Category Archives: Bette Related

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Friday, November 16, 2018

Carmen Ruby Floyd, Bette’s Understudy in Hello Dolly!, Will Play At The Historic Birdland Jazz Club

Posted Nov 16, 2018 11:11 am by Mister D

WKBW Buffalo
Carmen Ruby Floyd, Bette’s Understudy in Hello Dolly!, Will Play At The Historic Birdland Jazz Club
By Ashley Rowe
Nov 14, 2018

Carmen-Ruby-Floyd-and-Bette-Midler-Hello-Dolly-understudy
Carmen-Ruby-Floyd-and-Bette-Midler-Hello-Dolly-understudy 

Carmen Ruby Floyd, Bette’s Understudy in Hello Dolly!, Will Play At The Historic Birdland Jazz Club

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) – On November 16, a Buffalo native will be performing at the historic Birdland Jazz Club in New York City – a venue where Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and Marilyn Monroe once frequented.

Carmen Ruby Floyd has been rehearsing for weeks for her headlining act. It’s an important show for her, as this will be her first solo gig since ending her run in Hello, Dolly! on Broadway. Floyd was the understudy for the legendary Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters in the role of Dolly Levi. Read More

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Tuesday, October 23, 2018

‘Hello Dolly’: Betty Buckley talks about the perils of following Bette Midler – And very well said, too

Posted Oct 23, 2018 12:10 pm by Mister D

Chicago Tribune
‘Hello Dolly’: Betty Buckley talks about the perils of following Bette Midler – And very well said, too
By Chris Jones
October 17, 2018

'Hello Dolly': Betty Buckley talks about the perils of following Bette Midler
Betty Buckley in Hello Dolly

Q: I have to ask. You’re following Bette Midler, for God’s sake. Can’t be easy.

A: You’re being so depressing, Chris. “What’s it like being compared to Bette Midler?” I thought we were friends.

Actually, it is very intimidating. I never thought of this show for myself. I saw Bette Midler in the Broadway production, right before the Tony Awards; I was standing and weeping with rapture and joy. I was just so deeply touched. My early experiences of “Hello, Dolly!” were all Pearl Bailey — I never really got the show before Bette, I never saw the hoopla, the lady in fancy costumes sashaying around the stage. I dealt with this question with “Sunset Boulevard.” It’s not a pleasant thing to have to go through being compared to another actress — everybody brings their own experience to the show, there is no definitive version, it is not an easy thing to have to handle especially since you are a fan. Bette was the best ice cream sundae you ever witnessed and you just wanted to scoop her up. But with the help of our illustrious director, Jerry Zaks, I am being encouraged to put my own stamp on Dolly. Read More

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Thursday, October 4, 2018

A Bette Midler: Bootleg Betty Exclusive: Bruce Vilanch, Unfiltered

Posted Oct 4, 2018 7:10 am by Mister D

Bette Midler: Bootleg Betty
Exclusive: Bruce Vilanch, Unfiltered
By Guest Writer: Todd Sussman
October 4, 2018

Bruce Vilanch
Bruce Vilanch

He’s naughty, bawdy, and brash.  I love it!  He was – and still is – the perfect match to write for Bette Midler.  Here, Mr. Vilanch shares the view from his front-row seat with Bette, going all the way back to the early days.   Bruce is always insightful and sometimes off-color…and it was my honor to interview him.

Todd:  When did you first meet Bette?

Bruce: It was during the Paleozoic period, shortly after the Big Bang. That would make it about 50 years ago – where’s my Xanax? – in Chicago at a club called Mister Kelly’s. She had been on Broadway as the eldest daughter in Fiddler on the Roof and was working on a nightclub act.  I was sent to review her. History is made at night! Read More

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Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Bette Midler “Kvelles” Over New Mary Poppins Movie

Posted Oct 3, 2018 2:10 pm by Mister D

The Disinsider
Bette Midler “Kvelles” Over New Mary Poppins Movie
By Skyler Shuler 
Sept. 29, 2018

Bette Midler, Emily Blunt 2018

We are just under 3 months away from the release of Walt Disney Pictures Mary Poppins Returns. The film had a private screening held by director Rob Marshall with producers John DeLuca and Marc Platt. Also in attendance were Hello, Dolly! stars Bette Midler, Donna Murphy, and Victor Garber, plus Nathan Lane, Christine Baranski and Andrea Martin.

