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Volume 4, Number 1 Spring, 2010
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| Lights on Broadway Dim
RC Alum, Doris Eaton Dies at 106 |  |
The last of the Ziegfeld Girls died of an aneurysm on May 11, 2010
Recapped from The NY Times 5/11/2010: "It was beauty, elegance, loveliness," Mrs. Travis recalled in an interview with The New York Times in 2005, "beauty and elegance like a French painting of a woman's body."
Mrs. Travis may have been the youngest Ziegfeld Girl ever, having lied about her age to begin dancing at 14. She was part of a celebrated family of American stage performers known as "the seven little Eatons." George Gershwin played on her family's piano, and Charles Lindbergh dropped by for "tea," Prohibition cocktails.
She proved conclusively that one is never too old to learn. In her 70s she earned a long-delayed high school diploma. She then devoted 11 years to acquiring a college degree, taking a course or two a semester at the University of Oklahoma. She graduated in 1992 at the age of 88 with a history major and a Phi Beta Kappa key. She was halfway to a master's degree when she decided to focus on her memoirs instead.
In 2007, Oakland University in Michigan gave Mrs. Travis an honorary doctorate. She responded by singing and dancing "Ballin' the Jack," a song popularized by Lillian Lorraine, a renowned Ziegfeld Follies' star.
A little more than two weeks ago Mrs. Travis returned again to Broadway to appear at the annual Easter Bonnet, this time at the Minskoff Theater. She did a few kicks, apologizing that she no longer performed cartwheels. |
| Cast Your Vote! |  | |
Each year the Cinderella's of West 53rd Street would like to give the
"Key to Our Hearts"
to -- someone. Let us know who YOU feel deserves this honor.
Contact: Rise Clemmer
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Guardian Cuff
Fellow alum, Marion Ragsdale's daughter, Amy, provides these exclusive bracelets, engraved to order! Click on the image to visit her website and design your own.
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| Shopping Corner
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Contact
Judith Curcio at judith.curcio@espn.com for available cookbooks ($10), t-shirts & pins both ($15)
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Contact Terry Baughan at tallrose@aol.com for notecards w/her logo design
8 cards + envelopes $12
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| Goings On! | |
Kathy Conry: See her recap re This Is My Wish
Blythe Danner: Stars with Richard Dreyfuss in The Lightkeepers, "one of the sweetest grown-up love stories to come to the screen in years." AARP
Diane Findlay: See her note to everyone below re Steel Magnolias
Liz Hodes: Featured in excerpts from Titus Andronicus & as "Lady Macbeth."
Lora Mitchell: Three of her short stories will be published in a collection of short stories. The first book will be out in the fall of 2010.
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| MAC USER NEEDED
Anyone out there use a MAC? When our website gets revamped (by Feb, 2011), we could use someone to step forward to help us update it. Contact: Terry at
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Diane Findlay: Steel Magnolias
Yes, here I am in beautiful Flat Rock, N.C. (NEVER HEARD OF IT!!!!) but it will now be forever wrapped around my heart in PINK RIBBONS. What a wonderful theatre to be a part of. The director, the theatre, the creative staff and my fellow actors are all first rate, the show's a hit and I'm having the time of my life playing the role of OUISER ,a crotchety, old, wealthy spitfire neighborhood friend. PERFECT CASTING, I DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING BUT SHOW UP AND WEAR A HAT. I feel blessed and would suggest if any actor should be lucky enough to land a role to work here for 6 weeks GRAB IT. You'll be happy you did. Sending my love to all. PS; The theatre its self is state of the art, indoors, seating capacity 500 and it's been here since the 40's, REMARKABLE AND VERY GRACIOUS.
LOVE AND LAUGHTER ALWAYS,
Diane
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Dancing For Angels
November 20, 2009
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The Rehearsal Club was presented a certificate reflecting the dance scholarship given in the RC name by DFA. Pictured above is the "Good Girls Only" cast from l to rt, Judy Jenson, Joyce Chapman, Rise Clemmer, Sunny Keyser & Denise Pence (holding the certificate). Special THANK YOU to all who contributed to help make this event possible -- especially that RC "Johnnie."
