Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center of the Hamptons Celebrates GET WILD Summer Gala

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LONG ISLAND, NY – The Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center of the Hamptons celebrated another fabulous year of rehabilitating and successfully releasing animals back into the wild across Long Island with its annual GET WILD Summer Gala. The event was hosted by the Marder family at the Silas Marder Gallery in Bridgehampton, NY on Saturday, August 8, 2015 and honored artists April Gornik & Eric Fischl, Amy Sullivan and Real Estate Broker Susan Penzner.

Guests enjoyed live music along with cocktails, light fare and a silent auction. I was happy to sit down with Executive Director and Founder Ginnie Frati.

EvelynAlexanderAnimalEvelyn Alexander Animal Rescue Center Founder Ginnie Frati and Cognac Wellerlane. Photo by Michael Wellbrock.

Cognac Wellerlane interviews President of the Board of Directors James Hunter, Founder Ginnie Frati, Agena Rigdon and Animal Advocate Jill Rappaport at Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center Get Wild Charity Cocktail Reception in the Hamptons

Welcome back darlngs, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here at the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Animal Rescue Center Cocktail Benefit. I am here with this very very lovely lady who is a big supporter of this event. Introduce yourself to the camera

Ginnie: I am Ginnie Frati, the Executive Director and Founder of the Wildlife Rescue Center.

So you are the founder?

Ginnie: Yes

The founder or co-founder?

Ginnie: It was my idea then I had Jim help me as well.

Tell my audience the history of why this was established and how you went about actually establishing this organization.

Ginnie: It was difficult because we knew that animals were getting injured, wild animals. There were outlets to take care of dogs and cats but no outlets to take care of wild life.

You are right, there are so many domestic shelters on Long Island. My friends run Little Shelter in Huntington. Like you said there are so many animal shelters for dogs and cats but nothing for the wild animals.

Ginne: Nothing for the wild animals until you go into Nassau County then there is one there. It was something that was really needed in Suffolk County and we saw that and felt sorry for these animals that weren’t getting any help so we set about getting the license….the federal and state license, finding a piece of property that we rent from the Suffolk County Park and made it into a wildlife hospital.

How many wildlife animals co-exist here in the Hamptons and the East End?

Ginnie: There are many, many species, thousands of species!

That many!

Ginnie: Some more common than others. There are species that you don’t see very much like the Wipper Wool. You hardly ever see any more out here. The Eastern Meadow Lark but you know they are out here. There not as common as the gulls and robins and blue jays but there out here too! There numbers are declining drastically.

Really, and it’s because of us?

Ginnie: Well the habitat destruction is the number one key. There is no place left for them to go to nest and some of them are territorial. They only nest one every mile so the nest areas are getting less and less for a lot of species.

That is so unfortunate to hear that because I love animals. I really do! Where I live there is the Cardinal. That is my favorite bird. Whenever I see the Cardinal I just stare at it. I think it is the most beautiful bird there is! Don’t you agree?

Ginnie: I do and I think it is a sign of very good luck too!

Yes! Every time I see a red Cardinal I think I am going to be lucky! You are doing a very wonderful job and I am sure you are a very lucky person because God loves you because of what you have done for the animals.

Ginnie: Thank you very much.

What are your plans? What would you like to happen for this organization?

Ginnie: I like to see the organization be self sufficient and not have to worry about an operating budget. We do work with a lot of volunteers but we do have to have a staff. We also work on holidays and volunteers don’t want to come out so we do have staff too. Veterinary cost, medicine, food….I would like to see it run very very smoothly.

I am sure that will happen. Do you have any specific goal for this year?

Ginnie: This year I think……we already did a lot this year. We got a flight conditioning cage. I would like to see us get a diving board complex done.

Wow! That sounds interesting.

Ginnie: Ocean birds, they need a big tub of water. I would like to see that done this year.

That is the number one thing you have to get accomplished! I want you to tell my audience where they can go to find out more information. What is the website?

Ginnie: It’s www.wildliferescuecenter.org. There is lots of information on how you can help an animal when you see it in distress.

EvelynAlexanderJillEvelyn Alexander Jill Rappaport and TV Host Cognac Wellerlane pose for a photo-op. Photo by Michael Wellbrock.

EvelynAlexanderEvelyn Alexander Lucia Hwong Gordon and Jean Shafiroff pose for a photo-op. Photo by Michael Wellbrock.

Estelle Alexander was born 1910, married to Jack Alexander, and had one child, Leslie Alexander. Estelle went by Evelyn. She was an artist and a great singer and always loved animals. In response to a generous endowment presented to the Wildlife Rescue Center by Mr. Leslie Alexander in early 2011, the Wildlife Rescue Center became the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in honor of Mr. Alexander’s mother.

Long Islanders Enjoyed Long Beach International Film Festival’s “Taste On The Beach”, Friday, August 7, 2015

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LONG ISLAND, NY – The Long Beach International Film Festival “Taste on the Beach” event took on place Friday, Aug. 7, between National Boulevard and Edwards Boulevard in Long Beach, New York. Guests enjoyed a new feature “Taste on the Beach” to their flick night event. Taste On The Beach preceded the free movie night “Shorts on the Beach,” where Long Beach and regional restaurants finest foods, wines, cocktails and craft breweries collaborated together to give a sampling of their favorite dishes, bottles and brews.

“The Long Beach International Film Festival continues to provide an opportunity for filmmakers and fans to witness the filming locations Nassau County has to offer whether it be at local beaches, mansions, suburban areas and, of course, Gold Coast Studios and Grumman Studios,” revealed Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano. “I invite residents to attend the festival and enjoy some of the best samplings of the food, music and film from Long Island.”

LongBeachFilmFest4Comedian and Actor Rob Magnotti with Cognac at the Long Beach International Film Festival’s “Taste On The Beach”, Friday, August 7, 2015.

Films that were highlighted included Director/Producer Stephanie Donnelly’s narrative/comedy “The Cannoli” – where a Long Island family dinner turns tragic and a choice must be made between dessert and family; Director Sarah Menzies’ San Diego Surf Film Festival Best Short winning documentary “Catch It”, which followed Léa Brassy as her nomadic lifestyle takes a pause and she finds serenity in the Arctic surf of Northern Norway; And Croatian Director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović’s World Premiering “Eye for an Eye”, in which child’s play turns into a showdown of imagination and discipline.

LongBeachFilmFest3 Long Beach Film Fest Taste On the Beach Co-Founder Craig Weintraub with Cognac at the Long Beach International Film Festival’s “Taste On The Beach”, Friday, August 7, 2015.

During my red carpet interviews I had the chance to chat with Co-Founder Craig Weintraub.

Welcome back darlings, I am here with the Co-Founder Craig Weintraub from the Long Beach International Film Festival. This is a spectacular event, food, red carpet…it’s the best it has ever been! Tell my audience how many years you guys have been doing this?

Craig: We have been doing this…this is our fourth year. This is the small kickoff to our festival which runs in September. The Fourth annual Festival and yes we started in 2011 as an idea to bring a film festival here to Long Beach.

