superstar Liza Minnelli. Bringing her unstoppable Minnelli magic to Australia, Liza will tour nationally during October in an unmatchable concert performance. Based on her current hit Broadway show “Liza’s At The Palace”, the evening will feature an incomparable Minnelli songfest including many of her personal favourites and signature hits.
Along with a twelve-piece orchestra led by conductor/drummer Michael Berkowitz and pia nist/musical supervisor Billy Stritch, the performance will feature many of Liza’s showstoppers such as “Cabaret”, “Maybe This Time” and “Theme From New York, New York” – all written especially for her by the legendary Broadway song writing partnership of John Kander and Fred Ebb.
Directed by Ron Lewis, this concert performance of almost two hours duration (with interval), will be full of personal stories, anecdotes and heartfelt reminiscences.
Liza Minnelli was born in Los Angeles into show business royalty. With her mother Judy Garland and her father the Award winning director Vincent Minnelli, her’s is the only family where both parents and child have won an Oscar. Her god parents were Ira Gershwin and Kay Thompson. Liza made her screen debut in 1949 as a toddler with her mother in the MGM movie musical In the Good Old Summertime.&nb sp;
One of the world’s best-loved entertainers, she won Tony awards for Flora, the Red Menace in 1965 and The Act in 1978, along with a third for Best Personal Achievement, resulting from her 1974 engagement at the Winter Garden Theatre. Nominated for an Academy Award® for TheSterile Cuckoo (1969), she won the best actress prize for her best-known film, Cabaret (1972), which also won her a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA. She won an Emmy for Liza with a 'Z' (1972) and was also the recipient of a Grammy Legend Award in 1989, making her one of the few artists who have won entertainment's top six awards.
Liza has also been the recipient of three David di Donatello Awards – for The Sterile Cuckoo (1969), Cabaret (1972) and Lifetime Achievement (2002). Film credits include Charlie Bubbles (1968), Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon (1970), Lucky Lady (1975), A Matter of Time (1976), New York, New York (1977), Arthur (1981) Stepping Out (1991), and The Oh In Ohio (2006). Liza recently attracted an entirely new generation of fans with her acclaimed turn as "Lucille 2" on the Emmy-winning Best Comedy Arrested Development, and for her appearance on the chart-topping album The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance.
Liza Minnelli first toured Australia in the late 1960’s with Peter Allen and played two seasons at Chequers Nite Club in Sydney (second season with The Allen Brothers). She also made a television special in 1967 for TCN9 called ‘Liza’, and appeared with the Allen Brothers on Bandstand in 1969. Her first major solo Australian tour was in 1981 playing all major cities nationally. The last visit to Australia for Liza was with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jnr. in 1989 with The Ultimate Event.
After an exodus of twenty years this will be one of the most triumphant and eagerly awaited return concerts on the Australian musical stage.
“100% fantastic entertainment!”- New York Daily News “Minnelli’s charisma is undiminished” - Variety
TOUR ITINERARY:Tickets On Sale 9am Wednesday 6 May Friday 16 October - Sydney, Sydney Opera House
Saturday 17 October - Sydney, Sydney Opera House &nb sp; Tuesday 20 October - Perth, Burswood Dome Friday 23 October - Adelaide, Entertainment Centre Sunday 25 October - Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena Friday 30 October - Brisbane, Entertainment Centre
* Liza just agreed last night to appear at the Monday, MAY 4th, 2009 benefit for the ACTING COMPANY, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in Manhattan. There are orchestra seats available at $250, $125 and $100 -- along with Premium tickets ($500) and Patron Tickets ($1,000) which included dinner "with the cast" (no word if that includes Liza, or not). Call the Acting Company at 212-258-3111 for the $500 and $1,000 tickets, or Telecharge for the $100 and $125 seats, at 212-239-6200.
Minnelli Joins Starry Cast of Acting Company's Come to the Cabaret Benefit
By Andrew Gans
and Kenneth Jones
24 Apr 2009
Liza Minnelli
Tony Award winner Liza Minnelli, recently on Broadway in Liza's at the Palace. . ., has joined the starry list of artists who will take part in Come to the Cabaret: A Celebration of Kander and Ebb, a one-night Broadway concert to benefit20The Acting Company.
Minnelli joins the previously announced Raúl Esparza, Terrence McNally, Debra Monk, David Hyde Pierce, Chita Rivera, Tom Wopat, Karen Ziemba — artists who have been attached to musicals by songwriters Kander and the late Ebb.
Directed by Tony Award winner John Doyle (Company, Sweeney Todd), with Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Company, The Addams Family) as music director, the May 4 evening will be held at Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. An intimate Patron's Dinner with the cast follows the performance at the Marriot Marquis Hotel.
Come to the Cabaret is inspired by last year's benefit concert, The Ladies Who Sing Sondheim, which starred Angela Lansbury leading a cast of Broadway divas performing signature Sondheim songs. The event celebrated The Acting Company's 35th anniversary and was also directed by Doyle.
The songs of composer Kander and late lyricist Ebb have punctuated such musicals as 70 Girls, 70, The Act, Cabaret, Chicago, Curtains, Flora the Red Menace, The Happy Time, Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Rink, Steel Pier, Woman of the Year, Zorba and the films "Funny Lady" and "New York, New York."
Prior to Liza's at the Palace. . ., Minnelli, an Oscar winner for her performance in Cabaret, was last on Broadway in a tribute to her late father entitled Minnelli on Minnelli; she also returned to New York City's Beacon Theatre with her acclaimed concert Liza's Ba ck! In addition to her Tonys for Flora, the Red Menace and The Act, Minnelli was awarded a special Tony in 1974 for "adding lustre to the Broadway season." Her film credits include "The Sterile Cuckoo," "Arthur," "New York, New York" and "Stepping Out." The singer is also a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress. Her album "Liza's Back!" is available on the J Records label, and "The Best of Liza Minnelli" was released on the Columbia/Legacy label. Showtime aired "Liza with a 'Z'," and Minnelli also received the Julie Harris Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 10th Annual Tony Awards Bash in Los Angeles.
