ONE NIGHT ONLY
Thursday, April 8, 2010
McCallum Theatre
Palm Desert, California

Story and photos by Pat Krause

Jewish Family Service of the Desert presented the Fifth Annual One Night Only performance at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert near Palm Springs on Thursday, April 8. Local photographer Michael Childers conceived and produced every one of the One Night Only Performances. Emmy winners Tony winners, television and movie stars, and even an “American Idol” finalist performed. More than 20 performers took part in this spectacular musical extravaganza.

This was an opportunity to hear some of the finest voices in show business. Stage vocalists sang some of the best songs every written. Other well-know singers performed hits by famous composers. This event was a music lover’s delight for those who got to hear all those talented artists during one venue in a beautiful, intimate theater setting. The list of these talented people and the songs they sang are over the top.

Well-know music critic Rex Reed was the evening’s emcee. He started the evening telling of his Palm Springs experiences with our local stars that lived here. He said he was so happy to be asked to come to Palm Springs on a free vacation as emcee. After the intermission he performed the song, “Make It Another Old Fashion, Please” that showed another side of his talent.

Rita McKenzie and Dancers performed “There's No Business Like Show Business.” Tony Award-winner and guest actor on “Glee” sang “Something's Coming.” Singer, actor and dancer Phillip Attmore sang “Too Damn Hot.” TV actress and Emmy winner Nancy Dussault sang “These Foolish Things.” Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway sang “Sisters” with the help of a couple guys with feathers.

Callaway, an Emmy winner, sang “Journey the Past.” Fabulous actress, singer and dancer Carol Lawrence had a funny skit where she asked for six men from the audience to help her sing “Top Hat.” They actually lifted her and carried her offstage. It was a very funny skit that had the audience in stitches.

Lee Roy Reams sang a “Hello Dolly” medley. Callaway belted out a superb rendition of “Blues in the Night,” as she accompanied herself on the piano. Valarie Pettiford sang “Willow Weep for Me” and Davis Gaines, star of “Phantom of the Opera,” sang a thrilling version of “Ol' Man River” from “Showboat." A short Intermission followed his performance.

Emmy Winner and actress Marni Nixon sang “I Could Have Danced All Night.” Michelle Duffy sang Marilyn Monroe's famous hit “Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend” accompanied by four dancers dangling diamonds. Rancho Mirage resident Alix Korey is an actress and Broadway songstress and her song was “The Man That Got Away.” Multitalented Sam Harris is a singer, songwriter and actor among many of his credits. Sam sang “Don't Rain on My Parade” from “Funny Girl.”

Singer, movie and TV actor James Snyder sang “No Matter What Happens” from the show “Yentl.” “Grey's Anatomy” star Loretta Devine is also an actress in movies and was in the original production of “Dreamgirls.” She sang an emotional “Wind Beneath My Wings.” Singer and actress Nancy Whitaker sang a remarkable “I Will Always Love You,” “American Idol” finalist Von Smith sang “And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going.” Special guest star Polly Bergen, singer, actress and author, sang “I'm Still Here.” The finale brought out the whole cast singing “One Night Only” from “Dreamgirls.”

What a sensational list of singers, actors and dancers to performed here. Co-Chairs for the event were Helen Galen, Barbara Keller, Harold Matzner, Barbara Fromm and Sherry Schor. The director was Calvin Remsberg and Musical Director Ron Able played the piano for most performances. These people made this wonderful night happen along with many volunteers.

An after party at Piero's Aqua Pazza California Bistro finished this fabulous night of entertainment with great food and a chance to mingled with friends and cast members.

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Stars, singers line up for annual
'One Night Only'
Bruce Fessier • The Desert Sun • April 2, 2010

Michael Childers is an acclaimed photographer of film, stage, journalism and fine art.

He did still photos for films ranging from “Grease” to “A Coal Miner's Daughter.” He created the mixed media for the off-Broadway musical “Oh Calcutta.” He was a founding photographer for Andy Warhol's Interview and After Dark magazines, and Graphis magazine named him one of the 100 most important photographers of erotic art.

For the last 15 years, he's also produced musical extravaganzas for charity. He called his first local benefit “One Night Only” when Lily Tomlin hosted it in 2002. But, eight years later, he's still at it. He'll present his biggest “One Night Only” Thursday at the McCallum Theatre to benefit Jewish Family Service of the Desert.

New York critic Rex Reed will host and sing a Cole Porter song in Childers' first-ever theme show, saluting “Hollywood's Greatest Music” with 21 Emmy and Tony award winning performers.

“I just wanted to do something different this year,” said Childers, who began producing his shows in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “I think every year from now on we'll have a theme.”

The headliners, in terms of having the most stage time, will be jazz and Broadway singers Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway. Liz will celebrate her birthday at the show and her sister, who sold out a January concert at the Annenberg Theater, wanted to help her celebrate. They'll perform solo numbers and a duet.

Rita McKenzie, who has portrayed Ethel Merman for more than 20 years, will open the show with Merman's classic “There's No Business Like Show Business.” Polly Bergen will close it with “I'm Still Here” from “Follies.”

In between, the acts include:

Dancer Phillip Attmore, performing Cole Porter's “Too Darned Hot.”

Loretta Devine, a “Grey's Anatomy” star who sings blues and R& B ranging from Bessie Smith to Aretha Franklin. She'll perform “I Believe In You.”

Nancy Dussault, a Broadway veteran and “Too Close For Comfort” star, singing “These Foolish Things.”

Davis Gaines, the record-breaking Los Angeles star of “Phantom of the Opera,” performing “Old Man River.”

Tony-nominated Danny Gurwin, singing Johnny Mercer's “An Affair To Remember.”

Original “Star Search” winner Sam Harris singing “Don't Rain On My Parade.”

“Wicked” star Megan Hilty, performing “Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend.”

Rancho Mirage resident Alix Korey, an off-Broadway star, singing Judy Garland's classic “The Man Who Got Away.”

Carol Lawrence, creator of Maria in Broadway's “West Side Story,” singing “Top Hat” from the film of that Marni Nixon, 80, singing two songs she dubbed for Audrey Hepburn in “My Fair Lady”: “Wouldn't It Be Loverly” and “I Could Have Danced All Night.”

Broadway star Valarie Pettiford, singing the Sinatra classic “Willow Weep For Me.”

2009 “American Idol” semi-finalist Von Smith doing the “Dreamgirls” flag waver “And I am Telling You.”

James Snyder, a star of John Waters' musical “Cry Baby,” singing “No Matter What Happens” from “Yentl.”

Nita Whitaker performing “I Will Always Love You.”

John Lloyd Young, the Tony Award winning star of “Jersey Boys,” singing “Something's Coming.”