BroadwayWorld.com Announces the Finishing Touches for Their Holiday Show

Can't wait! I also remember Jill O'Hara from I Can't Keep Running in Place...

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still any tickets available?

ok thanks!

An amazing treat. An evening of "Promises, Promises," all come true!

To see the still-beautiful Jill O'Hara sing "What Do You Get When You Fall in Love?" again, after all these years, was a treat I'll never forget, like seeing D. Jamin Bartlett sing "The Miller's Son" again at the last Standing Ovations.

There was so much starry talent up there, it's hard to mention it all but to watch Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry do that drunk scene from Promises was to see two pros at work. How about a revival of "I Do, I Do" for them? (Richard Jay Alexander--I'm talking to you.)

And when the delightful and enthusiastic Richie Ridge mentioned that they met during a production of "The Night Thoreau Spent in Prison," a Mark-Manley laugh erupted from the denizens of the Off-Topic Board at our table that bewildered the rest of the audience. (At our table was EddieVarley, NYAdGal, BlueMoon, Etoile, KissMyCookie, PapaLovesMambo and me. At the table next to us was BroadwayBoobs, Undiscovered and BdwayGirl. It was nice to share an evening away from the Off Topic board with such a great group of people. And wasn't that broadway.com photographer Bruce Glikas lurking in the shadows--or was that FindingNamo?)

Laila Robbins's reading of a story from the Stories from the Quilt reminded us all that it was not just a holiday party but also a benefit for BC/EFA. But who knew girlfriend could SING! Add to her illustrious resume: "Can belt Country/Western."

Mary Cleere Haran became a new favorite of mine. I have her Rodgers and Hart CD but I've never seen her live. Her rendition of the old Alice Faye (and Judy Garland!) song "No Love, No Nothin'" showed us all that the spirit of vocalists like Rosemary Clooney lives on.

And Michael Arden...every time we hear him sing, we all say the same thing: "Wow. What a voice. What an instrument. What a talent." He's one of those singers I'd like to see in a sing-'em-all-and-stay-all-night concert called "Every Single Song Mikey Arden Knows."

And Jason Tam, could he be more sweet? He just stood there and opened his heart, like he does in ACL, and sang a Hawaiian Christmas song and gave out real, fresh-flower leis his family flew in from Hawaii. (Lucky Boobs got "lei'd" by Jason Tam. I got hit in the eye with a candy cane by Josh Walden--that was as lucky as I got.)

And how about that powerhouse house rendition of "I Don't Remember Christmas" Hugh Panaro exploded with? It would be fun to break up with him, just to hear those notes! ("Hugh--I've had ENOUGH! This relationship is OVER! Will you pack your bags and belt out a little 'I Don't Remember Christmas' again?")

Who am I leaving out? The hysterically funny Christine Pedi, bringing us a sexy Christmas, Chicago-style and the dazzing Nikki Renee Daniels sending us "Home" cheering from "The Wiz" and a powerful Craig Sculman rousing us with "Bring Him Home" from Phantom and a sizzling Ruben Flores and the hysterical Natalie Toro's Googie Gomez and the insanely talented Laura Bell Bundy and knockout Felicia Finley and Simply Barbra being simply perfect as always and the lovely Lauren Frost and four Plaids including our own sweet-voiced Bobby Randle.

Oh and Josh Walden and Kurt Domoney dancing, singing and showing a little skin. Mmm...wanted to see them do MORE "Turkey Lurkey"...and maybe a little "Hard Candy Christmas"!

It was a perfect evening. Perfect. Thank you, Richard-Jay, and thank you, Rob. Happy holidays, everyone!

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Updated On: 12/11/06 at 09:49 AM

Thanks PalJoey!
Sounds like a perfect Christmas party!!

Now must switch from Nancy/Xmas to Judy.

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You're welcome. I live for people living vicariously through me.

I oughta have a blahhhg.

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Wah! Wah! Wah! PapaLovesMambo just called me an SOB! Somebody alert a MODERATOR!

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Thanks for sharing, PJ. Sounds like a wonderful evening.

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so that's who that was...

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For those of you all wondering what Reba song Laila Robins sang..this was it....

She Thinks His Name Was John
Reba Mcentire

She can account for all of the men in her past
Where they are now, who they married, how many kids they have
She knew their backgrounds, family and friends
A few she even talks to now and then

But there is one she can't put her fingers on
There is one who never leaves her thoughts
And she thinks his name was John

A chance meeting, a party a few years back
Broad shoulders and blue eyes, his hair was so black
He was a friend of friend you could say
She let his smile just sweep her away
And in her heart she knew that it was wrong
But too much wine and she left his bed at dawn
And she thinks his name was John

Now each day is one day that's left in her life
She won't know love, have a marriage or sing lullabies
She lays all alone and cries herself to sleep
'Cause she let a stranger kill her hopes and her dreams

And all her friends say what a pity what a loss
And in the end when she was barely hangin' on
All she could say is she thinks his name was John
She thinks his name was John

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Truly a fantastic night, full of holiday cheer and featuring so many honest and emotionally powerful performances.

Bravo to the entire team for their creative and inspired work, the talent onstage and off was quite splendid. So many highlights, but a special mention must be made for Laila Robbins's emotional and touching performance. It was a thrill to watch.

Kudos to Rob, RJA, Ben, Richie Ridge (THE greatest host you could ever wish for...) and the entire cast and crew, a very big BRAVO to you all!

It was a great evening. I already had plans to be in NYC to visit a close family friend when I found out Hugh was doing this. Went with two friends who also know and adore him.

The entire event was great. Highlights for me included Jason Tam - his song was so sweet and sincere (loved the leis...rather fun walking home at an indecently late hour wearing one...any thanks to the man next to me who gave it to me), Nikki Renee Daniels - I wanted her to sing for a while now, Natalie's Googie Gomez act (love those Jingle Boys), Craig's closing "Bring Him Home" (I have poignant personal associations with that song and he was my first Valjean). And this was the first time I didn't dislike "Felice Navidad."

And Hugh? Wow...he amazes me every time, though I had to force myself not to die laughing at that shirt. His "I Don't Remember Christmas" was so intense and electric. Loved it!

As others have said, major kudos to everyone involved in putting this together. I'll probably be back next year!