Doris Bergman's Pre-Emmy Party A Huge Hit

By Darlene Donloe

Doris Bergman’s Eighth Annual Style Lounge & Party kicked off the awards season with her patented, star-studded, fun-filled soiree, held at Fig & Olive in West Hollywood.

Doris Bergman

The celebration of the Emmy® season, hosted by BuyWine.com and presented by Skinside, attracted celebrities from television, film, and theater.

The highly-anticipated, invitational-only event is known for attracting luminaries and delivering one of the best gifting suites of the awards season, which included spirits, lifestyle, beauty and fashion products.

Buy Wine.com CEO & Founder Alma M. Callan

Skinside

During the pre-Emmy celebration, those in attendance were feted and lavished with high-end items great gifts, great food, great drinks, fellowship and, of course, lots of fun.

Emmy winner Kim Estes

Maria Conchita Alonso

Judy Tenuta checks out the DryBar

Toks Olagundoye and the rep from Abingdon Co. Timepieces

Sue Wong and actress Kelsey Scott

Actress Denise Boutee

Brigitte Nielson and CJ's Homemade Wholesome Pet Treats

Tristan Rogers

Dee Wallace and Jeanne Vixen of Jeanne Vixen Jewelry

Celebrities on hand included: Kim Estes (2017 Best Actor Short Form (Dicks) Primetime Emmy Winner), Patrika Darbo, 2016 Primetime Emmy Winner, Best Actress Short Form (Acting Dead), Primetime Emmy Nominees, Kevin “The Bull,” Host of Emmy Nominated Series (American Ninja Warrior), Kelsey Scott (Walking Dead), Mo Collins (‘F’ Is For Family), joined multiple Oscar nominee Bruce Dern, Genevieve Buechner (UnReal), Shiva Negar (American Assassin), Deidre Hall (Days of Our Lives), Brigitte Nielson, Denise Boutte, Tony Denison (Major Crimes), Michael Campion (Fuller House), Naomi Grossman (American Horror Story), Nathan Davis, Jr. (Detroit), Gleb Savchenko (Dancing With the Stars), Steven Bauer (Ray Donovan), Lotte Verbeek (Madam Secretary), Marilu Henner,  Dee Wallace, Maria Conchita Alonso, Rosa Blasi (The Thundermans), Toks Olagundoye and more.

Twisted Silver is always a crowd favorite

Chef Elliott brought his red velvet cake 

Nicole Merritt Lester of MarriageMindedOnly.com

Chef Elliott and Emmy winner Patrika Darbo

Jeanne Vixen of Jeanne Vixen Jewelry

Art Lewin

CJ's Pet Staycation

Laura Uboldi (left)

Jamie Lauren and Rebecca Smoyer

Reema

Reema Beauty

Mallory Diekmann and Karen Haines

Jarret Beaudis

Abingdon Co. Timepieces

Sheri Mudge

Amy D'Ambra, Megan Lyne and Madi Myers-Cook

Olympia Luggage

Gifts and services were provided by: Buy Wine.com, Skinside Drinkable Collagen, Abingdon Co. Timepieces, The Dry Bar, Montrose Regenerative Cosmetics & Laser Center, Curlifornia, Hair Swell, Chef Elliott’s Red Velvet Bourbon Bundt Cakes & Signature Spices, Olympia Luggage, USA, Spa Girl Vodka, Hashtag Hooker, Signature Innovation Group Men’s Wear, Art Lewin Bespoke, Hint Water, Sue Wong Couture & Fragrance, Pampered Pets Playhouse Resort & Spa, CJ's Homemade Wholesome Pet Treats, My Saint, My Hero, Twisted Silver, Jeanne Vixen Jewelry, Reema Beauty, Burger Time, Single Dress, Kaya Di Koko, Single Underwear for Men, Mascarpone Cheesecake by Chef Turok, Rock Your Hair, Marriagemindedonly.com, CJ's Pet Staycation, Sunless Beauty, Purad’or, Miradryla.com, “Loaded Dice Films’ “Wheels” DVDs, Astrologer Kelly Surtees, and VIP gift bags provided by Buywine.com. 

Avril Jones of Skinside said the drinkable beauty shots that are said to improve the collagen is enjoying its first year in the U.S. The product was developed in Switzerland four years ago.