It is slowly growing and we are making sure that quality is key along the way and we want everyone from our filmmakers to our musicians to our festival goers to enjoy themselves so we implemented “Taste on The Beach” for the ultimate dinner and a movie experience. It’s a festival for all the senses!

Tell my audience how many food vendors will be here tonight?

Craig: We have over forty food, wine, craft beer and liquor companies here serving a taste of their favorite dish, favorite brew and their favorite bottle!

Tell my audience also how many film, how many shorts we are going to see tonight?

Craig: We are going to see fourteen short films that the total duration of the entire program is an hour and a half. Some are two minutes, some are seven minutes and it’s a great variety. We have documentaries, environmental documentaries, documentaries on women that are changing the landscape where men normally dominated in the work force. We have scary films, we have narrative films and we have great, great animated films as well for the kids. Its a PG program. It’s a family event. There is no strong sexuality, no strong language…it really is for everybody. It is a small taste of what you will get in September.

I can’t wait! Tell my audience where we can go to find out more information. What is the website?

Craig: The website is www.longbeachfilm.com. It is as simple as that.

Thank you so much darling!

Craig: Thank you for being here.

Celebrities that attended the event included News 12 Personality Elisa DiStefano, Comic Jeffery Gurian of sirius XM’s Bennington Show, Chef Danny Gagnon Bravo’s TV “Top Chef,” Realty Stars John and Susan Doneson from Bravo TV’s “Secrets and Wives” and Comedian/Actor Rob Magnotti “Paul Blart Mall Cop 2.”

LongBeachFilmFest1 Realty Stars John and Susan Doneson with Cognac at the Long Beach International Film Festival’s “Taste On The Beach”, Friday, August 7, 2015.

Agent Richard Alan from Richard Alan Talent Management also came with a bevy of three gorgeous models, Blond Angelina, Redhead Rachel and Brunette Stunner Jazmin Ivy who promoted Publisher John Colascione’s websites LongIslandExchange.com, LIUsedCars.com and NewsLI.com.

LongBeachFilmFest2 Models Angelina, Rachel and Jazmin pose for a photo-op with Actor Bill Lee Lanndis and Founder Craig Weintraub at the Long Beach International Film Festival’s “Taste On The Beach”, Friday, August 7, 2015.

LBIFF Programmer Steve Shor revealed, “Shorts on the Beach is a wonderful representation of what is in store for the Long Beach International Film Festival in September. The program will open with the Oscar winning short Feast from Walt Disney Animation. Additional animated shorts include Deep End by Oscar nominee Bill Plympton, and Bear Story- a Chilean computer animated short (considered one of the best this year). In the short documentary arena, we have Trust Design by Interior Design Magazine and Dryden by EarthJustice. The program includes some wonderful Narrative submissions from New York based directors and Universities.”

The Long Beach International Film Festival – sponsored by Nassau County – celebrates the art of storytelling through cinema. Presenting shorts, fiction and documentary formats, the festival is committed to exhibiting films that convey a fresh voice and differing perspectives. The goal of these programs is to captivate, engage and enlighten audiences, provide invaluable exposure for filmmakers and present inspired entertainment.

Cognac Wellerlane interviews Comedian Jeffery Gurian, Comedian Actor Rob Rob Magnotti, Bravo’s Top Chef Danny Gagnon, Realty TV Stars John and Susan Doneson from Bravo TV’s “Secrets and Wives” and Co-Founder Craig Weintraub of the Long Beach International Film Festival at a Taste on The Beach in Long Beach, New York.

Cognac Wellerlane interviews Guy Brogna, Stephanie Donnelly, Young Wop, BRIMSTONE, Jazmin Ivy and Talent Agent Richard Alan, at Taste on The Beach for the Long Beach International Film Festival

Contributors Dine and Dance Celebrating Southampton Hospital’s 57th Annual Summer Party “Fantasia”

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LONG ISLAND, NY – On Saturday, August 1st, 2015, the Southampton Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors held its 57th Annual Summer Party, themed Fantasia. The gala took place from 6:30pm to 11pm. Guests and supporters arrived wearing black and white. The party was chaired by Jean Remmel FitzSimmons, with the support of Honorary Chair Howard Lorber and Underwriting Chair Jean Shafiroff.

Contributors dined and danced under the air-conditioned tents at the corner of Wickapogue and Old Town Road in Southampton. The festive evening emceed by Chuck Scarborough will benefit Southampton Hospital’s Jenny and John Paulson Emergency Department, which is the sole provider of emergency care on the South Fork and throughout the East End and all of the Hamptons treating more than 25,000 people.

57tAnnualouthamptoUnderwriting Chair Jean Shafiroff and Humanitarian Sara Herbert Galloway at the 57th Annual Southampton Hospital Summer Party on Saturday, August 1st, 2015.

The tents were completely transformed by the imagination and creativity of Tony Urrutia. Attendees also enjoyed an elegant catered dinner by Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs and music by the Alex Donner Orchestra. In addition, guests on hand had access to an array of fabulous silent auction items, and a raffle featuring exciting exiting prizes.

Cognac Wellerlane interviews Actress Cassandra Seidenfeld, Chair Jean RemmelFitzSimmons, Sara Herbert Galloway and Socialite Joy Marks at the 57 Annual Southampton Hospital Summer Party to benefit the Southampton Hospital.

I was happy to talk to Event Chair Jean Remmel FitzSimmons.

Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach Jr Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach Jr., of East Hampton and Cognac Wellerlane at the 57th Annual Southampton Hospital Summer Party on Saturday, August 1st, 2015.

Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here with the Event Chair Jean Remmel FitzSimmons. What a pleasure to talk to you. Tell my audience how long you have been associated with the Southampton Hospital?

Jean: This is my 30th year.

Now this is a huge honor for you to be the Chair for this particular event especially this year.

Jean: It’s fun for me to do it. I have done it before but I think this is my finale. So it’s fun to go out this way.

I can’t believe it’s your finale, there maybe will be ten more times you will do it. Tell my audience why the Southampton Hospital is so vital to the community.

Jean: It’s totally important if anything happen out here. It is our community hospital. You know a lot of people say they would go back to New York but they won’t if they have a heart attack or an accident. They need this hospital and it’s a good one. I mean that truly!

I believe you. I know it is and that is why I am here to bring awareness and make people know that this is a truly wonderful hospital and we need all the contributions and donations we can get.

Jean: Absolutely! Thank you for saying that.

Tell my audience where we can go to support, participate, contribute and donate what is the website?

Jean: www.southamptonhospital.org and you can always send a check anytime.

The Jean Remmel FitzSimmons Society was created to honor and recognize friends who include the Hospital in their estate plans. Jean Remmel FitzSimmons is a distinguished member of the Southampton Hospital family, an esteemed trustee whose name has come to be synonymous with the institution’s annual fund raising appeal and Summer Party.

Before dinner I spoke to Honorary Chair Howard Lorber.

It’s a pleasure to meet you and what a thrill for you to be the Honorary Chair for tonight’s event.

Howard: Thank you. It’s my honor to be here. We are very excited. It’s a very exciting time for the Southampton Hospital because of our merger with Stony Brook.

Yes, tell my audience about that.

