Bill Boggs News

As it bids farewell to its home of 11 years, the Metropolitan Room will present 24 continuous hours of free-wheeling entertainment -- from Sunday September 24 at 9pm, to Monday September 25 at 9pm. Featuring a mind-boggling 144 individual acts, with over a dozen emcees, and a battalion of musicians, technicians and hangers-on, the Metropolitan Room's 3rd annual Cabaret Marathon Extravaganza It's a Tradition was spawned by the Metropolitan Room's first record-setting (60-hour) entertainment marathon in January 2015. That massive undertaking shattered the Guinness World Record for longest variety show ever.

Eugene Pack's new comedy play, Sweet Birds, was presented as a benefit staged reading on Sunday, August 27 at 8pm at Guild Hall in The Hamptons, starring J. Smith Cameron (Rectify), Mario Cantone (Sex and the City), Chloe Dirksen, Emmy winner Tate Donovan (Manchester by the Sea, Fargo), Geraldine Hughes, Nick Fondulis (The Affair), Obie-winner Kathryn Grody, Oscar nominee & Emmy winner Carol Kane (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Molly Ranson (August: Osage County, Carrie: The Musical), and Drama Desk-winner Dayle Reyfel. The evening was hosted by Luann de Lesseps. BroadwayWorld has photos from the reading below!

Longtime communications director of the Friars Club was given a heartfelt Bon Voyage in the Milton Berle Room yesterday and many show business notables were present and in video to honor the man who has written most of the published words and history of The Friars for the last 25 years.  Barry Dougherty's words...

Bernie Fusrhpan, managing partner of the Metropolitan Room moved his club into the Friars Club last night and BroadwayWorld was there for the entertainment super special. 

Everybody Loved Somebody at The Friars Club last night as Dean Martin was celebrated in song and toasted by his fellow Friars. 

Photographs of America's most treasured composers are on the walls of the Friars Club. By some oversight David Friedman's is not.  After an evening of David and friends performing his music he will take his rightful  place among the music greats who have had their music echo through the hallowed rooms of the club.

Last night Le Cirque welcomed it's creator Sirio Maccioni back to the legendary restaurant.  Sirio's many friends turned out for the occasion and enjoyed a Tuscon dinner from the recipes of his wife Egidiana  Maccioni. 

 An Evening With… are three of the most powerful words in the entertainment world and they are so often posted and signify an event that can only happen at the Friars Club.  In the early days of the club it was  an evening with James Cagney, George M. Cohan and other show business greats.  Then came evenings with Milton Berle, Frank Sinatra, and many other legends. 

Considered the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls, takes the stage at The Wick Theatre from March 9th through April 9th. Based on the short stories of Damon Runyon,  with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, Guys and Dolls won the Tony Award for Best Musical, ran for 1,200 performances on Broadway, and became an Oscar nominated film starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra. Tickets are $75 & 80, www.thewick.org or call 561-995-2333.

Considered the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls, takes the stage at The Wick Theatre from March 9th through April 9th. Based on the short stories of Damon Runyon,  with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, Guys and Dolls won the Tony Award for Best Musical, ran for 1,200 performances on Broadway, and became an Oscar nominated film starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra. Tickets are $75 & 80, www.thewick.org or call 561-995-2333.

Tommy Tune may not be represented on a sidewalk in Palm Beach as his star is embedded on the Hollywood Walk of Fame but if The Colony Hotel ever adds  one, the 10-time Tony Award Winner would own the Palm Beach street.  The legendary Mr. Tune has just concluded another successful engagement at Florida's answer to The Carlyle in New York City and Broadwayworld was there.  Check out the photos.  

The Chairman of the Board couldn't make his 101st birthday party but it wasn't a surprise that Steve Tyrell, who's currently singing at Cafe Carlyle headed up the festivities at Patsy's Italian Restaurant (Frank Sinatra's favorite haunt).  It was a great afternoon as everyone dined on some of Mr.Sinatra's preferred dishes and heard Steve Tyrell interview many show business legends talk about their relationship with 'The Voice'.  There were many famous telephone call in's to Steve's SIRIUS Radio live broadcast.

Urban Stages has confirmed the line-up for this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2016, which will begin tomorrow, Thursday, December 1, and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through Sunday, December 11, 2016 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

Urban Stages has announced the line-up for this year's Award Winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2016, which will begin Thursday, December 1 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through Sunday, December 11, 2016 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

International jazz stylist Sabrina Wender and her Trio were the music treat for the folks at Le Cirque last night and BroadwayWorld was there for the jazz tricks & treats. 

Still witty, smart and funny at 95 years of age, the legendary comic Marty Allen was hosted (not roasted) at a Friars Club lunch.  Emmy Award winning Friar Bill Boggs interviewed Marty about his long career in show business.  Marty worked as an opening act for stars such as Sarah Vaughan, Eydie Gorme and Nat King Cole gained enormous fame when he teamed up with singer Steve Rossi and made 44 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.  In 1961 and 1962 Allen appeared on Broadway in Let It Ride! at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre and then went on to perform in the pre-Broadway tour and Broadway performances of I Had A Ball.

The Friars Club hosted a one night only event last night that will be remembered for many years by Ben Vereen.  Chita Rivera brought him to the club for what Ben thought was a small dinner in his honor.  When Ben walked out of the elevator the huge mahogany  doors of the Milton Berle Room and Barbra Streisand Room swung open to a capacity crowd of Friars shouting "SURPRISE" and singing Happy Birthday.   It was an emotional happy celebration as Ben's many friends toasted the legendary performer and humanitarian.  Friar Board Member and Chairman of the Friars Admission Committee Bill Boggs officially made Ben Vereen an Honorary Friar.  As Bill pointed out to Ben in his presentation,  " I have the power to bestow this title on you….. being an Honorary Member entitles you to walk into the club at any time, enjoy a great meal in the Frank Sinatra dinning room…..and pay for it! "  

Join us when Rosemary Novellino-Mearns, former member of the Radio City Music Hall Ballet Company and Dance Captain, and author of 'Saving Radio City Music Hall: A Dancer's True Story,' and Bill Mearns, former Radio City Music Hall singer and Captain of the Singers, present their delightful, informative, and true story of saving Radio City Music Hall. 

Beloved director, producer, screenwriter and actor Martin Scorsese was honored by the Friars Club with their highest tribute last night, and BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the evening below! The Entertainment Icon Award was given to Scorsese, whose career spans more than 50 years, and who will be one of only a handful of recipients of the award in the Club's 100-year history.

Join us when Rosemary Novellino-Mearns, former member of the Radio City Music Hall Ballet Company and Dance Captain, and author of 'Saving Radio City Music Hall: A Dancer's True Story,' and Bill Mearns, former Radio City Music Hall singer and Captain of the Singers, present their delightful, informative, and true story of saving Radio City Music Hall.