Darlin's,
I trust you all had a joyous holiday season and have recuperated from weeks
of parties and good cheer. We concluded our holidays here at the Follies with
two spectacular New Year's Eve celebrations. I had reports from several local
restaurateurs, however, that my cast continued "the party" until 3:00 a.m. at
various Palm Springs establishments! But how do you tell an 80-year-old that
she has a "curfew"?
After a brief break, we open our spring show tomorrow with the incomparable Four Coins, who guest star through March 19, 2006. They rehearsed their act earlier today and, I must tell you, they sound as incredible as they did when they first recorded their 1957 hit single, "Shangri-La" - a song that became the most-played record of that year. I know you're going to love them!
We also have a new video clip from this season's birthday show on the Follies' homepage (www.psfollies.com). Be sure to view it if you haven't yet seen this season's special edition show. (Based upon the notes I've received, it's unanimous this is our best Follies EVER!)
If you're a Follies Favorite, cast member Dorothy Kloss has included her recipe for Baked Pepperoni Rigatoni (Kloss is an Italian name? Who knew?!) Favorites can also view a large selection of our New Year's Eve Party photos on their "members only" webpage.
And while on the subject of Ms. Kloss, Red Hat Society Lifestyle Magazine did a
full-page story on her in their January/February 2006 edition, so be sure to pick
up a copy from your local newsstand. With over one million Red Hatters around the
globe, it's only fitting that our ladies should have their very own Chapter called
"The Long-Legged Lovelies."
It's time now for me to wander into the theater to see if our cast all made it back (from their travels, that is) and how rehearsal is going. During our New Year's break, three of our lovelies visited New York City to attend the theater, and to take tap and ballet classes at several of Broadway's toughest dance studios. I sincerely hope they didn't show up the "twenty-somethings" too badly. Who am I kidding? Of course they did!
Be well and we hope to see you back at the Follies soon.
Riff Markowitz
"The Follies Man"
All Original Members to Perform Upon Plaza Theatre Stage. Click
here to listen to audio clip.
The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies is proud to announce that the classic vocal harmony group, The Four Coins, singing their mega-hit, "Shangri-La," will join the Follies' fifteenth birthday season as guest stars from January 11 to March 19, 2006.
F. Scott Fitzgerald once famously claimed "there are no second acts in American lives." Like the Follies itself, debuting guest stars The Four Coins are busy proving Fitzgerald wrong. The four members of the group - George Mantalis, James Gregorakis, and brothers Jack and George Mahramas - met in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, a town with a rich musical tradition for its size that also produced Perry Como and Bobby Vinton. Appearing as a vocal group for the first time on a radio talent show in the early 1950s, The Four Coins won the contest, began a long run at the Blue Ridge Inn in Pittsburgh and, by 1954, had a hit record with "We'll Be Married (in the Church in the Wildwood)."
A string of pop-chart successes followed, including "I Love You Madly," "Memories of You," "A Broken Promise," "My Love Loves Me" and, of course, "The World Outside." Most successful was "Shangri-La," the most-played disc of 1957, for which The Four Coins were awarded a Gold Record. Their recording popularity brought them bookings in the best nightclubs, including The Copa in New York, and appearances on television variety shows hosted by Perry Como, Patti Page, Steve Allen, Dick Clark, and Ed Sullivan.
By 1970, The Four Coins had been recording and touring the globe for nearly two decades. They decided to disband to spend more time with their families and so brought down the curtain on the phenomenal "first act" of their careers. For the next 30 years, the singers enjoyed an "intermission" filled with children, grandchildren and success in areas outside show business. But requests for a Four Coins comeback never died out.
In 2003, The Four Coins' "second act" began when they finally yielded to the demands of family, friends and fans to stage a reunion concert. Originally scheduled for one night only, the event sold out so quickly another performance was added, and The Four Coins have been singing ever since, one of the few 50's groups still composed of all its original members. It is more than fitting, then, that The Four Coins bring their "second act" to the Follies, where beautiful melody, close harmony and "second acts" have never gone out of fashion.
We are very happy to announce that you can now use your American Express card to purchase
tickets to the Follies. This card is now accepted whether purchasing online, in-person at
the Plaza Theatre Box Office or speaking by telephone with one of the Follies' friendly
reservations agents. You asked for this purchasing option and the Follies is happy to
oblige!
Tired of the same old carousels, ponies, and clowns? Celebrate your birthday in a new way with a visit to The Follies and combine your celebration with ours!
If you have a group of ten or more (whether it's really your birthday or not), include one of our special "add-on" party packages to make your Follies visit even more fabulous. Party plans include refreshments, souvenirs or combination packages ranging from $5 to $15 per person. Purchased as a package, you receive 44% - 65% off the individual purchase price.
Simply click here to download a detailed flyer or call us at 760-778-7653 to speak with our Reservations Manager.
We'll be happy to celebrate your birthday right along with ours!
Judy Bell, 68, has enjoyed an impressive career spanning over 40 years.
The Judy Bell Show, her own musical and comedy revue, was featured at the MGM Hotels in Reno and Las
Vegas; Harrah's Hotels in Lake Tahoe and Reno; the Flamingo, Sahara and Frontier hotels in Las Vegas;
and the Cinegrill at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
"Life is STILL
in session!"
A veteran songstress, she has played Annie in Annie Get Your Gun, Molly in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Lilly Langtry at Disneyland. Besides earning numerous theatrical nominations and awards for her stage work, she was also voted Best Las Vegas Female Performer four times.
Judy, now back for her twelfth season at the Follies, is a native of West Virginia and has a son, a daughter, and five grandchildren.
What has been your life's greatest challenge?
"It's hard for a Southern rebel to
play by Yankee rules!"
We partner with over fifty restaurants, hotels, attractions,
retailers and special services to assist you in making your visit to Palm Springs and the
Follies even more enjoyable. Please visit the "Visitor Information" page of the Follies
website or click here for a complete listing plus additional helpful details. Some vendors
even make special offers exclusive to Follies patrons, so please check before you visit.
This page also includes parking information and street directions to make getting to the
Follies as easy as possible!
We're always looking for ways to better serve (and entertain!) our patrons, so are delighted to receive your comments and suggestions about what you'd like to see at the Follies.
To assist in the planning of our upcoming seasons, of the choices shown on the right, whom would you like to see as future Follies guest stars?
You can simply check your selection(s) and then click the "Send Choice" button below to submit your vote!
We thank you for your valued opinions.
The Follies box office is open seven days a week and can be reached by calling (760) 327-0225, or you can purchase tickets online 24 hours a day at www.psfollies.com and see your exact seat location at the time of booking. The Follies box office, located at the entrance to The Historic Plaza Theatre, is also now open seven days a week.