The Acting Company has been honored with a Tony Award for Excellence in Theater. The not-for-profit troupe has produced 36 national tours of 131 classic and new plays adapted from American literary masterpieces. Its current tour — in tandem with the Guthrie Theater — features Shakespeare's Henry V and James Fenimore Cooper's The Spy, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher. Henry V recently played the New Victory Theater on 42nd Street in Manhattan.
The Acting Company "gives young classically trained actors the opportunity to perform the classics while bringing theatre into under-served communities and disadvantaged school systems."
Founded in 1972 by the legendary John Houseman and current producing artistic director, Margot Harley, its alumni of over 300 includes Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, Frances Conroy, Jesse L. Martin, Harriet Harris, Keith David,20Jeffrey Wright and Rainn Wilson.
Tickets for Come to the Cabaret are priced at $100, $125 and $250 and are available through Telecharge.com or (212) 239-6200.
Premium tickets at $500 (performance only) and $1,000 and up (performance plus Patrons Dinner with the cast), are available through The Acting Company at (212) 258-3111.
* GREAT new Liza interview -- Don't know how long it will be up for ... Just done (dated April 22nd) for the GERMANY Tour .... 19 minutes, unedited, single camera on Liza the whole time (interviewer off-camera). She looks lovely, and is SO funny and honest / open. It's one of the best interviews she's done.
* You can get tickets to Liza's HOLLYWOOD BOWL concerts -- August 28th and 29th, 2009 -- starting this FRIDAY, April 24th, 2009, 10 AM, at TICKET MASTER -- via their INTERNET ONLY PRESALE -- by using the CODE / PASSWORD: BOWL2009
Here is the direct link for Liza's Ticket Master Page -- Listed on our website, of course:
Here is also a Link / more info from the HOLLYWOOD BOWL:
On Friday, April 24 at 10am all concerts will be opened up for a presale with the password: BOWL2009.
Here is the link: http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/calendar_fullseason.cfm
Each event page will have a presale button that links to TM.
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POSTED APRIL 22, 2009:
* Looks like Liza is actually nominated in TWO categories in this year's DRAMA LEAGUE AWARD -- Winners to be announced on May 15th, 2009, in NYC:
The Drama League will honor the winners at a luncheon on May 15.
75th Annual Drama League Award Nominations:
2009 DISTINGUISHED PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
9 To 5: The Musical; Marquis Theatre
Billy Elliot: The Musical; Imperial Theatre
Fela!; 37 Arts
Liza's At The Palace; Palace Theatre
The Marvelous Wonderettes; Westside Theatre
Road Show; The Public Theater
Rock Of Ages; Brooks Atkinson Theatre
Shrek The Musical; Broadway Theatre
The Toxic Avenger; New World Stages
This Beautiful City; Vineyard Theatre
2009 DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE AWARD NOMINEES
Jane Alexander, Chasing Manet
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish, Billy Elliot
Kahlil Ashanti, Basic Training
James Barbour, A Tale Of Two Cities
David Wilson Barnes, Becky Shaw
Simon Russell Beale, The Cherry Orchard
Annika Boras, An Oresteia
Christian Camargo, Hamlet
Bobby Cannavale, The Gingerbread House
Matt Cavenaugh, West Side Story
Julia Coffey, The Widowing Of Mrs. Holroyd
Lynn Cohen, Chasing Manet
Chad L. Coleman, Joe Turner's Come And Gone
Gavin Creel, Hair
David Cromer, Our Town
Joshua Cruz, Wig Out!
Mike Daisey, If You See Something, Say Something
Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Ruined
Ensemble, Black Watch
Ra'l Esparza, Speed-The-Plow
Rupert Everett, Blithe Spirit
Tovah Feldshuh, Irena?s Vow
Jane Fonda, 33 Variations
Sutton Foster, Shrek The Musical
James Gandolfini, God Of Carnage
Alexander Gemignani, Road Show
John Glover, Waiting For Godot
Lauren Graham, Guys and Dolls
Nathan Lee Graham, Wig Out!
Josh Grisetti, Enter Laughing
Carla Gugino, Desire Under The Elms
Marcia Gay Harden, God Of Carnage
Megan Hilty, 9 To 5: The Musical
Danny Hoch, Taking Over
Marin Ireland, reasons to be pretty
Bill Irwin, Waiting For Godot
Dana Ivey, The Savannah Disputation
Allison Janney, 9 To 5: The Musical
Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit
Constantine Maroulis, Rock Of Ages
Elizabeth Marvel, Fifty Words
Janet McTeer, Mary Stuart
Ben Miles, The Norman Conquests
Liza Minnelli, Liza's At The Palace...
Maude Mitchell, Mabou Mines Dollhouse
Bruce Myers, The Grand Inquisitor
Sahr Ngaujah, Fela!
Kristine Nielsen, Why Torture Is Wrong, And The People Who Love
Them
Cynthia Nixon, Distracted
Denis O?Hare, Uncle Vanya
Karen Olivo, West Side Story
Nancy Opel, The Toxic Avenger
David Pearse, The Cripple of Inishmaan
David Hyde Pierce, Accent On Youth
Martha Plimpton, Pal Joey
Daniel Radcliffe, Equus
Heather Raffo, Palace Of The End
Roger Robinson, Joe Turner's Come And Gone
Geoffrey Rush, Exit The King
Thomas Sadoski, reasons to be pretty
Susan Sarandon, Exit The King
Campbell Scott, The Atheist
Christopher Sieber, Shrek The Musical
Michael Stuhlbarg, Hamlet
Will Swenson, Hair
Kristin Scott Thomas, The Seagull
John Douglas Thompson, Othello
Harriet Walter, Mary Stuart
Patrick Wilson, All My Sons
The Distinguished Performance Award can only be one once in a performer's lifetime.
