Larry Herbert and Violette Verdy

Deborah Norville and Michelle Herbert

Tony and Heather Randall

Dennis Basso and Somers Farkas Photos by Jimi Celeste/PMc

Peter Martins and Violette Verdy

Legendary Ballerinas

VERYTHING was beautiful when the School of American Ballet saluted two legends.  Violette Verdy is one of the ballet world’s most illustrious iconic dancers who delighted audiences around the globe with her magic artistry.  Today, this prima ballerina teaches  new generations of dancers, and everyone loves her.

The corporate honoree was Lawrence Herbert, CEO of Pantone.  If you’re in any business that uses a PMS color, then you owe your thanks to his genius.  He created the universal color system, which is used globally in any industry that maintains a color standard for its products.

Larry is a devoted balletomane who, along with stunning wife Michele, are lifelong generous philanthropists to the ballet and other causes dear to their hearts.

Toute New York came to salute these two legendary figures at the New York State Theatre.  Peter Martins, dancer extraordinaire and currently head of the School led the tributes.  Prima ballerinas Darci Kistler and Patricia McBride, joined famed actor Tony Randall and wife Heather, Somers and Jonathan Farkas, Dennis Basso and Michael Cominotti, Caroline “Comedy Club” Hirsch, Anne Bass, ad guru Abigail Hirschhorn, on and on into the night.

The evening’s magic was capped by a performance of some of the school’s most accomplished young and upcoming ballet stars to be.

It was a truly beautiful evening at the ballet, where everything was, indeed, beautiful.

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Jaid Barrymore and Nicky Hilton

Russell Simmons and Jack Osbourne

Patti LaBelle and John Walsh

Marilyn Crawford, Ahmet Ertegun and Dionne Warwick

Photos by Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic

HE Tinseltown-to-Gotham Grammy event was hot, hot, hot.  The stunning Cipriani 42^nd Street was transformed into a cozy, elegant, supper dancing club, by the magic of Preston Bailey, one of NY’s top event designers.

Living room seating with cozy couches, seating areas for easy chats, and food, glorious food stations all around the place made this cavernous space warm and inviting.

From the moment you stepped through the door (where you were greeted by three trumpeters announcing your arrival), the beat was hot, pulsating and throbbing—and loud–but that’s what the crowd wanted.  Everyone was in town for the Grammy celebrations and tons of music stars came by to see the show.

Wyclef Jean and Friends entertained, and the beat went on and on and on.  It was a great warm-up to a fabulous Grammy event.

The Sopranos’ Lorraine Bracco came with a group, music impresario Russell Simmons, Elizabeth Rohm from Law & Order, and dozens of other celebrities made the party.

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Liz Smith and Barbara Walters Photo by Rob Rich

B’way Women Shine

HERE Is Nothing Like a Dame. Remember that glorious song from South Pacific?  Well, Broadway proved itself that way.  This annual love fest to women performers has become a highlight of the Broadway scene.

Created by Broadway doyenne Phyllis Newman, it raises money to fight breast cancer.

Treading this year’s boards were former Texas governor Anne Richards, international columnist Liz Smith, Barbara Walters and actresses Bonnie Comley, Hilary Swank, Kathleen Turner and Marissa Jaret Winokur.

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Miss Piggy accepts the Humanitarian Spirit Award on behalf of Diana Ross from Nile Rodgers Photo by Domenick Conte	Patti LaBelle Photo by Sally Lieberman
Nile Rodgers and Henry Schleiff with the Village People Photo by Sally Lieberman	Ashford and Simpson with Nile Rodgers’ group, Chic Photo by Sally Lieberman

They Were There

O finish our story about great nights out: I’m delighted to run the photos you missed in last month’s column.  We Are Family Foundation, created by legendary music maker Nile Rodgers was a glorious celebration of song and music.  You should have been there.

It was a night of foot stomping, cheering, handclapping and dancing good fun!  When the music started at The China Club, everyone was on their feet in an instant.  Every tune was a hit. Every hit was belted out by some of the most dynamic stars of yesteryear and today's brightest.

Patti LaBelle brought the house and the rafters down when she belted out one of Diana Ross's most popular tunes.  The Village People, the original and the contemporary ones, had everyone on their feet chanting Y M C A. Ashford & Simpson reminded everyone why they are big stars.

It was a great evening for music, a fitting tribute to the lovely Diana Ross, and a grand salute to the legendary music of Nile Rodgers.

Catherine Saxton has been a part of the New York social and celebrity scene for
the past 25 years. She has worked with Presidents, Kings and Princes,
plus celebrities including Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly,
Donald & Ivana Trump, Madonna, and on, and on.

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