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Dr. Sue “On Kentucky Avenue” Review Positive Entertainment

On Kentucky AvenueTo gamblers, Atlantic City means blackjack; to HBO viewers, it means Boardwalk Empire. Before there were casinos and cable TV, there were fabulous nightclubs — like the famed Club Harlem, located On Kentucky Avenue a tuneful, dance-fest that celebrates African-American singers, dancers, comics, and  the “sepia sweethearts” (showgirls). Talents include singers Ty Stephens, Cheryl Freeman and Andicka Hall (caught in a love triangle with Stephens, who plays Ivan, the club’s singing emcee) and guest star Jeree Wade, who co-created the show.Kentuky Avenue Lightening up the love-complications (which never interfere with non-stop singing and costume changes by Stephens and Pearl Williams), is comedian Lee Summers “Slappy Black” (a nod to the real-life Slappy White, who played the  club). Dancers include (alphabetically): Adam Bourque, Donna Clark, Brian Davis, Gergory J. Hanks, Mindy Haywood, Cassandra Palacio and Renee Ternier (Choreography by Ty Stephens) with the Freddie Baxter Orchestra and Frank Owens, Musical Director. The revue, which has been in development for  two and a half years (by Producers Robert R. Blume, Songbirds Unlimited,  JR Knauf & Marshall Warner),  is now making its debut at Stage 72/The Triad 158 W. 72nd Street, NYC.  So shimmy off those winter blues “On Kentucky Avenue.” Creative Living: Enjoy Live Entertainment!  Its easy to be a couch potato, but there’s nothing like the electricity of a live show! Applaud & Appreciate:! It makes the performer feel good – and clapping and cheering release your own positive hormones!  If you really love a performance (or the creativity of the writers, designers, etc.), share your compliments (and maybe your card for their mailing list). Put criticism and suggestions on hold – and only on request. Performing is exciting but vulnerable – so let artists bask in the glow of the show – they’ve earned it! (Photography: Russ Weatherford)

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Book: “Queens of Comedy” (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and more!) www.smashwords.com/books/view/219367 Musical: “SssWitch”: www.ssswitch.net  www.YouTube.com/drsuecomedian https://www.youtube.com/feed/my_videos  
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Dr. Sue Media JCT Valentine’s Day Positive Entertainment

JCT Awards Dr. Sue "Entertainer of the Year"

JCT Awards Dr. Sue “Entertainer of the Year”

Dr. Sue shares Love Tips on JCT Radio/TV Show! What makes a great, creative gift (with or without a high price tag)? How can you feel loved and appreciated? What can you do if you don’t get the gift you’ve been hoping for? Infatuation is exciting – like fireworks – but what can you do if it fades? How can you give little valentines to keep that love alive – all year long? Enjoy my Show on JCT Media with Poppa T “The Motivator” Creative Living: Celebrate Valentine’s Day as Love & Friendship Day!  Expand your idea of love beyond erotic romance or a relationship with a significant other.   Celebrate your friends, family, even your pets and plants! Appreciate What’s There: People express love and friendship in different ways. Sometimes it’s the gift or card that’s great – sometimes it’s something else they do – or don’t do.  Value the gift – whatever the form. (Editor/Photographer Jay Berman, Videography: JCT Multimedia)

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Book: “Queens of Comedy” (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and more!) www.smashwords.com/books/view/219367 Musical: “SssWitch”: www.ssswitch.net  www.YouTube.com/drsuecomedian https://www.youtube.com/feed/my_videos  
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Dr. Sue Travel New Orleans & NYC Positive Entertainment

