Pic Of The Day - 09.06.15 - Old Friends

You will recall that last year during Labor Weekend, I saw Betty Buckley in The Old Friends.

This past weekend was spent getting caught up with friends. Laure and I worked together at Texas Wesleyan and I met Lyndon at Gershwin's in Dallas many years ago. Both were in Houston for different reasons. Margo, who lives in Houston but who I haven't seen since July, joined me at an Astros game. With all three, it was a matter of picking up where we left off.

So why the picture of Eggs Benedict with Crabcakes? Lyndon and his husband Chris and I, met for brunch at Ousie's Table and since I haven't done a food photo in awhile, I figure, "Why not?"

Welcome 2015!

There are many ways to welcome in a new year. Sydney lights up the Sydney Harbor Bridge with fireworks. Paris, London, Shanghai and New York City all light up icons within their respective cities. And then there is Key West and Bourbon St. Pub.

Sushi appears at Bourbon St. Pub and does the shoe drop. It is unique and is something I would like to attend one day.

AP Photo/The Key West Citizen, Rob O'Neal) MIAMI HERALD OUT

Whether you dropped a shoe, a clam or a crystal bar, I hope you had a safe evening. I stayed in with The Calvinator and was quite content to be here with him.

Everybody wonders what will happen in the new year; it's difficult to predict. We do know that there will be highs and lows and hopefully we will all weather the storms and enjoy the bright moments.

When 2014 started I had no idea that I would meet Betty Buckley and Bette Midler. I also didn't know that at the end of the year, I would be vacating the residence I had occupied for almost 9 years. As I said, highs and lows. And, most of these were documented right here on the blog. I once read a quote that stated, "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have." There were many times, especially in the last quarter of 2014, that I had to remind myself of this quote.

So, speaking of the blog...how did I do?

My goal for 2014 was to take at least one photo a day. It didn't necessarily have to reflect the day but it needed to document the day. I was inspired by something that I read several years ago about Carly Simon. She would take one Polaroid photo a day.

Looking back, it appears that I missed about 6+ days of not taking a photo and most of those days occurred in the last quarter. Yes, I did fudge a few times and use screen shots or create a jpeg to reflect the day. Considering that I last tried this in 2010 and only made it through the month of March, I think I did really well! So...

Let's give it another try in 2015. Thank you to everyone who reads this blog.

Wishing all you the best in the new year!

Pic Of The Day - 08.30.14 - Saturday In Houston

This is a collage of photos that I put together before the of the play yesterday.  See the previous post about my thoughts on The Old Friends.

The Old Friends

Last year for Labor Day weekend, I was in New York helping a friend celebrate his 50th birthday party.  I didn't have much time that weekend but I did make it a point to see Kinky Boots.

This year, I didn't have any plans to go out of town.  I was OK with that I thought but as the days were counting down and friends were making plans to get away to NYC, New Orleans, Austin, blah, blah, blah, I was feeling a bit down.

So...I thought to myself, "Well, why travel when there are a myriad of things to do in Houston?"  And, I love the theatre so why not see a play? And why not see Betty Buckley?  I mean how many times do I get THAT opportunity?

So...I purchased a ticket to today's matinee performance of The Alley Theatre's production of Horton Foote's The Old Friends.  I'm a big fan of Betty and Horton so this was a win/win situation.  A native Texan in a native Texan's play with the playwright's daughter.  OY!

I'm not a theatre critic and I don't play on one on tv but I know great acting and a great production when I see it and let me tell you, I saw it this afternoon.

The cast consists of Jeffrey Bean, Betty Buckley, Veanne Cox, Michelle Elaine , Hallie Foote, Annalee Jefferies, Novella Nelson, Cotter Smith, and Jay Sullivan.  Small cast.  Powerful punch.