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The Rehearsal Club Founded 1913
Alumnae Newsletter
"To tell the story of The Rehearsal Club, to preserve its legacy
and inspire the future generations of aspiring artists."
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GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Sunday, June 6, 2010, 2:00 pm
353 Studios
353 West 48th Street
2nd floor (elevator building)
Refreshments & Networking after
(feel free to share your kitchen creations! Contact Cameron Taylor: camcarolinak@hotmail.com)
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Letter From Lee
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Dear All:
2010 is passing swiftly and The Rehearsal Club is suddenly moving faster and higher. We are, in fact, coming to national attention.
Carol Burnett, in her latest book THIS TIME TOGETHER, talks about her life at the Club. I had the opportunity to meet her very briefly at a book signing here in Manhattan. In all her promotional radio, TV and live interviews, she is speaking extensively about The Rehearsal Club. We couldn't ask for better or more timely PR.
We have just re-connected with George White. Some of you may recall that he was a member of The Rehearsal Club Board in the 1970s. He was also founder of the Eugene O'Neill Theater in Connecticut. At a late March meeting, which I attended with our documentary producer, Lucy Bruell, he expressed strong support for all our efforts, shared some valuable information and offered to try to open important PR doors for us. PR, he stressed, was key to the success of our endeavors. Specifics of that meeting will be discussed at the General Meeting on June 6th.
The possibilities are so exciting. Now, more than ever, is the time to get involved. |
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RC Documentary to be funded thru not-for-profit, New York Women In Film and Television |
"We are on our way," as Lucy Bruell, our producer, put it. The fund-raising letter is drafted. Carol Burnett has signed, as has Melanie Mayron. Blythe Danner and Phyllis Westermann have agreed to sign. We are attempting to contact Kim Cattrall who is doing a play in London and Jayne Meadows. If YOU have a recognizable name and would like to add your support, please let us know. We are on the verge sending our letter out to ex-residents, board members, and friends and supporters of the Club.
We encourage you to contact personally anyone who might be interested in donating (or supporting with their high-profile, signature). One such contact has already led to a $250 contribution! A great start but we have a long way to go.
Checks must be made out to our fiscal sponsor: NYWIFT. The Rehearsal Club Project should be written on the memo line. This is very important. Checks should be mailed to:
Fiscal Sponsorship Program
New York Women in Film and Television
6 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016.
Alternatively, donations may be made online at our website: www.rehearsalclubnyc.com on our Bulletin Board page; or just click below to go directly to the NYWIFT donation site.
DONATE HERE |
VintAGE: Celebrating Women Artists Over 40
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 The synergy of timing and creative RC talent was overwhelming on March 1, 2010 at the little Thalia at Symphony Space Theater in New York City. As new Affiliate members of the NY Coalition of Professional Women in Arts and Media, the Rehearsal Club women were not only represented on stage, but behind the scenes as well. For those lucky enough to get one of the hot seats in the house, Kathy Conry, our Honorary Chair, directed a sharply humorous and insightful scene from "Stage Door" which led directly into our anthem, "Good Girls Only," written by Charles Leipart and John Kroner, featuring Ms. Conry with fellow alums Terry Baughan, Rise Clemmer, Diane Findlay and Melinda Tanner. RC alum, Gale Patron, directed the entire production, produced by Denise Pence. An amazing time was had by all. Stay tuned for other creative endeavors -- all in their right and proper time.
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Good Girls Only
Lyrics by Charlie Leipart, Music by John Kroner
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 VintAGE has inspired our writers to continue writing! Just as the lyrics of "Good Girls Only" reflects various aspects of what it took to enter the club in those days (i.e. a letter from your pastor), we would like to aid our creators in gleaning facts you might remember during your stay. If interested in participating, please contact Charlie at: cvlnyc@aol.com
Pictured above from left to right: Rise Clemmer, Diane Findlay, Terry Baughan, Melinda Tanner (who also took the shot of the club) and Kathy Conry (who also directed). |
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Centennial - 2013
|  It may seem like it's a long way off, but just think how long it took us to coordinate enough talent among our ranks to create something as spectacular as VintAGE! YOU have the opportunity to lend your talent, writing ability and basic sweat equity to one day say: "I helped create that." Leave your legacy.