Howard: Well, we are working on approvals. There are a lot of approvals when you are putting hospitals together but we are going to be an affiliate of Stony Brook and we are going to build a new hospital on the campus of Stony Brook which formerly was Southampton Hospital. It should be Southampton College so we are very excited about that.

Will there be something added because of the coalition?

Howard: Sure, Stony Brook is a teaching hospital. It opens lots opportunities for us. We are going to have a brand new modern hospital with everything that is needed for communities like Southampton and the East End. After all we really are the only hospital on the East End

I know and that is why It is so vital for us all to support this hospital. Don’t you agree?

Howard: One hundred percent. I mean the Southampton Hospital Emergency room is one of the best in the country but also we have full time residents that need to be taken care of on the East End and we are doing it now and I think we will be able to do an even better job with the new hospital.

57thAnnua333Businessman and investor Howard Lormer amd Cognac 57th Annual Southampton Hospital Summer Party on Saturday, August 1st, 2015.

Howard Lorber is is an American businessman and investor. He is the President and CEO of Vector Group Ltd., a holding company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. He is also the Chairman of Douglas Elliman, a subsidiary of Vector Group, which is the largest residential real estate brokerage in the New York metropolitan area. He is also chairman of Nathan’s Famous (a fast food chain in the New York area). In May 2010, he became a member of the Board of Directors at Borders Group Inc. He is also associated with New Valley Corporation (formerly Western Union), Hallman & Lorber Associates (an actuarial firm), Aegis Capital Corporation (a broker-dealer), United Capital Corporation (real estate), and Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services.

Cognac Wellerlane interviews Honorary Chair Howard Lorber and East Hampton Mayor Paul F. Ruckenbach, Jr. at the 57th Annual Southampton Hospital Summer Party to benefit Southampton Hospital.

Since its establishment in 1909, Southampton Hospital has remained faithful to the vision of its founders in providing the very best in medical care to the Eastern Long Island community. An affiliate of Stony Brook Medicine and a member of the East End Health Alliance, a group of three Long Island hospitals on the North and South Forks, the Hospital offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient services and is staffed by more than 280 physicians, dentists, and allied health professionals representing 48 medical specialties. The Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission, an agency that rates the quality of care provided by some 20,000 healthcare facilities across the United States.

For more information please visit http://www.southamptonhospital.org

Classy Canines, Owners Attend “Yappy Hour” at Garden City Hotel; To Benefit Little Shelter Animal Rescue

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Local pet owners attended “Yappy Hour” at the Garden City Hotel on Tuesday July 28, 2015 to benefit Little Shelter Animal Rescue.  Guests gathered from 6pm-8:30pm for canines, cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres on the opulent Patio Bar of the beautiful Garden City Hotel. All proceeds from the event went to benefit the animals of Little Shelter. The first forty guests received gift bags valued at over $50.

Little Shelter Animal Rescue is one of Long Island’s oldest no-kill shelters. The organization is dedicated to saving all companion animals whose lives are in jeopardy. Through rescue from kill facilities, rehabilitation of sick and un-socialized pets, and a 100% spay/neuter program, Little Shelter hopes to end pet overpopulation and place all dogs and cats in loving homes. Located in Huntington, NY. Little Shelter is also a part of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals.

New York MediaNew York Media Personality from 1010 Wins Susan Richard, Little Shelter Tito Colon, Executive Director David Ceely and Mayors Animal Alliance NYC Stephanie Mattera. Photo by Andrew Cohen.

I was pleased to talk to Arlene Leoni, Special Programs Manager.

Tell my audience about the new programs that are available and important to the organization.

Arlene: I want to speak about the new programs because the community does so much for us. This is our way of giving back. We have a food pantry. People who can no longer afford to feed their animals come and we give them food. We have a humane education program where we go to at least a hundred schools a year and we educate children. We talk about kindness and responsibility, spaying and neutering, how to read body language…..it’s a magnificent program. It has been going on since the year 2001. We have a reading program where six of our dogs that have been adopted into families are now therapy dogs and they are working with elementary schools and deal with children of the autism spectrum.

Interviews with Sara Anne fingerman from the Garden City Hotel, David Ceely from Little Shelter and Arlene Leoni from Little Shelter.

I also spoke to David Ceely, Executive Director of Little Shelter Animal Rescue.

Introduce yourself to the camera darling.

David: I am David Ceely and I am the Executive Director of Little Shelter Animal Rescue in Huntington, Long Island.

How exciting to have an event here at the Garden City Hotel. Who decided to come up with this idea of “Yappy Hour?” I love it. I think it is fabulous!

David: It’s a terrific idea. Our friend Sara Anne who just started working here at the Garden City Hotel gave us a call and said that she wanted to plan an event for us here in this beautiful patio……

See all the wonderful people that love you, see what they do for you!

David: We are definitely lucky to have such good friends. We really are!

So she came up with this idea of “Yappy Hour?”

David: She did. She gave us a call and said “Let’s have ‘Happy Hour’ but maybe we can call it ‘Yappy Hour” and we knew that was the name.

I forgot to mention this to her when I interviewed Sara but I never knew that the Garden City Hotel was pet friendly To my surprise this wonderful establishment is!

David: Let me tell you this place, this establishment the Vanderbilts and the Astors have stayed here. So it’s just an amazing place in itself.

Class A!

David: Yes, Class A. To find out that it is pet friendly it doesn’t get any better than that.

Tell my audience this particular fundraiser, how is it going to help Little Shelter? Do you have a goal to help this organization?

David: We have quite a few things going on at Little Shelter. Our rescue program goes out to the town shelters and of our passage to freedom goes out into America and pulls animals in need and brings them into the shelter where they might otherwise be euthanized and often times they have got medical issues. It is definitely going to help with that. We also have plans for a isolation room at the shelter. When animals come to the shelter we have one now but we want more of a state of the art one…so we can isolate these animals to medically treat them before they go out into the population with other dogs and cats.

Tell my audience where we can go to find out more information to contribute, participate, donate and support.

David: You can always stop by the shelter. We love getting visitors there. You can definately check us out on line at LittleShelter.com

Later I sat down and interviewed Spokesperson Stephanie Mattera from the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals.

Stephanie MatteraStephanie Mattera Spokesperson for Mayor Animal Alliance NYC with Cognac. Photo by Andrew Cohen.

Tell us a little more about your organization and what you do.

Stephanie: As a spokesperson for the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals I help promote positive pet parent tips. I also talk about adoption, fostering animals, the importance of spaying and neutering and other animal welfare issues.

Can you tell my audience some pet parent tips.

Stephanie: Yes, we all know that we are in the Summer and it is very hot, so you never leave your dog in the car. Luckily it is becoming a law now where people can actually rescue the dog and break into vehicles but a dog can die within a matter of minutes in a hot car. In any kind of extreme heat or cold you should never leave your dog in the car. That is one pet parent tip.