It was great to see Betty perform but it was also great to see Hallie Foote on stage.  Seeing Hallie onstage was a first for me.  Every actor contributed to the high range of emotions throughout the play: sadness; laughter; anger; jealousy...just to name a few.  And at one point, I realized how enveloped I was because I heard myself gasp.

photo credit: The Alley Theatre

The venue is perfect for this play.  It's small and cozy and sometimes I actually felt like I was in the home of the characters.  Sometimes I felt like I was being transported to Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Last Picture Show and Designing Women with hints of Mama's Family. And it's all good.

The play is set in the fictional town of Harrison, TX, which is the fictional name for Wharton, TX.  I've been to Wharton many times and maybe that is why I got sucked into the setting.  (At the end of this post, I've copied from BroadwayWorld.com some of the information about the play.  No need to reinvent the wheel.)

The play ends its run on September 7.  I highly recommend you purchase a ticket as soon as possible.  And, if you're not familiar with the University of Houston campus, I recommend you allow some extra time.

Now, here is the REALLY exciting part of the day.  I really didn't plan on waiting for Betty but...

When the play was over I went to the Mens' Room.  It was then that I realized the cast would be exiting in the vicinity of the restrooms but first I needed to purchase Betty's Ah, Men! The Boys of Broadway.  So I purchase the cd and I'm checking my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts because I complied and turned off my phone during the production.  And the next thing I know, out walks Betty! It was great to see her again and she was so gracious. And I think I told her twice that she was fabulous because I couldn't think of a butch word to use.

Thank you Betty and the cast of the play.  It has been a Saturday well spent in Houston!

From BroadwayWorld.com (click on the link for the entire review):
"Horton Foote's THE OLD FRIENDS is set in 1960 in the fictional town of Harrison, Texas. It's the story of two antagonistic, established Texas families who are waiting for the arrival of the family matriarch's son Hugo and his wife Sibyl. Sibyl arrives with devastating news, and the "old friends" on opposite sides must reconcile with such issues as loyalty, happiness, and family dynamics. This production, directed by the accomplished Michael Wilson, premiered Off-Broadway in 2013 with many of the same cast members and is much-anticipated as the first production in the Alley Theatre's 2014-2015 season.

Annalee Jefferies plays the disenfranchised family matriarch, Mamie Borden. Jefferies has a subtle style that is affective in playing this gentle and resigned character, and her comedic moments are endearing and welcome. Mamie unfortunately lives with her petty and dissatisfied daughter, Julia, played expertly by the entertaining Veanne Cox, and Julia's husband Albert, an angry man who likes his drink, played by Jeffrey Bean. Bean inhabits the role with intensity and appropriate rage, and Albert has plenty to be angry about- Julia is rather indiscreet in her dabbling with a younger man, played by nubile Jay Sullivan.

Gertrude Hayhurst Sylvester Ratliff, a wealthy woman who fills the emptiness in her life with drinking and power games, is played by Betty Buckley. Gertrude seems to have her greedy fingers in everybody's lives, and Buckley, known for her outstanding work playing larger-than-life-characters, is completely credible as the power-hungry Gertrude. The character would be easy to abhor, but Buckley infuses her portrayal with vulnerability and desperation, making Gertrude a woman you want to slap but then hug, or vice versa. One of the more chilling moments in the play occures when Gertrude presents a bribe to her sister in law, Sybil Borden, played by Hallie Foote. A veritable expert of her father's work, Foote is self-assured and even-keeled as Sybil, one of the few sober characters who seems to have her feet firmly planted on the ground. Foote executes the role with a studied gentleness and sensitivity, portraying a woman dealing with grief, money woes, and the glimmer of a renewed love with Howard, Gertrude's employee, brother in law, and Sybil's old flame 30 years ago. Cotter Smith plays Howard with skilled ease and humility, often being the voice of reason in the midst of a severely dysfunctional family."

Betty Buckley returns to H-town

Hallie Foote & Betty Buckley (photo credit: David Gordon)

Was just getting ready to leave the office and a tweet popped up on my feed from Playbill.

