Hello Friends!
You read it here first! Dean Torrence (of Jan & Dean) and the Surf City All Stars will perform at the Beach Party honoring the memory of the late Annette Funicello on April 12, 2014 at the Renaissance Esmeralda in Indian Wells. Event benefits ACT for Multiple Sclerosis, the premier resource for individuals in the Coachella Valley who have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, the incurable illness that took Funicello’s life.
Another scoop – the new theatre at Rancho MIrage High School named after philanthropist Helene Galen will have its opening Gala during the second annual Beamer Awards benefiting the Betty Ford Center …And good news that one of Broadway’s most popular performers and directors Tommy Tune opens the Performing Arts series at Palm Springs Art Museum’s Annenberg Theater. The annual Performing Arts benefit, this year featuring Tune, comes to the Annenberg on Nov. 16.. Tickets go on sale the 23rd of July. If you are a theater buff, you will know that Tune has won 9 Tony Awards in his legendary Broadway career.
More Good News: Jack Jones, who performs the great songs from the Great American Songbook better than anybody, steps into the McCallum Theater spotlight on Nov. 23. Jones recently returned from a sold our tour of Great Britain. He and spouse Eleanora have moved into new digs at The Club at Morningside.
Some summer thoughts:
When I watched the July 4 PBS Special from the lawn in front of the nation’s Capitol, I could not help but compare the thousands demonstrating violently in other parts of the world for freedom, to the thousands gathered in front of the Capitol celebrating our nation’s birthday and loving every word of “Let Freedom Ring” sung by Barry Manilow who also wrote the lyrics. I first saw and heard Barry share his love of country with this song at a special benefit that starred Barry at the McCallum Theatre following the tragedy of 9/11.
Paul Bruggemans, owner of Le Vallauris in Palm Springs, and Omar Haddadou are among prominent desert newlyweds They have homes in PS and Mexico but will honeymoon and summer in Paris.
Time was when there was a saying “You can shoot a canon down Palm Canyon Drive and not hit anyone.” Not so today. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs is jammed day and night and so are the eateries. And, despite heat, the parties go on and on…..Almost 600 attended the Pets On Parade benefit for Pegasus Riding Academy for the Handicapped and the Humane Society’s Orphan Pet Oasis last Sunday. A few days earlier 160 supporters of ACT for Multiple Sclerosis attended the fifth annual Bill Marx Jazz It Up benefit held at Mission Hills Country Club. In addition to the jazz musicians who joined Marx – Don Shelton on woodwinds, Bill Saita on bass, and Jay Lewis, drums – a few surprise guests in the audience were coaxed to come on stage and add a few songs – co-chair Sharon DiHaworth, Roberta Linn (a favorite Lawrence Welk Champagne Lady) and Grace Robbins whose book about her marriage to the late best-selling author Harold Robbins, “Cinderella & The Carpetbagger” is a fun read. It gets naughty at times but what do you expect from a Robbins? For those of you too young to know or too old to remember, Harold Robbins’ novel “The Carpetbaggers” changed the laws about profanity in literature and elsewhere. When the book was banned in Boston, he sued and took the case to the Supreme Court. He won and now you know why any and everything goes in literature, on the screen, and on television. Good or bad? Tell me.
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