The Hocus Pocus star had this to say following the screening.

I didn’t know they could make ’em like that anymore!

Midler also took to Twitter praising the films cast and crew. Read More

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Saturday, September 29, 2018

New Artist Bright Light Bright Light Album Cover Inspired By Bette Midler’s Outfit In Big Business

Posted Sep 29, 2018 5:09 pm by Mister D

Into More
Bright Light Bright Light on ‘Tough Love,’ His Friendship With Elton John, and Scoring ‘Queers’
BY DAVID OPIE 26 SEP 2018

New Artist Bright Light Bright Light Album Cover Inspired By Bette Midler’s Outfit In Big Business

Ever since Rod Thomas first stepped away from his sleepy Welsh hometown and released his debut single in 2010, Bright Light Bright Light has won over fans and critics alike with his unique brand of shiny electropop. Since then, the independent singer/songwriter has toured with his friends Elton John and the Scissor Sisters, as well as starting his own dance party in New York called Romy & Michele’s Saturday Afternoon Tea Dance.

INTO spoke with Bright Light Bright Light about his new EP, Tough Love, the influence cinema has on his music and what it’s like to be labeled as a “gay artist.” Along the way, we also discussed Deadpool 3, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and his undying adoration for actress Catherine O’Hara. Read More

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Sunday, September 23, 2018

Betty Buckley: Hello, Dolly! National Tour is a “Gift”

Posted Sep 23, 2018 6:09 am by Mister D

710WOR
Betty Buckley: Hello, Dolly! National Tour is a “Gift”
Sep 20, 2018

Betty Buckley: Hello, Dolly! National Tour is a “Gift”

Broadway legend Betty Buckley says she’s “so excited” to be a part of the first national tour of Hello, Dolly!

Buckley told Michael Riedel and Christine Nagy on “In the Wings” that it’s a “gift” to be able to take this show on the road.

“It’s a beautiful production and our cast is absolutely glorious,” Buckley said.

Buckley stars as Dolly Gallagher Levi.  She admits she had to think about whether to take the role, because much of her adult life has been in dramatic performances. Read More

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Friday, September 21, 2018

Former ‘Sesame Street’ Writer Says He Wrote Bert & Ernie as a Couple, But Show Says They’re Just ‘Best Friends’ But What About “The Sublime Miss M”?

Posted Sep 21, 2018 2:09 pm by Mister D

Billboard
Former ‘Sesame Street’ Writer Says He Wrote Bert & Ernie as a Couple, But Show Says They’re Just ‘Best Friends’
9/18/2018
By Stephen Daw

The Sublime Miss M, bette midler

For nearly 50 years, Bert and Ernie, the two lovable puppet roommates of Sesame Street, have been at the center of a constant question regarding their personal identities: Are Bert and Ernie lovers? Whether presented as a thoughtful question about the portrayal of queer characters on television or simply as a joke, the question surrounding the puppets’ relationship has existed for decades.

Speaking with Queerty, Marc Saltzman, a former writer for Sesame Street, says that he always understood that the two Muppets were, in fact, gay. “I always felt that without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert & Ernie, they were,” he said. “I didn’t have any other way to contextualize them.” Read More

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Friday, August 24, 2018

‘Gay icons like to dress up’: Bob Mackie on Cher, Tina Turner, Bette Midler, and dressing Elton John

Posted Aug 24, 2018 2:08 pm by Mister D

Guardian
‘Gay icons like to dress up’: Bob Mackie on Cher, Tina Turner and dressing Elton John
By Hannah Marriott
August 20, 2018

Bette Midler, Elton John, Cher, Bob Mackie, and Flip Wilson

You could dine out for a lifetime on Bob Mackie’s stories. After 60 years of designing sequin-encrusted stage costumes for Cher, Bette Midler, and Diana Ross, to name a few, the 79-year-old has anecdotes to spare. He sprinkles them into the conversation like glitter.

