Doris Bergman Hosts Star-Studded 10th Annual Luxury Lounge in Honor of the Emmy Awards

By Darlene Donloe

The Emmy Awards season wouldn’t be complete without a star-studded Doris Bergman soiree.

Well, consider the season in full swing as Bergman recently hosted her 10^th Annual Luxury Lounge & Party at the Fig & Olive restaurant in West Hollywood.

Fig & Olive Restaurant

 

Doris Bergman

More than 100 of Hollywood's insiders attended the enviable invitation-only event held in honor of the Emmy Awards, television’s biggest night, set to air on Fox today, Sunday, Sept 22, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. 

Emmy-winner Glynn Turman

(l) Richard Grieco (21 Jump Street) with True Gold's Tyler Sample

Rebecca Metz

Some of those on hand for the festivities were 2019 Emmy nominee Glynn Turman (How To Get Away With Murder), former Oscar nominees  Edward James Olmos and Eric Roberts, Grammy-winners Bonnie and Anita Pointer (The Pointer Sisters),  Rebecca Metz (Better Things), previous Emmy winners Patrika Darbo and Kim Estes, Makenzie Moss (The Unicorn).

Brian J. White

Edward James Olmos

John Brotherton (Fuller House) with Pachamama CBD Products

Makenzie Moss of (The Unicorn)

(l-r) Maddie Marks and Jeremy Jackson

Karen Haines of Spa Girl and actress Dee Wallace

Art Lewin debuted his new signature pens
Photo by @demigoddesschronicle

Jeryl Prescott (Swampthing) is with Art Lewin
whose accessories are always a hit!

Norm Nixon

Dee Wallace with Buywine.com

Ashley Blaine Featherson

Patrika Darbo

Other celebs on hand included Marilu Henner, Dee Wallace, Tristan Rogers, and Deidre Hall, previous Emmy nominees Shanti Lowry and Miles Tagtmeyer, John Brotherton (Fuller House), Danielle Nicolette (The Flash), Deborah Joy Winans (Greenleaf), former Golden Globe nominee Steven Bauer, Chris Browning (Bosch), Jeryl Prescott (Swampthing), Brian J. White (Ambition), Keo Motsepe (Dancing With The Stars), Award-winning actress Kimberly Elise, former  Los Angeles Laker Norman Nixon, Sofia Milos, William McNamara, and Ryan Ochoa (Pair of Kings).

The event, hosted by Buywine.com and presented by Precious Vodka & PRSVR, was complemented by Fig & Olive cuisine, lively music, camaraderie and lots of swag. A good time was had by all.

Kate Linder (Young and the Restless) and Buywine.com's Alma M. Callan (right)

Green Goddess Collective
(l-r) Josh Hoy and Jordan Gray

The Rule of Nines by Kathlyn Heim

Sue Wong

Some of the goodies participants walked away with inside the 2019 Luxury Lounge & Party was fashion for him and her including couture gowns, bespoke tuxedos, and suits, men and women’s casual wear, chic chapeaus, vegan leather bags, beauty, skin & hair care, Cannabis, and CBD products, jewelry, accessories, Napa Valley wines, health foods, scented candles, Bulgarian vodka, and gourmet sweets.

The B2wins
Brazilian Twins
Walter Caldas and Wagner Caldas

The crowd was serenaded by The B2wins, twin brothers from Rio de Janeiro who perform on violin and ukulele.

Twisted Silver is always a crowd-pleaser

(l-r) Stacy Haiduk (Days of Our Lives), Deborah Mitchell of Twisted Silver
and Eric Martsolf (Days of Our Lives)

(l-r) Angelo Ortiz of Browlesque and Victor of Influence Effect

Jacob Hassidim

Spa Girl Cocktails served up some delicious drinks 

Swag and amenities were provided by Green Goddess Collective; Popcornopolis; Spa Girl Cocktails; Zirconmania; Diamond Veneer; Author Kathlyn Heim The Rules of Nine; Twisted Silver; Debbi DiMaggio; Hint; Pia Gladys Perey Designs; O Skin & Med Spa; Browlesque; Buywine.com, Charise Noel Jewelry; My Saint My Hero Blessing Bracelets; Art Lewin Bespoke; Sue Wong Couture; True Gold Honey; LuLaRoe Clothing; Pachamama CBD Products; PRSVR; Beviva Foods; Kam Shield; Lucy Pet Foundation Dog Treats; Harvest Snaps; Sea Snacks; Green Goo Skin Care; Dog TV; Beauty Kitchen; Rock Your Hair; The Hollywood Trinity; Emmy’s Hope Dog Accessories; Chapstick Lip Balm; Cameo Social Media App and VIP gift bags provided by Popcornopolis.

