but I doubt if any of them have been as funny, witty and fascinating. The things we mere mortals don't know about the show business legends Mr V does. And he tells us what they are really like from Tallulah Bankhead to Steve Martin. (They all go to the toilet. Sometimes on stage.) In a whirlwind tour of his writing life from the heady days of television variety (remember "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour"?) to his prolific years working for names such as Midler, Cher, Tomlin, MacLaine etc etc, to his current assignment as head writer for this year's Oscars (and a score or more past ones) he had us rolling in shock and secret glee as he exposed feet of clay in all sizes.
He was also wonderfully generous to acknowlege Mr Sheldon's presence in the room and gave a great plug for his upcoming Broadway debut. And he also lauded Mr Kevin Joseph, (aka Flotilla Debarge) who sat next to us and made excellent conversation. Mr. Joseph appeared on Broadway with Alan Cumming and Cyndi Lauper in THREEPENNY OPERA and was one of Will Swenson's personal "drag"advisors for his role in PRISCILLA.
And here is his alter ego, Miss Debarge!
Also in the audience was New York's premier entertainment lawyer Mark Sendroff who represents everyone on Broadway on and off stage. He's got a beautiful singing voice and has sung on a couple of Ben Bagley's albums on the Painted Smiles label ("Mostly Mercer" and "Contemporary Broadway Revisited") so when Sheldon was introduced to him after the show he was able to shriek "I have all your records!!" which Mr. Sendroff took with good grace .
So glad the show was a success....I would love to have seen it.
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