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Trump Plans NY Fundraiser While on Trial, Co-hosted by Ex Con In-Law, Jets Owner, Gristedes Chief: $844,000 Per Person

Roger Friedman
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Trump Plans NY Fundraiser While on Trial, Co-hosted by Ex Con In-Law, Jets Owner, Gristedes Chief: $844,000 Per Person

Howard Lutnick — the head of Cantor Fitzgerald — lost his brother and most of his company on September 11, 2011 when Saudi terrorists attacked the World Trade Center.

Now Lutnick is the chief host for a mega billionaire fundraiser for Donald Trump, a man who loves the Saudis and does a lot of business with them. He let them get away with the brutal murder of American journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, too.

The event is set for May 14th, three days before the high school graduation of Barron Trump. Presumably it will take place in New York since Trump will likely still be on trial in his hush money case.

Other hosts include Charles Kushner, ex con and father of Jared, who made billions with the Saudis and is Trump’s son-in-law; Gristedes owner John Catsimitidis is also a host; so is New York Jets owner Woody Johnson; billionaire John Paulson; Cuban born sugar billionaire Pepe Fanjul; billionaire landlord and one time Trump witness Steve Witkoff, and hedge funder Omeed Malik, who was dismissed — according to the New York Times — from Bank of America in 2018 after an internal investigation into a young female banker’s accusation of inappropriate sexual conduct. Malik has his own firm now and is a minority partner in the neo-right Daily Caller.

According to the invitation, single tickets to be part of the Chairman’s group of the dinner go for $844,600 — you either donate it or raise it. Cheaper tickets are $250,000 or $100,000. The latter may get you a seat by the kitchen.

You can imagine the rogues gallery of possible guests including Tucker Carlson and other right wingers who would mortgage their homes to support the first American president to be a defendant in a criminal trial, and also termed a “rapist’ by the judge in a civil case. Who wouldn’t want that honor?

More to come…

Exclusive: Seinfeld Pop Tarts Movie Shows First Ever Satire of January 6th as Cereal Characters Attack Kellogg’s HQ

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Seinfeld Pop Tarts Movie Shows First Ever Satire of January 6th as Cereal Characters Attack Kellogg’s HQ

The audience tonight at the Hollywood premiere of Jerry Seinfeld’s “Unfrosted” will have a lot of laughs and a bit of an unexpected political surprise.

In the 90 minute comedy, Seinfeld can claim a first: a satirical segment sending up the January 6th Capitol insurgency.

The premise of the film is a war between Kellogg’s and Post Cereals over which one will get a jelly filled snack to grocery stores.

Hugh Grant plays the actor in the Tony the Tiger suit for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes. But he becomes increasingly upset with Kellogg’s for not ventilating the suit. Finally. as the company ignores his complaints — as well as Frosted Flakes — the character, Thurl, turns against Kellogg’s. He leads an insurgency at the Kellogg’s headquarters.

Grant’s costume is quite absolutely the same as the barechested guy who attacked the Capitol on January 6th wearing horns and a helmet. The real rioter, known as the Q-Anon Shaman, has been in jail since 2021. Grant’s Thurl, dressed the same way leads a huge riot outside Kellogg’s with armies of cartoon cereal characters including Snap, Crackle, and Pop. The breech the perimeter, enter the building, and start ransacking it.

Too soon? I’m told it’s like the MAD magazine version of January 6th. The movie, set in 1963, also includes send ups of JFK, Walter Cronkite, Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon, Nikita Khrushchev, and other 60s characters. There’s also a hilarious bit about “Mad Men” with Jon Hamm and Jon Slattery playing their old characters.

Will the January 6th parody get laughs? Or spark outrage? I would guess the first, although even that might be upsetting that we don’t take what happened three years ago seriously.

Here’s a funny promo featuring the great veteran actor Geoff Pierson. The actors in the glass box are Larry Thomas as the Soup Nazi, Phil Morris (son of “Mission Impossible” star Greg Morris) as Jackie Chiles, and Alexandra Wentworth (aka Mrs. George Stephanopolous) as “Shmoopie.”

Tony Awards Nominations: “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Stereophonic” Tie for 13 Each, “Great Gatsby” Musical, “Wiz” Revival Shut Out

Roger Friedman
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Tony Awards Nominations: “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Stereophonic” Tie for 13 Each, “Great Gatsby” Musical, “Wiz” Revival Shut Out

The 2024 Tony Nominations are out, and it’s not great for “The Great Gatsby.” The musical based on the famed novel by F Scott Fitzgerald received just one nod. Its death is secured.

On the happy side, both “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Stereophonic” got 13 nominations respectively as Best Musical and Best Play. “Hell’s Kitchen’ nominations does not include Best Score, which would make it hard for it be awarded Best Musical. It does have some of the very best performers, who are all nominated. Congrats to them.

So the Best Musical category will be a dogfight between “The Outsiders” and “Suffs” because they have the actual songs. But wait — “Stereophonic,” a play, is nominated for Best Score, because they also have the songs. Could “Stereophonic” win Best Play and Best Score? Yes! So weird!