Interviews Stephanie Barbuck from Experience Auto Group, Stephanie Hendrikson from 1-800 Flowers,Spokesperson Stephanie Mattera from the Mayors Animal Alliance NYC and Laura Petrocelli from Coutureconceptsny.com at Little Shelter’s Yappy Hour at the Garden City Hotel

Stephanie, who is a public relations and communications professional with a B.A. in English and an M.B.A. in Global Business Leadership, received her M.S. in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from NYU in 2009. While pursuing the degree, Stephanie, a lifelong animal lover who recalls growing up in a house full of rescued animals who were all considered members of the family, began to think of “putting my passion for animals into more strategic focus and into doing something more tangible.” That desire led her to volunteer with the Alliance, where her enthusiasm and natural ability to communicate with the public led then-volunteer coordinator Barbra Tolan to quickly recommend Stephanie to become the organization’s spokesperson, a role Stephanie assumed in 2010.

For more information please visit littleshelter.com

Supporters Attend “Sunset On The Harbor” In Sag Harbor; Fundraiser Benefited LGBT Network

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Supporters enjoyed the sunset with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in Sag Harbor this weekend, July 25,2015, at the Sunset on the Harbor event at the the Bridgewater Yacht Club. The sold out fundraiser benefited the LGBT Network, a non-profit organization serving Long Island’s LGBT community since 1993. Proceeds from the event will support the LGBT Network’s Hamptons LGBT Center in Sag Harbor that provides services and a safe space for LGBT youth, adults, older adults, and LGBT-headed families of the East End throughout the year.

During the event I sat down and interviewed President and Founder David Kilmnick.

LGTBNETWORKPHOTOSPresident and Founder of the LGBT Network David Kilmnick and Cognac Wellerlane.

David Kilmnick, PhD, MSW has more than twenty three years of experience working on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities. His mission is to end homophobia and transphobia, provide a home and a safe space for the community and advocate for equality under the law.

David founded Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth (LIGALY) in 1993 and has led the organization through growing and developing substantially in its 21-year history including the purchase of the first LGBT community center on Long Island. The most significant growth was in 2005 when David established The LGBT Network (The Network) to expand services for Long Island’s LGBT community throughout the lifespan. The Network included two other new organizations – the Long Island LGBT Community Center (The Center) for adults and families, and Services and Advocacy for LGBT Elders – Long Island (SAGE-LI) for seniors so that LGBT Long Islanders of all ages have access to needed programs and services.

Below is our interview:

Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here with the President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. David Kilmnick.

David: Yes, thank you so much for coming today.

It’s my pleasure. It’s such a wonderful event. It’s wonderful that you opened this facility right here in Sag Harbor. That must have been a huge undertaking. Can you tell my audience about the new facility that you just opened up.

David: Sure, the LGBT Network is an association of several different non-profit organizations, LIGALY, The Long Island Center, SAGE-U, Long Island for our elders and we just expanded into Queens. We have LGBT Queens Center now too. Servicing Long Island’s LGBT community means that we have to have more than on center to make our services accessible. A couple of years ago there was a sixteen year old in East Hampton, David Hernandez Barros…

Oh, I heard about that.

David: It was tragic. He didn’t have any support. He didn’t have anywhere to go so he took his own life. We said we can’t wait one more day to open a center here on the East End so that there isn’t one more kid that feels like they have to take their life. So the center is the beacon of hope for so many kids, for their parents, for their families for LGBT people, for straight people….it’s really a hub of activity for the East End LGBT community. We have all different kinds of services. We have a drop-in center for people to drop-in. We do cultural activities, art activities, we do counseling, we do HIV testing….we are out in the community the schools and we do some anti-bullying work. We are really all over the East End making sure that our community feels safe no matter where they are at.

Tell my audience how you became involved.

David: I am actually the founder of the organization.

So you decided to create this organization, How wonderful! How long has it been in existence?

David: Twenty-three years. I started the organization when I was a student at Stonybrook University.

You were a baby!

David: I know, I know, now I am going to be middle aged. Well I am middle aged, ha..ha..ha. I am going to be SAGE Long Island age soon. I started the organization when I was a student at Stonybrook doing my masters project when I was studying for my masters in social work and we went out into Long Island schools to talk about what it is like to grow up LGBT and what happened at the end of these workshops….we would have a couple of students when the worship was over they would shuffle their papers, would hit stuff on the floor so that everyone else would leave class and they would come up to the gay speaker…it was always the same question no matter where it was, “Is there a place that I can go” and there wasn’t back in 1993.

That’s why you decided to start this organization.

David: Yes! These kids, our youths should have a safe place. Everyone should have a safe place. We should definitely have a haven where they can just come and be kids and enjoy themselves and learn about everything they need to learn in life and learn that they can be anything in life too!

It is interesting, I go to so many organizations like this. I just went to LIVE OUT LOUD. That was in East Hampton. Tell my audience why your organization is unique. What is different about it?

David: Our organization, the LGBT Network with all of our organizations, Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth, Long Island LGBT Community Center, SAGE and Queens LGBT Community Center serves a region of over six million people from the midtown tunnel to Montauk.

That’s a lot of people.

David: It is a lot of people. We have four community centers. Most organizations and all of our LGBT organizations are absolutely wonderful and doing God’s work but our organization is a little bit different in the fact that we can’t just have one center and expect people to come to where ever we are. We have to make our services accessible. A lot of what we do here in our center is making sure that we are out and visible in the community whether its schools, whether its the workplace, whether its churches or synagogues…we are out there doing our work to try and make every space a LGBT friendly space.

You doing a fantastic job! you are doing a spectacular job! I want you to tell my audience where we can go to find out more information. What is the website?

David: Sure, they can go to www.lgbtnetwork.org; You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and all over social media as well.

LGTBNETWORK Chief Operating Officer Robert Vitelli and Cognac Wellerlane pose for a photo-op.

The LGBT Network is an association of non-profit organizations working to serve the LGBT community of Long Island and Queens throughout the lifespan: Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth (LIGALY), The Long Island LGBT Community Center (The Center), Services and Advocacy for LGBT Elders – Long Island (SAGE-LI), and the Queens LGBT Community Center (Q Center).

LIGALY is the original organization of The Network as it was established in 1993 and is nationally known for its work with LGBT youth in the areas of education, advocacy, youth leadership and development and support. The Center and SAGE-LI along with the Network was founded in 2005 to unite these non-profits to help more LGBT people across the lifespan and create a cost efficient way of serving the Long Island LGBT Community.

With shared administrative staff between all organizations, this structure eliminates duplication of administrative and executive staff thereby allowing each organization of The Network to share resources. This unique model reduces overhead costs and expenses and as a result more than 80 cents of every dollar raised are channeled directly into critical programs and services for Long Islanders of all ages and walks of life.

Cognac interviews President and Founder David Kilmnick of the LGBT Network, Committee Member Tim Hennessey and Chief Operating Officer Robert Vitelli at The Sunset on The Harbor Cocktail Reception to benefit lgbtnetwork.org in Sag Harbor

Together, each organization works within The Network to end homophobia and transphobia, to provide a home and safe space for the LGBT community and to advocate for equality.