Projects currently in the wings are several books which, depending on your commitment, YOU can be represented.
1. Cookbook: Our first edition was a grassroots effort which we hope to expand on as a "professional" publication by 2013. To be part of it, just send YOUR favorite recipe w/pic & short bio to:
Judith Curcio -- judith.curcio@espn.com2. History Book: Kathy Vestuto is hard at work finalizing our history. She has tirelessly worked to interview many among you to supplement the history which she has compiled after countless hours in many a dark and airless library. Thank you, Kathy!
3. Original Voices Book: This is something we've thought about since Day 1, but many of our membership in NY question whether our membership will actually sit down to put pen to paper and write their own story. I think you will. I know I want to . . .
We have an agent in NY interested. We need YOU to write. If interested in submitting and sharing equally in the proceeds, please contact our Chair for more info.
Denise Pence -- deboocks@aol.com
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"OUR WISH FOR PHYLLIS!" "From Broadway with Love" Benefit at Metro Baptist Church Tuesday, April 27th |
 To say we never know where our ideas come from is an understatement! When I was putting together a benefit for the R.M.M. organization I am on the board of, I never planned to have five of us RC gals sing Phyllis's dear song, THIS IS MY WISH, as part of the benefit. But somewhere along the way I realized that it would be a perfect tribute for her and went about putting those puzzle pieces to make happen.
Early on in the program which included 33 Broadway and future Bway singers, there was a nostalgia section and I realized I could easily 'plug' my time at the Rehearsal Club into that moment and honor her with our special rendition of her lovely tune written for her radio show in the late 30's. My first call went to Rise knowing Larry would soon be on board, as he soon was. Terry, Melinda & I finished out the RC Quartet and we rehearsed at the Spivack's several times fine tuning an arrangement of the style of the time....Little did we know that one week before the concert, Michele Mason's schedule would open up to allow for her to be a magic 'fifth!
Now, how to get Phyllis there and not 'spill the musical beans'....I managed to invite her to the concert asking for her help and support with the Ministry I am very involved with and she graciously agreed to come. Lee Kelley gave the OK for the RC to sponsor Phyllis's ticket to show the Club's gratitude in offering us the church for our many meetings over the last several years. As producer, that was wonderful news for me and so the RC did, indeed, treat Phyllis to the concert! She brought her friend, Barbara, a lovely woman, to guide and assist her and, with the Judy's Curcio & Jenson, sat in the front row for the performance. I think all were overjoyed at our serenade to her -- not to mention all the people who wanted to meet her following the performance! She looked beautiful, as usual, in her blue suit with her special RC key necklace!
We loved being able to celebrate our RC sister in that way. A video was taken so, possibly, will end up in the documentary. It would be a great addition, I think. I am grateful to Rise, Melinda, Terry, Michele & Larry Spivack who is our honorary M.D. for all our RC vocals!
I wonder what our next offering will be? I am proud we were there to honor our dear phyllis...and $2400 was raised for RMM ON TOP OF IT!!! It was a great night!
Kathy Conry, Hon. Chair of the RC |
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Website Design |  We are in the process of re-designing our website! If you have any photos or video you feel would add to our "look," please forward to:
Terry Baughan at tallrose@aol.com |
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Dear All,
I do hope you're enjoying receiving the bits and pieces we know about our alums out there. With all the social networking going on these days, this bit of news seems minimal, however, I get notes from all over expressing their thrill at our sharing the news soooooo.
As you can see, this letter is a combination of news from various sections of our membership. I'd like to personally encourage each of you to be the change we seek and become more actively involved with all of us as an "in-the-field reporter." Send me your news -- it will get published!
Those of us in the trenches with the Steering Committee, look forward to spending some quality time with you at the next meeting on June 6, 2010. Come on down!
Sincerely,
Denise Pence
Newsletter Editor |
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