Chef Elliott, based out of Atlanta, gifted his signature red velvet cake with bourbon butter cream cheese glaze. Yum!  He sells the three-layer, nine-inch cake for between $45-$60, plus tax and shipping. Chefelliott.com

Nicole Merritt Lester of the dating website, MarriageMindedOnly.com said the company’s purpose is to pull together like-minded people who aren’t interested in hooking up, but rather are looking for meaning relationships.  The company has been around for three months. It costs between $19.95-$29.95 per month.

CJ’s Pet Staycation and CJ's Homemade Wholesome Pet Treats gifted guests with impressive overnight bags filled with everything a dog owner would need.

Art Lewin is always an event favorite. He’s been supporting Doris Bergman’s efforts for years.

“I keep coming back because it’s a great way to spread the word about my business – even though I’ve been a custom clothier for 28 years,” said Lewin, who gifted large garment bags and men’s socks.

Lewin said he has dressed Jon Voight, Elliott Gould, cast members from Ray Donovan and Steven Bauer.

Christine Devine and Wednesday's Child Erianya Amie

Local Fox 11 News Anchor Christine Devine was on hand to highlight Wednesday’s Child, a weekly segment that airs on KTTV Fox 11 News. Wednesday’s Child focuses on placing children in the LA County foster care system in need of adoptive families. This year Bergman hosted Erianya Amie, a local teen who was able to experience VIP treatment.

The Emmy Awards airs Sunday, September 17, 2017.

Pop Singer Stephanie K Is A 'Troublemaker'

Award-winning singer-songwriter Stephanie K offers no apologies, warnings or explanations for taking control and asserting her will on Troublemaker, her five-song debut EP that will be released October 20 by Woodward Avenue Records. Setting the stage for the EP is Tonight, a pulsing, high-energy electronic club banger written and produced by Trend Def aka the team of Mike Gonsolin and Nick Nittoli. Stephanie wrote the rest of the set with four-timeGrammy winner Michael J. Powell (Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight) who produced the tracks.

Pictured on the EP cover with a collection of heads hanging on the wall - trophies representing her romantic conquests - Stephanie’s lyrical subjects on “Troublemaker” are a mix of girl power bravura and rebellious party girl. The Detroit native writes from personal experience and insists that her material be honest and real. She empowers “Tonight” with a “go for it” mentality with meaning far beyond just a wild night out, but advocates going after your dreams zealously. She offers genuine emotion in an apology for breaking her lover’s heart because of cheating on him on the R&B/rock hybrid “Story Of A Broken Heart.” Anchored by pounding, funky staccato drums and doused with combustible live horns, Stephanie lays her cards on the table before a tantalizing dalliance on the tempestuous “Trouble.” A devilish electric guitar teases and taunts over kinetic synth beats on “Hard For Me” while Stephanie’s melodies and vocals take on haunting qualities. She ends things defiantly on “Breaking Up,” a frenetic synth-rock-pop cocktail that deliberately goes down with biting confrontational bitterness.           

“The songs are a very true representation of who I am as a person and as an artist — fun, a little edgy and not at all afraid to be different and unique. They were inspired by real experiences and raw emotions, which made the writing process so fluid and natural.  I’ve lived through this stuff, and I think listeners can appreciate that type of authenticity and honesty,” said Stephanie, a daring black and blond-maned fashionista who was named one of the Best Dressed People by Detroit’s Hour Magazine.          

Stephanie met Powell while she was a student on an academic scholarship at the University of Michigan. They began by issuing singles and their collaborations gained national recognition when “Story Of A Broken Heart” won the pop/Top 40 category at The Great American Song Contest; “Breaking Up” won Pop Record of the Year honors at the Indie Music Channel Awards; “Ice Cream” was named Pop Song of the Year at the Indie Music Channel Awards; and “High Life” won Pop Single of the Year at theLos Angeles Music Awards. Reflecting her appeal in multiple genres, Stephanie was selected as Rock Artist of the Year by theInternational Music & Entertainment Awards, Pop Artist of the Year at the Indie Music Channel Awards and Female Vocal Performer of the Year at the Los Angeles Music Awards. Her recordings have appeared on television shows (“The Game,” “Total Divas,” “Bad Girls Club”) and movies internationally.

An alluring multimedia magnet, Stephanie has been featured on Inside Edition and FOX as well as HuffPo and in the New York Post and Detroit Free Press. She honed her stage craft at major festivals (RedGuerilla Musicfest at SXSW and Day N Night Fest) and high-profile venues (Whisky a Go Go, House of Blues and the Palace of Auburn Hills). A loyal Detroit sports fan, Stephanie has sung the National Anthem prior to Lions, Tigers and Pistons games.         

