December 31, 2010
Players Beat the Cold and Crowds;
Ring-in New Year at the Club
 (click photo to see more)
The sensible way to welcome another year and decade is to do it in the comfy confines of the club. That is what a substantial number of reveling Players did. A bite to eat, a bit (maybe two bits) to drink, and good company— what better way to ignore any beastly resolutions.
Photos by: Nichole Donje
December 9, 2010
A Very Festive Meet Your Fellow Players – And Then Some
Not only was the December 9th MYFP festive, it was HUGE. This so in the sense that it was so well attended, many “old” faces came out of the woodwork bringing and introducing guests to the club, and it also fully embraced the festive season. The Sargent Room, Great Hall and fireplace area looked gorgeous, and that was just the people. Music maestro William Shust led the choral delights in his inimitable way, followed in the Great Hall by a Christmas Star Spangled Gala.
The Players Holiday Cabaret and evening was dedicated to former President Michael Allison, who is in California. He shall enjoy seeing it for his 90th birthday as the evening was recorded by the New York Film Academy. Michael will see many familiar faces both on and off the stage and no doubt will take particular delight in seeing and also hearing the dulcet tones of Miss Anita Gillete.
The musical treats of the evening were interspersed with readings from Dickens, poetry, comedy routines and the joy of hearing some of our most celebrated song-writers perform their own compositions.
It was truly a night to remember and a great kick-off for the festive season.
♦Reported by Jeffrey Hardy
Photos by J. Brooke
December 6, 2010
Cold Inside As Well
As Outside
Players Pool Chair Norm Brust hosted a "2-Ball Freeze-out" competition at the Grill table on December 6th for a field of seven  contestants. Players David Copeland, Brute Force, Steve Heiden, David Paterson and Steve Phebus were joined by guest invitees Al Vitarelli from the Friars and David Askren from the Yale club. Each shooter had two tries at the table. ( for more information, visit the Pool page) ♦Reported by Stephen Heiden
November 30, 2010
The Bard at the Bar
Player Morrow Wilson sponsored The Simon Studio’s 32nd anniversary celebration of the Bard’s work on Tuesday November 30th. Previous presentations by the outside group have been in the Grill, but this evening’s sizeable audience filled the Great Hall.
The inventively staged potpourri blended actors with the audience who would arise to stand and deliver the mostly well-known scenes from 14 or so of the 37 plays and extracts from The Sonnets.
Scenes of the various plays were interwoven, such as Hamlet’s advice to the players recurring through some of the more declamatory scenes to ameliorate the performances. The juxtapositions were at times challenging to identify and what may at times have been lacking in observation of the meter was more than made up for by vigor, passion and exuberant performances.
It was good to hear the words of Stratford Upon Avon’s favorite son and our founder’s beloved anthems resound throughout the building to such an appreciative audience.
♦Reported by Jeffrey Hardy
November 25, 2010
 A lot for which to be
Thankful...a lot to EAT.
There were no turkeys left in Gramercy Park by the time the second seating of Players finished their Thanksgiving feast. However, there were ample servings of the tender bird as well as ham, pumpkin bisque, sausage stuffing, sweet potatoes, pies and cakes, and all the other traditional trimmings.
This year’s Thanksgiving dinner attracted a sold-out crowd for two seatings at one and three o’clock. Many people lingered on for conversation well after the last plate was emptied. All in all it was a fine way to begin the holiday season.
♦Reporting and photos by J. Brooke
November 19, 2010
Jazz At Noon
Now at The Players
Bill Wurtzell & Jeremy Pelt performed at the second in this jazz series now housed at The Players. Founded by Les Lieber in 1965 the program brings lunch time jam sessions featuring well-known guest soloists to fans at our convenient midtown location.
The sessions take place every Friday from 12:00—2:00 p.m. in the Dining Room. There is a $10 cover charge and ala carte lunch is available. The program is sponsored by The Players Foundation.