NO Red Fish GrillLike a rich gumbo (New Orleans ) or Manhattan clam chowder (New York), big cities can be spiced for every palate:  from fantasy wild to family mild. There’s no way to summarize their delights in one blog, but here’s a taster’s menu. Red Fish Grill: “Friends don’t let friends eat frozen fish” is the motto of this Bourbon Street restaurant, which serves only fresh-caught fish in an ambiance of  artworks by local artist Luis Colmenares. Here I am displaying my catch: a metal sculpture of a fish by Colmenares. (By the way the meal was much tastier – and easier to cut!)   NO MasksWear and Buy a Mask – or admire one in a Mardi Gras parade, shop, or museum.  The carnival season lasts from January 6 (or “Twelfth Night”) through Mardi Gras (translated from the French as “Fat Tuesday.” Mardi is traditionally the last day of feasting before Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent). A variety of  krewes (clubs) create and ride on themed floats, fling  “throws” (beads and trinkets) at the crowds lining the parade route, wear costumes, and/or sponsor balls all season long.   NO HarlequinEven out of season, you can catch the flavor at Mardi Gras World! It’s a unique museum/warehouse/studio – with a fabulous book/gift shop! Artists design the sculpted decorations for the next  festival season. They also provide decorations  for casinos and theme parks all over the world!   NO Jazz ParkExplore the French Quarter .  You’ll find everything from street musicians to strip joints.  Some of Bourbon Street is on the seamy side, but other parts of the Le Vieux Quartier  (The Old Quarter) offer courtyards with splashing fountains and hundred-year-old houses that suggest New Orleans green, purple and gold theme colors in muted, vintage hues. You can pump up the volume at jazz clubs (the spirit of Louis Armstrong and other jazz greats lives on!) grab a chicory coffee and a beignet (doughnut) at Cafe Beignet; ride a river boat right out of Kern/Hammerstein’s musical “Showboat”); board a trolley (think “A Streetcar Named Desire” – Tennessee Williams’  classic play set in New Orleans); or catch an outdoor tumbling act with multi-ethnic audience participation and equal opportunity ribbing. What to Eat: New Orleans is famous for its cuisine. Here are a few favorites: Marriott Marquis Downtownn – this unexpected gem is tucked away near the Convention Center in Warehouse District, an up-and-coming neighborhood of art galleries and museums.  Marriott jazzes up its menu with local cuisine (gumbo, jambalaya), and the health-conscious traveler can keep it light with fish and salads. My favorites were the bouillabaisse (fish stew) and wintergreen salad with blackberries.  One rainy afternoon, the lobby featured an “action station” where chefs put their twist on hot buttered shrimp over grits with a cocktail called a “blonde hurricane”! New Orleans in New York City! RickCamera2Sue “Dr. Sue” Horowitz (Vocalist)  & Rick Bogart (Clarinet/Musical Director)  Perform Jazz Standards, Romantic  Songs & Funny Parodies Broadway Thai Restaurant  241 West 51st Street (btwn Broadway-8th Ave) NYC Saturday/Sunday Nights  (212) 226-4565, No Cover. Rick is from New Orleans, so enjoy a taste of Dixie in NYC! A Bientot (See you soon)! Creative Living: Visit New Orleans – or live a your own version of its life style by eating fabulous food and celebrating your culture and heritage! Festivate! – it’s a fantasy word – but just like wearing a mask, sometimes it’s fun to play with fantasy.  (You can always remove the mask, ditch the glitter, and return – refreshed – to the daily grind – especially if it’s New Orleans chicory coffee!) (Photos by Jay Berman)

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Book: “Queens of Comedy” (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and more!) www.smashwords.com/books/view/219367 Musical: “SssWitch”: www.ssswitch.net  www.YouTube.com/drsuecomedian https://www.youtube.com/feed/my_videos  
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Dr. Sue Chamber Magic with Steve Cohen Positive Entertainment