Proud to be the first pop artist released by the noted urban-jazz label, Woodward Avenue Records, Stephanie is eager to stir up trouble from the get-go. “Being a bit of a ‘Troublemaker’ is never a bad thing! Too often, I think we become overwhelmed with the notion of fitting into this ‘cookie-cutter’ image. But when it boils down to it, we are not robots and we’re not perfect — so why not embrace that? With this EP, I really wanted to express that it’s okay to feel and display a full range of emotions - from carefree to guilty to sexy to spiteful and everything in between - because that’s life!”

Troublemaker contains the following songs:

“Tonight” (radio edit)

“Story Of A Broken Heart”

“Trouble”

“Hard For Me”

“Breaking Up”

“Tonight”

 www.StephanieKMusic.com.

CeCe Winans Performs At Hand-in-Hand Benefit

Backstage at the Hand-in-Hand Benefit at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville
(l to r): CeCe Winans, Demi Lavoto and Darius Rucker

(Los Angeles,CA )  -  The entertainment industry showed their love and support for people displaced by recent devastating storms in Texas and Florida. The talent turned out in full-force for the Hand-In-Hand: A Benefit For Hurricane Relief that was aired on major networks and cable stations.  Special appearances and performances aired live from Los Angeles, New York and Nashville. 

Multiple award-winning gospel singer CeCe Winans shared the Grand Ole’ Opry stage with Darius Rucker, Demi Lovato and Brad Paisley, performing the Joe Crocker classic, With A Little Help From My Friends. Additional artists who showed their support live from Nashville, included: Host Blake Shelton, Nicole Kidman, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Amy Grant, Usher, Michael W. Smith, and several others.  

Visit https://handinhand2017.com/ for more details on how you can participate in helping those in need.

Clooney's 'Suburbicon' In Theaters October 27

Directed by: George Clooney

Starring: Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, Noah Jupe and Oscar Isaac

Suburbicon is a peaceful, idyllic suburban community with affordable homes and manicured lawns…the perfect place to raise a family, and in the summer of 1959, the Lodge family is doing just that. But the tranquil surface masks a disturbing reality, as husband and father Gardner Lodge (Matt Damon) must navigate the town’s dark underbelly of betrayal, deceit, and violence. This is a tale of very flawed people making very bad choices. This is Suburbicon. 

Follow Suburbicon online for more updates!

Facebook: @SuburbiconMovie

Twitter: @SuburbiconMovie

Instagram: @SuburbiconMovie

#Suburbicon

Robi Reed's Sunshine Beyond Summer Celebration

(Top Photo L-R) Tasha Smith, Debra Lee, Robi Reed and LisaRaye McCoy

(2nd Row L-R) Tisha Campbell Martin, Robi Reed; F. Gary Gray and Robi Reed

(Last Row: Robi and T.I. along with Estelle

Los Angeles, CA — Emmy® Award-winning casting director and talent executive Robi Reed, Founder of The Reed For Hope Foundation (RFHF), presented the 14th Annual “Sunshine Beyond Summer” (SBS) Celebration – The Day Party with a Purpose on Sunday, September 3 at a private estate in Holmby Hills (between Beverly Hills and Bel-Air). 

Hundreds of celebrities and influencers attended this health-themed awareness event and annual fundraiser. Actress, Tasha Smith, currently starring in Starz’s Power and OWN’s For Better or Worse, co-hosted the event. Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter Estelle and Hip-Hop icon Doug E. Fresh added stunning performances, and celebrity DJ D-Nice kept attendees dancing while the foundation showcased its innovative Wellness Row concept featuring free health screenings, affirmations and their ‘Certified Fit To Party’ platform. 

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and Sundial Brands (maker of SheaMoisture) partnered with RFHF on the event to bring these celebrities, entertainment industry tastemakers and community leaders together to encourage them to use their voices to help shift cultural attitudes about wellness, disease prevention and health disparities. AHF and Sundial Brands announced their intent at the event to become corporate partners for 2018 to add resources to help RFHF empower one million friends advocating for health. Additional event attendees included: Debra Lee, Chairman & CEO BET Network, Duane Martin, The New Edition Story & wife Tisha Campbell Martin, Dr. Kim/Real Husbands of Hollywood, Eva Marcille America's Next Top Model & RFHF Health Ambassador, Danielle Nicolet, The Flash/Born Again Virgin, Apryl Jones, Love & Hip Hop Hollywood, Isaiah Washington, Survivor's Remorse, T.I., Actor/Hip Hop Artist, Danielle Mone’ Truitt, Rebel, Director F. Gary Gray, Straight Outta Compton & The Fate of The Furious, Creator/Director John Singleton, FX’s Snowfall, LisaRaye McCoy, Single Ladies, Lance Gross, Sleepy Hollow, Grey’s Anatomy, Yvonne Orji,HBO’s Insecure, Richard Brooks, Being Mary Jane, Michelle Mitchenor, Lethal Weapon, Vanessa Williams, Days of Our Lives, Tim Johnson, Hit The Road, Omar Dorsey, Queen Sugar, Garcelle Bouvals, Spiderman/Homecoming, Elise Neal, BET’s Tales, Eugene Byrd, Bones and many others.

