AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S One Centennial Sensation: A Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch, June 3, 2013
http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/1909441
Text from New York Social Diay:
At the Hudson Theater in the Millenium Hotel on 44th Street just off Broadway, The American Cancer Society (New York Chapter) held its annual Spring Gala ‘’One Centennial Sensation” – a tribute to Marvin Hamlisch.
It started as most benefit gala evenings do, with cocktails and then dinner. No black tie, thankfully. It so happened that it was also the first Marvin Hamlisch Memorial Award being given to Michael Douglas. Marvin Hamlisch lost his sister and his mother to cancer. He had been a devoted and generous supporter of the ACS.
Monday was the day when the headlines broke about Michael Douglas’ health. I missed it on the breaking news (which I don’t watch) or the tabs, and never heard a word about it until I arrived at the reception. Evidently it was “a sensation,” but an odd one considering the seriousness of the man’s medical condition. Because it had something to do with sex, not a few seemed quite amused, ironically. The matter itself was not news to me as I’d been told about it last week by a friend who knew about the matter. Our Lady of the Self-righteous Reproach over at the Post nevertheless sang her anthem.
After the cocktails we went into dinner where the theater is. Diana Feldman, who is the special events organizer volunteer for the ACS-NY, and who is a big big booster of the organization, welcomed the guests and thanked Terre Blair Hamlisch for organizing the evening we were about to see. She also thanked the benefit co-chairs – Terry Allen Kramer, Suzanne Mados, Richard Feldman and Lily Safra. Only Mrs. Safra was not present.
Then Terre Hamlisch took the podium and presented the award to Michael Douglas.
Mr. Douglas was looking rather chipper for a guy whose personal health and privacy were being trumpeted all over the media in the past few hours. He first talked about his and his family’s long relationship with Marvin Hamlisch. Marvin’s last work was on the making of “Behind the Candelabra.” He told us that Marvin – who was a child prodigy – once explained that when he heard music it just moved from brain to his hands and he could just play it on the keys.
Then he told us the previous 24 hours had been quite a ride for him. Everyone in the audience understood, and his remark evoked affectionate laughter. He talked briefly about his medical condition and seemed rather matter-of-factly optimistic about everything. He left an impression of a self-possessed man of talent, integrity and dignity – something that many in the media seem devoid of, all things considered.
After the speeches, dinner was served. And then Mrs. Hamlilsch came back to tell us what we were in for. We were in for a rapturous, moving, joyful, inspired evening of Marvin Hamlisch’s work performed by a long list of the following: Lucie Arnas, Klea Blackhurst, Stephanie J. Block, Kevin Cole Lilla Crawford, Adrian Der Gregorian, Peter Dugan, Maria Friedman, Joel Grey, Capathia Jenkins, Robert Klein, Marissa McGowan, Matthew Morrison, Bernadette Peters, Staples Players, Teal Wicks, Charles Yang and John Lloyd Young.
The show opened with the Staples Players – kids from a school in Connecticut who are dedicated to performing shows with such panache and talent that Terre Hamlisch, upon seeing their performance of “A Chorus Line,” asked them to be part of the evening.
They were followed by Donna MeKechnie who sang the song that was written for her in the original production of the show. From there followed about an hour of brilliant performances, all singing Marvin Hamlisch’s songbook. Two students from his alma mater, Juilliard, Peter Durgan on the piano and Charles Yang on the violin, thrilled the audience with their individual renditions of Marvin Hamlisch. One performance after another brought down the house. I regret only that I don’t have the ability to share the thrill of it all in words. By the final performance of Kevin Cole playing a medley of Marvin Hamlisch compositions – all famous to our ears. It was a beautiful evening, captivating to the audience: arresting, affectionate, and softly bittersweet – a perfect memorial for a gentle genius.
Read MoreText from New York Social Diay:
At the Hudson Theater in the Millenium Hotel on 44th Street just off Broadway, The American Cancer Society (New York Chapter) held its annual Spring Gala ‘’One Centennial Sensation” – a tribute to Marvin Hamlisch.
It started as most benefit gala evenings do, with cocktails and then dinner. No black tie, thankfully. It so happened that it was also the first Marvin Hamlisch Memorial Award being given to Michael Douglas. Marvin Hamlisch lost his sister and his mother to cancer. He had been a devoted and generous supporter of the ACS.
Monday was the day when the headlines broke about Michael Douglas’ health. I missed it on the breaking news (which I don’t watch) or the tabs, and never heard a word about it until I arrived at the reception. Evidently it was “a sensation,” but an odd one considering the seriousness of the man’s medical condition. Because it had something to do with sex, not a few seemed quite amused, ironically. The matter itself was not news to me as I’d been told about it last week by a friend who knew about the matter. Our Lady of the Self-righteous Reproach over at the Post nevertheless sang her anthem.
After the cocktails we went into dinner where the theater is. Diana Feldman, who is the special events organizer volunteer for the ACS-NY, and who is a big big booster of the organization, welcomed the guests and thanked Terre Blair Hamlisch for organizing the evening we were about to see. She also thanked the benefit co-chairs – Terry Allen Kramer, Suzanne Mados, Richard Feldman and Lily Safra. Only Mrs. Safra was not present.
Then Terre Hamlisch took the podium and presented the award to Michael Douglas.
Mr. Douglas was looking rather chipper for a guy whose personal health and privacy were being trumpeted all over the media in the past few hours. He first talked about his and his family’s long relationship with Marvin Hamlisch. Marvin’s last work was on the making of “Behind the Candelabra.” He told us that Marvin – who was a child prodigy – once explained that when he heard music it just moved from brain to his hands and he could just play it on the keys.
Then he told us the previous 24 hours had been quite a ride for him. Everyone in the audience understood, and his remark evoked affectionate laughter. He talked briefly about his medical condition and seemed rather matter-of-factly optimistic about everything. He left an impression of a self-possessed man of talent, integrity and dignity – something that many in the media seem devoid of, all things considered.
After the speeches, dinner was served. And then Mrs. Hamlilsch came back to tell us what we were in for. We were in for a rapturous, moving, joyful, inspired evening of Marvin Hamlisch’s work performed by a long list of the following: Lucie Arnas, Klea Blackhurst, Stephanie J. Block, Kevin Cole Lilla Crawford, Adrian Der Gregorian, Peter Dugan, Maria Friedman, Joel Grey, Capathia Jenkins, Robert Klein, Marissa McGowan, Matthew Morrison, Bernadette Peters, Staples Players, Teal Wicks, Charles Yang and John Lloyd Young.
The show opened with the Staples Players – kids from a school in Connecticut who are dedicated to performing shows with such panache and talent that Terre Hamlisch, upon seeing their performance of “A Chorus Line,” asked them to be part of the evening.
They were followed by Donna MeKechnie who sang the song that was written for her in the original production of the show. From there followed about an hour of brilliant performances, all singing Marvin Hamlisch’s songbook. Two students from his alma mater, Juilliard, Peter Durgan on the piano and Charles Yang on the violin, thrilled the audience with their individual renditions of Marvin Hamlisch. One performance after another brought down the house. I regret only that I don’t have the ability to share the thrill of it all in words. By the final performance of Kevin Cole playing a medley of Marvin Hamlisch compositions – all famous to our ears. It was a beautiful evening, captivating to the audience: arresting, affectionate, and softly bittersweet – a perfect memorial for a gentle genius.