Some so called snubs: only one nod for “Uncle Vanya,” zilch for “The Wiz,” or the Huey Lewis jukebox musical, almost nada for “Tommy” or “The Notebook.” I really think “Tommy” deserved more. The actors are terrific.

The Grammys are on CBS on Sunday, June 16th.

Nominations for the 2024 American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards®
Presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing


Best Book of a Musical

Hell’s Kitchen

Kristoffer Diaz

The Notebook

Bekah Brunstetter

The Outsiders

Adam Rapp and Justin Levine

Suffs

Shaina Taub

Water for Elephants

Rick Elice


Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Days of Wine and Roses

Music & Lyrics: Adam Guettel

Here Lies Love

Music: David Byrne and Fatboy Slim
Lyrics: David Byrne

The Outsiders

Music & Lyrics: Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justin Levine

Stereophonic

Music & Lyrics: Will Butler

Suffs

Music & Lyrics: Shaina Taub


Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

William Jackson Harper, Uncle Vanya
Leslie Odom, Jr., Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Liev Schreiber, Doubt: A Parable
Jeremy Strong, An Enemy of the People
Michael Stuhlbarg, Patriots


Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Betsy Aidem, Prayer for the French Republic
Jessica Lange, Mother Play
Rachel McAdams, Mary Jane
Sarah Paulson, Appropriate
Amy Ryan, Doubt: A Parable


Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Brody Grant, The Outsiders
Jonathan Groff, Merrily We Roll Along
Dorian Harewood, The Notebook
Brian d’Arcy James, Days of Wine and Roses
Eddie Redmayne, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club


Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Eden Espinosa, Lempicka
Maleah Joi Moon, Hell’s Kitchen
Kelli O’Hara, Days of Wine and Roses
Maryann Plunkett, The Notebook
Gayle Rankin, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club


Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Will Brill, Stereophonic
Eli Gelb, Stereophonic
Jim Parsons, Mother Play
Tom Pecinka, Stereophonic
Corey Stoll, Appropriate


Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Doubt: A Parable
Juliana Canfield, Stereophonic
Celia Keenan-Bolger, Mother Play
Sarah Pidgeon, Stereophonic
Kara Young, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch


Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Roger Bart, Back To The Future: The Musical
Joshua Boone, The Outsiders
Brandon Victor Dixon, Hell’s Kitchen
Sky Lakota-Lynch, The Outsiders
Daniel Radcliffe, Merrily We Roll Along
Steven Skybell, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club


Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Shoshana Bean, Hell’s Kitchen
Amber Iman, Lempicka
Nikki M. James, Suffs
Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Monty Python’s Spamalot
Kecia Lewis, Hell’s Kitchen
Lindsay Mendez, Merrily We Roll Along
Bebe Neuwirth, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club


Best Scenic Design of a Play

dots, Appropriate
dots, An Enemy of the People
Derek McLane, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
David Zinn, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
David Zinn, Stereophonic


Best Scenic Design of a Musical

AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian, The Outsiders
Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini, Hell’s Kitchen
Takeshi Kata, Water for Elephants
David Korins, Here Lies Love
Riccardo Hernández and Peter Nigrini, Lempicka
Tim Hatley and Finn Ross, Back To The Future: The Musical
Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club


Best Costume Design of a Play

Dede Ayite, Appropriate
Dede Ayite, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Enver Chakartash, Stereophonic
Emilio Sosa, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
David Zinn, An Enemy of the People


Best Costume Design of a Musical

Dede Ayite, Hell’s Kitchen
Linda Cho, The Great Gatsby
David Israel Reynoso, Water for Elephants
Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Paul Tazewell, Suffs


Best Lighting Design of a Play

Isabella Byrd, An Enemy of the People
Amith Chandrashaker, Prayer for the French Republic
Jiyoun Chang, Stereophonic
Jane Cox, Appropriate
Natasha Katz, Grey House


Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Brandon Stirling Baker, Illinoise
Isabella Byrd, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Natasha Katz, Hell’s Kitchen
Bradley King and David Bengali, Water for Elephants
Brian MacDevitt and Hana S. Kim, The Outsiders


Best Sound Design of a Play

Justin Ellington and Stefania Bulbarella, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Leah Gelpe, Mary Jane
Tom Gibbons, Grey House
Bray Poor and Will Pickens, Appropriate
Ryan Rumery, Stereophonic


Best Sound Design of a Musical

M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer, Here Lies Love
Kai Harada, Merrily We Roll Along
Nick Lidster for Autograph, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Gareth Owen, Hell’s Kitchen
Cody Spencer, The Outsiders


Best Direction of a Play

Daniel Aukin, Stereophonic
Anne Kauffman, Mary Jane
Kenny Leon, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Lila Neugebauer, Appropriate
Whitney White, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding


Best Direction of a Musical

Maria Friedman, Merrily We Roll Along
Michael Greif, Hell’s Kitchen
Leigh Silverman, Suffs
Jessica Stone, Water for Elephants
Danya Taymor, The Outsiders


