The Roger Neal Style Hollywood Oscar Viewing Dinner Debuts Next Sunday At The Hollywood Museum!

I'm so excited about The Roger Neal Style Hollywood Academy Awards Viewing Dinner which will take place for the very first time on Oscar Night February 28th at the world famous beautiful Hollywood Museum  aka The Max Factor Building located in the heart of Hollywood at Hollywood and Highland! www.thehollywoodmusuem.com

The RNSH Oscar event will be a beautiful sit down, white glove dinner featuring the excellent cuisine of Presidential Chef Kurt Erhlich whose gourmet delicacies I have enjoyed many times. Young and classic Hollywood stars from TV and film will have the opportunity to tour the museum prior to dinner.  Stars will be coming together to celebrate the Academy Awards which includes a special  Academy Awards Exhibit complete with Hor D'oeuvres and Wine and Champagne by Lorimar Winery www.lorimarwinery.com.

At the dinner legendary Oscar winners Margaret O'Brien and George Chakiris will be receiving Icon Awards from Roger Neal who for the past 20 years has produced the popular Roger Neal Style Hollywood Oscar suite.  Roger says "We are beyond thrilled to have this event at the Hollywood Museum which houses the largest collection of entertainment memorabilia on display in the world.  I cannot think of a more perfect place to invite 80 stars including past Oscar winners and nominees." Hollywood Museum founder Donelle Dadigan adds "We are thrilled to have Roger and his Oscar Viewing Dinner here...  We are right in the middle of all the Oscar night activity and we know that the guests and stars coming to this diner will have an incredible time!"

Presenting sponsors include DaTang International Entertainment and Desert Rock Entertainment who have partnered on a 100-million-dollar slate of films states "We are very excited to be a part of this Oscar night event."  Ms. Alice Wang from DaTang International Entertainment is a well known and successful director/filmmaker in Asia.  She will be producing along with Tim Lowry who will direct two American films starring Candy Wang who is the Jennifer Lopez of Asia.  The first film  called "6 Days on a Raft",  is the true story of 94 year old WW2 veteran Bill Harrison and the second is an exciting thriller called "Seven".  Candy Wang is also a music star in Asia; her most recent concert in China drew 50,000 fans.  Ms. Wang,  who will be attending with vet Bill Harrison says "I am looking forward to working in America and meeting fellow actors on Oscar night."

Tim Lowry of Desert Rock Entertainment,  Alice Wang's American partner says "I cannot wait for Oscar night, I am very excited that the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health www.johnritterfoundation.org  will be involved.  I was a big fan of John Ritter and it will be a pleasure to meet his wife Amy that evening."  The other official charities for the RNSH Oscar Viewing Dinner include Safety Harbor Kids www.safetyharborkids.org and Andy Transplant Foundation www.andytransplantfoundation.org

Chocolatier Glamour Bombonier Brazilian Sweets will make miniature chocolate covered in edible gold that everyone will enjoy.

Gown Designers Sonjja Baram, DiPaula Designs, IC Trends with Esther Eyre Jewelry and Marcelo Calabrese Handbags are among the sponsors for the event and will feature informal modeling during the commercial breaks.  IC Trends www.ictrends.com president Ivonne Camacho says "We are looking forward to this spectacular evening!"

Discover Hollywood Magazine will serve as a media sponsor for this special Oscar Viewing Dinner.

Star confirmations so far include Oscar winner George Chakiris, Oscar winner Margaret O'Brien, Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr., Oscar winner Faye Dunaway,  Oscar nominated film star June Squibb, Barbara Eden, Amy Yasbeck,  Jason Ritter, Tyler Ritter, Carly Ritter, Carrie Ann Inaba (Dancing with the Stars), film star Maria Conchita Alonso, Tippi Hedren, Gary Busey, Holly Robinson Peete, Renee Lawless, Asian star Candy Wang, Tawain film producer/director Alice Wang, Milena Govich, Linda Thompson, Janice Dickinson, Lotte Verbeek (Fault In Our Stars), Loni Love, Ruth Connell, Rolanda Watts, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tracey Bergman, Katherine Kelly Lang, Sean Kanan, Patrika Darbo, supermodel Eugenia Kuzmina, Mark Steines, CNN's Areva Martin, Sofia Milos, Phil Morris, Charlene Tilton Shari Belafonte, 2 time Oscar nominee Carol Connors, Kevin Dobson, Khrystyne Haje, Erin Murphy, Sheree J. Wilson, Clarence Gilyard, Terra Jole, Carolyn Hennesey, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Jai White, Karen Sharpe Kramer and Katharine "Kat" Kramer.

This event is by invitation only.  For more information contact Neal Public Relations at prstarus2000@yahoo.com or call 323-366-2796 or 714-883-0231.


Report by Harrison Held/Scene Around Town

DUSK RINGS A BELL

Dusk Rings a Bell  by acclaimed author Stephen Belber debuted last night at The Lounge Theatre on Santa Monica Boulevard for a limited Los Angeles run.  The moving and soul searching 90 minute dramedy features 2 terrific talents:  Brea Bee excels as Molly and Wes McGee is terrific as Ray in the very capable hands of director John Hindman in this very poignant production presented by The Aquila/Morong Studio.  About 25 years before the story starts Molly and Ray were innocent high spirited  teenagers who shared a deep romantic and soulful connection in the lifeguard's chair by the ocean near the summer home Molly vacationed  with her parents.  The two went their separate ways but over the years both have fondly remembered their amorous teenage soul connection.  25 years later these two lonely souls unexpectedly cross paths.   Molly is a reasonably successful, divorced CNN employee from the big city who returns to the summer home to retrieve a hidden letter she wrote as a teenager to her future self.  She has to break in through the bathroom window to get in and is soon discovered  by the local caretaker/landscaper who turns out to be Ray.  We learn he has endured and learned from his school of hard knocks experiences including starting at  age 18 prison time for his peripheral connection to a hate crime resulting in the death of a young gay man.  Ray and Molly's attempted reunion is an emotional, provocative and stirring roller coaster ride worth watching.  I  think most audience members can relate to a profound story about "the one that got away"...  I know I did.  Kudos to the cast members Brea Bee and Wes McGee, director John Hindman, the Calliope Productions, Aquila Morong Studio, Caitlin R. Campbell and lighting designer Toranj Noroozi, sound designer Peter Carlstedt and stage manager Linda Braumann. Course language not suitable for children.  Online tickets and information available at www.plays411.com or (323) 960-7784.

Reviewed by Harrison Held/Scene Around Town