TV legend Dick Cavett was honored recently by Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters when he received the prestigious Art Gilmore Career Achievement Award at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City. It was great to meet Mr. Cavett who was very nice & very funny & his lovely wife Martha Rogers Cavett. Joining the festivites well hosted by radio personality Chuck Street were friends Peter Marshall, Chuck & Mary McCann, Rick & Julie Dees and over three hundred fans & well wishers. The Cavetts are New York based but Martha shared they will be back in February when Dick does a play at Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills. I'm looking forward to that & also to reading his latest book "Brief Encounters" which I hear is really great!
"Nothing happens unless first a dream" was the motto of the late Pat Derby, founder of internationally acclaimed PAWS... the "Performing Animal Welfare Society" with Ed Stewart. Sadly we lost Pat to cancer last spring but her loving legacy lives on as friends, family, colleages, loved ones and fellow animal lovers from around the world celebrated PAWS 30th Anniversary Gala recently at Pickwick Gardens in Burbank. The event was well hosted by the classy duo of KFBK Radio's celebrity news anchor Kitty O'Neal & KVIE Public Television's "Rob on the Road" host Rob Stewart & featured wonderful moving performances by headliner & animal advocate Kat Kamer, Le Petit Cirque Entertainers & high spirited auctioneers Kevin & Sean McCourt. It was a beautiful nite & lucky guests took part in a silent auction then enjoyed a delicious gourmet vegeterian buffet created by chefs Roberto Gerometta & MJ Espiritu Gerometta. Kat's pal Lily Tomlin was unable to be present but sent in video greetings from her film location. It was Lily that connected Kat to PAWS & suggested she sing "Bless the Beasts & Children" with a children's choir. That evening Kat performed beautifully singing "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" (which was Pat's theme song) plus "Pure Imagination" followed by a tribute to Pat with "Talk to the Animals". She also sang a fun salute to Lily with "When You Wish Upon A Star" & the upbeat "You Gotta Be You", a parody of "I've Got To Be Me". Great work Kat... your voice was in fine form! Pat Derby wrote an important book all about elephants & captive wildlife & her protection of them in 1973 called "The Lady & Her Tiger". She loved elephants best & PAWS is the finest animal sanctuary in the world. Ms. Derby also created Circus Paws, the animal free children's circus show where Kat debuted "Bless the Beasts & the Children" with Le Petit Cirque. For more information about PAWS please visit www.pawsweb.org
A few years ago Lily Tomlin hosted the 3rd installment of Kat Kramer's Films That Change The World featuring the excellent documentary Elephants & Man: A Litany of Tragedy. Following that Lily won an Emmy for Best Voice Narration for An Apology to Elephants which she executive produced with Jane Wagner who also wrote it. PAWS was featured in both films. Kat would like to host a special screening of An Apology to Elephants for kids & families in association with her film series.
I saw a great production of "The 39 Steps" at the Malibu Playhouse directed by Ron West & well written & uniquely adapted from the Alfred Hitchcock thriller by Patrick Barlow. The cast was terrific featuring Derek Manson, Dieterich Gray, Mike Funt & Emily Goss playing multitudes & multitudes of roles, more than 130 I was told which was extremely impressive. The story, a thriller/comedy whodunit features double crossing secret agents, death defying chases & devastatingly beautiful women (all played by the lovely Ms. Goss) takes place in various locations in England & Scotland in the summer of 1935... a fun trip abroad & to the past. It runs til November 23 & is well worth the trip to Malibu! For more information visit www.malibuplayhouse.org
"Serial Killer Barbie" is a colorful new high energy musical comedy now playing at the NoHo Arts Center. The stellar cast of singer/actor/dancers features Kelley Dorney, Alex Robert Holmes, Katy Jacoby, Kacey Coppola, Marti Maley, Cy Creamer, Nicole Fabbri, Jillian Fonancier, Christopher Kelly, Bradley Estrin, Grace Nakane & child actresses Audrey Bluestone & Devon Hadsell. The talented cast of young adults portray students from first grade to highschool grads so be prepared for lots & lots of fun silly shenanigans as awkward young Barbie (Kelley Dorney) tries to fit in with the cool kids at school and against her better judgement turns on earnest best pal Bruce (Alex Robert Holmes). Directed by Ronnie Marmo, book & lyrics by Colette Freedman with music & additional lyrics by Nickella Moschetti & choreography by Anne-Marie Osgood. For more information visit www.theatre68.com .
A really fun nite at the Hollywood Arts Council's annual "Spirits of Old Hollywood" soiree held recently at the American Legion in Hollywood. HH
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