Upcoming guest soloists include:
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Joe Temperly - Baritone Sax
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Fri, Dec 3
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Warren Chiasson - Vibraphone
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Fri, Dec 10
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Wycliffe Gordon-Trombone
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Fri, Dec 17
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Bob Kindred-Tenor Sax
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Fri, Jan 7
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Mike Hashim-Alto Sax
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Fri, Jan 14
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Randy Sanke-Trumpet
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Fri, Jan 21
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John Allred - Trombone
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Fri, Jan 28
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Dave Glasser-Alto Sax
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Fri, Feb 4
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♦Reported by J. Brooke
Photo by Lloyd H. Slomanson
November 12, 2010
A Bumper BoothBirthday Bash .jpg)
There was a full-house in the Great Hall on November 12th 2010 to celebrate our founder’s 177th birthday.
November 11, 2010
A Full House 
In keeping with the spirit of Veterans Day – McLean and the Book Club also honored all the veterans attending the Book Club that evening particularly Player Arthur Bronfin. A Navy WW II veteran. Bronfin shared with the group his White House Commendation for his service from President Harry S. Truman .
After the meeting, twenty-five of us went down to the grill for dinner with the author. The whole evening was delightful.
♦Reporting and photos by Brenda Gelles
November 10, 2010
New Season of
Jazz at the Players
The group led by Ron Blake, who teaches saxophone at the Julliard School of Music, also included Ben Wolfe on bass and Dion Parson on drums. Blake is a Mack Avenue recording artist and a member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live Band. Wolfe is also on the faculty of Julliard and has recorded with such artists as Branford Marsalis, Diana Krall, and Harry Connick, Jr. Parsons is on the faculty of Stevens Institute and is a leader in a Caribbean jazz program known as 21st Century which focuses on education using the music of the Caribbean. He has also played with John Faddis and performed in The Color Purple on Broadway.
The Jazz at the Players project is produced by The National Jazz Museum In Harlem and The Players Foundation. Lynne Lerner is the project chairman. The next performances will be held on the following Wednesdays: January 12th, February 16th, and April 13th. Artists will be announced.
♦Reported by J. Brooke
August 1, 2010
‘Till September
  
Players packed the Grill for one last Midsummer Night’s Cap before the club closed for its annual August break. Elegant Affairs provided free eats including porterhouse steaks, pastas, burgers and fries, and many another choice morsel – not to mention specially priced martinis! The Players will reopen on September 7 th.
♦Reporting and photos by J. Brooke
July 30, 2010
Aaron Diehl At The Players
The video above was recorded by Aaron Diehl on April 22nd when he and his trio participated in the popular Jazz At The Players series. The series of concerts was conceived of by Lynne Lerner who worked closely with the Jazz Museum of Harlem to bring us concerts by such outstanding groups as the Danny Mixon Trio, the Jazz Museum’s all star band led by Loren Shoenberg, Jonathan Batiste and his ‘under twenty-five year old’ band, and the Aaron Diehl Trio.
Details of concerts for the upcoming season have not been announced, but more sold out performances are expected. Watch for program announcements.
May 25, 2010
Remembering William Wyler
Photo by Lloyd H. Slomanson
On Tuesday May 18th The Players Foundation presented a celebration of William Wyler. One of the most prolific and acclaimed directors in the history of film, his work included Wuthering Heights, The Letter, The Little Foxes, Mrs. Miniver, The Best Years f Our Lives, The Heiress, Detective Story, Roman Holiday, Ben-Hur, and more than two dozen others. His work earned 127 Academy Award nominations: he holds the record for 12 nominations as Best Director and won 3.
The documentary Directed by William Wyler was screened and then followed by an on-stage interview with the producer of the film and Wyler’s daughter, Catherine Wyler. She shared her thoughts about her father, his work, and growing up in Hollywood’s Golden Age.
May 19, 2010
Talking Theatre
On May 13th the second in the successful series of Talk Theatre Lunches was held in the Grill. Organized by Sandy Rochelle and Sharen Benenson, the lunch was well attended and the discussions ranged from recently seen Broadway and off-Broadway to ZERO HOUR: the highly praised show starring Player—Jim Brochu. A Theatre trip is planned to see ZERO HOUR on Friday, May 28th.
The lunch talk was eclectic—including discussions of stage and film performances both current and classic. The lunches will resume in the fall, the third Thursday of the month. We look forward to sharing lively discussions of theatre seen as a group or on one's own.