Best Choreography

Annie-B Parson, Here Lies Love
Camille A. Brown, Hell’s Kitchen
Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman, The Outsiders
Justin Peck, Illinoise
Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll, Water for Elephants


Best Orchestrations

Timo Andres, Illinoise
Will Butler and Justin Craig, Stereophonic
Justin Levine, Matt Hinkley and Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance), The Outsiders
Tom Kitt and Adam Blackstone, Hell’s Kitchen
Jonathan Tunick, Merrily We Roll Along

Best Play

Jaja’s African Hair Braiding

Author: Jocelyn Bioh
Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Chris Jennings, Madison Wells Live, LaChanze, Taraji P. Henson

Mary Jane

Author: Amy Herzog
Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Chris Jennings

Mother Play

Author: Paula Vogel
Producers: Second Stage Theater, Carole Rothman, Lisa Lawer Post, Salman and Vienn Al-Rashid, Courtney Lederer and Mark Thierfelder, Jerry and Roz Meyer, Alix L.L. Ritchie, Jayne Baron Sherman

Prayer for the French Republic

Author: Joshua Harmon
Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Chris Jennings

Stereophonic

Author: David Adjmi
Producers: Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Seaview, Sonia Friedman Productions, Linden Productions, Ashley Melone, Nick Mills, Jillian Robbins, Stella La Rue, Alex Levy & David Aron, Dori Berinstein, James Bolosh, Burnt Umber Productions, The Cohn Sisters, Cathy Dantchik, Alexander R. Donnelly, Emerald Drive, Federman Koenigsberg, Dann Fink, Ruth Hendel, Larry Hirschhorn, Jenen Rubin, John Gore Organization, Willette & Manny Klausner, LAMF Protozoa, Katrina McCann, Stephanie P. McClelland, No Guarantees, Marissa Palley & Daniel Aron, Anna Schafer, Soto Namoff Productions, Sean Walsh, Bruce & Peggy Wanta, Hillary Wyatt, deRoy Howard, Winkler & Smalberg, 42nd.club, Craig Balsam, Concord Theatricals, Creative Partners Productions, Jonathan Demar, Douglas Denoff, DJD Productions, Echo Lake Entertainment, Faliro House, FilmNation Entertainment, Roy Gabay, GFour Productions, Candy Kosow Gold, Wes Grantom, Rachel Bendit & Mark Bernstein, Playwrights Horizons, Adam Greenfield, Leslie Marcus, Carol Fishman


Best Musical

Hell’s Kitchen

Producers: AK Worldwide Media, Inc., Roc Nation, DML Productions, Mandy Hackett, The Sunshine Group, Julie Yorn, The Jacobs Family, No Guarantees Productions, Front Row Productions, Sharpton Swindal Productions, Grove Entertainment, The Jaime Family, John Gore Organization, Terria Joseph, Andy Nahas, James L. Nederlander, Candy Spelling, Clara Wu Tsai, Universal Music Publishing, Independent Presenters Network, Della Pietra Spark Theatricals, Today Tix ARGU, Score 3 Partners, Aaron Lustbader, The Public Theater, Oskar Eustis, Patrick Willingham

Illinoise

Producers: Orin Wolf, Seaview, John Styles, David Binder, Emily Blavatnik, Susan Rose, ArKtype/Thomas O. Kriegsmann, David F. Schwartz, Patrick Catullo, Jon B. Platt, Diamond & Melvin, Nelson & Tao, Ruth Hendel, Elysabeth Kleinhans, Ted & Mary Jo Shen, Putnam & Thau, Chase & F.K.R., GJJJM Productions, Steve & Leticia Trauber, Tim Forbes, John Gore Organization, James L. Nederlander, Park Avenue Armory, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Nate Koch, TT Partners, Fisher Center at Bard

The Outsiders

Producers: The Araca Group, American Zoetrope, Olympus Theatricals, Sue Gilad & Larry Rogowsky, Angelina Jolie, Betsy Dollinger, Jonathan & Michelle Clay, Cristina Marie Vivenzio, The Shubert Organization, LaChanze & Marylee Fairbanks, Debra Martin Chase, Sony Music Masterworks, Jamestown Revival Theater, Jennifer & Jonathan Allan Soros, Tanninger Entertainment, Tamlyn Brooke Shusterman, Geffen Playhouse/Howard Tenenbaum/Linda B. Rubin, Kevin Ryan, Mistry Theatrical Ventures, Galt & Irvin Productions, Tulsa Clarks, Paul & Margaret Liljenquist, Bob & Claire Patterson, Voltron Global Media, James L. Nederlander, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, The John Gore Organization, Independent Presenters Network, Stephen Lindsay & Brett Sirota, Jeffrey Finn, Playhouse Square, Sue Marks, Indelible InK, Lionheart Productions, The Broadway Investor’s Club, Starhawk Productions, Distant Rumble, Green Leaf Partnership, Michael & Elizabeth Venuti, Leslie Kavanaugh, Deborah & Dave Smith, Belle Productions, Chas & Jen Grossman, Miranda & Sahra Esmonde-White, Rungnapa & Jim Teague, Michael & Molly Schroeder, Casey & Chelsea Baugh, James L. Flautt, Jon L. Morris, Becky Winkler, William Moran Hickey, Jr. & William Horan Hickey, III, Oddly Specific Productions, Melissa Chamberlain & Michael McCartney, Rachel Weinstein, Wavelength Productions, Rob O’Neill & Shane Snow, Eric Stine, Cornice Productions, La Jolla Playhouse

