The Beverly Hills Theatre Guild recently celebrated its 40th anniversary at the Four Seasons Hotel. Honoree was actress/singer Constance Towers, star of Broadway, film and television. Who can forget her appearance opposite Yul Brenner in “The King & I” or her films including “The Karate Kid” and “A Perfect Murder.”
She recently lost her husband John Gavin, who went from being a matinee idol to Ambassador to Mexico. The couple worked to provide care for hundreds of children gravely affected by the earthquake in 1985.
Also honored for Outstanding Service to the Community was real-estate legend, Michael J. Libow, whose support of the Beverly Hills school system and other City services is well known and appreciated. Did you know he is an animal activist and was instrumental in approving the city’s first designated dog park? Our good friends, Century City residents Ruth Flinkman Marandy and Mary Levin Cutler are on the board, headed by President Carolyn Fried and Janet Salter. These dedicated people are to be lauded for their commitment and their work in enriching the theatrical experiences of our Westside community.
In honor of International Women’s Day, documentary-winning producer Leslie Zemeckis and Cinema Libre Studio presented a special screening of “Mabel, Mabel Tiger Trainer” – the death defying tale of the world’s first female tiger trainer.
Zemeckis is driven to explore influential but lesser known women in history, including in “Behind the Burly Q”, a Showtime documentary about women from the golden age of burlesque, and “Bound by Flesh,” the tale of Siamese twins Daisy and Violet Hilton.
Among the guests at the premiere were Kelsey Grammer, Paul Sorvino and Sofia Milos. I hope you have the opportunity to see this film about the sexy, blonde dancer who clawed her way up the circus hierarchy to become one of the most highly regarded tiger trainers in the world. And you thought Hillary fought a tough battle!
And finally, yet importantly, you are invited to an exciting Shakespeare Jubilee, at the Wallis Theatre on April 28 at 7:30 p.m. The cast of British and Hollywood actors in attendance include Harry Hamlin, Eric Braeden, Isabella Hofmann, Joely Fisher and Nigel Lythgoe. Last year, we enjoyed seeing Michael York receive a standing ovation for his performance in Richard III.
Do not miss this Shakespearean fantasy.