Since 2012, The Network also produces the annual Pride Parade and PrideFest celebration every June and Living Out magazine each month. Both Pride and Living Out build community and celebrate their identities while also providing visibility to their movement

For more information please visit http://lgbtnetwork.org

Shelter Island Historical Society Hosts Black and White Gala; Signature Fund Raising Summer Event, July 18, 2015

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LONG ISLAND, NY – On July 18, 2015 The Shelter Island Historical Society hosted The Black and White Gala. The Historical Society’s signature fund raising summer event is an opportunity to support the Society while enjoying great live music, food (including a raw bar), a complimentary photo of each guest and a silent auction. Supporters gathered together wearing their favorite summer black and white ensembles to enjoy an elegant evening of cocktails, dinner and dancing.

I sat down in an intimate interview with their President Elizabeth Pedersen and her husband Bill Pedersen.

BillElizabetPedersen President Elizabeth Pedersen and her husband Bill Pedersen with Cognac Wellerlane at Shelter Island Historical Society’s signature fund raising summer event on July 18, 2015.

Welcome back darlings. I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here at the Shelter Island Historical Society’s Black and White Gala and I am here with the president and her husband. Introduce yourself to the camera.

Elizabeth: Hi, I am Elizabeth Pedersen and I would like you to meet my wonderful husband, Bill.

Bill: Hello, I am Bill Pedersen and I am the husband of the President of the Shelter Island Historical Society.

And he has gotten involved because you made him get involved, I am sure!

Elizabeth: I think he is a willing partner in almost everything in my life. I have been very fortunate and when it came up in a topic he said “He would help me” and that is what he has done for last three years on this project.

Tell my audience a little bit about the history of the Shelter Island Historical Society.

Elizabeth: Well it is ninety years old and it has had its ups and downs and right now we are on a big lift because we are in campaign mode to create a new aspect which will modernize this facility and make it twenty first century, something we can be proud of, along with our fabulous history that we need to take care of.

How old is Shelter Island?

Elizabeth: Well that is something that we could leave to others but it is over four hundred years old.

Why is Shelter Island such a unique place?

Elizabeth: It’s surrounded by water and the South Fork and we have the beautiful North Fork….and people come from both forks to see us and be part of what is going on here which is pretty incredible.

Tell me something incredible about Shelter Island. What makes it so special?

Elizabeth: Well, I think there is a chance for privacy and at the same time a lot of community activity especially at the Shelter Island Historical Society right now. So it gives us a sense of home participation and planning for the future and the future generations who will want to be here knowing much more about the past.

How much of the proceeds go toward re-establishing the Shelter Island Historical Museum?

Elizabeth: The funds from tonight will be for keeping the lights on and keeping us going for the next year. We work on a very tight budget and so it will be tonight that finances the backup so to speak.

What made you get involved in this?

Elizabeth: That’s a really good question! I have a friend and you now friends are terrific and they ask you come along on a venture. A past president of the Historical Society said “Why don’t you run, I think you have something to offer this group.” and I felt very welcomed and somehow I felt at home. I have been working for about seven years here as a volunteer.

You started out as a volunteer?

Elizabeth: I worked my way up to President

Elizabeth and her husband went on to explain the importance of the history of Shelter Island not only to Long Island but to the country as well.

Host Cognac Wellerlane interviews President Elizabeth Pedersen and her husband Bill Pedersen and Artist Roz Dimon at the Shelter Island Historical Society’s Black and White Gala on July 18, 2015.

The mission of the Shelter Island Historical Society is to research, preserve and share their heritage and island history through education, exhibition, scholarship and community activities. They interpret Shelter Island’s past and on-going life through preservation of historical material from the first inhabitants, settlers and town fathers, to those who have made it a caring and unique community through the years. They strive to preserve the island’s heritage for future generations.

For more information please visit http://www.shelterislandhistorical.org

The Cookbook Author and Food Network Star Katie Lee Host St. Barths In The Hamptons, Saturday July 18, 2015

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LONG ISLAND, NY – The Cookbook Author and Food Network Star Katie Lee hosted St. Barths In The Hamptons presented by Social Life Magazine and St. Barth Tourism. In this months issue of Social Life Magazine Katie Lee appears in a provocative spread in the glossy mag, but, “At the beginning of the shoot, I was actually terrified,” revealed Billy Joel’s former wife.

“I usually do photo shoots wearing casual clothes and holding a cooking spoon,” Katie Lee states.

Sexy guests and VIP’s were treated to caviar tasting, open bar all night, V.I.P. entry, hors d’oeuvres, champagne, lounge seating, and a gift bag. The event took place at the Bridgehampton Museum from 6 to 10 p.m.on Saturday July 18, 2015. A portion of the proceeds were donated to support the Bridgehampton Historical Society.

Rita Cosby Television News Anchor, Correspondent, Radio Host and Best Selling Author Rita Cosby (left) with Cognac Wellerlane at St. Barths In The Hamptons Saturday July 18, 2015.

Katie Lee was raised in Milton, West Virginia. She studied journalism and food science at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where she graduated in 2003. She met Billy Joel when she was 22 years old, while visiting New York City for a weekend. After dating for a year, she and Joel married at his home in Oyster Bay, Long Island on October 2, 2004. Billy Joel’s daughter Alexa Ray Joel from his marriage to Christie Brinkley served as maid of honor. After nearly five years of marriage, Billy and Katie Lee separated in June 2009. The separation came after months of rumors that Lee was having an affair with Israeli fashion designer Yigal Azrouel.

During the event I caught up with Television News Anchor, Correspondent, Radio Host, and Best Selling Author Rita Cosby.

Rita is currently a Special Correspondent for the CBS syndicated program Inside Edition, specializing in interviewing newsmakers and political figures. Cosby has received three Emmy Awards, the Jack Anderson Award for investigative excellence, the Matrix Award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and the Lech Walesa Freedom Award. On October 11, 2010, was declared “Rita Cosby Day” in the State of New York for her “extraordinary journalism and exemplary service on behalf of her community.

Katielee

Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here at St. Barths in the Hamptons. I am here with Rita Cosby and she looks fabulous as usual. Tell me how you got invited to this event.

Rita: You now what I love what Social Life does. I have such a respect for the owner and the publisher and this is the place to be in the Hamptons especially on such a beautiful summer night.

Yes, it is beautiful!

Rita: It really is incredible so they do a lot of charitable things which is great about giving back and remembering what it’s all about and I really applaud them. I am so happy to be here. Earlier in the day I was a Jill Zarin’s event.

Tell me about that event. I missed that event. I was at the Shelter Island Historical Society’s Black and White Gala.

Rita: I see with your beautiful black and white outfit. Jill Zarin had the most amazing event and a lot of the proceeds went to the Samuel Waxman Foundation which is a great cause. Jill is so incredible she knows how to put on the most amazing party. It was tons of women. This year she ad a man cave. So she had a place for the guys as well and all these incredible vendors, products and all the whose who of the Hamptons. All the “Real Housewives” were there.

Rita discussed more of Jill’s event but we continued to discuss how important St. Barths in the Hamptons was and the significance of some of the proceeds will be benefiting The Bridgehampton Historical Society.

Rita: I love being in the Hamptons and I love being here at this special event and I love your heart because you always do so many great things. You get the word out about all the great celebrities at all the great events.