As such, the following performers were ineligible this
season. However, The Drama League honors their
contributions to the season:
Norbert Leo Butz, Fifty Words
Stockard Channing, Pal Joey
Christine Ebersole, Blithe Spirit
Rosemary Harris, Oscar And The Pink Lady
Frank Langella, A Man For All Seasons
John Lithgow, All My Sons
Mary-Louise Parker, Hedda Gabler
Stephen Rea, Kicking A Dead Horse
Sam Waterston, Hamlet
* This is a great encounter from April 2nd, 2009, when Liza was en route to Rockefeller Center to tape some publicity for the German tour in June (Thanks, Alan):
Scottish Folk “n” Roll band Scocha were in New York for Tartan Week and were performing in St Andrews just of Broadway. During the sound-check, Scottish musician songwriter Alan Brydon went to his hotel to collect his in-ear monitors which were with his bagpipes. As he walked back across Times Square Liza was on a walkabout besieged by TV Crews and photographers, and by chance Alan found himself in their path. Chatting to Liza he asked if she knew it was Scottish Week to which she replied “Yes, I love Scottish”. Alan then treated Liza to a “skirl” on the pipes which she clearly enjoyed.
“She was lovely” said Alan “She’s a proper star in every sense of the word but she was happy to chat and seemed to genuinely appreciate the gesture.”
* Liza nominated for DRAMA DESK AWARD
Liza -- via her "Liza's at the Palace" engagement -- has been nominated for a DRAMA DESK AWARD, as just covered by Broadway World. The category is Distinguished Performance Award, and the awards will be held on May 15th:
* More info on Liza's East Hampton appearance this May 23rd at 7pm:
Saturday, May 23 at 7pm Guild Hall Grand Re-Opening Gala
An Intimate Evening with Liza featuring Billy Stritch Presented by Guild Hall in association with r/j productions The iconic legend of stage and screen, the one and only Liza Minnelli, officially opens the newly renovated John Drew Theater. A two-time Tony award winner, Ms. Minnelli also has received an Emmy, a Grammy, and an Oscar.
Gala Tickets (on sale now): $1,000 includes 7pm Performance; 8:30pm Dinner at the Gardiner property on James Lane, please call the Development Department at 631. 324.0806 Limited Tickets: $200/$185 members Rear Orchestra or $150/$145 members Balcony Tickets for the performance only go on sale May 7 to purchase visit www.guildhall.org or call Box Office 631.324.4050
GUILD HALL OF EAST HAMPTON 158 Main Street
East Hampton, New York 11937
p 631 324.0806 www.guildhall.org
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POSTED APRIL 13, 2009:
* Here's some additional info on the Saturday, May 23rd concert in East Hampton -- with More Info to come:
7pm
Guild Hall Grand Re-Opening Gala
An Intimate Evening with Liza featuring Billy Stritch
Presented by Guild Hall in association with r/j productions
The iconic legend of stage and screen, the one and only Liza Minnelli, officially opens the newly renovated John Drew Theater. A two-time Tony award winner, Ms. Minnelli has also received an Emmy, a Grammy and an Oscar. She recently sold-out on Broadway, and Charles Isherwood of The New York Times found “Ms. Minnelli’s intensity and generosity glow more brightly than ever in this captivating concert performance.”
Gala Tickets (on sale now): $1,000 includes 7pm Performance; 8:30pm Dinner at the Gardiner property on James Lane, please call the Development Department at
631. 324.0806
Limited Tickets: $150/$145 members
Tickets(performance only) go on sale May 7th to purchase call Box Office 631.324.4050 or through our website.
* Update / News on the ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT MOVIE:
From a Fox VIP Newsletter:
FORTE’S FORTE?
Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz may be casting for the Arrested Development movie before he has a script. During an April 1 conference call with reporters to promote his upcoming animated series “Sit Down, Shut Up,” he offered Saturday Night Live’s Will Forte (who has a role in the animated series) a part in the film.
“Oh my God, I’d love to. Is this an offer?” Forte responded. “Let me get my agent on the line.”
Hurwitz confirmed the offer, adding that he might have a place for Forte, considering he hasn’t actually written the script yet.
“We’re hoping to get this baby made sometime this year,” Hurwitz said. “We have a lot of little pieces, ideas, but none of them alone quite make a movie.”
No word on whether it was an April Fool’s stunt.
SIT DOWN, SHUT UP PREMIERES THIS MONTH
Hurwitz’s “Sit Down, Shut Up” premieres April 19. The animated series centers on the dysfunctional faculty of Knob Haven High and features the voices of Arrested Development alums Will Arnett, who plays a health teacher; Jason Bateman, who teaches gym; and Henry Winkler, who plays a German teacher.
* Liza will appear Saturday, May 23, 2009 at the John Drew Theater / Guild Hall, East Hampton, NY, is christened by Liza Minnelli (fresh from Broadway) presenting “An Intimidate Evening with Liza” accompanied by Billy Stritch.
Guild Hall is located at 158 Main Street, East Hampton. For more information about the upcoming season, call 324-0806
LIZA MINNELLI is urging filmmakers to avoid focusing on her late mother JUDY GARLAND's drug addiction in an upcoming production.
Actress Anne Hathaway will be tackling The Wizard Of Oz star's hits as part of the Weinstein Company's planned theatre and film project, based on biographer Gerald Clarke's 2001 book Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland.
Garland's daughter Minnelli has approved of casting Hathaway in the role - but is convinced the new versions must focus on her mother's talent instead of her well-documented personal problems.
Minnelli tells Canada's Citytv, "Well, I love Anne Hathaway. And I hope that it's a good movie and I hope that it's true. You know, that they don't just concentrate on the crap like they usually do.
"(I hope) that they talk about her the way she should be talked about which was she was a fabulous entertainer, a great mother and just a wonderful human being."
* Liza is scheduled to sing with ELTON JOHN -- for the first time, publicly -- at the "Hot Pink Party," the Benefit for the BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION, on Wednesday, April 29th, 2009 (concert is 9-10 PM), at the Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan. Ticket prices start at $1,000 per person.
For more information, see the PDF below, and also the following:
On Thursday, Amy Poehler returns to television in her primetime series Parks and Recreation. They 37-year-old former Saturday Night Live cast member recently chatted with The Advocatehttp://www.advocate.com about her love of all things gay.
On a recent night out with some buddies from SNL http://socialitelife.celebuzz.com including Rachel Dratch and Kristen Wiig to see Liza Minnelli perform in New York, Amy insisted that Liza bless her pregnant friend's baby to be gay friendly. To this, Liza responded by singing to the unborn child, "What good is sitting alone in your womb? Come hear the music play!" Can we just have a moment of silence to recognize how amazing Liza is http://socialitelife.celebuzz.com and always will be?