Steve Cohen SueDo you believe in magic?  You might after seeing Steve Cohen’s Chamber Magic Show at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.  His fame has grown since he started in 2001, but not the size of each audience, which he limits to fifty, to create an intimate, interactive experience. As befits the Waldorf, Steve performs in an elegant, custom-tailored suit – an homage to a bygone, more elegant era. Most of us dress in cocktail attire, because we’re all part of the show – and what a show! There’s sleight-of-hand (including a card that seems to turn a somersault in the air before landing in the middle of a shuffled deck), mental telepathy (Cohen guessed one audience member was thinking about his pet chinchilla), and a delightful “Think a Drink” teapot that could pour any drink his audience imagined!  Steve’s setting, sartorial choices, and select audiences (stars of stage and screen, royalty, and Fortune 500 companies) have dubbed him “The Millionaires’ Magician,” but Steve prefers to think of himself as “the thinking man’s magician.”  After his performance, we had a chance to chat, and I asked him why: Steve Cohen (SC):  In many magic performances there’s color, flash, and light shows.  This show has a lot of talking and interaction.  We have people coming in here who are absolutely brilliant, MIT professors walk away shaking their heads, not because their eyes were fooled, but because I fooled their thought processes.  There’s something in magic called “bubble gum for the eyes” – – you’re bombarded with images. My show very few images, but lots of unusual scenarios that you become embroiled in. Sue: How did you get started performing at the Waldorf? SC:  I began at friend’s house, but his wife objected because too many strange people were coming to their home.  Then I performed at the National Arts Club, which shuts down in the summer. At the last show I met Holly Peppe (now my manager) who offered to introduce me to someone at Waldorf. I’ve now done the show at Waldorf over 3000 times. Sue: What would you consider to be your best audience? SC: The best audiences for me are those who follow the rules: get dressed up and be ready to be engaged. Chamber Magic is a very interactive show, and the smarter the audience the better – especially during the mind-reading segment. Smart people have a lot on their minds, or unusual hobbies, like being a scuba diver. I can go into more in-depth detail when reading their thoughts, including details about where they’ve dived and how many feet down. Sue: Why do you think so many comics (like Johnny Carson and Dick Cavett) started as magicians? SC: There are many parallels between magic and comedy. Performers in both fields challenge their audience, and surprise them at the end. Magicians and comics both portray characters, and stick to material that suits their characters. Comics often stay away from the necessity to hide behind props, and maybe that’s why they converted from magic to comedy. Still, the presentational skills are essentially the same. Sue: As you may know, I wrote the book Queens of Comedy. I was interested in why there are comparatively few female standup comics. Why are there so few female magicians? SC: In ancient cultures, the spiritual leader of a clan or community was a female shaman. Female, because women have the magical power of creating life. There’s a great book The Chalice and the Blade that discusses this finding. Later on, as societies became dominated by males, there was a shift toward male shamans who were considered spiritual leaders. Shamans eventually transformed into the modern-day role of magicians. Sue: So it’s a reflection of the change in the power dynamics in society. SC:  Yes, because a magician is supposed to wield power that ordinary mortals can’t. There aren’t many female magicians these days because of sexism. Women feel they have to go on stage wearing revealing clothing to keep the audience’s attention.  They might be very skilled but they still feel they have to look a certain part.  I’d like to see a woman go on stage and have people say she is a great magician without even realizing she’s female. That would show that she has a degree of expertise that is undeniably impressive. In magic most of the women who appear on stage are magician’s assistants who are portrayed as sex symbols.  They dress in bikinis and get cut up, sliced and diced, appear, disappear, and get their heads get chopped off.  It’s all very misogynistic but it’s the standard formula.  I’ve always thought it’s pretty demeaning. I won’t have a female assistant in my show.  My audience is my assistant.  Everyone is equally my assistant – male or female. Sue: When did you decide to become a magician?  I read that you have been doing magic since you were six years old, and your great-uncle taught you your first trick. SC: He was a really good amateur magician, who used to do magic all the time at family parties. Afterwards, he would pull me aside and teach me how to do it.  He would make sure no one else was watching, then he would take out something from his pocket – a secret gimmick and say, “This is yours now, but you have to really practice.”  And until he said “You’re ready” I wasn’t allowed to show it to anybody else. Sue: How did you parents react when you told them you wanted to be a professional magician? SC: They were always very supportive.  Before I got my driver’s license, they used to drive me to my gigs at birthday parties in Westchester County – two or three every weekend. I would get paid, and they would drive me to the next show. Sue: Who were your role models or heroes? SC: I’ve got three magicians. One of them is Max Malini, who used to perform here at the Waldorf.  He was a kind of mountebank, and he would travel the world.  He went from being dirt poor to performing for kings, queens, and captains of industry like Andrew Carnegie and the Vanderbilt family.  Another is Johann Hofzinser from Vienna, and I made a pilgrimage to his gravesite.  He was the creator of this style of salon show, which he did for the upper crust of Viennese society.  In the 1850’s- 60’s, people used to gather in salons and talk about the news of the day or philosophy.  He opened up a magic salon, where they would watch him do magic. He charged the equivalent of a Broadway ticket price with dinner.  Hofzinser called card tricks “the poetry of magic.”  He invented hundreds, maybe thousands of card magic tricks that we still use today.  The stuff that I do in my show is directly linked to Hofzinser.  The last one is a French magician named Robert Houdin, who is considered to be the father of modern magic.  Houdini took his name from Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin.  Before him, magic was performed on the streets by a character dressed up as a wizard’s cap. Houdin took it off the streets, put it into an elegant drawing room setting, and wore clothes like I wear – evening clothes. He dressed as well as his audiences, who could choose to go to the ballet or the opera, but instead they chose to go to a magic show because it had the gravitas that he brought to it, and magic became another respected art form. Sue: Do you have a favorite story that you would like to tell about performing magic? SC:  When I do the “Think a Drink” trick, that’s the part of the show where I most feel like Harry Potter because I never know what drinks people are going to be calling out, and it’s fun to see the combination in any order. People choose hot drinks and cold drinks.  One of my favorites was when someone asked for a frozen margarita, so I poured out a frozen margarita – it came slushing out of the pot, and then right after that, the second person said, “I want a hot chocolate with mini marshmallows.” I picked up the pot with steam, poured the hot chocolate, and the mini marshmallows went blunk, blunk, blunk into the cup.  The guy who was drinking said, “I can’t believe this!” Sue:  If you were not a magician, what would you be? SC: I’d probably be a physicist. A magician is aware of the natural laws and tries to use theatrics to make it appear as if the natural laws are being broken.  However, if you are a scientist, you’re not trying to break the natural laws; you’re just trying to observe them. I’ve always been interested in what is and isn’t impossible. If you’re a scientist, you’re trying to find not only what’s possible, but the basis for how it’s executed.  There’s a lot of overlap between how a magician thinks and how a scientist thinks. I’m trying to entertain an audience with showing them impossible things.  A scientist is trying to take those impossible things and make them apparent. Sue: A scientist is trying to take impossible things…? SC: Things that we don’t understand like quantum mechanics or satellites in outer space.  Before we knew what they were, it was magic.  Arthur C. Clarke said, “Any technology which is sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from magic.”  I’m interested in still keeping that mystery alive. Sue:  Is there anything I haven’t covered that you would like to talk about? SC: What’s special about my show is that it’s completely interactive. I can’t do this show solo.  I can’t go into a rehearsal space alone to practice this show. Sue: Why the dress code? SC: The Waldorf Astoria has a tradition. There’s a dress code even in the lobby.  If I’m dressed in tails, and everyone else is dressed casually, there’s a disconnect.  But when people get dressed up at home, and they’re thinking “I have to go to the magic show tonight, the show has already started for them when they’re still in their bedroom. By the time they get here, they’re already committed by what they’re wearing.  Then they look around the room and see everyone else did the same, and it’s kind of special.  People used to go to Broadway theatres dressed in their best clothing, but nowadays people go dressed super-casual, and nobody seems to care.  I’d like to bring back that age of dressing up to go to the theatre, and people seem to like To learn more about Steve Cohen’s Chamber Magic Show visit: chambermagic.com   See you at the Waldorf!