Veanne Cox, Betty Buckley and Hallie Foote will lead Horton Foote's The Old Friends at the Alley.  When Betty was in Houston a few months ago, she alluded to the fact that she might be returning this fall.

I love Horton Foote.  I love Betty Buckley.  I love the Alley.  It's a trifecta!  The show closes a few days before my birthday so...

...if anyone wants to give me an early birthday present, this would be perfect.  Just sayin'.

To read more about the show, click here.

Pic Of The Day - 05.16.14 - My Life On The B List

And this year, being on the B List is a good thing because I'm referring the list of celebrities I've met who names begin with the letter B!

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of meeting the legendary Betty Buckley.  And then, at the end of April I met another legend...Bette Midler.

You'll recall me posting some photos of the evening that didn't include Bette. Even though the photo below was taken on April 29, 2014, I'm including it as my Pic Of The Day because I didn't receive it until Friday and this is my blog and I can make my own rules. :-)

I've posted the photo on my Facebook page and have received several comments...mostly about my shoes, the fact that we are coordinated and she hanging onto me.  Isn't THAT what BFF do?  Just askin'.

So who is next on the B list?  Hmmm.  Maybe I'll bump into Beyonce when she is in H-town?

Memory

Last night, Betty Buckley took the stage of the Cullen Theatre at The Wortham Center.  Actually, the show started with her NOT being on stage but coming in through a side door singing When You're Good To Mama from Chicago.  And it was a simple stage.  A grand piano, some ferns on pedestals, a stool, chair, table, music stand and lights adorned the stage.

The title of the show was The Vixens of Broadway which highlights the songs written for the other woman and supporting female characters of Broadway.  So think, Ado Annie from Oklahoma! singing I Cain't Say No or Perón's Mistress in Evita singing Another Suitcase In Another Hall.  And yes, she delivered on these songs and many more.

She also did a spoofed medley of songs highlighting songs sung by the other woman or the supporting cast member that steals the show and you don't see them again until curtain call with the underlying song being You Gotta Get A Gimmick from Gypsy. So think Les Miserables, Evita, and even herself being made famous for singing one note in Memory from Cats.

There were a few songs that she sang that I was not familiar with mainly because I didn't know the musical.  These were songs from Dear World and Allegro.  I hate to admit this but I've never seen Into The Woods so the Little Red Ridinghood song was also new to me.

Until last night, I thought only Linda Eder could sing Unusual Way from Nine but I must say Betty's rendition has won me over.  The one song that didn't belong to the other woman was Corner of the Sky.  I almost cried when she sang it because it is my favorite song from Pippin.  I remember seeing that show many years ago at Casa Mañana.  It brought back some conflicting memories.  She sang it because she was in Pippin on Broadway and always wanted to perform it.  And well, when you're Betty Buckley and you have a captive audience, sing it girl!

With the exception of some sound problems, a roaming photographer and someone who was using their cell phone they must have been on Grindr or Scruff OR trying to take photos it was a wonderful evening.  And speaking of the cell phone, she politely asked the guy to turn it off because it was distracting and she handled it much better than La Lupone did a while back.

And let's hear it for the girl!  She can still hit those notes!!!!  Because she had spoofed Memory earlier in the show I was afraid she wouldn't sing it.  When she stepped on stage for her encore her stance let me know that she was going to sing it even though the musical intro didn't give it away.  Throughout the song she stayed in the character of Grizabella and wowed us.  It was another moment that almost made me cry.

I thought that would be the end of the show BUT at the request of Scott Brogan from Brilliant Lecture Series  she sang Send In The Clowns from A Little Night Music.

Thank you Betty for sharing your talent with us last night and you did sparkle in more more ways than one.

Betty was going to be signing her Ah, Men! The Boys of Broadway cd after the show.  I got sidetracked in the lobby by visiting with people including Lydia Baehr from Lydia Baehr Public Relations.  Plus, the previous evening at Tenenbaum & Co. I had already met her; it was the highlight of my week; another wonderful memory.

