by Diane Malone
28 May 2010

   The Latin Society dazzled New York City last night at their annual El Museo Gala held at Ciprianis 42nd Street.  This year’s honorees were Opera legend Placido Domingo receiving a special lifetime achievement award and Tony Bechara, the museum’s long-serving board chairman, receiving a special leadership award.  Fashion icon Oscar de la Renta filled in as Master of Ceremonies for a recovering Barbara Walters, who expressed herself in the form of a letter read by Oscar de la Renta to the packed society crowd.  Among the highlights of Barbara Walters tribute in writing were “Only an injured heart would keep me from being with you tonight” and the fact that Placido Domingo refers to her as “Santa Barbara”…”the only time anyone has called me a saint”.
   The evening was sponsored by Gala chairs Yaz and Valentin Hernandez and Renee and Alvaro Domingo.  The evening raised over one million dollars for the El Museo organization.

   The annual El Museo Gala included a dramatic white carpet display, tables decorated with oversized silver and Lucite candlesticks, and the 13–piece Bob Hardwick orchestra that provided latin dance music late into the night.  The menu began with risotto with Spanish saffron, followed by seared scallops with black bean salsa garnished with micro greens and cilantro, and tostones.  Desserts included guava, lemon, and coconut sorbet decorated with pomegranate seeds in a chocolate shell and passion fruit sauce, as well as flan.  The evening concluded with guests dancing on Cipriani’s magnificent ballroom dance floor.

   The El Museo del Barrio organization, founded in 1969, is New York’s leading Latino cultural institution.  Located at the top of the Museum Mile, in New York City, the El Museo del Barrio institution is the only museum that celebrates Latino, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures.  The El Museo del Barrio Museum is located at 1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street.  

   All Photos: (c) Caroline P. Digonis 2010

by Diane Malone
02 October 2009

   The legendary actress Lauren Bacall was the honored host during a special lighting ceremony on Friday, October 2nd, at the landmark Empire State Building. Lauren Bacall flipped the switch on the Empire State Building lights to pay tribute to her alma mater, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and their 125th birthday. In recognition of the anniversary of the oldest acting school in the English-speaking world, Mayor Bloomberg issued a proclamation declaring October 2nd ”The American Academy Of Dramatic Arts Day.” The iconic Empire State Building will glow with the AADA’s colors, blue and white, from October 2nd through October 4th, 2009. 
                

   Founded in 1884, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, was the first acting school in America. Among the exceptional roster of alumni include; Lauren Bacall, Robert Redford, Grace Kelly, Cecil B. de Mille, Kirk Douglas, Jennifer Jones, Anne Bancroft, William Powell, Edward G. Robinson, Rosalind Russell, Spencer Tracy, Gene Tierney, Agnes Moorehead, Gena Rowlands, and Thelma Ritter. The alumni has been nominated for a total of 95 Oscars, 236 Emmys, and 83 Tonys. 
   The legendary Tony Award-winning actress Lauren Bacall is scheduled to receive an Honorary Academy Award, on November 14th, at the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences’ inaugural Governors Awards event. The Honorary Academy Award is given to an individual for “extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.” 
   The American Academy of Dramatic Arts has earned a reputation for dramaturgical excellence. For more information visit The American Academy of Dramatic Arts online.   

All Photos: (c) Caroline P. Digonis 2009
    
   

by Chris Hale
22 Sept 2009 

   Last night, the Metropolitan Opera opened its 2009–2010 season with a new Tosca production with sets designed by Richard Peduzzi under the direction of the controversial director Luc Bondy. The opening night celebration included thousands of free seats to the general public at both Lincoln Center plaza and Times Square to view the performance on an oversized screen. 
   The opening night cast included soprano Karita Mattila, Marcelo Álvarez, George Gagnidze with James Levine conducting. There is nine additional Tosca performances scheduled throughout the 2009–2010 season with cast changes. For more information visit the Metropolitan Opera online.

Photo: (c) Caroline P. Digonis 2009 

by Diane Malone
28 April 2009

    The 36th annual Film Society Gala honored Tom Hanks with their Chaplin Award on April 27th, 2009, at the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall’s Starr Theatre. The stars came out to celebrate in tribute to the two-time Oscar-winning Actor, who “looked forward to partying” with his film friends.  

