The inimitable Carol Channing was feted in style on Saturday night as the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California presented Carol Channing's 95th Birthday! In Celebration of a Broadway Legend. The star-studded performance was produced and directed by Chad Hilligus, with music direction and orchestrations by Steven Baker and choreography by Charlie Williams. Scroll down for a photo of Channing surrounded by friends on the big day!
Seated in the front row of the beautiful McCallum Theatre, Miss Channing was treated to a retrospective of her incomparable career featuring live performances, video clips and video tributes. The presenters appearing live on stage to share their affection and recollections included:
Lucie Arnaz,
Alan Cumming,
Florence Henderson,
Gavin MacLeod (who read a message from
President Barack Obama) and
Lily Tomlin. Memorable performances from Miss Channing's extensive career songbook were delivered by
Laura Bell Bundy ("I'm Just a Little Girl from Little Rock"/"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes);
Anika Noni Rose ("Jazz Baby" from Thoroughly Modern Millie);
Eden Espinosa ("You Haven't Lived Until You've Played the Palace" from Showgirl); Thomas Lauderdale and
Storm Large of Pink Martini ("Calypso Pete" from Show Girl);
Tom Wopat ("Razzle Dazzle" from Chicago) and a show-stopping performance by 92-year-old
Carole Cook ("Before the Parade Passes By" from Hello, Dolly!) which received a standing ovation from the sold-out audience.
The evening concluded with a rousing rendition of Hello, Dolly! featuring eight Broadway dancers (Brandon Cournay,
Adam Fleming,
Marty Lawson,
Gary Milner,
Adam Perry,
Keven Quillon,
Ryan Steele and
Robbie Roby), along with the entire cast and 28-piece orchestra. As a microphone was brought into the audience, Miss Channing herself sang along with the cast on the last few bars to the delight of everyone in the house.
Video tributes came from:
Julie Andrews,
Barbara Walters,
Angela Lansbury,
Whoopi Goldberg,
Lee Roy Reams,
Brooke Shields,
Melissa Manchester,
Valerie Harper,
Kaye Ballard,
Betty White,
Kristin Chenoweth,
Carol Burnett,
Leeza Gibbons and former President
Bill Clinton, as well as from the Broadway casts of She Loves Me, Beautiful: The
Carole King Musical, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Miserables, Wicked, An American in Paris, Fun Home, The Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys, Spring Awakening, Matilda, Kinky Boots and The King and I.
In conjunction with the performance, the McCallum Theatre has established The
Carol Channing Fund for the Arts to honor the legendary star's passionate advocacy for the arts and education through the arts. The Fund will help make it possible for the McCallum Theatre to continue to provide important education and outreach programs to students and educators in California's Coachella Valley at the very highest level of excellence. For information or to make a contribution, go to
www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Star-studded salute in Palm Desert, Calif., celebrates Carol Channing's 95th birthday.
Comments
To post a comment, you must
register and
login.