From Bowling Alley to Broadway Legend - One Night Only

I've often been told that I am multifaceted. This isn't to imply that I have multiple personalities it's just that I have varied interests and can fit in almost anywhere.  So I guess maybe I'm a quasi-chameleon?  For example...

Last night was the Legacy employee holiday party at Lucky Strike.  There were multiple reasons we did the party in January but long story short it's always good to try and round up the employees for an evening of fun.

I would have stayed longer at Lucky Strike BUT I had an invitation to meet Betty Buckley at a private party.

Bowling Alley?  Betty Buckley?  Karaoke?  Broadway Legend?  Pool Table?  Cases Of Jewelry?  Guess what I chose.

I left the party early and went to Tenenbaum & Co. for a meet and greet with Betty Buckley.  Tenenbaum & Co. has some beautiful jewelry.  I had never been there so I was thrilled to be able to peruse their collection of jewelry without feeling pressured to buy something like I could afford it.

When I walked in, Betty was the first person I saw and I was star struck but not to the point where I was willing to step into the circle of guests and interrupt the conversation.  I partook in stunning repartee with Lydia from Lydia Baehr Public Relations and other guests.  Eventually, I made my way over to Betty and met her.  She is everything I imagined her to be because Fort Worth like us are good people.

Steve Bland, Betty Buckley & Timmy Martinez

I can't wait to see her perform tonight!  Don't forget...if you need more information about the show, visit Brilliant Lecture Series website.

And So It Goes

On Friday, the legendary Betty Lynn Buckley makes an appearance in Houston at The Wortham Center-Cullen Theatre.  Brilliant Lecture Series is bringing her for a one night appearance.

I had the opportunity to see her in Fort Worth at Bass Hall in 2000.  It was a wonderful evening with just her and a small combo on stage.  It was also great to see her perform on her home turf.

Betty was born in Big Spring, TX, but was raised in Fort Worth, TX.  She is the daughter of Betty Bob & Ernest Lynn Buckley.  (Don’t you just LOVE the Texas names?)  Her Fort Worth roots are deep.  She attended Arlington Heights High School, TCU, was crowned Miss Fort Worth in 1966 and was runner-up in the Miss Texas Pageant.

Betty landed her first role on Broadway her first day in New York.  She was Martha Jefferson in 1776.  She won a Tony Award for her performance as Grizabella in Cats.  She received a Tony nomination for her performance in Triumph of Love.  Betty received an Olivier Award nomination for her role as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard and went on to replace Glenn Close on Broadway.

One of the roles I would love to have seen her perform is Mama Rose in Gypsy at Papermill Playhouse.  However…if you listen to Betty Buckley An Evening At Carnegie Hall you can hear the showstopper Rose’s Turn.  The cd is by far one of my favorites and includes my favorites As If We Never Said Goodbye, With One Look and Seasons of Love.  There are two songs that form a medley on the cd that I always hum when I think of Betty and the songs are And So It Goes and Everything Must Change.  If you expect to hear her haunting, award-winning rendition of Memory, you’ll have to purchase Cats (1982 Original Broadway Cast).

What’s funny (to me) is that when I mention her name, most of my contemporaries remember her as the mom on the television series Eight Is Enough or her role in the movie Carrie.  This just goes to prove she has a wide range of talent and a wide-reaching fan base.

There is still time to purchase tickets to see this native Texan Broadway legend.  Tickets can be purchased through the box office at The Wortham and more information about the performance can  be found on Brilliant Lectures' website.  AND here's a special deal for you...

There's a promo being run through CultureMap.  You can save 50% by using promo code: GIFT2

Don't forget!  She's from Fort Worth...not Dallas.  So Houston, come out on Friday night to get give Betty Buckley a warm Houston welcome.