Popcornopolis

This year Buywine.com highlighted hope & grace wines

Buywine.com presented hope & grace (Dry Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon), which began its journey as a winery in 2001 with a small production of Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Margaret Williamson and Diego Valdes

PRSVR, described as an Elevated Design House, is owned by husband and wife Brandon and Margaret Williamson, who described the brand as “mid-tier luxury”. The company’s $98 stash box, made of vegan leather, was a hit. The collections focus is on outerwear, accessories, and footwear. Celebrities wearing PRSVR include Diddy, Nelly, Derrick Rose, Tank, Kevin Durant, LaLa, Rel Howery, David Tutera, singers Neyo, and Anthony Hamilton and more.

(l-r) Karina Safaoui and Jo Buenavista
O Skin & Med Spa

Karina Safaoui, publicist for O Skin & Med Spa said the company’s sunscreen “takes care of the skin inside out and brightens the skin.”

Beviva Foods

Sylvia Tam, Beviva Foods owner, said she named the company, which features plant-based mini-meals - after her children – Benjamin, Viani, and Vanessa. Beviva is a healthy way to snack and features foods persons can eat on the go. It’s digestion supporting, dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free and contains antioxidants.

Charise Noel of Charise Noel Jewelry
Photo by @demigoddesschronicle

Charise Noel Jewelry

Since she began participating in Doris Bergman events, Charise Noel said her company is enjoying a lot more exposure. Several celebrities, including Rebecca Metz and Mary Lou Henner, are now wearing her unique magnetic jewelry.

In the spirit of giving back, guests and sponsors made monetary donations and/or donated unwrapped gifts for young adults (ages 13-18) for a pre-holiday gift drive benefiting Wednesday’s Child -- a weekly segment airing on KTTV FOX 11 News, Los Angeles, with Anchor Christine Devine.  Wednesday’s Child highlights ‘harder to place’ young adults in the LA County foster care system who are in need of adoptive families. 

“In Los Angeles County, alone, there are over 30,000 children receiving child welfare services,” said social worker, Dr. William Wong.  Bergman always invites at least two foster youth to join in on the festivities and experience what it feels like to be treated like a VIP.  http://www.foxla.com/wednesdays-child

#BergmanTVGold2019

Knives Out In Theaters Nationwide November 27

Knives Out, in theaters November 27, 2019, stars Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas. 

Brian Culbertson Jazzes It Up In Winter Stories

Inspiration strikes artists even when on holiday break. As pianist Brian Culbertson strolled the frigid streets of Chicago last winter, he felt compelled to write music. Feeling the cold air, seeing his breath and hearing the crunch of snow under his feet spurred the creation of “Winter Stories,” a contemplative collection of melodic musical “stories” recorded in a jazz trio setting. The first “story” that will preface the BCM Entertainment release dropping October 4 is “Morning Walk,” which went for playlist adds on Monday.     

When Culbertson returned from that inspired walk, he started composing the first piece for the album that, over time, will become a four-album series: separate stories for each season. He wrote and demoed one song per day for ten consecutive days. After each day’s session, he’d head back into the cold, taking the demo out for a walk. Upon his return, he’d make adjustments to the composition until “it was just right.”

Best known for crafting a catalog of R&B, jazz, and funk hits, Culbertson felt that this pensive and introspective album would best be presented by a jazz trio. Knowing that drummer Khari Parker has a deft touch with brushes to craft the gentle rhythms, Culbertson had only one acoustic bassist in mind: Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny Group). They knew each other from the Chicago jingle scene at the beginning of Culbertson’s professional career and Rodby played on a track on the keyboardist’s second album, “Modern Life” (1995). 

“Understanding Steve’s jazz/pop sensibilities and knowing how musical and ‘in tune’ he plays upright bass, I knew that he was the only one who could play on this record,” said Culbertson.

Culbertson describes “Winter Stories” not as a Christmas album, but as a hybrid. “It is very melodic with a pop structure, but utilizing traditional straight-ahead jazz elements - acoustic piano, upright bass and drums with brushes – which give it a ‘holiday’ feel, but also something you can listen to any time since these are all new original songs. However, what was unusual is that the three of us didn’t record together. I produced the album using a layered approach, which also makes it more of a pop-styled record, replacing each demo track one at a time. I first recorded piano, then layered Wurlitzer, Rhodes and B3 organ parts sparsely to add depth here and there. After that was drums and then bass was last. A couple tracks also called for percussion, which was played by Lenny Castro.”

While writing his “Winter Stories” - the inspiration for all ten stories is shared in the accompanying liner notes, which is another first for Culbertson – he spotted a painting online that he felt perfectly encapsulated the album’s motif. So, he bought the painting and made it the album cover.

“It was exactly what was in my mind. I wanted it to be like an intriguing book cover, the kind that after you look at it, you get a sense of what the music is like and then compels you to want to listen,” said Culbertson, who curates, hosts and headlines his second annual Chicago Jazz Getaway running this Thursday through Sunday, a spinoff of his wildly popular Napa Valley Jazz Getaway.      

