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My View: Where Have All Those Great Variety Shows Gone? Check Out The Footlighters Club

Published

2 months ago

January 30, 2023

It was an early-bird very special event in Florida yesterday as The Footlighters Club of South Florida` honored their President Errol Dante who was celebrating his 80th birthday. Many spoke in praise of entertainer Errol who in addition to having a long and successful career in show business has also dedicated his time and efforts to senior entertainers who benefit from the charity of the Footlighters club. The wonderful singers, comics, and musicians who performed brought back the thrill of live entertainment reminiscent of the golden age of the nightclubs and Borscht Belt show rooms. In the audience and providing a few hysterical shout outs were 91 year young comic Dick Capri of “Catskills On Broadway” fame and TV star (99 year old) Woody Woodbury who also did a bit of great stand up comedy for the entertainment savvy audience. The sumptuous lunch, the the live music, the laughter, and the dancing,….. for a few hours I was back at The Concord , Grossingers, Browns, and the Copacabana. Entertainers who know how to entertain and an enthusiastic Footlighters audience….the gift that keeps giving.

The Entertainers: Brice Smirnoff, MC, Camille Terry, as Marilyn Monroe, David Orson, singer, Judy Scott, singer, Peter Lenomgelllo, singer, Peter Lemongello Jr., singer, Richie Monervini, comic, Rodi Alexander & Mark Friedman.

The Mark Friedman Orchestra provided the music and Rodi Alexander was event planner and talent coordinator.

Happy Birthday Mr. President Errol Dante

WOODY WOODBURY

ERROL DANTE & WOODY WOODBURY

DICK CAPRI

BRICE SMIRNOFF

DAVID ORSON

JUDY SCOTT

PETER LEMONGELLO

PETER LEMONGELLO & PETER LEMONGELLO JR.

PETER LEMONGELLO

RICHIE MONERVINI

MARK FRIEDMAN & RODI ALEXANDER

ALLISON KAPLAN & DICK CAPRI

DAVID ORSON & CAMILLE TERRY

HOWARD RAPP & ALLISON KAPLAN

EDA SOROKOFF, FRANI STONE, LARRY WEISFELD, JANE SHEVELL

.ERROL DANTE

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The Glorious Corner

Stephen Sorokoff

Stephen studied at the Manhattan School of Music. Besides being a pianist, Stephen’s business career was in the Fashion Industry. He was CEO of a textile manufacturing facility and President of an international textile machinery company. Stephen was on the Board of Directors of the “First All Children’s Theatre” which brought the Stephen Schwartz musical The Trip and Captain Louie to the Kennedy Center in Wash DC. His wife Eda, an interior space designer and classical pianist was on the Board of Barrington Stage Company and is still active at BSC. Stephen’s photographs, videos and articles appear on Broadwayworld.com, T2Conline.com and The New York Observer. He is active in the entertainment events at the Friars Club, where he is a member. Stephen is also an Honorary Board Member of The Society For The Preservation of The Great American Songbook. Stephen Sorokoff@gmail.com

Cabaret

My View: It’s Today! It’s Tonight! Marilyn Maye Rehearses For Her New York Pops Carnegie Hall Debut

Published

2 days ago

March 24, 2023

Stephen Sorokoff

Sometimes you have to pinch yourself at the opportunities you are presented with. TODAY would be one of those. Or as Marilyn Maye might sing to you, “It’s Today.”

This afternoon I had the privilege of witnessing the 95 year old star, rehearsing on the stage of Carnegie Hall, under the baton of Maestro Steven Reineke, in front of the mighty New York Pops Orchestra. It all happens tonight and has been a lifetime in the making. As if The New York Times piece, bylined by Melissa Errico, wasn’t enough to whet your appetite for what is sure to be a historic evening, maybe these photos will help get you even more excited. Thank you to all who made this happen for me, to present to you….Humbly Yours, Stephen

MARILYN MAYE & STEVEN REINEKE

MARILYN MAYE

MARILYN MAYE & STEVEN REINEKE

CARNEGIE HALL

MARILYN MAYE

Cabaret

My View: Someone Named Storm Caused Lots Of Excitement In New York City Last Night

Published

4 days ago

March 23, 2023

Stephen Sorokoff

Storm Large has made a name for herself from tours with Pink Martini to orchestral appearances at Carnegie Hall to the television stage of “America’s Got Talent.” But it is with her loyal and fearless band, Le Bonheur, that she grabs audiences. by the lapels and refuses to let go. Love, Storm her new show played 54 Below last night. It’s a playlist of songs by pop luminaries, rock goddesses, and Storm’s fiery originals. There might be someone in the news with a variation of her name currently causing some political excitement, but few entertainers can create the musical excitement that exists in a Storm Large performance.

STORM LARGE

ALAN PAUL, artistic director Barrington Stage Company

EDA SOROKOFF & ALAN PAUL

Cabaret

Ken Fallin’s Broadway: New York Pops and Marvelous Marilyn Maye

Published

5 days ago

March 22, 2023

Suzanna Bowling

“The astonishing Marilyn Maye sings with the magnificent New York Pops led by Maestro Steve Reineke this Friday evening, March 24th at Carnegie Hall. They are remarkable talents and remarkable people.

Kenny & Marilyn Maye penthouse

Cabaret legend Marilyn Maye takes the stage with The New York Pops for a program of standards and musical theater classics that make clear why she’s been celebrated as one of America’s greatest jazz singers for more than 50 years. Hear favorites by composers who include Porter, Lerner and Loewe, Loesser, and Sondheim, as well as Maye’s special version of “Too Late Now,” which was selected by the Smithsonian Institution for its permanent collection of 20th-century recordings.