Fresh off the news that the legendary Barbra Streisand hit #1 with ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway in the United States, Australia and the UK, it was also announced yesterday that she would serve as Chairperson for the Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center, which will open in 2020 at the new World Trade Center.
As if that wasn't enough, and proving it's really "Barbra's time" the star performed tonight at a sold-out fundraiser for Hillary Clinton. The LGBT-focused New York event took place at Cipriani Wall Street, and benefits the Hillary Victory Fund which will be distributed to Hillary for America, the Democratic National Committee and state parties. Barbra Streisand performed as did Rufus Wainwright, Laverne Cox (who introduced Hillary Clinton) and Chelsea Clinton (who introduced Cox) and the host reception included Erich Bergen, Andy Cohen, Sharon Gless, Donna Karan, Debra Messing, Kathy Najimy, Cynthia Nixon, Mary Louise Parker, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Michael Doyle, Richert Schnorr, Marissa Tomei, Michael Urie, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and B. D. Wong. Notables in attendance included Donna Brazile, Barry Diller, Harvey Weinstein, Diane Von Furstenberg, Huma Abedin, Marty Erlichman, Ken Sunshine, Richard Jay-Alexander and many more.
But, the evening belonged to Hillary and Streisand. Streisand's set started out with "Everything" from her 1976 film A STAR IS BORN, "Being at War With Each other" by Carole King, "Losing My Mind" by Stephen Sondheim from her new ENCORE album and "Pure Imagination" addressing the environment (also from ENCORE). Then the place went wild when she performed Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns" (re-named "Who Needs This Clown?") with special lyrics skewering Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump. The audience went crazy and Barbra received 9 standing ovations during her performance and while addressing the audience.
Streisand spoke eloquently and pointedly and was clearly there to support the Democratic candidate and to wow the crowd. Her set continued with a stirring "People" from FUNNY GIRL and closed with an emotional "Happy Days Are Here Again" which she's been singing since she was 19 years old and has sung for 3 past Presidents (John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Lyndon Baines Johnson and William Jefferson Clinton). She clinched the night saying "I hope that in a few months, I'll be singing this for the next President Clinton!".
Streisand simply has no peer and has been a staunch Democrat since the beginning of her career and everyone (who's old enough) still remembers when she campaigned for McGovern in 1972 and it was recorded for a live album (Barbra Streisand LIVE CONCERT AT THE FORUM).
VERSE 1
IS HE THAT RICH?
MAYBE HE'S POOR?
'TIL HE REVEALS HIS RETURNS
WHO CAN BE SURE?
WHO NEEDS THIS CLOWN?
Barbra's musical director was Randy Waldman and she was joined by the same trio that performed on tour - Stevvi Alexander, Andrea Jones and Amy Keys. Streisand continues to be the female artist with the most #1 albums and the first artist with #1's in each of the six decades of her career. It's no wonder she remains 'Broadway's greatest export.' The star heavily promoted the new album which included appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, as well as a fantastic piece on CBS Sunday Morning which covered "Barbra's Broadway". She was also re-instated at Sardi's after her first caricature had been stolen. She also did a series of interviews in Los Angeles, which have been appearing regularly on all of the entertainment shows and had a stellar profile in the New York Times written by Ben Brantley.
Also, Barbra Streisand is back on SiriusXM! The Barbra Streisand Channel, an exclusive limited-run channel featuring the works of the EGOT-winning (actually EGGOT when we count her many Golden Globes!) artist, launched Sept. 6 on Ch. 18. nd (1997), and Love is the Answer (2009) and Partners (2014).
Order the new album today at Amazon, iTunes, Target (with four exclusive songs), Barnes & Noble or her official website. Fans eagerly await news of possible extension dates on her sold out tour and are keeping fingers crossed for a DVD or television airing. Fans also haven't given up hope on GYPSY.
Photo: Getty Images
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