THOUSANDS WATCH THE 12TH ANNUAL
DO40 LEGACY AWARDS!
Presented by Richard Skipper Celebrates and DO40
Monday, December 14th, 8pm
and NOW available to stream anytime!
Computer photo of our 2020 DO40 Legacy Honorees, Dennis Birchall, Jeri Kansas
and Francis J. Roach. Photographed by DO40 president John Sefakis.
Well, looks like there's a silver lining to all the Zoom- and Streamyard-ing things happening these days. Over 1,400 people (that’s thousands, right?) watched our 12th annual DO40 Legacy Awards online/virtual/streaming (whatever the kids are saying nowadays!), usually held at LIPS restaurant, with performances and uplifting speeches from our honorees and their friends. From adversity comes innovation - and there is something to be said for the wonderful clips we used (and have in our repertoire!) and the close ups as our honorees spoke from the heart. We have received a number of new members from the evening, and orders for our new DO40 COVID masks!
Heartbreaking, however, was the news that one of Broadway's most beloved stars died on Saturday - Fosse muse Ann Reinking. We were fortunate to work with Ann on the 40th Anniversary of Bob Fosse's DANCIN' in 2018. We published a short clip of Ann singing "Roxie" at the Therapy Bar After-party on our Facebook page. To paraphrase an old Angela Lansbury movie, " there are no dancers anymore; facsimiles, that's all, just facsimiles..." - compared to Ann – and Gwen – and Chita!
DO40 Advisory Board Member Director/Choreographer Larry Fuller,
speaking on behalf of Legacy Honoree Dennis Birchall
This year we honored DO40 members Dennis Birchall, Jeri Kansas and Francis J. Roach, dancers all, with careers that span Broadway, Radio City Music Hall and the legacy of jazz great (and DO40 member) Luigi. Speaking on behalf of our honorees were director/choreographer Larry Fuller, former Rockette Susan Arreola, and Gower Champion assistant and former DO40 board member Karin Baker (unfortunately, Christine Colby Jacques was unable to log in to our event to speak for Francis J. Roach).
Inside DO40 “Command Central,” at DO40 prez John Sefakis’ home.
The event was hosted by theater and nightclub entrepreneur and impresario Richard Skipper, and was our first FREE streamed live event on our DO40 facebook page, www.facebook.com/dancersover40 and Richard Skipper’ pages on facebook and youtube, www.facebook.comRichardSkipperCelebrates/ and www.youtube.com/c/RichardSkipperCelebrates. There was also a tribute to Marge Champion and a fantastic hosting job by the indomitable Richard Skipper. You can still WATCH the show (75 minutes) on the links above!
Host Richard Skipper (at his OWN Command Central!) and DO40 president John Sefakis.
We hope this will encourage new members, young members and new Friends of.. (not dancers) to join DO40 as card-carrying, dues-paying members. AND, an added benefit! New members will receive our DO40 COVID-19 mask for free! Regular prices are: $15.00 for non-members, $10.00 for current members (plus $3.00 shipping). Email us at dancersover40@aol.com to confirm you would like to order and then pay through our website using Paypal. Sorry there was no official DO40 photographer at this event! We miss the staff at LIPS, our videographer Manny Santiago, photographer Jeff Eason and even our long-time coat check volunteer, Cha-Cha Lopez! Next year, LIPS here we come!
More photos to be posted on our website shortly. They are posted on our DO40 Facebook page now!
Don’t forget! GREAT holiday gift!!! Get them while they last!
Email us at dancersover40.org to reserve your mask(s)!
VIEW THE ZOOM VIDEO OF THIS EVENT