In Reed For Hope’s Love Healthy Lounge and Wellness Pavilion, guests were required to be certified before the main event, while a live band played featuring Mike Phillips.  After checking into the lounge, attendees stopped by stations to have their blood pressure and heart rate checked and took a pledge to commit to healthy lifestyle choices. That pledge provided guests with an exclusive experience including credentials for complimentary cocktails, SheaMoisture gifts, a delightful vegan cuisine, and VIP access to special party zones. Access within the event was based on the attendees' commitment to the cause, not their names.  

The event was live streamed to key SBS enthusiasts. A virtual crowd of partygoers joined the fun by taking the Love Healthy pledge; dancing at home and watching their Hollywood favorites get “certified fit to party." Continuing this digital engagement, social media will be the primary vehicle for the latest Love Healthy: One In A Million campaign kickoff aimed at inspiring an army of at least one million friends to advocate for health…. together. The current program centered on women’s health launches as a new mobile app at the beginning of 2018 with monthly messaging and entertaining content. 

Immediately preceding the SBS, RFHF’s Annual Sunshine Awards took place honoring several awardees including the cast and crew of the soon to be released film, A Question of Faith, for the courage to create a film that tackles the important - yet under-discussed - issue of organ donations. AHF’s Rise Above Campaign received a ‘Sunshine Award’ for their work in AIDS awareness, prevention and sexual health. Actress Eva Marcille, Born Again Virgin and Brandee Evans, Hip Hop in Heels were the RFHF Health Awareness Ambassadors for the event and year. New partner, Sundial Brands, received the Corporate Partner - Sunshine Award, for committing to collaborate with RFHF’s Love Healthy: One In A Million Campaign with a skin health and hair component and for its commitment to making products with natural and organic ingredients. Other awardees were Dr. Valencia Mathews and Lorna Johnson. 

It may seem like just a party, but inspiring influencers to spread messages of hope, health and love is serious business for RFHF founder Robi Reed, as she shared, “I want to build the One in a Million campaign within our Love Healthy Movement to bring people of all colors, genders, races, political affiliations and ages together to unite and focus on the health of our women. Life begins within us. When we heal, our world heals!” 

Reed For Hope invites family, friends, corporations, groups, churches, and faith-based organizations to join the Love Healthy: One In A Million Movement immediately. Share your voice and your story of wellness with us. Go to LoveHealthy.org. An African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” 

ABOUT REED FOR HOPE FOUNDATION 

The Reed For Hope Foundation (RFHF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) based in Los Angeles, California. RFHF’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our communities by positively effecting public perceptions on wellness, disease prevention and health disparities. We aim to inspire our friends, partners and communities to join us in bringing focus, education, action and HOPE to a world that needs more healing and better health. One of RFHF’s main initiatives is the Love Healthy Movement, a multi-pronged healthy lifestyle campaign that includes the One in a Million initiative, Certified Fit To Party, Certified Fit To Praise, Entertainment-Centered Health Screenings, and retreats centered on holistic healing, disease prevention, good nutrition, and self-love. For more information, please visit www.reedforhope.org

Pasadena Playhouse Offers A 10-Week Broadway Musical & America Seminar By Adam Epstein

 

SPOTLIGHTING THE AMERICAN MUSICAL

FROM “OKLAHOMA!” TO “HAMILTON”

 

 

PASADENA, CA (September 7, 2017) – Pasadena Playhouse (Producing Artistic Director, Danny Feldman) will offer the 10-week seminarTHE BROADWAY MUSICAL & AMERICA taught by Tony Award-winning producer and NYU professor Adam Epstein. Epstein’s interactive lectures put the musical into focus as a distinctly American phenomenon and a form of cultural production, which both influenced and was influenced by the American political landscape since the end of World War II.  The weekly Monday seminars are from October 2 – December 11, 2017 and will be held at Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena).

