CBS will be airing the 74th Tony Awards on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time The Tony Awards for the shortened 2019-2020 season will be hosted by six-time Tony Award Winner Audra McDonald.
Back on Broadway: A Complete Guide to the Reopening of the Great White Way
After over a year of the stages remaining dark due to the COVID pandemic, Broadway is slowly beginning to reopen. Most recently Playbill, The Broadway League and Times Square Alliance teamed up to present “Curtain Up!” from September 17 – 19, which officially declared Broadway’s return.
“Jerry’s Girls” Sings at FIPAP End-of-Season Production
Among the performers was Nicole LaFontaine, who has starred in six previous FIPAP productions. She sang several songs, including two from “Hello, Dolly!” which she starred in with FIPAP several years ago to great acclaim. Sirius XM radio personality Julie James sang a beautiful version of “If He Walked Into My Life” from “Mame.”
#fireisland: #lovefireisland
Working with Megan Wallace and her father, Dana, has been great. She smoothly and efficiently found me the timeline, price, and right kind of buyer for my beloved 1924 house. I’m also comforted in knowing that the new owners are able to appreciate (and plan on maintaining) the integrity of this original Fire Island style property.
Forged in Friendship on Fire Island: LezVolley Turns 10
The 10th anniversary LezVolley Annual Volleyball Tournament held in Cherry Grove on Saturday, Aug. 14, was an enormous success. With five courts and nets set up along the beach, the event was able to accommodate 220 players in the rotation of 25 teams. Attended by well over 1,000 spectators cheering them on, every team gave it their all, as the wins whittled down the numbers toward the climactic semifinals and finals matches. Co-founders Danielle Millet-Stanziale and Kristine Bungay confirmed that it was the largest, most well attended tournament so far.
Interview: Diane Romano
After spending the last 12 years as the president of the Cherry Grove Community Association, Inc., Diane Romano, 71, is stepping down. She first visited Cherry Grove in 1975 with her wife, Patricia, and fell in love with the community. She now lives in Cherry Grove for eight months out of the year and will help with the transition once the new president is elected on Sept. 19, 2021.
Hope
Actor and screenwriter Anthony Montes of North Hollywood, California, presented an interactive one-man show at the Ocean Beach Community House on the evening of Friday, Aug, 20, titled “Outta the Darkness into the Light.” A Saturday performance was canceled due to the storm. Sponsored by the Ocean Beach Chamber of Commerce, the event was arranged with the assistance of Anthony’s sister, Diane Montes, who summers in Ocean Beach. The show is semi-autobiographical and focuses on Anthony’s recovery after contemplating suicide at the age of 27.
Ocean Bay Park
I was happy to see George Greenberger is back on Erie Street after the recent loss of his wife, Joyce. George and I reminisced about his mandarin orange tree, which we have been caring for so many years that we can’t remember. The tree was a gift from Jeannine Pollack’s son-in-law from England. Joyce wanted to throw it away at the end of that summer. We intervened and said we would “board” it in our sunroom during the winters and bring it back to Erie in the summers. We eventually gained custody of the tree but continued to freeze the bitter little oranges for George to make marmalade. Joyce would laugh that if there was enough for one jar it was enough!
Kismet Kapers
Lee told me that the event was initiated by Joyce Cole and Bob and Ellen Ryan to create a special end-of-season event for children with the Lems assuming leadership in ensuing years. Warren donated a stash of poles stored in “Company G,” found when the house was sold.
Rose’s View ~ Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines
We got a little too loose concerning COVID. It was a premature decision but we should now all go back to wearing masks and being concerned of our participation in groups and social events.