Suffs

Producers: Jill Furman, Rachel Sussman, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Malala Yousafzai, Roy Furman, Allison Rubler, Cue to Cue Productions, Sandy Robertson, Kevin Ryan & Diane Scott Carter, Renee Ring & Paul Zofnass, Walport Productions, Judith Teel Davis & Joe Carroll, Tom D’Angora & Michael D’Angora, Louise Gund, Erica Lynn Schwartz, Stone Arch Theatricals/Mayer Productions, Xan Weiser/Matters of the Art, Nothing Ventured Productions, Christin Brecher, Chutzpah Productions, Morgan Steward, 16 Sunset Productions, The Broadway Investor’s Club, Ari Conte, Rose Maxi, Jennifer Friedland, David Carroll, Julie E. Cohen, The Garelicks, Ruth Ann Harnisch, Meena Harris, John Gore Organization, Laura Lonergan, Sally Martin, Peter May, The Mehiels, Nederlander Presentations, Brian Spector, Candy Spelling, Ed Walson, Zuckerberg/Segal, Needle Productions/Oddly Specific Productions, Alissandra Aronow/Wandi Productions, Craig Balsam/Jennifer Kroman, Burkhardt Jones Productions/Adam Cohen, Vibecke Dahle Dellapolla/Samantha Squeri, Funroe Productions/Kim Khoury, Sheri Clark Henriksen/Robert Tichio, Michelle Noh/Todd B. Rubin, Nick Padgett/Vasi Laurence

Water for Elephants

Producers: Peter Schneider, Jennifer Costello, Grove Entertainment, Frank Marshall, Isaac Robert Hurwitz, Seth A. Goldstein, Jane Bergère, Elizabeth Armstrong, Jason M. Brady, Carl & Jennifer Pasbjerg, Erica Rotstein & Crista Marie Jackson, Jana Bezdek & Jen Hoguet, John H. Tyson, Rich Entertainment Group, Jeremiah J. Harris, John Gore Organization, Jeff & Shannon Fallick, Patti & Mike Sullivan, Rodney Rigby, Larry Lelli, Bonnie Feld, Yonge Street Theatricals, Larry J. Kroll, The Shubert Organization, Nederlander Presentations, Nancy Gibbs, Jack Lane, Amy & PJ Lampi, Gwen Arment & Vasi Laurence, Mark Parkman Fairview Productions, Nothing Ventured Productions, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Pietra, Steven Spielberg & Kate Capshaw, The Glasshouse USA, Willette & Manny Klausner, John Paterakis, Hope Tschopik Schneider, Patty Baker, The Burcaws & Q’d Up Productions, Crescent Road, Cynthia Stroum, Sally Jacobs & Warren Baker, Tawnia Knox & Stuart Snyder, Madison Wells Live & Takonkiet Viravan, Terry H. Morgenthaler, Pamela Moschetti, Gabrielle Palitz & Fahs Productions, The Roehl Family & Chema Verduzco, Shapiro Jensen Schroeder, Tre Amici Productions, We Eat Dreams Productions, Rachel Weinstein, Maik Klokow, Margot Astrachan, Mehr-BB Entertainment


Best Revival of a Play

Appropriate

Author: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Producers: Second Stage Theater, Carole Rothman, Lisa Lawer Post, Ambassador Theatre Group, Amanda Dubois, Annapurna Theatre, Bad Robot Live

An Enemy of the People

New Version: Amy Herzog
Producers: Seaview, Patrick Catullo, Plan B, Roth-Manella Productions, Eric & Marsi Gardiner, John Gore Organization, James L. Nederlander, Jon B. Platt, Atekwana Hutton, Bob Boyett, Chris & Ashlee Clarke, Cohen-Demar Productions, Andrew Diamond, GI6 Productions, Sony Music Masterworks, Triptyk Studios, Trunfio Ryan, Kate Cannova, DJL Productions

Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch

Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Hunter Arnold, Leslie Odom, Jr., Louise Gund, Bob Boyett, Curt Cronin, John Joseph, Willette and Manny Klausner, Brenda Boone, Salman Moudhy Al-Rashid, Creative Partners Productions, Irene Gandy, Kayla Greenspan, Mark and David Golub Productions, Kenny Leon, John Gore Organization, W3 Productions, Morwin Schmookler, Van Kaplan, Ken Greiner, Patrick W. Jones, Nicolette Robinson, National Black Theatre, Alan Alda, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Phylicia Rashad, Nnamdi Asomugha, Kerry Washington, The Shubert Organization