A second single from “Winter Stories” is planned for just prior to the holiday season. Going for adds on November 18, “City Sleigh Ride” is one of the album’s more up-tempo and fun adventures and the only song with sleigh bells. “While most of the album is on the slower, more ruminative side of things, it was important for me to break up the feel a little bit with a couple tracks,” said Culbertson.

The video of the album opener, “Sitting By The Fire,” is below. 

“I’d say the best time to listen to this record is when it’s the coldest and bleakest outside,” said Culbertson. “These songs will warm you up and keep you cozy.”  

“Winter Stories” contains the following songs:

“Sitting By The Fire”

“Montana Skies”

“Morning Walk”

“Flurries”

“City Sleigh Ride”

“Waltz For M”

“Island Dream”

“Northern Lights”

“Frosted Window”

“Starry Night”

Joshua Harmon's Play At Geffen Is 'Skintight'

Idina Menzel plays Jodi in Joshua Harmon's Skintight

By Darlene Donloe

When Joshua Harmon’s Skintight begins, Jodi (Idina Menzel) is sitting on the couch in her father, Elliot’s (Harry Groener) plush, ritzy Manhattan home - complete with a maid and a butler.  She has just flown across the country to surprise him on his 70^th birthday.

Actually, Jodi, a lawyer is also running away from Los Angeles because that is where her ex-husband is throwing an engagement party for him and his 24-year-old fiancée who loves to spin. Jodi refers to her as the “little spinner.” Jodi’s ex has invited all of their friends to the soiree and Jodi, who is mentally hanging on by a thread, just can’t take the betrayal so she escapes to her father’s luscious digs.

The problem is, and there are many, Elliot doesn’t want to celebrate his birthday and he doesn’t like surprises.  Jodi also doesn’t know that her father has taken a male live-in lover named Trey, brilliantly and deliciously played by Will Brittain. When she finds out, she’s none too happy about the situation.

(l-r) Harry Groener, Eli Gelb and Idina Menzel in Skintight

This is just the beginning of the racy, raunchy and sometimes naughty Skintight, currently enjoying its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood.

At its core, the show is about family and about the need to be accepted, wanted and loved. It’s also about our obsession with aging, youth, and beauty. But what actually ensues once all the players are in place, is just how fragile a family and relationships can become when everyone tries to force their morals on others.

Jodi and her father, Elliot, have a strained relationship. He wasn’t around much while she was growing up and she still resents it. Elliot was too busy building his fashion empire and he has no apologies. 

Jodi has a gay son named Benjamin who also doesn’t share a loving relationship with his grandfather.

Jodi, Benjamin and Elliott just seems to tolerate each other. It’s very much like any other family.

(l-r) Idina Menzel, Harry Groener and Will Brittain

And watching all of this on the sidelines are the butler, Jeff (Jeff Skowron) and the maid, Orsolya (Kimberly Jurgen), who both give a pleasing turn in this show.

Harmon’s script is incredibly authentic. He writes from a base of realism. His writing is solid – yet fluid, hilarious, and engaging.

Aukin’s direction couldn’t be better. It’s crisp and has forward movement. It moves the story along at just the right pace. It’s on point, emotional and rings of genuineness. There isn’t a wasted move in the show.

Idina Menzel is a wonder. The Tony Award-winner brightens the stage with her very presence. Her delivery is appealing. She’s a theatrical wonder.

Eli Gelb as Benjamin nearly steals this show. His performance as the glib, young, gay Jewish boy is dead on.

(l-r) Eli Gelb, Harry Groener and Will Brittain

Brittain is magnetic with his Greek-like body and Oklahoma drawl, while Groener delivers just the right amount of being non-plussed.

Lauren Helpern’s scenic design is remarkable and slick. It whets your whistle just enough to make you want to move in and wonder what the rest of the house looks like.

All around, Skintight scores on several points and is well worth the price of admission!

Eli Gelb and Idina Menzel

Skintight was commissioned by and premiered at Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director; Julia C. Levy, Executive Director).

Skintight, written by Joshua Harmon (Bad Jews, Significant Other) and directed by Daniel Aukin, stars Idina Menzel, Harry Groener, Jeff Skowron, Will Brittain, Eli Gelb, and Kimberly Jurgen.

Skintight, Gil Cates Theater at Geffen Playhouse, 10888 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles; 8 p.m. Tues.-Fri.; 3 and 8 p.m. Sat. and 2 and 7 p.m. Sun.; $30-$145; 310 208-5454 or www.geffenplayhouse.org.

RUNNING TIME:
2 hours and 15 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, no) and E (excellent), Skintight gets an E (excellent).