From Eden with Love

So OK, I meet celebrities and heck I'm used to it. It’s a part of my life. However, when you move over in a booth to make room for Ozzie and Sharon Osbourne something clicks inside you. It was the most bizarre moment, yet most natural as they came in on a fluke to see Eden Espinosa's show. We thought they were friends with her. It was her first concert in NY for the new show "From Eden with Love" and we publicized it the best we could but we didn't invite any celeb types. So of course, her agents and I were sure they were friends. So when they were sitting in an obstructed booth, we offered for them to come sit with us and they DID! Not only did they sit with us, but Ozzie hugged me to thank me for the better seat. We were sure they knew her, especially then when he turned to me and said, "She's hot. She's really hot!" I just nodded my head and went back to paying attention to the show. I mean this rock legend was not only sitting five inches away from me but he was giving his seal of approval to us about her voice and her concert. And they are both SO nice! Wonderful people. We still thought they were mutual friends. And then in the end, after the show, we found out that actually they were staying at the hotel and wanted to see something different, So they came down to watch Eden! How exciting it is!

"From Eden with Love” I was mesmerized by Eden's performance. The Osbourne's must have been as well as a bottle of champagne was sent over to Eden from them as congratulations. How amazing that must be for Eden. This concert is sultry, soulful, real and full of meaning. The fact that she can "perform" adds depth to her music that only someone who has performed can do. She put on a show but it was a concert that just as easily could have been in Madison Square Garden or Carnegie Hall. The direction Eden is going with this "to-be" record is a true rock album full of the melancholy and the sublime, songs of hurt feelings, hatred and of course love. She even dedicated the last song to her dad. I'm truly excited for her to go into the studio and record this concert so you can all be treated to something special - sans the Ozzy sighting of course. Some things just can't be replicated!

And everyone said goodbye tonight to the man who originated the Green Ogre on Broadway, Brian d'Arcy James. I could not be in two places at once, but could only imagine how emotional and heartfelt the show was as he slowly said goodbye and took his final curtain call. That role was truly an emotional journey for everyone in his life. And I know I talked about it last week. But everyone come and see him in Time Stands Still in January!!!!

One more piece of news - Mark Indelicato started writing a column for Fashion Week Daily. Check out his first one (http://www.fashionweekdaily.com/parties/fullstory.sps?inewsid=6642542). It’s very exciting and we are thrilled for him! Did you know he deleted his twitter account? What's going on with these celeb/actors - one minute it’s the greatest thing and the next its hell on wheels? Mark's tweets will most certainly be missed.

And for those who attended the Sunflower Gala, I want to thank my amazing staff - Tim Yates, Marti Gould Cummings, Ashley Cox, my intern Lauren and my friend Adam P Jacobs and my brother in law Peter Gewirtz for helping out. Adam got to meet his childhood crush - that of Paulina Poriskova so I think we're even. The red carpet rocked and the event on our side went super smooth. We'd love to do more celebrity wrangling and red carpet events. It’s like we were meant to mobilize and handle these types of things. Sunflower Children was very grateful. Things truly were amazing and I'm really glad that it all worked out. Except for the fact that Russell Simmons got a drink poured on him by a drunken stock broker and by the time they gave the award to Quincy Jones, the traders were so drunk and obnoxious, Quincy had to yell shut up so many times. The crowd was so incredibly rude. And when it came time to make donations, Helena Houdova poured her heart out and Russell got so frustrated, he said "I'm in for 10K" and I'm out! Then he jumped off the stage. I mean, who do these traders think they are? This is not the floor of the stock exchange. This was a black tie, classy charity event. I just thank goodness that I wasn't part of that. As far as the red carpet went and our getting the classy press there - we did and we hope that all you people googling "event planner" or "event public relations" that you find us! It was fun!

On Sunday morning, our client Gregory Generet brought his magical voice to Weekend Today in New York. Gregory performed songs from his album re)generation. As he began the first bar of Angel Eyes, the entire newsroom stood still and in awe of his melodic sounds! Even Cindy Adams, sitting in the wings, got off her mobile phone and gave her undivided attention to Gregory Generet. Gregory even closed out the show with his hot song How High the Moon. Take a look and listen: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/station/as-seen-on/Gregory_Generet_Peforms_on_WTINY_New_York.html.

Catch more of Gregory Generet at his show “Songs in the Key of ‘G’” at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency for a two nights on November 9th and 16th at 8:30 PM. He will be performing songs from the Great American Songbook as well as Contemporary Standards from his album (RE) GENERET-ION, which has received rave reviews from critics.

He has performed throughout New York City with sold-out shows at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Highline Ballroom, Joe’s Pub, and the Edison Ballroom. His debut effort has garnered much attention, including radio play across the country at stations like KKJZ-FM in Los Angeles, as well as Jonathan Swartz’s “The Saturday and The Sunday Show.”