Best Revival of a Musical

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

Producers: ATG Productions, Underbelly, Gavin Kalin Productions, Hunter Arnold, Smith & Brant Theatricals, Wessex Grove, Julie Boardman, Tom Smedes, Peter Stern, Heather Shields, Caiola Productions, Kate Cannova, Adam Blanshay Productions & Nicolas Talar, Aleri Entertainment, Alex Levy Productions, Bunny Rabbit Productions, D’Angora Padgett Productions, Cyrene Esposito, David Treatman, Eddie Redmayne, The Array IV, Bad Robot Live, BlueJay Productions, Grace Street Creative Group, Iocane Productions, Jim Kierstead, Marco Santarelli, Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, George Waud, Yonge Street Theatricals, Federman Koenigsberg Productions/Sara Beth Zivitz, Tina Marie Casamento/Jennifer Johns, M. Kilburg Reedy/Tilman Kemmler, Greenspan Proffer/Kat Kit 4, Patty Baker/Matthew Christopher Pietras, Broadway Strategic Return Fund/Red Mountain Theatre Company, Evan Coles/The Cohn Sisters, Nolan Doran/Fakston Productions, Epic Theatricals/Jeffrey Grove, Jessica Goldman Foung/Andrew Paradis, William Frisbie Tilted Marguerite Steed Hoffman/Willette & Manny Klausner, Vasi Laurence/Stephen C Byrd, Brian & Dayna Lee/City Cowboy Productions, Maybe This Time/3D Productions, Nothing Ventured Productions/Theatre Producers of Color, Perfectly Marvelous/Catherine Schreiber & Co, Second Act/Freedom Theatricals, SSP Holdings/Todd & Bronwyn Bradley, Two Ladies/Nicole Eisenberg, Ilana Waldenberg/W Stage Productions, The Wolf Pack/Burnt Umber Productions, The Shubert Organization

Gutenberg! The Musical!

Producers: Ambassador Theatre Group, Patrick Catullo, Bad Robot Live, Seth A. Goldstein, Isaac Robert Hurwitz, Runyonland Productions, Elizabeth Armstrong, Timothy Bloom, Larry Lelli, Alchemation, The Council, Crescent Road, Wendy Federman, Marcia Goldberg, Hariton deRoy, LD Entertainment, James L. Nederlander, Al Nocciolino, Spencer Ross, Independent Presenters Network, Medley Houlihan/Score 3 Partners, Tryptyk Studios/Iris Smith, Jonathan Demar/Griffin Dohr, Andrew Diamond/Alexander Donnelly, Futurehome Productions/Koenigsberg Subhedar, Roy Gabay/Nicole Eisenberg, Jessica R. Jenen/Linda B. Rubin, Daniel Powell/Amplify Pictures, Jeremy Wein/Walport Productions, Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Bee Carrozzini

Merrily We Roll Along

Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, David Babani, Patrick Catullo, Jeff Romley, Debbie Bisno, Lang Entertainment Group, OHenry Productions, Winkler & Smalberg, Stephanie P. McClelland, Timothy Bloom, Creative Partners Productions, Eastern Standard Time, Fakston Productions, Marc David Levine, No Guarantees, Ted & Mary Jo Shen, Gilad Rogowsky, Playing Field, Key to the City Productions, Richard Batchelder/Trunfio Ryan, FineWomen Productions/Henry R. Muñoz, III, Thomas Swayne/Lamar Richardson, Abrams Corr/Mary Maggio, Osh Ashruf/Brenner-Ivey, Craig Balsam/PBL Productions, deRoy DiMauro Productions/Medley Houlihan, Andrew Diamond/Katler-Solomon Productions, Dodge Hall Productions/Carl Moellenberg, Friedman Simpson/Vernon Stuckelman, William Frisbie/J.J. Powell, Robert Greenblatt/Jonathan Littman, Cleveland O’Neal, III/Tom Tuft, Roth-Manella Productions/Seaview, New York Theatre Workshop

The Who’s Tommy

Producers: Stephen Gabriel, Ira Pittelman, Sue Gilad & Larry Rogowsky, Mary Maggio & Scott Abrams, Tom Tuft and Glenn Fuhrman, Batman Harris/Elliott Cornelious, Laura Matalon/Spencer Waller, Richard Winkler, Sheldon Stone, Firemused Productions/Stone Arch Theatricals, LeonoffFedermanWolosky Productions/Koenigsberg Batchelder, Roy Putrino/Narang Moran, Rich Martino, Aged in Wood/Lee Sachs, Paul and Margaret Liljenquist, R & R Productions, Marla McNally Phillips, Merrie Robin, O’Neill Snow, Work Light Productions, Nederlander Presentations, Independent Presenters Network, John Gore Organization, Palomino Performing Arts, Wavelength Productions, Robert Nederlander, Jr., Botwin Ignal Dawson, Jamie deRoy, Betsy Dollinger, Stacey Woolf Feinberg, Gold Weinstein, Tyce Green, Jenen Rubin, Jim Kierstead, Marco Santarelli, Nancy Timmers, Thomas B. McGrath, Olympus Theatricals, Goodman Theatre

Superstars Santana and Rob Thomas, Dionne Warwick, Fantasia, John Mellencamp Rock Carnegie Hall for Clive Davis, NY Pops

Roger Friedman
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Superstars Santana and Rob Thomas, Dionne Warwick, Fantasia, John Mellencamp Rock Carnegie Hall for Clive Davis, NY Pops

EXCLUSIVE Well, this was a night people will be talking about for years to come.

