Mickey Rooney

[Magda Katz]

Posted: 9/29/10 at 9:39am

MICKEY ROONEY at FEINSTEIN's
On September 19 and 20th, Feinstein's Loews Regency, New York presented Jan and Mickey Rooney's "Let's Put on a Show" in celebration of Mickey's 90th birthday. The showroom audience, already abuzz with an electric party atmosphere, stood on their feet, bursting into applause the moment Mr. Rooney took the stage. Rooney is still a master showman. Commanding the stage regaling tales of his halcyon days at MGM, coupled with film clips and songs, including a tribute to his film partner, Judy Garland, a piano solo featuring an original jazz style composition and even a light soft shoe, Mickey did not disappoint the crowd. Midway through the show, Jan Rooney, Mickey's wife of thirty years and a country western singer in her own right, joins the performance to sing both standards and a Patsy Cline medley. Most are not expecting the mixture of the nostalgia and contemporary, but when Jan and Mickey combine their talents to sing duets and poke fun at married life, their loving support of one another is evident as to why Mr. Rooney is far from retirement. When the show ended, Master of Ceremonies, Ellen Easton introduced Michael Feinstein, who presented a cake and lead the star studded audience in singing Happy Birthday to Mickey. The letters of honor to Mickey from President Obama, Michael Bloomberg - Mayor of New York, and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, were read respectively by Donald Trump, Nathan Lane, screenwriter Richard LaGravenese and opera singer Cristina Fontanelli. Also in attendance were Melania Trump, Joy & Regis Philbin, Tony Bennett, Matthew Broderick, Victor Garber, Elaine Stritch, Rita Moreno, Arlene Dahl, Jake-the raging bull-LaMotta, Dan Luria-LOMBARDI, Ian Kelly- THE PITMEN PAINTERS, Jim Brochu- THE ZERO HOUR, radio hosts Joe Franklin and Judith Regan, comedians Jackie Mason, Fran Capo and the Stone Brothers, composers Erwin Drake and Irving Fields, producers Terry Allen Kramer-SUGAR BABIES, Randall Wreghitt- PURE COUNTRY & TALLY's FOLLY, Eileen Sherman- ROCKWELL, Pat Addiss- BABES IN ARMS, Kevin Spirtas-PRICILLA,QUEEN OF THE DESERT. A great time was had by all!