Hooray for Hollywood Honors Neal, Penney and de Lesseps

Scores of the brightest lights on stage and screen will turn out in red carpet finery for a celebration of classic Hollywood, Hooray for Hollywood honoring the legendary Oscar winner Patricia Neal, Smith Barney's Shirl Penney and The Count and Countess de Lesseps, Stage 6 at Steiner Film Studios, 15 Washington Avenue at the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard. The gala evening is slated for November 1, with all proceeds going to The Auditory Oral School of New York, a non profit organization which specializes in teaching deaf and hard of hearing children to listen, talk, think and socialize.

The glamorous evening begins with cocktails overlooking the glorious Manhattan skyline followed by dinner, an auction of luxury items, celebrity tributes, performances by Broadway and Hollywood stars and dancing to Alex Donner and his Orchestra. Jennifer Dumas is Executive Producer of Hooray for Hollywood and Patricia Watt is Entertainment Producer for the gala. Performers will include K. T Sullivan, Anna Bergman, Howard McGillin, Ron Raines and Julie Wilson

"Patricia Neal is without a doubt one of the most admired women of American film.  From her work as an Academy Award winning actress, to her humanitarian efforts on behalf of medical rehabilitation, she offers a story as life-affirming as it is engaging.  Her distinguished honors include the Academy Award, Tony Award, Golden Globe and the British Academy Award.  In a career which spans 7 decades, she has appeared in 27 feature films, 6 Broadway shows, numerous television roles, and published a 1988 autobiography.  Miss Neal has become a symbol of hope and victory, championing the cause of stroke victims and others with disabilities.  Today, Miss Neal is a proud mother and grandmother, continuing her acting career in addition to traveling and lecturing extensively.

"Shirl Penney directs Business Development for Citi's Global Wealth Advisory Services Group covering the high net worth business of Citi's Private Bank and Citi Smith Barney.  In addition he oversees the firm's Executive Financial Services group that provides comprehensive wealth management related services to corporate executives around the world.   Mr. Penney's compelling life story epitomizes the American Dream and offers affirmation that it truly does take a village to raise a child.   Taken in and raised by his step-grandfather in Eastport, Maine, he worked his way through poverty and adversity, and with the help of neighbors and friends attended Bates College. Shirl's college internship at Citi Smith Barney led to his meteoric rise in the financial world to his position today serving some of the wealthiest families in the world - all at the age of 30.  Shirl and his wife, Mary Ann, have a one year old daughter, Townsend.

"The Count Alexandre de Lesseps was born into French aristocracy.  His great-great-great grandfather, Ferdinand de Lesseps, built the Suez Canal and started the Panama Canal, later presenting, for France, the Statue of Liberty to America.  With an impressive career as a self-made entrepreneur, investment banker, and pioneer of micro financing in developing countries, Alexandre has served in the French military, and produced TV films in Europe and in Los Angeles.  He is now President of Coral Capital Limited of London and Pandaw Investment Holdings in Hong Kong.  He is co-founder and President of Blue Orchard Finance S.A. of Geneva, a leading microfinance management company.  Alexandre de Lesseps was honored in 2004 with the prestigious Fulbright Humanitarian Award at the U.N.

"Luann, Countess de Lesseps, is an American Indian and a trained nurse.  As a television hostess, she began her career for Italian TV, moving to New York and starting her own television show, "The Countess Report" (WVVH Hamptons TV).  She has worked for CBS, for Fox Good Day New York and is currently working on a new show for Bravo, airing in January.  Alexandre and Luann have two children," state press materials.

Chairing the event is David Steiner owner of Steiner Film Studios, the largest soundstage on the East Coast. The Honorary Chairs are Richard McKenzie and Ava Astaire-McKenzie, daughter of the late Fred Astaire. The Event Committee includes Blanche Binder, Greta Blackburn, Elizabeth Bonagura, Joanne Borts, Colette Bryce, Robin Cofer, Dame Josephine D. Hall, Joan Kaye, Kari Matz, Deborah Mello, Gail Parker, Scarlett Pildes, Cassandra Seidenfeld, Dr. Janet Shefts and Valerie Smaldone.

On board for the star studded, red carpet evening celebrating classic Hollywood films and the artists who created them are Mrs. Robert Altman, Lucie Arnaz & Larry Luckinbill, Bob Balaban, Alec Baldwin, Marisa Berenson, Cornelia Sharpe Bregman & Marty Bregman, Hon. Adolfo Carrion, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Glenn Close,  Arlene Dahl, Tovah Feldshuh, Andy Griffith, Tammy Grimes, Linda Hamilton, Rosemary Harris, Celeste Holm, Elaine Kaufman, Rue McClanahan, Dina Merrill & Ted Hartley, Hon. Marty Markowitz, Pat Mitchell,  Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Rex Reed, Marty Richards, Cliff Robertson, Leba & Neil Sedaka, Mr. & Mrs. Budd Schulberg, Marian Seldes, Mr. & Mrs. Joe Stein, Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara, Hon. Scott Stringer, Betsy Von Furstenberg, Eli Wallach & Anne Jackson, Tony & Gen Walton, Mr. Mrs. Douglas Watt, Joanne Woodward & Paul Newman.

The glamorous evening begins with cocktails overlooking the glorious Manhattan skyline followed by dinner, an auction of luxury items, celebrity tributes, performances by Broadway and Hollywood stars and dancing to Alex Donner and his Orchestra. Jennifer Dumas is Executive Producer of Hooray for Hollywood and Patricia Watt is Entertainment Producer for the gala.

Individual tickets are $500: Tables and Corporate Sponsorships available $50,000, 25,000, 10,000 and 5,000. Call 212-655-9377.

For more information about the school and its programs visit www.auditoryoral.org.  For more information on the event visit www.hoorayforhollywood.us

The Auditory Oral School of New York is a non-profit school which helps deaf and hard of hearing children rely on their ability, not their disability. No child who qualifies is ever turned away and the school is free to parents of children who qualify. With a 98% success rate in mainstreaming children into kindergarten, AOSNY has become the fastest growing and most successful of its kind in the world.   

Photos: Patricia Neal; Jack Albertson and Patricia Neal in The Subject Was Roses