Clive Davis organized a night for the NY Pops to raise money on their 41st anniversary. The Pops played and saluted him with a couple dozen of his most artists including Barry Manilow, Melissa Manchester, Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas, Fantasia, Deborah Cox, and Valerie Simpson.

John Mellencamp performed tributes to both Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

Art Garfunkel literally brought down the house with “Bridge over Troubled Water,” accompanied by his son as if no time had passed in the 54 years since he first sang with Paul Simon.

The New York Pops — conducted by the masterful Steven Reineke — rose to the occasion of more than two dozen classic pop hits of all different genres. It was quite a task and they were more than up to it.

There were stars in the audience, of course, including Nancy Pelosi and husband Paul, Gayle King, Ari Melber, Tony winner Danny Burstein. “Living on a Prayer” songwriter Desmond Child, the (former) New Radicals Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois, and most of the guests I told you about from Sunday night’s dinner at the River Cafe.

It was quite a crowd that came to see this spectacular two and a half hour show that featured one show stopper after another. The artists were kept mostly to one song apiece lest the night go on forever. Each spoke briefly about their relationship to Davis over the last 60 years. Some, like Diane Warren — whose song “Unbreak my Heart” by Toni Braxton was loving performed by Tony winner Adrienne Warren — were very funny. Others like Carlos Santana, were spiritual (“Clive, you are the highest miracle in my life,” he said.)

The Pops opened with an overture medley of songs associated with Davis from “The Sound of Silence” to Earth Wind & Fire’s “September” to “I Will Always Love You.” Then Barry Manilow appeared with a special song written just for Clive, plus his hit, “Mandy,” and a surprise at the end of the show.

How often can you every number was a highlight of the show? Dionne Warwick made her hit, “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” soar, and then closed the show with “That’s What Friends Are For.” Melissa Manchester caused sobbing with her anthem, “Don’t Cry Out Loud.” Valerie Simpson was just great in a tribute to Aretha Franklin on “I Knew You Were Waiting for Me” joined by Rob Thomas. And that was after Rob Thomas and Carlos Santana peeled off their massive hit, “Smooth,” with the latter just searing the strings on his gold guitar.

Clever? How about Patty Smyth covering Patti Smith’s “Because the Night”? The two singers have been confused for each other for years, so Smyth decided to tackle Smith’s biggest number — and nailed it. (“We’re always getting each other’s mail,” she joked. Husband John McEnroe got a kick out of that!)

Fantasia — straight off her success in “The Color Purple” — brought down the house also with her cover of “Summertime,” the Gershwin song that made her famous on “American Idol.”

There was a surprise “American Idol” appearance by Ruben Studdard, who dazzled on Luther Vandross’s “Dance with My Father.” People forget that Clive Davis was a groundbreaker, exclusively signing “Idol” stars for the first seven or so years. Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, etc all started with him.

There were other tributes. Deborah Cox was absolutely sensational on “I Will Always Love You.” (She’s on Broadway right now in “The Wiz.”) Brandon Victor Dixon and Shosanna Bean came from Alicia Keys’s musical, “Hell’s Kitchen,” and brought the audience to its feet with “Fallin’,” which they do so well on Broadway. The audience swooned for Kenny Babyface Edmonds, and jumped out of their seats for Busta Rhymes. Ray Parker, Jr. got the place jumping with “Ghostbusters.”

Clive started the show with 19 year old Courtney Hadwin, a star from “America’s Got Talent,” who gave a startling read on Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart.” And R&B singer Avery Wilson invoked swooning 70s soul on “Me and Mrs. Jones” and “If You Don’t Know Me By Now.”

At a dinner following the show at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the auctioneer almost wound up giving Nancy Pelosi a new career — conducting the New York Pops. She didn’t bid, someone else did with Pelosi at the podium as an idea. Alas, that man was outbid and Pelosi must return to saving the country.

For the guests who’ve been going to Clive Davis’s annual pre-Grammy dinner in Los Angeles, some of this was old hat. We’ve seen these remarkable concerts play out in five hour chunks. But for the bulk of tonight’s audience — and the music students who were given free tickets — the night was a glorious banquet of the greatest pop music in history. They never jumped to their feet so much during one show, and they floated out the door when it was all over.

PS Even with all these artists Davis’s career also includes Chicago, Carly Simon, Billy Joel, The Grateful Dead, the Kinks, and another three dozen acts that could be covered in a series of concerts! The range is astounding!

refresh later Tuesday for more pictures…

TikTok: Clock Ticks as Conde Nast Employees Threaten Anna Wintour’s Met Ball With Strike, Could Protest Glittery Gala Event

Roger Friedman
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TikTok: Clock Ticks as Conde Nast Employees Threaten Anna Wintour’s Met Ball With Strike, Could Protest Glittery Gala Event

Anna Wintour’s TikTok sponsored Met Ball is in trouble.