    Among the star-studded lineup included Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Ron Howard, Steven Spielberg, Charlize Theron, Mike Nichols, Bruce Springsteen, Nora Ephron, John Patrick Shanley, Robert Zemeckis, Glenn Close, Sam Mendes, Adrien Brody, Christopher Walken, Jeremy Irons, Geoffrey Rush, Ed Burns, Christy Turlington and Colin Hanks.  
   The Hollywood atmosphere of the special event had dozens of photographers, fans, and onlookers all waiting to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars. A line of parked limousines waited just up the street after each celebrity made their grand entrance.
    Actor Jeremy Irons gave his fans a treat arriving on his motorcycle and taking a slow spin for photographs before walking the red carpet.

     
    Julia Roberts arrived just before 7:00 pm flashing her trademark smile to the cheering crowds. Once on the red carpet, Julia Roberts spoke fondly of Tom Hanks and how likeable he is as a person and actor. She added the now famous extra “expletives” to her speech once the evening’s tributes began inside. She wore a white Dolce & Gabbana sheath dress for the Gala evening.
   The Gala evening began with VIP cocktails followed by a seated dinner in the glass atrium located in the Hauser Patron Salon in Alice Tully Hall. The evening began at 9:00 pm and ended around midnight to a dj’ed dance party.
    Currently, Tom Hanks finished filming the Da Vinci prequel, Angels & Demons, directed by Ron Howard, due out this summer.

    Tom Hanks shares the Chapin Award with past honorees of the Film Society including Meryl Streep, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Michael Caine, Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino, Bette Davis, Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, among many others. The Chaplin Award was named after its first recipient, in 1972, Charles Chaplin. Visit the Film Society of Lincoln Center to support and learn more.

All Photos: © Caroline P. Digonis 2009
       

by Chris Hale
April 26 2009

    On April 20th, 2009, the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch lead the New York Philharmonic through a colorful burst of Broadway moments with the stars that made them famous. The Annual Spring Gala titled “New York Moments”, was held at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. The gala fundraiser featured Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, Jennifer Holliday, Kelli O’Hara, Paulo Szot, Ashley Brown, Maria Friedman and Nikki Yanofsky. The gala event showcased each Broadway performer in one of their trademark “New York Moments” performances.
    The gala concert opened with “Cabaret” star Joel Grey performing his trademark “Wilkommen” performance playfully warming the audience up to the evening’s Broadway atmosphere.  
    Next, we were treated to the two rising stars from “South Pacific” playing currently at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. The 2008 Tony Award-winner Paulo Szot captured the audience with his powerful “This Nearly Was Mine”. His rich baritone voice mixed with the acclaimed New York Philharmonic Orchestra was one of the highlights of the evening. He joined his “South Pacific” co-star Kelli O’Hara for a pleasant “If I Loved You”. Kelli O’Hara later performed a cheerful “I Could Have Danced All Night” as well as “Show Me” from “My Fair Lady”.
    Jennifer Holliday, nearly three decades from her “Dreamgirls” Broadway debut, belted out her signature showstopper “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” interestingly followed by “They Didn’t Believe Me”. The Gospel diva was clearly an audience pleaser with her emotionally filled powerhouse performances.
    The New York Philharmonic followed with a warmly polished instrumental selection of several Jerome Kern tunes.   
    Other notable performances were Ashley Brown (from “Mary Poppins”) singing Cole Porter’s “I Happen to Like New York”; as well as the 15-year-old Canadian up-and-coming singer Nikki Yanofsky who performed “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and “Take the A Train” from her soon to be released album “Ella” after legend Ella Fitzgerald. 
    The last vocal performance of the evening belonged to the energetic Liza Minnelli performing her signature “New York, New York”, which brought most of the thrilled audience to their feet in a standing ovation. 
    Marvin Hamlisch concluded the evening with a moving performance of “The Way We Were” on piano. Early in the program Marvin Hamlisch enchanted the crowd with a beautiful piano version of “Manhattan” accompanied brilliantly with a violinist from the orchestra.     
    The sold-out concert was a pleasing collage of memorable New York moments that lingered with you long after the 90–minute program concluded. Visit the New York Philharmonic online for additional upcoming events.  
     

Photo: (c) Chris Lee 2009