There is no venue more suitable to ''Talk Theatre'' than The Players—where many of the theatrical discussions came to fruition. It is a way to continue the Tradition of the Players. We encourage you to join us in the fall and to keep the ''Theatre Talk'' flowing.
April 26, 2010
Hall of Fame
This year’s inductees were Sharen Benenson, Leonard Bernstein, Humphrey Bogart, Ben Gazzara, Mel Gussow, Pete Hamill, Rosemary Harris, Earle Hyman, George S. Kaufman, Fiorello LaGuardia, Howard Lindsay, Joshua Logan, Fredic March, Elliot Martin, Laurence Olivier, Peter O’Toole, Frederic Remington, Martin Short, Richard Thomas, Liv Ullmann, and Stanford White. The portrait artist were, Jason Bouldin, Loryn Brazier, Wende Caporeale, Tom Donohue, Irene Hecht, Kyle Keith, Everett Raymond Kinstler, Holly Metzger, Thomas Nash, David Beynon Pena, Michael Shane Neal, Linda Kyser Smith, Joel Spector, Johanna Spinks, Dot Svendson, and Dawn Whitelaw.
The program and presentations were preceded by cocktails and dinner.
April 22, 2010
Jazz Still Popular
March 29, 2010
Proposal for Consideration by Members
 Some years ago there was a regular gathering of members called "Talk Theater Lunch." It was chaired by Frances Helm and Carolyn French. Members met at noon and lunched together to discuss theater they had seen and hoped to see. It was fun to do and gave helpful guidance for ticket purchase. Occasionally several in the group decided to attend a performance together.
Last month Sandy Rochelle organized a group of members to meet in the Grill for dinner and then attend "The Cocktail Party," starring our board member, Simon Jones. (See web site.)
A good time was had by all, and we were reminded of "Talk Theater Lunch." Sandy has agreed to organize an effort to get it started again. We would begin at a table in the Grill, each ordering a la carte. If you would like to participate, please let one of us know what day (Tues.-Thurs.) and week of the month (1,2, 3, last?) you prefer, along with any suggestions you have.
Sandy -
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Sharen -
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March 19, 2010
Two S tephens
Phebus and Heiden, holding the
8-ball trophy they won for the Players
in the NY Club Billiards Association Finals at
the Salmagundi Club on March 10, 2010.
March 9, 2010
More Jazz at the Players
ALL photos by © ERNEST GREGORY
March 7, 2010
A Life In Opera
   
Photos by Lloyd H. Slomanson
On Sunday, January 17th The Players Foundation presented a screening of CROSSING ALL BOUNDARIES, a video concert / documentary by Regina Resnik Presents. The project’s creators, Regina Resnik and Michael Philip Davis presented the program. The event celebrated the 65th anniversary of Ms. Resnik’s Metropolitan Opera debut.
January 16, 2010
A Story of Survival.
The Players Book Club met on Jan. 14 to discuss SARAH'S KEY by Tatiana de Rosnay. It's a novel about the July 16, 1942 roundup of the Jews in Paris by the French police working for the Nazi's. The roundup was one of several aimed at reducing the Jewish population in Occupied France. More than 13,000 victims were arrested and held at the Vélodrome d'Hiver and the Drancy internment camp nearby, then shipped by rail to Auschwitz. Few of the transported Jews survived. Sarah locks her brother in a cabinet to keep him safe, thinking she will return and let him out. The book goes back in time to tell Sarah's story and to the present to tell the story of an American journalist living in Paris and the personal connection she has with Sarah.
The meeting was very well attended, and we had a lively discussion about the book. Everyone thought it was very moving, especially the parts that dealt with Sarah and her will to survive. The discussion moved from the book to other stories of survival. After the meeting, many of us went down to the grill for dinner at the Book Club table.
Our next meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 17. Since we are the Players Club, every season we read one play. Our February selection will be THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST by Oscar Wilde
All That Jazz!
January 9, 2010
New Year’s Eve At The Players,
Music…
  Dancing…  
Food…    Drink...  
...and everyone had a real good time. Once again Elegant Affairs put together a memorable night of merry making for The Players annual ringing in of the new and outing of the old. Over a hundred partiers braved threatening weather to enjoy themselves and each other as the club enters a new decade.
     
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