B’way team sings again
In two weeks, “Maestro” — about Leonard Bernstein — is up for seven Oscars.
Next week, the Carlyle — so high-class it housed JFK plus assorted roommates — is also swinging around Bernstein.
VIP publicist Rick Miramontez, who throws the annual Tony Awards party there, is then staging Broadway in the hotel.
Two nights — March 3 and 4 — he’s reproducing yesteryear’s original aulde “A Party With Betty Comden & Adolph Green” revue — for whom Bernstein played piano.
Green’s children — Amanda, who overlooks their estate, and Adam —are rejuicing this A-No. 1 oldie.
At the Carlyle, Mallory Portnoy and Nick Blaemire play the couple. They also portrayed the couple in “Maestro.”
In 1933 the famous pair — once just the Revuers nightclub act at NYC’s Village Gate — next became B’way’s longest-running songwriting partnership — 60 years.
Result? SROs like “On the Town” (1944), “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952), “The Will Rogers Follies” (1991), “Bells Are Ringing” (1956), “The Barkleys of Broadway” (1949), “A Doll’s Life” (1982), “Auntie Mame” (1958).
Says the omnipotent Miramontez: “Who knows, next up I could re-reproduce them on Broadway.”
The ‘Legend’ of Marley’s past
Decades ago on the island of Jamaica, Ellen Ann Broomfield — Jewish, Syrian descent — married Albert Thomas Marley.
Her baby, Norval, became a marine officer and plantation overseer.
Norval married Cedella Editha Booker. Their child, Robert Nesta Marley, became famous reggae artist Bob Marley whose — maybe? — Jewish father inspired him to wear “Chai” symbols — which means “alive” in Hebrew.
His son married a Persian of that same faith. The grandchildren are Jewish Israeli.
Estimated is thousands of Jamaicans have Jewish roots. Who knew?!
Funny man
When Gene Wilder was 8 his mother fell ill. The doctor told him, “Make her laugh.” He did.
He and his friends Harry Connick Jr., Carol Kane, Alan Alda are in the doc “Remembering Gene Wilder.” It’s out March 15
Mel Brooks: “He was naive, innocent, sweet, simple and honest. But when he got excited, he was a volcano.”
Hard question
A friend, applying for US citizenship, was stunned by questions on its 20-page document.
The officer asked the applicant if he had, “ever advocated for the overthrow of any government by force or violence!” It’s question 10, page 12, of the Naturalization Form.
And untested undocumented migrants are schlepping in through ratholes?!
Suggestion: Why not fill our southern border’s neighboring water bed with alligators.
QUESTION: Why is Viagra like going to Disneyland?
Answer: You have to wait an hour for a two-minute ride.
Only in Florida, kids. Only in Florida — and parts of New York.