* Review of Liza's concert at Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto, Tuesday, April 7th, 2009:
TORONTO SUN:
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Liza wows Toronto fans
By JANE STEVENSON, Sun Media
Last Updated: 8th April 2009, 3:58am
Liza Minnelli may have an indomitable spirit - she's a survivor of four marriages, double hip replacement surgery, viral encephalitis, and has battled drugs and alcohol over the years - but time has caught up with even her.
"I used to sit down in the second act - now I sit down in the first act!" said the 63-year-old performing legend before dragging a chair over to centre stage on Tuesday night at Roy Thomson Hall.
The Tony, Oscar, Emmy and Grammy winner may have been noticeably out of breath between songs, but when she was singing, she put everything she had - emotion, vulnerability, humor and strength - into her vocals backed by a 11-piece orchestra including her pianist-arranger of 18 years, Billy Stritch.
Minnelli also still has great musicality, dramatically moving her arms in time to the rhythm and beats, and was in noticeably better physical shape than when she last played the Toronto area at Casino Rama in 2005.
Her latest album is called Liza's At The Palace, in reference to a series of shows she staged last December at the legendary New York venue that was the scene of some of the greatest triumphs of her mother, Judy Garland.
"I just closed at The Palace - you know how many people want to say that?" said Minnelli. "That was the most thrilling experience of my life - and I've had a lot of swell times."
So Tuesday night's set list largely followed what is on that two-CD collection, the first brimming one with her well-known songs and the second one a tribute to her godmother Kay Thompson.
Minnelli opened with Teach Me Tonight, decked out in a black sequined sweater set, slimming black velvet pants, silver heels and black scarf which she quickly disposed of after the first song.
The audience, meanwhile, was really rooting for her as they screamed out their undying love and devotion between songs, presented flower bouquets, and even jumped to their feet and cheered for such Minnelli anthems as Maybe This Time, Cabaret, But The World Goes Round, Liza With A Z, and New York, New York.
The goodwill was palatable.
"My god, what a reception," said Minnelli, early in the show. "I feel like I'm coming home."
Minnelli, who was wonderfully funny as the vertigo-riddled Lucille on Arrested Development and recently made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live earlier this year, showed great comic timing too.
She spoke of always being drawn to songs about falling in love but how that has changed.
"At this time of my life I find I'm particularly drawn to songs about falling out (of love)," she said, before launching into If You Hadn't, But You Did, which included her firing off three shots of a fake gun mid-song and killing her imaginary lover, whose body she delicately walked over before retrieving her microphone tucked between her legs.
Minnelli knows how to keep the glamour quotient high too.
When she emerged for the second act of her 95-minute show, she had changed into a sequined brown tunic and skinny pants and the audience roared their approval.
Songs that followed included I Can't Give You Anything But Love - which was presented as a duet with Stritch - Alexander's Ragtime Band and Mammy.
"Remember when I used to get down on one knee?" said Minnelli during Mammy. "Forget it!"
And when the audience demanded an encore, just Minnelli and Stritch returned to the stage even though the singer claimed: "I don't have any more loud songs."
Still, she managed to find the perfect farewell tune as she sat down beside Stritch on the piano stool and sang, Everytime We say Goodbye.
"When I was little, I discovered everything I wanted to say had been written in a song," she explained, summing up her act in one sentence.
---
Sun Rating: 4 out of 5
Liza Minnelli
Roy Thomson Hall
Tuesday night
* Liza Minnelli Can Still Ring Them Bells
by Richard Ouzounian
Toronto Star, April 4, 2009
Liza's back! And she's coming to Roy Thomson Hall this Tuesday night.
But tell the truth, did she ever really go away?
"I've been here all the time, darlin'," Minnelli chimes in that distinctive voice from her apartment in Manhattan. "It's just that now and then I've been a little hard to find."
She has been a force to reckon with ever since she burst into stardom in 1963, at the age of 17, in an off-Broadway production of "Best Foot Forward."
Along the way, there have been a lot of headlines, good and bad. She has won several Tonys, an Oscar, an Emmy and a Grammy, but she also spent a lot of time battling the demons of drugs and alcohol that killed her mother, Judy Garland, when Minnelli was only 23.
Toss in four marriages that ended in divorce, a career trajectory that often resembled a crackhead's EEG, and enough illnesses to fell the armies of most small European nations, and it seems almost miraculous that her career has survived past her 63rd birthday last month.
"If you love what you do," she says simply, "it's not that hard. It's interesting. It's gratifying. Yeah, darlin', it can be soul-wrenching, but that's what people pay the money to see."
Still, there was a time -- not that long ago -- when a lot of people wondered if they'd ever see Minnelli again.
A case of viral encephalitis in 2000 left her so incapacitated that doctors didn't think she'd ever walk again, let alone dance.
She did a successful 2002 show called "Liza's Back" in New York and London, but most people were saluting her resilience rather than actually cheering the talent on display.
But she kept training relentlessly, getting her body back in shape. Her appearances as the wacky Lucille Austero on "Arrested Development" taught a whole new generation about how funny this woman could be.
I had last interviewed her in Manhattan in 2005 and was impressed at how her spirit had mended faster than her body. The heart was full, the eyes were shining, but the walk -- even after double hip replacement surgery -- was more like someone from a George Romero movie than the woman who slinked across the Kit Kat Klub as Sally Bowles in the film version of "Cabaret."
She knew perfectly well that she hadn't scaled all the way back up the mountain yet, but she also served notice that she sure as hell had no intention of stopping the climb.
"I never lost hope," she said four years ago. "I never stopped loving people. That's what kept me going through the worst years."
Reminded of what she said then, she gives a throaty laugh, more rueful than cheerful. "The worst years are over, baby," she says. "At least I hope to God they are."
There's a sound of her knocking on wood. "And I still have never lost hope."
Audiences never lost hope, either, and they kept going to all the uneven performances during her years of rehabilitation, waiting for the lightning to strike again.