With a week to go before the spring Halloween party. Conde Nast’s unionized employees are threatening to upend the gala as they attempt to negotiate a contract and thwart more layoffs.

Wintour is the editorial director of Conde Nast, and editor in chief of Vogue. She’s also empress of the Met Ball. The evening will be sponsored this year by TikTok, the Chinese company ordered by Congress to divest itself or be banned in the US. I told in February what was going on.

Some Conde Nast publications have unions including The New Yorker and Wired. But the big ones, like Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, etc did not until recently. They still do not have a contract as the company has had had serious rounds of layoffs and face more imminently.

The Conde Nast Union declares on its website:

“While Anna Wintour, Vogue editor in chief, mingles with fellow millionaires at the Met Gala, Condé Nast is refusing to settle a fair contract — and is trying to lay off nearly a hundred Condé Union members:

Tell Anna: Get serious

  • Pay Condé Nast workers fair wages
  • Stop replacing unit members with freelancers
  • Reach a deal with workers now!“

It’s hard to imagine but completely possible Wintour will have her Kardashians and other gross participants walking past Conde Nast protesters next Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

That would be an embarrassing “first.”

The Union says: “The unionization of Condé Nast began in earnest in 2018, when editorial employees at The New Yorker began an organizing drive. They announced their union publicly in June of 2018 with nearly 90% of the staff supporting the effort. They were joined in March 2019 by colleagues at Ars Technica and Pitchfork, and in April 2020 by those at WIRED. All four publications were voluntarily recognized by Condé. Now the entire company is unionizing.”

The Met Ball is a notorious money loser, costing more than $5 million to stage even after donations and sponsors are counted in. The confluence of the TikTok scandal and the union issues is going to make for a compelling moment next Monday.

Barry Manilow, Melissa Manchester Celebrate 50 Years of Friendship with Clive Davis at Music Mogul’s Blowout Private Dinner

Roger Friedman
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Barry Manilow, Melissa Manchester Celebrate 50 Years of Friendship with Clive Davis at Music Mogul’s Blowout Private Dinner

EXCLUSIVE Tonight — Monday — music mogul Clive Davis will be honored at Carnegie Hall in support of the New York Pops. Davis is bringing a stunning A list group of performers who will rock the venerable venue like crazy.

So last night — Sunday — Davis welcomed about a hundred and fifty close pals to Brooklyn’s stunning River Cafe just to get everyone in the mood. I first visited the River Cafe 40 years ago, and nothing has changed. The food and the view are both five star. Congrats to owner Buzzy O’Keefe!

The room was bursting with A Listers. For instance: In 1974, Davis took over Bell Records and turned it into Arista Records. His first stars were Barry Manilow and Melissa Manchester. She had “Midnight Blue” and he had “Mandy.” They were happily reunited at the dinner — and will each perform tonight at Carnegie Hall.

Barry and Melissa were just the tip of the iceberg at the River Cafe, where a center table featured Nancy and Paul Pelosi, and Hakeem Jeffries with wife Kennisandra. Talk about power dining. But I can tell you the Pelosi’s were pretty excited to meet Barry.

Davis came down with a case of laryngitis. But that didn’t stop him from introducing the room to a variety of his special guests including legendary singer Art Garfunkel, famed hit Motown songwriter Valerie Simpson, tennis great John McEnroe and rock star wife Patty Smyth — who sat at the same table with another tennis superstar, Martina Navratilova.

And there were more, more, more starss including another famed songwriter, Diane Warren, Republic Records chief Monte Lippman (celebrating Taylor Swift’s enormous debut week), five star chef Daniel Bouloud, plus “The Wiz” star Deborah Cox, Tony winner Adrienne Warren, Shoshanna Bean and Brandon Victor Dixon (of the Alicia Keys musical, “Hell’s Kitchen”) — you get the drift.

There was even what I would call a “society” table with Peggy Siegal, Denise Rich, Nikki Haskell, Blaine Trump, and Candy Spelling. New York 1 Theater correspondent Frank DiLella kept them all entertained, while WOR Radio’s Michael Riedel did the same for us including Broadway producers Fran and Barry Weissler, and Francine LeFrak and husband Rick Friedberg. I also ran into MSNBC’s Ari Melber — who made a video for my mom, his biggest fan — and the great Tamron Hall! Did I mention Don Lemon, like the Pelosi’s, lined up to meet Barry Manilow?

Good news, by the way, from Paul Pelosi. He was doffed the hat he was wearing after his hammer attack. “Paul,” I exclaimed, “your is back!” He replied: “It’s those Italian genes!” What a relief.

There’s a long list of performers tonight at Carnegie Hall besides many of these people including Dionne Warwick and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. Art Garfunkel has agreed to sing Clive’s favorite song, “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Regulars quipped to newbies that they’ve been warned — a Clive Davis show is an experience they wlll never forget! So stay tuned. The show starts at 7pm. When will it end? Bring snacks!

