|
|
 |
| |
 |
|
May 15, 2011
|
'One Night Only' musical benefits Jewish Family Service of the Desert
|
|
Written by Betty Francis |
| |
Star-studded |
| |
“Only in the desert” is one of the most frequently heard comments in our town, and last week's “One Night Only” musical benefiting Jewish Family Service of the Desert was a perfect example of just what that means.
Only here, and only producer Michael Childers, and only a star-studded group of honorary co-chairpersons led by Annette Bloch, Helene Galen, Barbara Keller and Harold Matzner, could create such a phenomenal draw at such a low cost as to generate $200,000 for charity so near the end of high season.
The show's format consists of about two dozen well-known super- talents gathering for one night only on the stage of the McCallum Theatre, where each performs one song, dance or comedy routine at a breathtaking pace.
Virtually every performer in the show has Broadway star status or has won a Tony, Grammy or Emmy award, but when Childers calls, they come.
Comic Carole Cook explained this phenomenon: “Michael threatened me. He said that if I didn't show up, I would never work for free in Palm Springs again.”
Director Calvin Remsberg tweaked this year's show by adding a giant video screen above the stage and punctuating the live performances with flashes of landmark Palm Springs homes formerly occupied by stars such as Lena Horne, Dinah Shore, Bing Crosby, Lucy and Desi Arnez, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley.
At the highest sponsorship level were Barbara and Jerry Keller, Bloch, Galen and Matzner. The Kellers hosted the jam-packed celebration at their Acqua Pazza at The River. There, the two co-chairwomen, Barbara Fromm and Sherry Schor, were toasted and congratulated on their year's worth of work that made everything look so effortless.
Among the gold sponsors were Angie and Harvey Gerber, David Lee and Mark Nichols, Dorothy and Melvin Lefkowitz, Barbara and Mike Resmo, and David Kaplan and Glenn Ostergaard, who hosted a fabulous private cast party at their home on the eve of the event. Other substantial support came from Mary and Jerome Angel, Becky and Jack Benaroya, Leslie and Gordon Diamond, Donna and Cargill MacMillan, JoAnn McGrath, Myra and Maurice Paperny, Linda and Manny Rider, Faye and Herman Sarkowsky, Thelma and Gilbert Schnitzer, and Arlene and the late Harold Schnitzer. Director level sponsors included Barbara and Tim Arnstein, Audrey and Joe Bernstein, Jean Carrus, Jim Casey and Jason Altieri, John Conboy, Nancy and Dennis Ditlove, Cheryl and Bob Fey, Joyce and Henry Freund, Bernie Fromm, Diane and Hal Gershowitz, Joan Holland and Eli Glassman, Jackie Lee and Jim Houston, Dr. Tim Jochen and Lee Erwin, Drs. Terri and Bart Ketover, Sally and Mort Kirshner, Terry and Paul Lubar, Cookie and Mike Miller, Phyllis Moldaw, Elaine and Jerry Morgan, Cynthia and Morris Muscatel, Cydney and Bill Osterman, Bette and Bill Pattis, Mike and Bob Pollock, Ann Ellen and Robert Rosen, Phyllis and Gary Schahet, Sherry and Howard Schor, Barbara and Richard Shapiro, Sheila and Ira Stone, Shelly and Ron Tamkin, Marjorie Victor, Judi and Peter Wasserman, and Lynn and Bob Zimmer.
All the work, pressure, planning, donating, volunteering and preparation was dedicated to raising funds for a relatively low-profile, 29-year-old charity, Jewish Family Service of the Desert. Despite its name, the group is nonsectarian, providing counseling, programs, and financial aid to children, the elderly, and handicapped regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. Last year, it provided direct services to 1,603 households, including 11,481 direct client contacts. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2011 Jewish Family Service of the Desert, 801 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 202, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (760) 325-4088
Site development by abrilmedia
|
|
