Cabaret & Concert NewsExclusive: Celebs Will Gather in NYC to Celebrate Carol Channing’s 97th BirthdayRichard Skipper and Christine Pedi will salute the original star of Hello, Dolly!.
By
Robert Viagas
December 14, 2017
Carol Channing, Robert Fitch, and John Mineo in LoreleiMartha Swope
Celebrity host Richard Skipper is throwing a party and concert January 31, 2018, in New York City to celebrate the 97th birthday of Broadway star Carol Channing, who originated the roles of Dolly Gallagher Levi in Hello, Dolly! and Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Performing guests will include Channing impressionist Christine Pedi, along with Diane J. Findley (Fish in the Dark), Wendy Scherl, and Karen Saunders. The 8 PM party will take place at the Laurie Beechman Theatre at 407 West 42nd Street in Manhattan. Tickets cost $30 plus a $20 food/drink minimum. Click here to order tickets.
Among songs Channing introduced are “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” “A Little Girl From Little Rock,” and “Before the Parade Passes By.”
Channing, who lives in Palm Springs, California, and is ailing, is not scheduled to attend in person.
Michael Lavine will conduct the band, which includes Rex Benincasa on percussion, Erik Lawrence on sax, and Maryann McSweeney on bass.
Skipper, who is an artist-in-residence at the Beechman, is promising that an additional surprise guest will be announced January 5. This concert is part of a series he has organized there, which has included birthday celebrations of performer Liza Minnelli, lyricist E.Y. Harburg, and others.
Chrstine Pedi has been a special guest performer on Playbill’s Broadway on the High Seas cruises. Tickets are now on sale for the Broadway on the High Seas 10: Odyssey Through the Greek Isles June 24–July 1, 2019, with a lineup of top Broadway stars to be announced. Call Judy Perl Worldwide for tickets at (844) 561-3625. Visit PlaybillTravel.com for booking and information.
