by Randie Levine-Miller

Angela Lansbury fans will love this up close and personal conversation. And we’re heading to London for a fabulous Disney concert at Albert Hall. You’ll love this star-studded tribute to Oscar Hammerstein. And attention baby boomers: you’ll love these classic TV commercials from the 60’s and 50’s.

A Conversation with Angela Lansbury

From 2010: Times Talks: A Conversation with Angela Lansbury with New York Times Reporter Anthony Tommasini……. The legendary Angela discusses her career with a focus on her musical performances.  And who doesn’t love the multi-talented Angela who is now well into her 90’s and still working!  An excellent role model for us Tomatoes.

Sidebar: When I was preparing to produce.a star-studded musical salute at the Friars Club to Friar Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd), I got in touch with Angela via email… within minutes, she got back to me…I heard she was mad for Len when they worked together and the friendship has endured to this day.

Sidebar, two: When she was honored by the Drama League, I attended that night… During the cocktail hour, she made sure to greet everyone personally… A true lady in all ways! 

Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II

A true Broadway star studded treat…”Some Enchanted Evening—Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II” which aired on Great Performances in 1995… Hosted by Julie Andrews, with a stellar cast including: Audra MacDonald, Rebecca Luker, Bernadette

Peters, Patti LaBelle, Mandy Patinkin, Mark Jacoby, Keith Carradine….. plus Harold Prince and Stephen Sondheim (Hammerstein was Sondheim’s mentor and like a second father to him)

Sidebar: The TV show was written by Barry Harman who wrote Broadway’s “Romance, Romance” and off-Broadway’s “Olympus On My Mind” which introduced Faith Prince in the workshop off-off Broadway… I was friends with Barry’s mother, Mickey Harman, who was a real character, a theatrical agent straight out of Damon Runyon, who smoked like a chimney, was not very feminine, but was one of the sweetest and kindest people I’ve ever known. She called me frantically one day, as “Olympus” which then had no budget, needed a mink coat for Faith whose character was involved with “Murray the furrier”! I Would never say no to Mickey…. and so, I loaned them the mink, and got acknowledged in the program!

Disney’s Broadway Hits at Albert Hall London

From 2016, a truly luscious sounding concert… Disney’s Broadway Hits at Albert Hall in London… Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart leading the 74 piece BBC Concert Orchestra…with songs from Tony and Academy Award winning scores, featuring Incredible performances by the cream of Broadway and the West End, including John Barrowman, Ashley Brown, Alton Fitzgerald White…… and a performance by composer Alan Menken, ‘Aladdin”, “Beauty and The Beast”, “Enchanted”, “Pocahontas” “Little Mermaid”, etc.

Sidebar:  I view Alan Menken, whose sister Faye, is my BFF (and our Tomatoes Got Talent stage manager) as one of the greatest melody men of the century.. his songs are so hummable and magical… I know Alan and his family.. when i think of Alan, the word “delicious” comes to mind… He’s also a great performer,raconteur, down to earth and overall mensch!

Classic TV Commercials from the 50’s and 60’s

I couldn’t resist posting this…. Baby Boomer Tomatoes, this is sooooo nostalgic!

A half hour of classic TV commercials of the 50’s and 60’s… Many of us left the room when the commercials came on… but these are such entertaining viewing, so many years later….Some highlights include: Chesterfield, Phillip Morris, Winston, Bayer Aspirin, De Soto, Kellogg’s, Playtex Bra, Gillette Shaving Cream, Milk of Magnesia, etc.  Enjoy!

Randie Levine Miller is Director of Special Events for The Three Tomatoes, and co-produces and hosts the annual Tomatoes Got Talent show.  Known around NYC as a modern day “hostess with the mostess, she has performed in and hosted benefits for the Actors Fund, the Actors Temple, Multiple Sclerosis, and Prostate Cancer Research. Randie’s performance venues have included:  The Triad, The Metropolitan Room, the Laurie Beechman Theater, and the Friars Club. For many years, she was special events director for the Drama Desk Awards.  Randie also had a successful 30-year career as a public relations consultant and handled several major health and medical technology clients.