The whole thing is not that we are interviewing celebrities it’s that this particular event is going to benefit the Bridgehampton Historical Society.

Rita: Which is why I am here.

Yes, we want everyone to know that it’s not just about celebrities, it’s about benefiting the Bridgehampton Historical Society on the East End and thank you for being a big supporter and talking to me.

Interviews with Rita Cosby and Sir Ivan at St. Barths In The Hamptons Saturday July 18, 2015.

I also had a chance to chat with Sir Ivan who holds a spectacular costume event at his palatial Castle in the Hamptons.

Sir Ivan tell my audience why do love St. Barths in the Hamptons so much?

Sir Ivan: It’s a lot of fun people, fun crowd, good energy, great music and great food!

I think that is why my husband likes it too! A lot of sexy girls!

Sir Ivan: That also!

Now you have a very important event every year here in the Hamptons. Tell my audience what is your event all about.

Sir Ivan: I raise a lot of money for my charity. It’s called The Peaceman Foundation and then I reward them and thank them by inviting them to my big record release party at the end of the summer. I wrote an anti-bullying anthem called “Kiss All The Bullies Goodbye” with vocals by Taylor Dayne and I also gave one hundred thousand dollars away to ten different anti-bullying charities and all the proceeds from the song, the video, downloads are all going to those ten anti-bullying charities.

On Saturday August 22nd, I am going to show the Hamptons something they have never seen before. I am going to turn back in time into the ambiance of the vibe of Studio 54, rechristening my Castle as “Castle 54,” and you have to come dressed like one of the Village People. I will have twenty of the world’s greatest Latin hustle dancers on the planet from Stepping Out Studios and we are going to celebrate the LGBT community, the straight community, mixed together the way it should be.

If we want to find out more about you Ivan where can we go, what is your website?

Sir Ivan: Sirivan.com

Sir Ivan is an American recording artist and songwriter who is best known for his pop-dance remakes of 1960s and early 1970s peace songs. He created The Peaceman Foundation, a non-profit organization that battles hatred, violence and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In the United States alone he has appeared on various reality television shows, such as Who Wants to be a Superhero?,

Social Life Magazine is the premier luxury publication for Manhattan and the Hamptons. their content focuses on luxury lifestyle on local, national, and international levels. Social Life Magazine provides it’s readers with an opportunity to target the most prominent New Yorkers, sought-after tastemakers, successful professionals, international jet-setters, advancing entrepreneurs, and A-List Celebrities.

St. Barths in the Hamptons has drawn many celebrities to its events including Brooke Shields, Kevin and Danielle Jonas, Molly Sims and Ramona Singer. The event is always considered a glamorous, sexy, hip event in the Hamptons enticing the elite and want to be’s.

Opera Star Cristina Fontanelli ‘Sets Off Alarms’ At Space Sixteen Boutique in Southampton, July 17, 2015

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LONG ISLAND, NY – It was a bang of a birthday party in Southampton on Friday July 17, 2015 at Space 16 Boutique as celebrity guests and notable chic personalities attended Humanitarian Sara Herbert Galloway’s Birthday party. Guests were enjoying light faire and champagne while shopping at the upscale boutique and enjoying the event.

I invited Opera Star Cristina Fontanelli to sing Happy Birthday to Sara. While guest were entertained by Cristina’s magnificent opera voice, they brought out the sparklers to each guest and as the firecrackers and sparklers lit Cristina sang her rendition of Happy Birthday. As Cristina sang her last high note, the fire alarms went off. The room rapidly filled up with smoke and almost caused a fire leaving guests choking for air. Everyone left the establishment in a hurry. Thank goodness no one was hurt! The Fire Dept. was notified and a squad of cops pulled up to Space Sixteen Boutique where the upscale chic birthday party was being held. After everything calmed down the party resumed and guests enjoyed champagne and birthday cake. Nothing phases celebrities in Southampton.

ActressHelenActress Helen Proimos, Opera Star Cristina Fontanelli, Sara Herbert-Galloway and Cognac Wellerlane at Space 16 Boutique in Southampton, Friday July 17, 2015.

I had a chance to chat with Opera Star Cristina Fontanelli about the whole experience.

Hello darlings, welcome back, I am here with famous Opera Star Cristina Fontanelli who is making a big impact here in the Hamptons and she is also going to be singing throughout this month and next month, Cristina tell my audience you will be singing at Duck Walk Vineyards.

Cristina: Yes, I am. It is really special Cognac. We are honoring the memory of Dr. Damianos. He was a Long Island wine pioneer. He loved the opera. He passed away last year and tomorrow evening at Duck Walk Vineyards on the North Fork we will do Cristina Fontanelli’s and his fabulous friends in memory of Dr. Damianos.

He was a tremendous person that gave back so much to the community.

Cristina: You know Cognac, I have to say something happened here this evening at Space 16. I have to say this has never happened in my entire career. I mean, I have been all over the world. I have sang for presidents. I have even been on safari in Africa and I have quite a number of stories as a singer traveling in the middle east. Tonight here at Sara’s birthday party this has never happened. I was happy to sing Happy Birthday…..

And of course I invited you to come and sing Happy Birthday for Sara….

Cristina: Cognac invited me. I was coming out here for the opera tomorrow and I said “Sure.” There were sparklers while I was singing and the second I finished the alarm system went off! It was the most amazing thing that went on here.

You see that, your voice didn’t break glass but it set the alarms right here at Space 16 in Southampton. The fire trucks and the police department came here because they thought the place was on fire and that is because of this young lady!

Cristina: It was an amazing evening, thank you for the invitation.

I have never been to a birthday party like this. The cops and the firemen came. Were they cute?

Cristina: Yeah!

Wow! I love fireman and I love cops!

Cristina: I have been in the middle of Times Square and I thought it was exciting there but I came out to Southampton and there was more excitement here. Wow, they really know how to throw a birthday party in Southampton!

Cognac Wellerlane interviews Opera Star Cristina Fontanelli at Sara Herbert Galloway’s Birthday party at Space Sixteen Boutique in Southampton, New York.

Cristina went on to explain about her project of keeping opera alive in the Hamptons. For more information please visit www.cristinafontanelli.com and for information about Space 16 please visit http://www.spacesixteensoho.com

Cognac Wellerlane interviews Boutique Owner Daniela Zahradnikova at her Store Space 16 in Southampton and Sara Herbert Galloway for her Birthday Party.

Space 16 is a convergence of style and art. Curated with designers and artisans who bring their visions to life in various wearable forms. During their 4th of July event a percentage of each sale went to The Wounded Warrior Project. Customer who brought unused clothing to Space 16 earned 10%..+ discount off a new purchase and donated articles went directly to the WWP org. Celebrities in attendance for Sara Herbert Galloway’s birthday included Artist Kevin Berlin, Tracy Stern, Opera Star Cristina Fontanelli and Bravo Network’s James Lipton.

