Tomatoes Got Talent 2022 Recap
Our 12 contestants: R1 (L-R) Jean Marcley, Leslee Warren, Ellen Autwater, Mimi Lines, Deborah Raymar, R2 (L-R) Mary Calamia, Pamela Hamilton, Marge Helenchild, Aleta St. James, Judy Wong, Deborah Zecher, Ellen Orchid. Photo: Maryann Lopinto
Our 8th sold out Tomatoes Got Talent show was a glorious night. The show took place on October 11 at the Triad Theater in New York City. Co-producers Cheryl Benton, The Three Tomatoes and Randie Levine-Miller along with The Three Tomatoes Roni Jenkins, are grateful to everyone who attended live, and who also streamed the show this year. Thanks to our musical director Paul Chamlin, our PR guy, Beck Lee, and our stage manager, Laura Fieber. Thanks to our sponsors, All that Buzz with Victoria (a YouTube series) and OsteoStrong Park Avenue. But most off all we thank our wonderful talented contestants who participated this year. The show was entertaining and inspiring.
Watch the highlight video below along with the full performance video of this years’ winner, Leslee Warren, whose day job is an administrator at an investment bank. If you would like to view the entire show, you can watch it on YouTube.
Video by: Magda Katz
Video by Magda Katz
The Runner Ups were:
Mary Calamia is a psychotherapist in private practice
Marge Helenchild is a retired licensed massage therapist
Jean Marcley has been blind for over 60 years and loves doing standup. She also conducts workshops on self-esteem and teaches line dancing.
Aleta St. James is a nationally renowned energy healer and author
The Other Finalists were:
Ellen Autwarter is a lawyer who does marketing for a law firm.
Pam Hamilton is a music teacher of string instruments at the Promise Academy in Harlem
Mimi Lines is a recently retired commercial real estate lawyer
Ellen Orchid is a retired psychiatrist who did her residency at Bellevue.
Deborah Raymar is a retired speech-language teacher in NYC
Judy Wong in an International English Educator, a life coach and energy healer
Deborah Zecher is a rabbi, one of the first 50 women ordained in this country.
Photo Highlights (photos by Maryann Lopinto
the 5 finalists
Celebrating the evening
Special Guest: Sidney Meyer
Host, Randie Levine Miller
Special Guest - Kathy Waters
Special Guest: Dr. Alice Levine
Musical Director Paul Chamlin and Randie Levine Miller
Cheryl Benton, Randie Levine Miller, Roni Jenkins, Alice Levine, Kathy Waters
Co-producers: Randie Levine Miller and Cheryl Benton
Special Guests and Judges
Making guest appearances during the evening’s show were Alice Levine, who was a runner-up in 2014; the beloved cabaret icon Sidney Myer; and R&B sensation Kathy Waters, the 2016 winner. The show’s music director was Paul Chamlin.
The judges: Pat Addiss, Beth Fowler, Sue Matsuki. Photo: Maryann Lopinto
And special thanks to this year’s judges—stage, film and television actress (and two-time Tony nominee) Beth Fowler; the Tony Award-winning producer Pat Addiss, and the multi award-winning cabaret/jazz singer, host and columnist Sue Matsuki.
We also thank all the companies who donated to our fabulous gift bags for the contestants and judges.
The tomato behind The Three Tomatoes.
Cheryl Benton, aka the “head tomato” is founder and publisher of The Three Tomatoes, a digital lifestyle magazine for “women who aren’t kids”. Having lived and worked for many years in New York City, the land of size zero twenty-somethings, she was truly starting to feel like an invisible woman. She created The Three Tomatoes just for the fun of it as the antidote for invisibility and sent it to 60 friends. Today she has thousands of friends and is chief cheerleader for smart, savvy women who want to live their lives fully at every age and every stage. She is the author of the novel, "Can You See Us Now?" and co-author of a humorous books of quips, "Martini Wisdom." Because she's lived a long time, her full bio won't fit here. If you want the "blah, blah, blah", read more. www.thethreetomatoes.com/about-the-head-tomato