It struck Dec. 3 at the Palace Theatre in New York, once the scene of some of her mother's greatest triumphs, when she opened her most recent show, called -- obviously enough -- "Liza's at the Palace."
Yes, there were still the usual critical cavils about a voice grown ragged with age and a body no longer limber after a life lived in several fast lanes simultaneously.
But everyone agreed -- despite it all -- there was magic in the air again.
As The New York Times put it: "Once the show began to soar, Ms Minnelli's force of will became a triumph of spirit over flesh. As she insisted on doing what she can no longer do, her audacity was inspiring: Her message was, you do the best you can and, if you have to, fake it."
What was different this time out? Minnelli likes to think it's because most of the show (which she's repeating at Roy Thomson Hall on Tuesday) is a tribute to her godmother, Kay Thompson.
Most people, unfortunately, forget Thompson nowadays, unless you point out that she was the author of the Eloise books. But the lean, leggy, imperious woman with the whisky-sour voice was also a superb musician, a unique entertainer and an important creative force in the world of the great MGM movie musicals of the 1940s and '50s.
"She was Hollywood's secret weapon," whispers Liza, trying to keep and ruin the secret simultaneously. "She was the real star of MGM. She was cerebral and harmonious. She had a unique style. She invented it herself. She was an original and anyone who came into her orbit was so much the better for it."
Despite the personal debt she feels toward her, Minnelli believes there's another reason this tribute to Kay Thompson has proved so magical.
"Kay was all about the joy of music and how much fun it was. That's something we've all forgotten." A pause. "It's certainly something I've misplaced now and then."
But that, as her favourite lyricist Fred Ebb would have put it, is "walking among my yesterdays," and the current Liza Minnelli loves to live in the present.
"I'm curious. I wonder where life's going. Every morning I wake up and say, 'What the hell is today going to bring?'"
* "Liza's at the Palace" was at Number Ten of the Top 15 Cast Recording List on BILLBOARD, for it's 6th week (I think I have that right, that it's the 6th week for the CD), for the week ending Sunday, March 15th, 2009.
* MTV online reports on the remake of ARTHUR, in the works now. Check-out Russell Brand's comments on LIZA at the end of the article (Brand will be playing "Arthur"): http://moviesblog.mtv.com
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POSTED MARCH 12, 2009:
* Palace CD at #8 this week (Billboard)
Nice Birthday gift for Liza: her "Liza's at the Palace" CD jumped back up for its Fifth Week on the BILLBOARD charts, back up to #8, for the week ending Sunday, March 8th. (It was Number 12 last week, #10 before that, #6 before that, and #3 for its debut week)
Looks like the PARADE magazine cover / article helped.
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POSTED MARCH 11, 2009:
* Press Release for a 2-hour radio show paying tribute to Liza -- airs on her birthday, tomorrow, at 3 PM Central, 4 PM Eastern, etc. See more below. The first hour features Liza, her "Williams Brothers" co-stars, and selections from the new "Liza's at the Palace" CD. The second hour features an interview with yours truly, and a look at "The Complete A&M Recordings" set
###
For immediate release:
WQNA 88.3FM DJ Larry Corley, host of "Jazz Now and Then" will celebrate Liza
Minnelli's birthday on March 12th with two special program events.
At 3:00pm Corley will air an encore presentation of "Liza Minnelli: Back on
Broadway." The hour long program features an interview with Minnelli who speaks
about her godmother Kay Thompson to whom she paid tribute recently at Broadway's
famed Palace Theatre. Added to the program are songs from Minnelli's new CD
release "Liza's at the Palace." The program also includes interviews with
Minnelli's talented singer/dancers, Johnny Rodgers, Jim Caruso and Cortes
Alexander who played the Williams Brothers in Minnellil's Palace show. Other
participants in the program include Broadway stars Kelli O'Hara and Christine
Ebersole who welcomed Minnelli back to Broadway after a ten year absence.
Following this program is an hour long retrospective featuring Minnelli's
earlier sound culled from the new double CD collection "Liza Minnelli: the
Complete A&M Recordings." Included in the program is an interview with author
Scott Schechter who compiled and produced the set.
WQNA broadcasts in stereo to a potential audience of 250,000 in the greater
Springfield, IL area at 88.3FM. It serves as an outlet for unique music and
specialty programs not found on commercial stations. WQNA is
also heard on the Internet at www.wqna.org as well as on area cable TV
channels and other outlets nationwide.
###
* Just a reminder to vote for our dear JIM CARUSO as GENRE's MAN OF THE YEAR ... Just heard from him, and he offer's this recap on the workings of it:
So I'm in the running for Genre Magazine's Man of the Year, which is essentially just a PR thing, but would be great for promoting the Broadway at Birdland series, Cast Party, and all the other crazy things I have going on! Not sure if it's appropriate, but it'd be swell to have the LM fans vote! All they have to do is click on Genre Magazine, and vote '10.' It can be a daily occurrence, if they're really into it, but don't bother voting more than once a day, because it won't count!
* I'm hoping to get to more of a real "review" soon, but I must tell you -- now that the final copies have come in -- that the new Liza songbook THE BEST OF LIZA MINNELLI is a must-have for anyone who loves collecting sheet music .... or just anything on our lady Liza. The huge oversized soft-cover book is a bargain at $19.99 List Price -- and contains a whopping 25 songs. The hits are all here, and so are some rare songs (things from "The Act" for example). Plus we get a full-page Forward by MICHAEL FEINSTEIN, and also a full-page B/W shot of the "Liza's at the Palace" cover photo ... and the Front Cover of this book is the STUNNING COLOR Photo by RICK DAY that we feature as the main photo on the home page of our website. I talked with Liza on Saturday about this new BEST OF LIZA MINNELLI songbook, and she's as thrilled as I am -- and as you'll likely be. (You can find it easily at the website's Liza Store.)
I wished Liza a HAPPY BIRTHDAY in advance, for everyone, and she sends her love back, to us -- she's so looking forward to her concerts, and all the other great things we have to look forward to.