That great photo of Barry and Melissa was taken by yours truly — c2024 Showbiz411.com.

Taylor Swift Acknowledges Record Breaking Sales of “Tortured Poets” Album: “Are You Even Serious?”

Roger Friedman
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Taylor Swift Acknowledges Record Breaking Sales of “Tortured Poets” Album: “Are You Even Serious?”

Even Taylor Swift is a little gobsmacked by the sales of her album.

As I reported on Friday, “The Tortured Poets Department” has sold 2.6 million copies. Of those, 1.9 million are hard sales of CDs, LPs, and downloads. The rest is from streaming.

“Poets” is the third highest debuting album of any week since 1990. Only Adele and NSync were higher.

Taylor Swift Legion of Fans Courted by “Fault in Our Stars” Author John Green on Eve of His New Movie: “I love…the fandom!”

Roger Friedman
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Taylor Swift Legion of Fans Courted by “Fault in Our Stars” Author John Green on Eve of His New Movie: “I love…the fandom!”

Got a new movie coming out? Need an audience? Just say you’re massive fan of Taylor Swift!

“The Fault in Our Stars” author John Green did just that this week. He’s got a movie coming on Max (HBOMax) on Friday, May 2nd called “Turtles All the Way Down.” It’s another YA weeper, and Green wants people to see it.

(I’m assuming it’s the story of Flo and Eddie, and “Happy Together.”)

Anyway, Green told his 4.4 million Twitter followers this week, apropos of nothing, the he loves Taylor Swift! And he’s not afraid to say it! (His Tweet is below.)

Green isn’t stupid. He needed a Swift endorsement. Instead, he endorsed Swift! “Turtles” took a circuitous route to the screen. Green needs ratings. Swift sold 2.6 million albums this past week. You do the math!

Green wisely wrote:
Every few years, thousands of people are surprised to learn that I am a fan of Taylor Swift.
1. I am a fan of Taylor Swift. I have been since I first heard Speak Now in 2010.
2. I love Taylor Swift’s music and lyrics. You don’t have to. But I get to.
3. I love the Taylor Swift fandom. Again, you don’t have to. But I get to.
4. Making your whole identity disliking something/someone is weird and a bit sad.
5. TTPD is excellent and I love listening to it. The writing is so, so good.
6. Gentle reminder that I delete almost all of my tweets after a few minutes.

The Beatles Are Coming! Restored “Let it Be” Screening May Be Last Chance Reunion for Fabled Group Extended Family

Roger Friedman
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The Beatles Are Coming! Restored “Let it Be” Screening May Be Last Chance Reunion for Fabled Group Extended Family

Fans of The Beatles will never “let it be.”

Tomorrow night, the movie of that name – restored with added footage — will be screened in New York. Disney Plus starts airing it at the end of the week on their streaming platform. (A Los Angeles screening is planned for later in the week.)

Who’s coming to this last round up? Paul McCartney might be in town. His exhibition of photographs opens later this week at the Brooklyn Museum.

Ringo Starr has just dropped “Crooked Boy,” an excellent EP written and produced by Linda Perry. His tour doesn’t start for a month, so maybe he’d come into New York.

No word yet on Olivia or Dhani Harrison, or Sean Ono Lennon. Yoko Ono is not going out much these days, which is no surprise at age 91. She can watch it at home!

Peter Jackson restored the film made by Michael Lindsay Hogg, which was a hit in 1970 but then not seen for years. (It floated around the internet.) Jackson used all of L-H’s footage to make his “Get Back” series a few years ago, which expanded on the original film. Lindsay-Hogg will be on hand for the screening and Q&A afterwards. Hopefully someone will tape the event and put it on YouTube.

Box Office: It’s Zendaya’s World as “Challengers” Scores $15 Mil Weekend, “Dune Two” Approaches $280 Mil

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: It’s Zendaya’s World as “Challengers” Scores $15 Mil Weekend, “Dune Two” Approaches $280 Mil

The biggest movie star right now is Zendaya.

The 27 year old actress from Oakland, California stars in the number 1 movie of the weekend, and the movie that’s made the most money.

Zendaya Coleman leads “Challengers,” which had a $15 million weekend and came in at number 1.

She’s also one of the main players in “Dune Two,” now nearing $280 million and maybe heading to $300 million if Warner’s just lets it sit in theaters.

Aside from Zendaya movies, the box office is a tepid place and getting worse. “Challengers” is number 1 but it has a $55 million price tag. So the future is not that bright unless there’s a sudden wave.

The number 2 movie is “Unsung Hero,” a Christian film that made $7.5 million in its first weekend. Critics panned it, but the usual suspects are driving ticket sales.

Elsewhere, desperate for product, studios have re-released “Alien,” “The Mummy,” and “Shrek 2” to theaters.

What is everyone talking about, however? “Baby Reindeer,” an uncomfortable series on Netflix about a British comedian bartender who was groomed and raped by a mentor, has a trans woman girlfriend, and is being stalked by an overweight sociopath. Oy.

One month to go before Netflix puts “Hit Man” into theaters for two weeks. Can we last that long?

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