 

Mr. Epstein will share the history behind your favorite works of musical theater, including, but not limited to West Side Story, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof, A Chorus Line, Annie, Rent, Hairspray, Wicked and Hamilton and how they shaped the American theater landscape.

 

Adam Epstein’s theatrical productions have received 46 Tony nominations and garnered 12 Tony Awards, one of which Adam himself received as a producer of Hairspray in 2003. Adam’s other credits include A View From a Bridge, The Crucible, Amadeus, The Wedding Singer and Cry-Baby. In the West End, both his productions of Amadeus and Hairspray earned multiple Olivier nominations and Hairspray was awarded a record 11 nominations, winning four, including Best Musical. An adjunct faculty member of NYU, (which is also his alma mater,) Adam has also been a guest lecturer at Harvard, Columbia and the University of Miami. Adam recently graduated with his Master’s degree in American Studies from Brown University, and he will be pursuing a Ph.D. in American Studies beginning in the fall of 2018.

 

We’re honored to welcome Adam here to the Playhouse for this exciting expansion of our programming,” said Pasadena Playhouse Producing Artistic Director, Danny Feldman. “For 100 years, the Playhouse has been a home for theatre lovers and this seminar expands the ways our audience can engage with the great American musicals.”

 

To enroll in THE BROADWAY MUSICAL & AMERICA 10-week seminar by Adam Epstein visit PasadenaPlayhouse.org. The seminar is $199 for Pasadena Playhouse Members/Subscribers and $269 for non-members. Seminars begin Monday, October 2 for ten Mondays and ends Monday, December 11. The 60-minutes lectures begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. at Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena). Please note that there is no seminar scheduled on Monday, October 16.

 

As the State Theater of California, Pasadena Playhouse’s mission is to enrich people’s lives through theater, community programs and learning. The Playhouse offer classes in the dramatic arts for all ages and skill levels throughout the year. For more information about upcoming classes visit PasadenaPlayhouse.org/programs.

Family Group, The Showers, Go On 'The Journey'

HAMMOND, LA – (September 5, 2017) – Stellar Award nominated contemporary family group, The Showers, are releasing their sophomore effort The Journey, their long-awaited new album, on Friday, September 29, 2017, available digitally wherever music is sold. The 10-track project boasts lead singles "I Need You, Lord" (http://smarturl.it/ineedyoulord) and current radio single "I Belong To You" (http://smarturl.it/theshowersibty) - both available now for purchase and streaming. Pre-orders will be available in the coming weeks.

The Showers teamed up with frequent collaborator Bruce Robinson, Jr (Joshua Rogers, Alexis Spight), BET's Sunday Best winner Tasha Page-Lockhart, her husband Clifton Lockhart and Sean Keys on production with songwriting contributions from Lockhart and the group's lead singer Titus Showers. Celebrated vocalist Keyondra Lockett lends her vocals on the soothing track "Love."

The Journey Official Track-listing:
1. I Belong to you
2. Resting
3. I Got A Praise
4. Yes
5. Love (featuring Keyondra Lockett)
6. Over There
7. I Shall Not Be Moved
8. For Who You Are
9. The Journey
10. I Need You Lord

In support of their album release The Showers are launching The Journey:Heal America Tour with the 1st leg of the tour hitting various churches in the state of Louisiana and abroad including The ShoutFest in Aiken, SC (Sept 16) in the State of Georgia.

"The Journey: Heal America Tour Schedule"
August 22, 2017, Marine & Mt. Moriah BC, New Orleans, LA
August 27, 2017- First Pilgrims BC, New Orleans, LA
September 3, 2017- Greater Starlight MBC, Covington, LA
September 10, 2017- Mt. Kingdom MBC, New Orleans, LA
September 10, 2017- Zion Travelers MBC, Independence, LA
September 16, 2017 - ShoutFest, Aiken, SC
September 17, Restoration Ministry, Augusta, GA
September 24, 2017- Greater St,. Mary BC, Plaquemine, LA
September 24, 2017- Greater New Hope BC, Zachary, LA
September 29, 2017- Smoothie and Things "Facebook Live", Hammond, LA
October 1, 2017- Tabernacle MBC, D'Iberville, MS
October 8, 2017- New Orleans, LA
October 22, 2017- Bibleway COGIC, Hammond, LA
October 28, 2017- Greater Refuge Ministry, Amite, LA