Here's to many many more Magical Minnelli Years
Now, go get the "swell" new BEST OF LIZA MINNELLI songbook! :)
* "Liza's at the Palace" was Number 12 on the Billboard Top 15 chart -- under Cast Recordings -- for her fourth week, ending Sunday, March 1st. (As a reminder, her first week / debut was at number three, then number six, then number 10, now number 12)
There's the website for the final edition of the PARADE magazine that hits newstands this Sunday, March 1st, 2009. The website features a few additional photos of Liza from the photo session done for the magazine by Andrew Eccles, in January.
* Liza Minnelli Featured In March 1st Issue of PARADE
* Just a reminder that the Liza cover story on PARADE magazine is still slated to run this Sunday, March 1st. Parade has a circulation of 33 million through more than 470 Sunday newspapers — one of which is The New York Post, which is dropping Liz Smith's column after this coming Thursday, in order to save the $125,000 they are paying her per year. Her column will still be seen on her website and in other newspapers across the country, as well as Variety.
Critics swoon at Van Morrison doing his classic Astral Weeks live in a recent album. It reconnects him with his muse, they say. Perhaps. But few live sessions sparkle with an artist's brass and sass as does Liza's at the Palace, a brashly triumphant document of Liza Minnelli's autumn 2008 run at the Palace Theatre on Broadway. To quote her, "It's Liza with a Z Not Lisa with an S 'Cause Lisa with an S Goes 'sss' not 'zzz.' "
The two-CD set is split between signature smashes and her salute to 1940s Broadway/nightclub doyenne Kay Thompson (Liza's godmother). Minnelli goes for broke on belters such as "Maybe This Time" with delicious clarity. Sympathetic pianist Billy Stritch and a smallish orchestra allow her room to breathe. She saves the scenery-chewing for the soft, dramatic subtlety of "If You Hadn't, But You Did" and the steady sorrow of "But the World Goes 'Round."
Along with the recent The Complete A&M Recordings, which documents her late-'60s/pre-disco '70s, Palace represents a mountainous high peak in a career with more valleys than the Dolls. - A.D. Amorosi
* Liza attended Alan Cumming's late-night show at Lincoln Center, Saturday, February 7th, 2009:
IN THE NOH: Gender Bending, Song-Wise
By: DAVID NOH
02/20/2009
Alan Cumming's late show at Lincoln Center's American Songbook on February 7 proved that this veteran of "Cabaret" really understands the form. Backed by a spankingly good band, his voice, husky and charged on ballads, and, on the fast numbers, evoking the arching, vibrato-less sound of Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, showed its versatility on a wide range of songs: Sinatra's "That's Life," a smoking "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" medley, "Where I Want to Be" from "Chess," and William Finn's "What More Can I Say?," which he cited as one of the rare same-sex love songs.
In the audience, always sending up a room's temperature, was Liza Minnelli, the first to jump to her feet for Cumming's well-deserved standing ovation. Cumming sang one song from "Cabaret": "Mein Herr," having fun with its suggestive seduction and ended by saying, "Apologies to Liza," who had been lapping it up like it was créme fraiche.
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POSTED FEBRUARY 17, 2009:
* Some great photos of Liza arriving at the AmfAR event last night,
Thursday, February 12th, 2009:
* Here are some great photos (thanks, Steve) of Liza being honored at the AmfAR Event last night, Thursday, February 12th, 2009 (escorted by our beloved Johnny Rodgers)
The Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced additional eligibility rulings for the 2008-2009 season.
The three boys playing the title role in Billy Elliot -- David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish -- will be eligible to be considered jointly in the Leading Actor in a Musical category.
Liza's at the Palace, Slava's Snowshow, and Soul of Shaolin will all be considered eligible in the Special Theatrical Event category. Dividing the Estate and The American Plan are both eligible in the category of Best Play.
All other decisions were consistent with the opening night credits.
This is the third time the Tony Awards Administration Committee has met this year. It will meet two more times to discuss the eligibility of shows opening in
the 2008-2009 season. The cut-off date for eligibility is April 30, 2009.
The awards will be presented by the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing on Sunday, June 7 and broadcast live on CBS.
Liza Minnelli's "Liza's at the Palace" (Hybrid) debuts at No. 3 on Top Cast Albums. The daughter of Judy Garland most recently charted in July 1996 with "Gently," which peaked at No. 156 on The Billboard 200.
* Looks like Liza will be doing much more radio in the very near future, to talk about the new LIZA'S AT THE PALACE album:
She is doing Barbara Walters radio show—but don’t have an air date
She is doing AP radio—but don’t have air date
She is doing Lenonard Lopate WNYC radio LIVE this Monday!-- February 16th, 2009
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POSTED FEBRUARY 10, 2009:
* AWARD WIN for Palace Run
Minnelli, Fey, Winslet, Letterman, Rourke and Fernandez Win ITRA Awards
By Andrew Gans
09 Feb 2009
Liza Minnelli
Winners of the 2009 Independent Theatre Reviewers Association (ITRA) Awards have been announced.
Six artists in three categories — film, television and theatre — have been selected for 2009. The honorees, according to press notes, "embody the essence of not only artistic integrity, but also complete dedication to their craft."
This year's ITRA Award winners follow:
Mickey Rourke, Best Actor in a Feature Film, "The Wrestler" (Fox/Searchlight Pictures), "for his powerful and honest portrayal. This is a great comeback from a great American actor."
Kate Winslet, Best Actress in a Feature Film, "Revolutionary Road" (DreamWorks Pictures/Paramont Vantage), "for her profound and beautiful work."
Tina Fey, Best Performance in a Television Series or Variety Show (Female), "3 0 Rock" and "Saturday Night Live" (NBC), for "terrific comedic performances and biggest career explosion of the year."
David Letterman, Best Performance in a Television Series or Variety Show (Male), "Late Night with David Lettermen" (CBS), "for his continued success and longevity."
Liza Minnelli, Best Performance Theatrical (Female), Liza's At The Palace (Palace Theatre, NYC; John Scher/Metropolitan Talent Presents), "for a lifetime of art and heartache, and most importantly survival... a legend returns to Broadway!"
Lucio Fernandez, Best Performance Theatrical (Male), "The Cuban Kid in concert" (Don't Tell Mama, NYC), "for an electrifying performance in cabaret. This newcomer came out of nowhere to surprise us."