Actor John Amos Wins Lifetime Achievement Award at Long Island International Film Expo, July 16, 2015

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Independent filmmakers, actors and VIP guests attended the 18th Annual LIIFE – Long Island International Film Expo from July 8 – 16, 2015 at the Bellmore Movies. This year’s festival included over a hundred short and feature-length independent films from all over the world. Several panels were held during the LIIFE – Long Island International Film Expo – topics include: distribution, scriptwriting, legal music and a filmmaker panel/breakfast.

Once the winners of the LIIFE – Long Island International Film Expo are chosen (a combination of audience ballot and judging committee), they are honored at the Closing Night Party and Awards Ceremony, where they receive trophies and winners’ prizes (which vary from cash prizes, editing time, DVDs, free rentals of lights, etc.). The Closing Party and Awards Ceremony was held on Thursday, July 16, 2015 at the Filmmakers Lounge, directly West of the Bellmore Movies.

This year the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Stage, TV and Film Actor John Amos who is best known for his TV character, James Evans, Sr. on the 1970s television series “Good Times.” During the award ceremony I interviewed Mr. Amos on the red carpet.

ActorJohnAmosStage, TV and Film Actor John Amos at the 18th Annual LIIFE – Long Island International Film Expo, Thursday, July 16, 2015

Hello darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and we are here at the Long Island International Film Expo and I am here with Mr. John Amos. You all know him so well. He is a fabulous Actor. He has been in so many films, on television in “Good Times” as you know from the late 70’s and also “Coming to America” with Eddie Murphy. Now you are receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. Tell my audience what does that feel like to receive such an award? It’s pretty special!

John: Yeah, that is the one thing they usually give you before you die.

No! You have way more years!

John: No, It is very gratifying from a kid from Jersey to be here and receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. I never thought it would happen. So I am very, very grateful and thankful.

You have been an actor for many, many years. Tell my audience inspired you to become an actor? Was there a movie star or TV star that inspired you and make you say “This is what I want to do?”

John: Well the first time I received audience applause I was hooked and that happened as a result of a high school play that I was in called “The Man Who Came To Dinner” that was my first performance in high school and I got a plus and I liked it and the only other thing that I experienced as a plus was from playing football but I found acting did not leave you broken up at the end of the day or swollen so I kind of liked that better.

Tell my audience, is there any special thing that you have done, you have done so much, any particular TV show or film that you really loved doing?

John: Obviously I enjoyed performing in “Goodtimes” but I love to make people laugh and “Coming to America”….

I loved you in that!

John: Yeah, everyone seemed to love that picture because of the many roles that Eddie, he portrayed. He must have portrayed nine or ten different characters and It is one of those comedies that make people laugh. That is always a good feeling when you can make a complete audience of strangers laugh at what you are doing!

I am sure you love Eddie Murphy!

John: Oh yeah, my goodness he was at the top of his game and it was a wonderful comedy to be involved with.

Tell my audience if we want to find out more information about you as an actor, do you have a website?

John: Yeah, they can go online and check out www.johnamosactor.com

Mr. Amos’s television work includes roles in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” the miniseries “Roots,” for which he received an Emmy nomination, and a recurring role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on T”he West Wing.” He also played the father of Will Smith’s character’s girlfriend, Lisa Wilkes, in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” He has also appeared on Broadway and in numerous motion pictures in a career that spans four decades. He has received nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and NAACP Image Award.

Cognac Wellerlane interviews Actors John Amos, Evan Parke, Composer Randy Edelman and Jackie Martling the Joke man at the Long Island Film Expo in Bellmore, Long Island.

Amos has had roles in multiple films, such as “Coming to America,'” “Vanishing Point,” “The President’s Plane is Missing,” “Lock Up,” “American Flyers,” “The Beastmaster” and “Die Hard 2.” He starred in “Let’s Do It Again” (1975) as Kansas City Mack with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier. Amos was featured in Disney’s “The World’s Greatest Athlete” with Tim Conway and Jan-Michael Vincent. He was in Ice Cube’s and Dr. Dre’s video for “Natural Born Killaz” and played a police officer in “The Players Club”. Amos co-starred with Sylvester Stallone in the 1989 movie “Lock Up.” In 1995, he appeared in the film “For Better or Worse.” In 2006, he played Jud in “Dr. Dolittle 3.” He played Uncle Virgil in “My Baby’s Daddy.” In 2012, Amos had a role in the movie “Madea’s Witness Protection,” as Jake’s father.

Long Island International Film Expo has been attended by some Hollywood’s finest including: Robert Davi (Goonies), John Nolan (Taking Back Sunday), Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Billy Baldwin (Backdraft), Ed Burns (Saving Private Ryan), Cliff Robertson (Charley, PT109), Danny Aiello (Moonstruck), Edie Falco (The Sopranos, Judy Berlin), Steve Guttenberg (Cocoon), Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid), Kelly Rutherford (Melrose Place), Oleg Cassini (fashion designer), Karen Allen (Raiders of the Lost Arc, The Perfect Storm), Eddie McGee (Big Brother), Brian O’Halloran (Clerks, Dogma), Dan Lauria (The Wonder Years), Abe Vigoda (Barney Miller), Yancy Butler (Witchblade), Tony Lo Bianco (Police Story), Nestor Serrano (24), Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray, Huge), Kevin Covais (American Idol), Adam Ferrara (Rescue Me), Cathy Moriarty (Raging Bull), Ally Sheedy, Robert Vaugh, Robert Clohessy (Blue Bloods), Melissa Archer (One Life to Live) and others.

For more information please visit http://longislandfilmexpo.com

Bay Street Theater Hosts 24th Annual Summer Gala with New Adaptation of “The Prince of Egypt” Sat, July 11, 2015

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Bay Street Theater and Sag Harbor Center for the Arts hosted its 24th Annual Summer Gala on Saturday, July 11. Their gala is always a summer treat for Hamptonites to give their support to this amazing theater. The Bay Street theater, in association with DreamWorks Theatricals, presented a concert reading of the first act of Stephen Schwartz’s new stage adaptation of “The Prince of Egypt.”

Schwartz is a brilliant prolific composer whose accomplishment have included: “Godspell,” “Pippin,” “Wicked” and “Working.” Scott Schwartz the son of Stephen Schwartz is Bay Street’s Artistic Director and was thrilled to debut the project, which has been in the works for some time. “What’s happened is that DreamWorks has, over the years, with increasing frequency as they’ve gotten into the live theater business, gotten requests about a stage adaptation of “The Prince of Egypt” to the point that they thought it was time to make a live show,” says Schwartz. “The original movie, as with most animated features, has five or six songs, while the high teens are more common in a stage musical. I’m continuing to try and get some writing done on the new songs.”

“The Prince of Egypt” is an adaptation of the Biblical story of Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt and was released in 1998. This film was DreamWorks Pictures’ first traditional animated film. Many of his songs from the film became mainstream hits, including “When You Believe,” which Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston covered as a duet, as well as “River Lullaby,” covered by Amy Grant.

Kyle Barisich Broadway Star Kyle Barisich and Cognac Pose for a photo-op at the 24th Annual Bay Street Theater Summer Gala. Photo by Andrew Cohen.

