The 2014 Dancers Over 40 Legacy Awards...
A Huge Hit!!!

 

Click here to see 96 photos of this event

MEMBERS - See Videos of this event now!

Should move to (off) Broadway soon!

 2014 Legacy Award Honorees Paul Berne, Carolyn Kirsch,
Jerry Mitchell, Eileen Casey and Penny Worth

 

Dancers Over 40’s last event of 2014 turned out to be the one with the most performances of the year!  And one of the shortest events of the year (that wasn’t hard to accomplish!).  Nicely packaged into a 90 minute presentation, we honored those members who hold a special place in the world of dance and all have contributed to promoting Dancers over 40 and the History, Legacy and Lives of our community:  DO40 Advisory Board Member Jerry Mitchell, DO40 founding member Eileen Casey,  those “killer-diller” gypsies Carolyn Kirsch and Penny Worth and Paul Berne. These five individuals’ careers span over 50 years in show business, and have worked with all the greats – Robbins, Fosse, Bennett, Champion, de Mille, Gennaro, Layton and more.

(Left) The room at LIPS right before the show.

Host Richard Skipper entertained the audience with his patter, and drag queens from LIPS restaurant and the best of NYC entertained by performing Broadway production numbers from shows many of the honorees were noted for!  (It did take DO40 member Norma Doggett-Bezwick – from 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, the movie – a few minutes to realize the performers were not exactly biological women!)  Skyla Versai performed “I am What I Am” from LA CAGE and a rare number from LEGALLY BLONDE for Jerry Mitchell, and Tina Burner and Brenda Dharling did a medley from CHICAGO that included “All that Jazz,” “Roxie,” and “Nowadays/Keep it Hot.”  Tina Burner also performed a clever number called “I’m 50!” which included a medley of numbers from the great shows of the 70’s and beyond.

 

Performers Tina Burner and Brenda Dharling perform a medley from CHICAGO,
“All that Jazz,” “Roxie” and “Nowadays/Keep it Hot!”

A total “love fest,” which sounds corny, but it’s true.  Each honoree had deep affection for each other, and their speakers spoke eloquently about them: Robert Reader for Carolyn Kirsch, Lawrence Merritt for Eileen Casey, Harvey Evans for Penny Worth, Carol Carlin for Paul Berne and Nick Kenkel for Jerry Mitchell.  Former winners in the audience:  Norma Doggett-Bezwick, Larry Fuller, Ken Urmston and Lawrence Merritt.  An entire contingent from the Gay Men’s Chorus came to cheer on fellow member Paul Berne, and Real Housewives of New York’s Heather Thomson was also in the house.   A special thanks to LIPS restaurant for having us – and giving us such a reasonable rate for a wonderful three-course meal!

 

Performers, Honorees, Host and DO40 Prez all on stage for the “Finale!”
L to R:  Brenda Dharling, Paul Berne, Carolyn Kirsch, Jerry Mitchell, Eileen Casey,
Penny Worth, Tina Burner, John Sefakis, Richard Skipper and Skyla Versai