Independent Theatre Reviewers Association is "dedicated to reviewing professional theatre in the tri-state metropolitan area." For more information visit www.TheatreReviewers.com.
* Billboard CD reviews as presented by Reuters from New York
Artist: Liza Minnelli
Album: Liza’s At The Palace (Hybrid Recordings)
Liza Minnelli’s recent stint at New York’s Palace Theater was more than just song and dance: It was a declaration of showbiz survival. And the audience, which showered her with ovations, knew it. So it’s disappointing — and odd — for the accompanying double CD to be a studio rather than a live recording. The daughter of Judy Garland, now her own legend at 62, willed herself through the demanding set of American songbook classics, including showstoppers like “Cabaret” and “But the World Goes ‘Round,” despite two hip replacements, a history of addiction and a public life that would cause other stars to go into hiding. Her voice cracked, her movements were abbreviated, but the veteran carried on and brought the house down. What could have been a warts-and-all testament to Minnelli’s true grit is instead a glossed-up memento for fans.
Liza Minnelli to Guest Host SIRIUS XM RADIO SIRIUSLY SINATRA 'PLAYING FAVORITES' 2/9
Friday, February 6, 2009; Posted: 08:02 PM - by BWW News Desk
SIRIUS XM Radio announced today that Liza Minnelli will guest host Playing Favorites on Siriusly Sinatra, the SIRIUS XM channel that plays music by Frank Sinatra and the greatest singers of all time.
Playing Favorites featuring Liza Minnelli will be broadcast on SIRIUS channel 75 and XM channel 73 on Monday, February 9 at 6 pm ET.
SIRIUS XM listeners will hear Liza play some of her favorite music by the star she affectionately remembers as "Uncle Frank." Liza will also reminisce about touring with Frank and share the story of how he came to record his landmark version of the theme to her movie, New York, New York. In addition to playing classics from Sinatra's catalog, Liza will also treat listeners to her own music as well as that of her mother, Judy Garland, performing the George Gershwin song which she was named after.
Playing Favorites featuring Liza Minnelli will air on Siriusly Sinatra on Monday, February 9 at 6 pm ET with an encore presentation broadcast on Thursday, February 12 at 9 am ET and Saturday, February 14 at 12 Noon ET.
Playing Favorites is a weekly show broadcast on Siriusly Sinatra featuring celebrity guest hosts playing their favorite Frank Sinatra songs and sharing their personal stories and commentary on the music. Previous episodes have been hosted by celebrities ranging from Grammy Award®-winner Linda Ronstadt, vocalist Steve Tyrell, Michael Feinstein and award-winning director of The French Connection and The Exorcist, William Friedkin. Playing Favorites airs weekly each Monday at 6 pm ET.
Siriusly Sinatra is the only 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, commercial-free channel to broadcast the entire spectrum of Sinatra's career as well as artists and songs from the standards era. Produced by SIRIUS XM and the Sinatra family, the channel features regular blocks of Sinatra's music, archival performances and is the home of Nancy for Frank, a weekly show hosted by his daughter, Nancy Sinatra. Siriusly Sinatra also broadcasts The Chairman's Hour, a weekly radio show hosted by Frank Sinatra himself using archival material and presented by SIRIUS XM and the Sinatra family. Additionally, SIRIUS XM listeners will hear New York radio legend and musical historian Jonathan Schwartz share his encyclopedic knowledge of Sinatra's music and his passion for popular American standards on his daily show, High Standards with Jonathan Schwartz.
Liza Minnelli, the Academy Award®- and Tony Award®-winning actress and singer, returned to Broadway for a solo concert at Broadway's Palace Theatre in the winter of 2009. The legendary vocalist recently released her latest studio album Liza's at the Palace to celebrate the acclaimed performance.
For more information on Liza Minnelli, please visit www.lizasatthepalace.com.
SIRIUS XM Radio is America's satellite radio company delivering commercial-free music channels, premier sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic and weather, to more than 18.9 million subscribers.
SIRIUS XM Radio has content relationships with an array of personalities and artists, including Howard Stern, Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, Jimmy Buffett, Jamie Foxx, Barbara Walters, Opie & Anthony, Bubba the Love Sponge®, The Grateful Dead, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Bob Edwards. SIRIUS XM Radio is the leader in sports programming as the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, Major League Baseball®, NASCAR®, NBA, NHL®, and PGA TOUR®, and broadcasts major college sports.
SIRIUS XM Radio has arrangements with every major automaker. SIRIUS XM Radio products are available at shop.sirius.com and shop.xmradio.com, and at retail locations nationwide, including Best Buy, RadioShack, Target, Sam's Club, and Wal-Mart.
SIRIUS XM Radio also offers SIRIUS Backseat TV, the first ever live in-vehicle rear seat entertainment featuring Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network; XM NavTraffic® service for GPS navigation systems delivers real-time traffic information, including accidents and road construction, for more than 80 North American markets.
* Some great photos of Liza's CD signing at Barnes and Noble, Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009:
* Here's a preview of a new Liza interview coming-up in an issue of PARADE magazine. Liza is slated for the COVER of this magazine (which is included in most major Sunday newspapers in the U.S.) (This is what Liza did that PHOTO SHOOT for, on Friday, January 16th, that I mentioned recently; I'd heard the issue was to be February 15th, but appears to have been pushed back to March 1st now.)
And while we have great entertainers on the brain, I recently sat down with Liza Minnelli for an interview that will appear shortly in Parade <http://www.parade.com/> magazine – the March 1 cover.
Liza looked great and was in fine fettle, fresh from her triumph at the Palace Theater on old Broadway. The only thing Liza really wants to talk about is her work, though I did get her to stray into personal areas.
Liza has a truckload of Kay Thompson stories (Liza’s Palace stint was, in part, a tribute to her fabulous godmother, Kay.) I like this one:
Liza: “Years ago, Franco Zeffirelli invited me to his beautiful villa in Italy. Kay came along. Franco kept saying he wanted to direct me as – are you ready? – Camille, but dressed u p like a boy. It was, you know, one of those kinds of visits. The place was inundated with the most gorgeous flowers. I didn’t know what they were, so I asked Kay. ‘Bougainvillea,’ she said. The next day, I was still raving over these flowers, but couldn’t remember the name. ‘Bougainvillea,’ Kay said, with a little more emphasis. So, OK, the next day, same thing. ‘Bougainvillea,’ Kay said, and was looking at me like, ‘What’s with her?’