Later Sunday, our Broadway diva, Saycon Sengbloh, who is co-starring in the highly, anticipated FELA! on Broadway, had an amazing photo shoot for the December issue of Paper Magazine (hitting stands the first week of December). Saycon joined her cast mates, Sahr Ngaujah and Kevin Mambo for this shoot. Though hair/make-up was hours late and the stylist a half hour late, the photo shoot was amazing as Saycon brought a certain sexy vibe to the shoot which was directed by photographer Rafael Rios. We are always excited for Saycon and can’t wait to see the photos selected as everyone at the shoot agreed, it’s going to be hard to pick as she’s so darn good! FELA! is getting rave reviews by its audience and we await the opening on November 23, 2009 at the Eugene O’Neil Theater.

Thanks

The Good Thief isn't just good, it’s extraordinary....

For all those theater fans that either were too young to attend, or hadn't discovered the art of the live one man performance the first time Brian d'Arcy James stepped foot on the stage to portray The Good Thief at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, one was instantly reminded last night at the Keen Company benefit what an outstanding talent Brian d'Arcy James truly is.

Now I'm not saying this because I'm his publicist, I'm saying it as a fan of true, emotionally charged theater that leaves you speechless.

My words may not be as poignant as Ben Brantley's were back in the day, or of any of the paid critics or amazing people in New York or Los Angeles who awarded Brian the first time around with incredible reviews as well as him garnering awards such as The Obie, Outer Critics Circle, the Drama Desk Awardm Backstage Garland Award and the LA Weekly Award among many others.

But this one does come straight from the heart.

When I was first introduced to the work of Brian d'Arcy James, it was after I had moved to New York and started my own company in 2003. Shortly after he was nominated for a Tony for Sweet Smell of Success and continued on through amazing shows like the off Broadway production of Apple Tree, Next 2 Normal, and Port Authority, and others... but I didn't get to actually meet him until we sat down to discuss my representing him for SHREK. Out of all of the amazing work he had done over the years he was ready to let the world know who he was behind the green prosthetics and costume that fans would soon come to know him by. After seeing The Good Thief, I completely understand. Actors may go from play to play, musical to musical and get to the point where they are sought after for all the key theater projects, but it all starts somewhere. And although by the time he did "The Good Thief" he was already starting to get a name for himself, he always said that role was and may always be "his most memorable role to date." So to look back at all the work we did together during Shrek, to know how much he put into that character and how he made this Ogre his own, it’s no surprise sitting in the theater tonight why being known as Brian, the actor behind this costume was so important. It is truly the same incredible actor that stood up on that stage tonight and took your breath away as he took us on this remarkable journey about a Thief with a heart and a soul.

Conor Mc Pherson's play has been performed numerous times. It is a piece that moves people to tears as you hear about a man who pines for his ex- love, about a "job" gone bad, a "job" that changes his life forever and leaves him with his life, or what's left of it and haunting questions that in the end would never be answered and love gone unrequited.... Of a situation he found himself in, that went completely awry.

There were funny moments, but the kind of funny when you laugh because something is ironic, or just doesn't seem fair or right. And then silence. His portrayal had the audience so quiet, even breathing couldn't be heard. It was as if the audience stopped breathing all together in complete awe, watching and listening to this sad man's tale.

Moment by Moment I wasn't sure if he was asking us, the audience for our forgiveness or for his salvation or for perhaps nothing more than he just needed someone to talk to. It seemed to be so long since he had anyone to talk to.

But talk he did for over an hour and with each hit mark, and each moment, you grew to truly ache for this man's life. The choices he made and what could have been different had he never met "Greta" she had never left him, he never took that job or ever stepped foot in the "mitchell's home."

For all of you who had something else to do, you missed a riveting performance that reminds people why they became actors and inspires those who have yet to achieve to dream, to run to the nearest class to become one.

I leave you with this, as Brian prepares to leave Shrek the Ogre behind this week (November 8th is his last performance) although I am saddened that he will no longer run outside the stagedoor of the Broadway Theater every day around the block in his Shrek costume waiving at fans as he re-enters to run down the aisle, or sing the lovely "fart song" "I've got you beat" with Princess Fiona, or makes "snothers" in the swamp, or sits for 2 hours in hair and makeup each evening, there are new pastures to farm for this actor.

And with this one night performance of The Good Thief, I am reminded that there is a lot of Brian d'Arcy James left to come...

So look forward to Time Stands Still in January at the Manhattan Theater Club with Laura Linney, Alicia Silverstone and Eric Bogosian where again, the brilliance that exists inside Brian d'Arcy James that captures audiences in costume or not proves that he is one of the defining actors of his generation.

The Good Thief - may everyone be treated to this at one time or another- may it be a PBS special in Lincoln Center or Carnegie Hall...one can dream!

And yes, I do truly love my clients. May you too be lucky enough to become one....


Amy