Karen and Steve Sadove	Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Dr. Joyce Brown
Renaldo and Carolina Herrera	Stacy Bendet Eisner
Chris Mann

Passion For Fashion
 
HE who's who of fashion were on hand to salute Saks Fifth Avenue CEO Steve Sadove by Fashion Institute of Technology and its Educational Foundation for the Fashion Industries at Cipriani 42nd Street.

I was thrilled to meet so many of these fashionistas as well as Mayor Mike Bloomberg who presented Steve with his award. Actually I think Mayor Mike always dresses impeccably.

Looking fabulous were the shoes on display, decorated by FIT accessory design students. FIT president Dr. Joyce F. Brown told us how Steve had donated the Jimmy Choo shoes for the students when he heard they needed them. She said, "He got it right," just like President Obama.

My favorite was the hot dog stand. The winner chosen by the attendees was Keena Fleming for "Fall in Central Park." Also a fan favorite on hand to perform was Chris Mann.

So who were those with a passion for fashion? Why it was Carolina and Renalda Herrera, Fern Malis, Peter Som, Josie Natori, Sarah Wytner, Stacey Bendet Eisner, Carl McCall, Olivia Chantecaille, Karen Sadove, Carl McCall and Jason Wu.  Yes, that was the Jason Wu who designed Michelle Obama's gown for the inaugural balls.

Leslie Uggams	Reginald VelJohnson
Maurice Hines	Donna Trinkoff

That's What Friends Are For
 
OMETIME ago I met the late Rosetta LeNoire at an Actors' Fund benefit. Rosetta played Bloody Mary in South Pacific, Queenie in Showboat, and most recently Grandmother Winslow in Family Matters.  At that time I also met her son Jack.

In Los Angeles, Rosetta invited me to a taping of Family Matters. I met the cast and had my own parking space in the lot. Rosetta was just as adorable in real life as she was on television.

So when I was invited to the 40th anniversary benefit concert of Amas Musical Theatre at the Lighthouse International, the brainchild of my dear friend Rosetta, how could I refuse?

This concert consisted of incredible acts through the years which included numbers from Bubbling Brown Sugar, Shout! The Mod Musical, and Starmites. The evening featured a stellar cast and students of the Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy. I  especially enjoyed Vivian  Reed's performance.

Woodie King, Jr. and Dionne Warwick were honored with the Rosie Award (named for Rosetta). Reginald VelJohnson, who played Rosetta's son Officer Winslow on Family Matters presented Woodie with his award. Lelsie Uggams presented Dionne with her award. Amanda Ruth Moreau received the Rosetta LeNoire scholarship award.

Dionne has showered us with so many wonderful songs and recordings such as That's What Friends are For and I'll Never Fall in Love Again. Woodie discovered such talents such as Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Laurence Fishburne and Samuel L. Jackson.

Kudos go to Donna Trinkoff, artistic director and master of ceremonies Michael Bush. It was also great seeing Maurice Hines, Sandra Reaves-Phillips, Aida Turturro, Lynne Corbet and Beth Falcone.

WAS lucky to score a ticket for the opening of Dan Gordon's new play Irena's Vow starring Tovah Felshuh at the Walter Kerr Theatre in Manhattan. The play is the true story of Irena Gut Opdyke, a Polish Catholic who saved thirteen Jewish refugees during World War II.

Irena was forced to become housekeeper of Major Rugemer, played brillantly by Thomas Ryan during the German occupation. She hid Jewish refugees under the floor as she cooked and cleaned his castle.

Opening night brought out such stars as Linda Gray, Patrick Wilson, Dagmara Domincczyk, Charles Busch, Jackie Hoffman, James Naughton and Kathleen Turner.

Also Joel Grey, Ally Sheedy, Roger Rees, B.D. Wong, Elaine Stritch, Judith Light, David Hyde Pierce, Andrea Martin, Megan Hilty, Elaine Joyce, Neil Simon, Joan Hamburg, David Pittu, Donna Murphy, Moises Kaufman, and James Nederlander, Jr.

After the curtain fell and pink roses were thrown across the stage, Irena's daughter, Jeannie Opdyke Smith, took the stage. She told us that one person can really make a difference in this world just like her mother. She said she loves to attend each performance to bring back the memory of her mother.

One theatergoer asked if her mother really was that devout. A loud clap of thunder filled the theatre. It was the beginning of a predicted thunderstorm. She replied, "You have your answer...I can't top that."

Tovah clasped her hands and looked above. What a way to end a show on opening night! Maybe it was divine inspiration or divine intervention. Or maybe it was a little of both.