“Later, we were out on a sailboat, and Kay was quiet, which for her was quite unusual. Suddenly, she leapt up in the boat, and shouted, ‘I’ve got it. I’ve got it!’ She looked at me and said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, appearing here for the first time – Boog and Vellia!’
“Needless to say, I never forgot the name of that flower again.”
——————————
More Liza: On February 12, Liza, along with Donna Karan and Howard and Cindy Rachofsky will be honored at AmFAR’s NYC gala at Cipriani 42nd Street. They are being recognized for their work in increasing AIDS awareness.
Joan Osborne, of blues, rock and country music fame, will perform. Along with burgeoning chanteuse Renee Olstead
* Scoop: Liza IS JUST CONFIRMED For HOLLYWOOD BOWL On August 28th and 29th
No word on show, ticket sales (despite eBay selling some! -- Buyer beware)
* From St. Paul Minnesotta's Pioneer Press
MONDAY 02-02-09 BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW
hot dish } what’s coming up this week
St. Paul Pioneer Press A&E LIVMonday 2-2-2009 MUSIC
At the Palace — Liza Minnelli inherited numerous traits from her
mother, Minnesota’s own Judy Garland, including launching lavish
comebacks. The latter is the focus of “Liza’s at the Palace,” a new
two-CD collection that hits stores Tuesday. The original cast
recording captures her set from her sold-out run of shows late last
year at the famed Palace Theatre, a venue Garland herself used
several times to relaunch her career. The first disc focuses on her
signature hits, including a terrific “Maybe This Time,” while the
second acts as a tribute to the late-’40s nightclub act of Minnelli’s
godmother Kay Thompson. At 62, Minnelli’s voice isn’t as supple
as it once was, but she’s still got that good, old-fashioned showbiz
blood running through her veins, which is readily apparent
throughout the album. Also of interest to fans is “The Complete
A&M Recordings,” a two-disc set issued just prior to Minnelli’s
Broadway run. It collects her trio of studio albums from 1968,
1969 and 1970 along with a 1972 concert disc and a handful of
period rarities. It’s a little-known, but fertile and fascinating, era of
Minnelli’s career that saw her bouncing between standards
(“Stormy Weather,” “The Man I Love”) and period pop hits
(including songs from the Beatles, Randy Newman and Jimmy
Webb) with undeniable pluck. — Ross Raihala
* Just in case you missed it, here is the link to hear Liza's interview -- and additional moments done for the interview that didn't make the air version -- on NPR's website:
* Liza is currently scheduled to appear next Tuesday, February 10th, 2009, at the tribute to photographer Patrick McMullan at Elaine's. Patrick is being feted there by Interview magazine for his 20 years of service.
* The Liza B&N Event ....
Will try to write more later when I can get caught-up on e-mails, but wanted to say what a blast last night's Barnes and Noble event was. Liza sang four songs ("World Goes 'Round," "I Would Never Leave You," "Violin" -- with the boys, and "What Makes a Man a Man" -- I THINK I got the ORDER right! :) (She was originally only going to sing two songs :)
There were 300 Liza fans there, and it was so great to see and / or meet many of you. Liza stayed till the last person had their CD signed -- as she has usually done at signings in the past (very much like her). We stayed for a few minutes after as we all got our coats, and she told me she was very happy with the way everything had gone.
She's very excited about the Hollywood Bowl, also - and told me she is indeed working on an all-new show. (Although I bet she does wind-up keeping much of Act One intact, since it has many of her signatures songs in it.)
Afterwards, a bunch of us did make it to the Westside diner -- sorry if we lost some of you, due to the time (and the snow), but we did want to wait till everyone had their CDs signed, so we didn't get there till 8:30 or so.
JOHNNY RODGERS was kind enough to stop-by and hang-out with us, as a surprise for our group. He's such a dear soul, as many of you know -- and obviously a great talent. Don't forget Johnny will have his OWN event at the very same Barnes and Noble, on Wednesday, February 25th, during which he'll perform and sign copies of all his CDs -- including his duet disc with Liza, of course. We all had such a superb time laughing and talking with Johnny, and I'm so grateful for all his kindness.
All Best and Warmest,
Scott
* Amazon SOLD-OUT of their initial order of the Palace CD
I found-out at the B&N event last night that AMAZON actually sold-out of their VERY LARGE initial order of the "Liza's at the Palace" CD -- and, of course, already replenished their supply. Very exciting news.
* The Liza B&N Event:
Will try to write more later when I can get caught-up on e-mails, but wanted to say what a blast last night's Barnes and Noble event was. Liza sang four songs ("World Goes 'Round," "I Would Never Leave You," "Violin" -- with the boys, and "What Makes a Man a Man" -- I THINK I got the ORDER right! :) (She was originally only going to sing two songs :)
There were 300 Liza fans there, and it was so great to see and / or meet many of you. Liza stayed till the last person had their CD signed -- as she has usually done at signings in the past (very much like her). We stayed for a few minutes after as we all got our coats, and she told me she was very happy with the way everything had gone.
She's very excited about the Hollywood Bowl, also - and told me she is indeed working on an all-new show. (Although I bet she does wind-up keeping much of Act One intact, since it has many of her signatures songs in it.)
Afterwards, a bunch of us did make it to the Westside diner -- sorry if we lost some of you, due to the time (and the snow), but we did want to wait till everyone had their CDs signed, so we didn't get there till 8:30 or so.
JOHNNY RODGERS was kind enough to stop-by and hang-out with us, as a surprise for our group. He's such a dear soul, as many of you know -- and obviously a great talent. Don't forget Johnny will have his OWN event at the very same Barnes and Noble, on Wednesday, February 25th, during which he'll perform and sign copies of all his CDs -- including his duet disc with Liza, of course. We all had such a superb time laughing and talking with Johnny, and I'm so grateful for all his kindness.