I had the pleasure of interviewing the cast that night including Matthew James Thomas (Pippin, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark) as Moses, Tony Award winner Patina Miller (Pippin, Sister Act, Madam Secretary) as Tzipporah, Norm Lewis (Scandal, Porgy and Bess, Phantom of the Opera) as Jethro, Julia Murney (Wicked, 30 Rock, The Wild Party) as Queen Tuya and Kyle Barisich (Phantom of the Opera, The Following) as Aaron

Last May, Norm Lewis who play “Jethro” made history as “The Phantom of the Opera’s first African American Phantom on Broadway. He was recently seen on PBS in the Live From Lincoln Center Productions of Norm Lewis: “Who Ami I?”, “New Year’s Eve: “A Gershwin Celebration” with Diane Reeves, “American Voices” with Renee Fleming and will be seen in the upcoming Live from Lincoln Center Production of “Showboat.”

Julia Murney Norm Lewis Patina Broadway Stars Julia Murney, Norm Lewis and Patina Miller pose for a photo-op on the Red Carpet at the 24th Annual Bay Street Theater Summer Gala. Photo by Andrew Cohen.

Hello darling, welcome back I am here at the 24th Annual Bay Street Gala and I am here with this Broadway Actor introduce yourself to the camera.

Norm: I am Norm Lewis

You have done so much on Broadway, what has been your latest accomplishment?

Norm: Most people know me from “Porky and Bess” and I just finished “Phantom Of The Opera” on Broadway and that was a dream.

We are here of course tonight for the Bay Street Theater. This is such a wonderful theater and it’s such a great thing that you are here tonight to support the theater.

Norm: It is an honor to be here. I have never been to the Hamptons before believe it or not. I have been in New York for over twenty years and I am glad that I had a chance to come here to do something as significant as this. I have always heard about the Bay Street theater and the wonderful shows they do, just how they treat their actors. I am honored to be here.

Patina Miller is an American actress and singer. Miller is best known for originating the role of disco diva wannabe Deloris Van Cartier in the 2009 West End and 2011 Broadway productions of “Sister Act.” She recently starred as the Leading Player in the 2013 revival of “Pippin” for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Patina, don’t you think the Bay Street Theater is a fabulous theater?

Patina: Of course it is a fabulous theater. I love Stephen Schwartz and Scott is amazing and I think what they doing here is pretty special and I am happy to be here for this gala tonight.

Tell my audience what was it like to work with Mr. Schwartz?

Patina: Well, I mean Stephen is one of the greats and as a musical theater actress it has been very, very amzing to be able to work with him during “Pippin” you kmow him being hands on and to be here today celebrating and doing the first act of his new musical “The Prince of Egypt” it’s really amazing. Stephen is just the best of the best! We just have been having fun for the past five days!

Julia Murney is an American actress, singer and theatre performer, primarily featured in theatre and television commercial voice-overs. Until 2005, she was commonly known as the Broadway actress who had technically never appeared on Broadway. This was because her fame came mostly from her performances on the Broadway charity circuit, and not traditional Broadway productions.

Murney’s Off-Broadway theatrical credits include originating the role of ‘Queenie’ in Andrew Lippa’s “The Wild Party” (2000) at the Manhattan Theatre Club, opposite Brian d’Arcy James, Idina Menzel, and Taye Diggs, for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. She was also seen in “The Vagina Monologues,” “Crimes of the Heart” (2001), “A Class Act” (2000), “Time and Again” (2001), and “First Lady Suite.” She appeared in a musical version of the film “Saved!”at the Playwrights Horizons Theatre, which had previews starting from May 9, and an opening on June 3, 2008. In August 2008, Murney portrayed the title role of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Evita” at Wells Fargo Pavilion in Sacramento.

Murney made her debut on Broadway in 2005, in the short-lived musical Lennon. She was also seen in the Actors’ Fund benefit concerts of “Funny Girl,” “Chess,” “Hair” and the World AIDS Day Benefit Concert “Pippin.” She has also been featured on television in “Sex and the City,” ” Ed,” “NYPD Blue” and various episodes of “Law & Order.”

Tell my audience about this play and of course the music is by Stephen Schwartz. How were you introduced to him?

Julia: I have known Stephen Schwartz since 1996. I have worked with him a number of times. I got to play the wicked witch in “Wicked” on Broadway so we have a long history.

Matthew James Thomas is a British actor and singer who has made appearances in television, film, and theater. He is known for his television roles including the BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning, “The Lost Prince” and the TV drama-musical show, “Britannia High.” Thomas is also recognized for his performance in the title role of the 2013 revival of “Pippin” which received a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. He was also a late addition to the U.S. national tour of “Pippin” in 2014. He had his Broadway debut in 2010 playing Peter Parker in “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.”

Now tell me, Matthew, why are you here tonight. Obviously you are here for a special reason. Tell my audience.

Matthew: We have just completed a performance of the first act of “The Prince of Egypt” which is now being turned into a musical.

And you are very excited about that!

Matthew: Hugely excited! All we did today was perform the first act and it was incredible!

Kyle Barisich who plays “Aaron” is a native of Log Gatos, California. Kyle is thrilled to baking his Bay Street Theater debut. He comes directly from the Broadway company of “The Phantom Of The Opera” where he recently played Raoul, Vicomte du Chagny.

We are here at the Bay Street Theater Gala and I am here with this wonderful Broadway actor. Eveyone loves you in the theater. You are doing such amazing work. Introduce yourself to the camera.

Kyle: Sure, my name is Kyle Barisich and I play “Aaron” in “The Prince of Egypt.”

Tell my audience what was it like to work with Stephen Schwartz.

Kyle: I come from “Phantom Of The Opera” so I me met and worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Schwartz. you know he is so down to earth for someone that is such a mad genius as he is. He is so approachable and down to earth and was just as excited bo bring this show tonight as we were to be a part of it and that was so exciting!

During the gala the Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts honored The Honorable Timothy Bishop and Joe Pintauro for their services to the community and to the arts.

The Honorable Timothy Bishop is a representative for New York’s 1st congressional district. Bishop served most of central and eastern Suffolk County and secured more than $150 million for projects within his district. He was widely viewed as one of the Congress’ strongest advocates for access and affordability for students pursuing Higher Education. Prior to serving in the United States Congress from 2003-2015, Bishop was an administrator at Southampton College of LIU for 29 years, the last 16 of which he spent as Provost. Recently named distinguished professor of Civic Engagement and Public Service at St. Joseph’s College, he resides in Southampton with his wife Kathy. The couple have two daughters, Molly and Meghan, and a grandson, Nathan.

Joe Pintauro is a noted playwright, poet, and novelist. His play Men’s Lives was the inaugural production of Bay Street Theater. His novels are Cold Hands and State of Grace. Joe is a recipient of the John Steinbeck Writers Award and the Guild Hall Lifetime Achievement Award for the Literary Arts. He is currently working on a third novel and just completed a new play.

Bay Street Theater & the Sag Harbor Center For The Arts is a year-round, not-for-profit professional theater and community cultural center which endeavors to innovate, educate, and entertain a diverse community through the practice of the performing arts. We serve as a social and cultural gathering place, an educational resource, and a home for a community of artists.

For more information please visit www.baystreet.org.

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