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THE IMPERIAL COURT OF NEW YORK FUNDRAISER:  DAYTIME MEETS THE NIGHT TIME CABARET.      

                                                By Joe Paternoster

 

 

On Friday November 4, 2011 NYC’s Imperial Court, working with Robin Strasser formerly of One Life to Live, dazzled New York with Daytime meets the Night Time Cabaret.  The performance was held at the Jan Hus Presbyterian church.  The show consisted of over 20 acts, and included some of the best Daytime actors, while sprinkled with some Drag superstars, recording artists, and some familiar faces from Primetime television.  All in all the night spotlighted some of the LGBT community’s most talented.

          The show opened with a welcome from the Rev. Ray Bagnuolo of Jan Hus, followed by recording artist Kelly King’s rendition of Wicked’s “Defying Gravity”.  Robin Strasser accompanied by Imperial Court’s Gary Cosgrove, and her 1982 Emmy welcomed everyone to an event they hope will become known as the first annual.  Marty Thomas of Wicked and Xanadu, and Marisa Rosen of My Big Gay Italian Wedding warmed the crowd with duets of Adele’s “Someone Like You,” and “Rolling in the Deep.” 

 

 

          Some of the night’s highlights included:

·         Therese Curatolo – yet to be discovered – but will be HUGE.  Therese’s performance of  Footloose’s “Let’s Hear it for the Boys”, exuded passion while bringing the energy of Adele and the classiness of Ann Margret to the stage.  She is as cute as they come while maintaining the poise and intensity of a spectacular performer.

·         Lori Michaels gave played the piano and introduced us to her original song “Unconditionally.”  Her amazing performance of the song leads me to believe this may just become this years LGBT wedding song for all those June grooms.

·         Gerald McCullouch of CSI and Bear City 2 (Sex and the City for gay men) shined with the hottest version of Grease’s “There are Worse Things I Could Do.”

·         Lea DeLaria – actress, comedienne, and recording artist gave the finale of both acts with shockingly exciting true jazz performances highlighted with scat skills that seemed to come to her like a first language.

·         Ted Detwiler of Sordid Lives: The Series performed “Soliloquy” from Carousel.  He has amazing talent and looks, and the personality that made him one of the sweetest guys in the room.

·         BethAnn Bonner – formerly of One Life to Live stole the show from both the Stage and her seat.  Her infectious laugh and high-energy cheers to her fellow performers kept the crowd excited throughout the night.  She shared with the crowd that she recently turned 30, and was proposed to by her longtime girlfriend.  Her performance of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” was absolutely amazing.

 

 

Beth Ann Bonner and Tom Pelphrey

 

The night lasted for a little over four hours although few seemed to notice.  The event along with a silent auction containing many of Robin Strasser’s wardrobe from OLTL helped to make the night a financial success for the fundraising purposes of The imperial Court of New York, which directly help organizations that serve LGBT, HIV/AIDS services, and Youth Enrichment to name just a few.  The event is sure to become a highlight of many falls to come.