He once dressed Elton John as Donald Duck, complete with tail and webbed feet, making it very difficult for the Rocket Man to play the piano. He worked with Tina Turner during her post-Ike transformation, when “she wanted to look like a sexy cave woman”. Barbra Streisand, he says, “was always questioning everything. ‘Does this really look good? Can we try on three or four, then decide?’ With that kind of sensibility, you work harder, believe me.” Read More

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Saturday, August 11, 2018

Melissa Manchester Talks Bette Midler In Recent Interview With Richmond Magazine

Posted Aug 11, 2018 2:08 pm by Mister D

Richmond Magazine
Q&A: Melissa Manchester
The award-winning singer-songwriter performs at Richmond’s Tin Pan Aug. 4
by Don Harrison July 31, 2018 11:23 AM

bette midler, melissa manchester

RM: You caught your big break with Bette Midler. How’d that happen?

Manchester: Well, I met Barry Manilow, we were both jingle singers, and he became Bette’s new music director and he introduced me to her. I was one of the original members of what came to be known as the Harlettes. It was a fantastic experience. She’s a brilliant woman. At that time, she was cutting-edge, and she’s always had her own vision — she’s just a unique person with a unique sense of herself. It was remarkable each night to watch her take the audience to another place.

For the full interview: Click Here

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Thursday, August 2, 2018

Banned Karaoke Songs! And Yes, Bette Midler Is On The List

Posted Aug 2, 2018 3:08 pm by Mister D

Readers Digest
Banned Karaoke Songs!
posted by Kelly Bryant –
Jul 31, 2018 6:01AM

Sure, there may be songs you wish were banned from karaoke playlists, but these tunes are actually prohibited from being used at karaoke night. The horror!

“Hello” — Adele

Adele

Broadimage/REX/ShutterstockDon’t expect to find this Adele power ballad in any karaoke songbooks. In 2017, the British songstress chose not to issue a new license for her music, according to MSN. Seems like the only places you’ll truly be able to belt out her emotional tunes will be in the shower or in your car. Guess this is goodbye to “Hello.” Check out some more things that you won’t believe are banned in the U.S.

“Dancing Queen” — ABBA

ABBA

I.B.L./REX/ShutterstockThis seems downright cruel considering the Mamma Mia! sequel has all of us shuffling our feet to the Swedish band’s tunes, but “Dancing Queen” was also removed from karaoke catalogs in 2017. Similarly to Adele, the supergroup simply chose not to renew licensing. In an interview with the Daily Mirror, Jay Taylor, director of karaoke disc-maker Vocal-Star, said, “We can’t understand why they’re doing it, it makes no sense.” Love disco tunes? Here’s what your favorite type of music says about your personality.

“Roar” — Katy Perry

Katy Perry

James Gourley/REX/ShutterstockAnother shock to karaoke lovers was when Katy Perry joined the ranks of Adele and ABBA by pulling her motivational jam “Roar” from the books. Again, no one really knows why there was this sudden move to omit some of these songs from karaoke. We’d just like to remind the singer that she did participate in James Corden’s popular Carpool Karaoke segment, so could she please give “Roar” back to us? Pretty please?

“My Way” — Frank Sinatra

FRANK SINATRA

Dezo Hoffmann/REX/ShutterstockDon’t worry, Sinatra fans—this particular ban applies only to the Philippines, but the reason behind it is pretty gruesome. The New York Times reported a series of murders in that particular country over karaoke versions of “My Way.” There were at least six fatalities on record associated with singing the tune at a karaoke bar, but the Times story admits there’s a possibility there’ve been even more. Some karaoke-goers attribute the violence to the arrogance the song evokes. Here’s why you get goosebumps when you listen to good music.

“Despacito” — Luis Fonsi

Luis FonsiCarlos Tischler/REX/ShutterstockDon’t expect to sing Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” at karaoke night if you find yourself in Malaysia. You’ll have to pick another track. The BBC reported that a senior minister considers the tune, which also features Justin Bieber, “un-Islamic.” “The lyrics are not suitable to be heard,” said Malaysia’s communications minister Salleh Said Keruak.

“Livin’ on a Prayer” — Bon Jovi

Bon JoviRMV/REX/ShutterstockThe New Jersey rockers have penned many a jam over the years, but “Living on a Prayer” has to be among their top most requested tunes on karaoke night. That is, until the song’s licensing agreement was removed for karaoke format. In fact, these days all Bon Jovi songs are on the banned list, per licensing rules. “Artists might want to negotiate their own deal with karaoke companies, or it might be they don’t want songs overplayed [so much that they] put people off,” Rob Kempton of music rights consultancy Footprint Music told The Sun. But maybe overplaying isn’t so bad—check out 

the incredible hidden health benefits of music Read More

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