The Lambs Marks 90 Years of Friendship with Sardi’s
August 30, 2017
The Lambs, America’s first professional theater club and one of the oldest professional theatrical organizations in the U.S., marked its 90-year association with Sardi’s proclaiming it the Club’s favorite watering hole…outside The Lambs.
The Proclamation may be READ HERE.
Originating in London in 1869, The Lambs, a club for professionals of entertainment and the arts, was founded in New York in 1874. Members over the years have included Fred Astaire, the Barrymores, David Belasco, Douglas Fairbanks, Richard Rodgers and Hal Prince. Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe first met at The Lambs, and Loewe left a share of his rights of Brigadoon to The Lambs Foundation.
From 1905 until 1975 The Lambs’ 44th Street clubhouse, designed by Lamb Stanford White, was located just 1,050 feet east of Sardi’s. The famed theatrical bar and birthplace of the Tony Awards first opened in 1921, and ever since has been a regular meeting spot for members of The Lambs. Among the famed caricatures of theatrical luminaries that line the walls of Sardi’s, dozens have been members of The Lambs, including current Lambs Joyce Randolph and Jim Dale. During The Lambs’ short time without its own clubhouse in the mid-1970’s, members often congregated at Sardi’s Little Bar, and that gathering continues long after The Lambs settled at 3 West 51st Street.
On Wednesday, August 30th, many members of The Lambs gathered at Sardi’s Little Bar presenting a framed certificate, and raised many a glass while proclaiming Sardi’s The Lambs’ favorite watering hole. Among those packing the Little Bar were Joyce Randolph (Trixie of The Honeymooners) and voice-over/actor/producer Joe Sirola….and Sardi’s co-owner, Sean Sardi Ricketts.
Here’s a video of the reading of the proclamation courtesy of Lamb Doug Gerbino
Rosa Antonelli Piano Recital
August 11, 2017
Lamb Rosa Antonelli gave a piano recital for all to enjoy, featuring our new Steinway piano, in The Lambs’ 5th Floor Quarters; Tuesday, August 8th, 7PM. The room was filled to capacity! Rosa helped raise $1,000 toward the purchase of the new Steinway Boston baby grand last fall, and this evening marked its first official performance. See photos below!
Argentinian pianist Rosa Antonelli, a Steinway Artist since 1998 and a member of The Lambs, is one of today’s leading performers and a champion of classical Latin‐
American and Spanish music. She has toured extensively, with more than 1,000 concerts in Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America, and she is dedicated to performing and recording the works of these composers for audiences all over the world. Her benefit performance today marks Hispanic Heritage month, and benefits The Lambs Foundation. Ms. Antonelli performed the World Premier of Astor Piazzolla’s Two Tangos in her recital at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium Perelman Stage in 2011. Joe Franklin called that performance “Riveting,” and he stated “…incomparable Horowitz and Rosa Antonelli’ is the closest I’ve seen to that master….Ms. Antonelli’s artistry on stage was absolutely stunning; the musical poetry mesmerizing.” Rosa also gave the NY Premier of the Champagne Waltz by Albeniz, and the Tres Argentinian Dances by Luis Gianneo in her last appearance at the same stage of Carnegie Hall, on October, 2014. Her performances consistently garner rave reviews. Most recently Rosa performed at the Consulate General of Argentina, May 18, 2016, for the Alberto Ginastera Centennial Gala.
Her latest recording, Abrazando – Latin Embrace, by Albany Records, is a rich and varied sampling of music, bringing together standard repertoire works with a few less familiar gems. Rosa is also a respected teacher of piano technique and has given seminars and lectures in various European and Latin America countries…and was the chairwoman of the Piano Department at the Provincial Conservatory of Music “Alberto Ginastera” for ten years, held the position of Professor of the Piano Department at the National University of La Plata in Buenos Aires, and was invited to
join the faculty of the Piano Department of Adelphi University when she came to the U.S. in 1999. Her book Piano, the Spirit of Technique and Interpretation for Teachers and Students is available on Amazon. In 2006, the United States honored Ms. Antonelli by granting her American citizenship because of her government status as “An Artist of Extraordinary Ability.”
Visit Rosa’s web site: www.RoseAntonelli.com
Our Foundation at Work
June 1, 2017
The Lambs Foundation, founded in 1943 and refiled in 1961, supports non-profit theater, emerging works and education in the arts. In addition to direct monetary donations the Foundation occasionally offers free use of space for readings of plays, rehearsal, meetings and small performances. One such company to benefit is the Utopia Opera Company. Below we share some photos from their rehearsal for their upcoming production of Eugene Onegin in our flexible performance space, which includes a new Boston Piano by Steinway. Donations to the Foundation are welcome and help us to continue our mission. Donate here.
The Lambs ® Celebrates 140 Years of Incorporation
May 10, 2017
May 9, 2017: The Lambs ® celebrated it’s 140th anniversary of incorporation in grand style. The Lambs originated in London in 1869, then later formed in New York Christmastime of 1874; but the Club incorporated in the state of New York on May 9th, 1877. The date was set in New York City as “Lambs Day” by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The event, which was presented by The Lambs Foundation, was packed to the rafters with members, spouses and guests. Among them were: Lamb Joe Benincasa, President of The Actors Fund of America (which was originally found by Lambs); Rebecca Damon, the Executive National Vice-President of SAG-AFTRA (7 of the 17 founders were Lambs) and also a SAG-AFTRA Foundation Board Member; Jamie Fields, President of the Twelfth Night Club (founded by the wife of a Lamb), and Nicole Clark, a Trustee of the Twelfth Night who’s father had been a Lamb; Morgen Stevens-Garmon, Theater Archivist at the Museum of the City of New York, where there are many items of The Lambs; Robin Weaver, President of the WNRC; and Mark Peikert, Editor-in-Chief of Playbill. All gathered to celebrate the Club’s remarkable history, the upgrades to our quarters, our new Steinway pianos, and for the naming of the Club office in honor of the generosity of the late Scott Glascock, while Woody Regan turned out tunes on the new baby grand.
The jam-packed cocktail party included a brief presentation of some stand-out dates of The Lambs’ 143 year history, performances by piano virtuosos Karen Beluso and Lamb Rosa Antonelli, a report from Boy Peter Kingsley on a gift of a club book from 1900. A video of the formal presentation will be posted here shortly.