 

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Book: “Queens of Comedy” (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and more!) www.smashwords.com/books/view/219367

Musical: “SssWitch”: www.ssswitch.net

 www.YouTube.com/drsuecomedian https://www.youtube.com/feed/my_videos  

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Dr. Sue Entertaining Host JCT Variety Show Positive Entertainment

Dr. Sue: Performing Host/Interviewer
 JCT Awards Dr. Sue Horowitz "Entertainer of the Year 2013"

JCT Awards
Dr. Sue Horowitz
“Entertainer of the Year 2013”

JCT Multi-Media Awards Dr. Sue “Entertainer of the Year 2013”
Where to go to catch a show?  Beat the heat, drink and eat?   Air-conditioning  on full blast – so chill out – enjoy the cast:  Funny Comics who can talk, Models struttin’ the catwalk   Dancers with and without  shoes – Singers and fun Interviews   Tangos, Tappers, Actors, Rappers, Broadway ballads, Caesar salads  Entertainment – a full menu – dinner – drinks – you’ll love our venue! The JCT Variety Show (August 2013) was tons of fun!  The talent was definitely varied and entertaining:  “The Amazing Amy” Yoga-Contortionist-Dancer (who demonstrated flexibility at any age) ; Fabielle – a handsome model (who showed me how to catwalk); a teen dancer(who tapped her way through a Beatles song ); an actress (with a monologue about a hamburger flipper); a model/singer (who warbled “Sistah” from The Color Purple)  to Miss Asia – an R&B  singer. I hosted the show and sang my original songs “Dare to Believe” “Celebrate Your Life” and “Yo Te Amo (I Love You)” . After the performances, I did  a group interview of show biz kids with their parents (including Producer Poppa T.)  All agreed that  being in show business is intense, demanding work that takes patience and persistance – plus (from the parents) a willingness to chauffeur their talented offspring to auditions, invest finances and time (and handle the jealousy of siblings who may be too young for the biz – or just not interested).  A bad stage parent pushes the child past his/her own needs and interests to satisfy what is really an adult agenda.  A good stage parent and mentor knows when to step back – to avoid making a performer feel pressured – and when to step forward to encourage, teach, and protect – and to know the difference between the child’s interests – and the parent’s own needs. All this is a mental health ideal – and it’s not so easy to draw the line – especially when a child is gifted.  What we call “genius” is a combination of unusual talent, hard work, and determination. Where would young Wolfgang Mozart have been without pushy poppa Leopold?  What about young Michael Jackson and driver dad Joe Jackson? More peaceful? Perhaps.  Less productive? Probably. Whatever your talent or taste, there’s something for everyone at JCT”s variety show.  The audience gets free entertainment, delicious food and drink. If you’re an aspiring star, this is your chance to be seen! “Success Awaits Us!” Creative Living
  • Live your dream – and your talent – you don’t know if you’re hot till you give it a shot!
  • If you’re pushing your child or significant other(s) to achieve – make sure it’s their dream – not yours.
  • Enjoy good entertainment good food -and do what you love!
(Editor/Photographer Jay Berman)

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Book: “Queens of Comedy” (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and more!) www.smashwords.com/books/view/219367 Musical: “SssWitch”: www.ssswitch.net  www.YouTube.com/drsuecomedian https://www.youtube.com/feed/my_videos  
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Dr. Sue Drama Desk Panel 2013 Positive Entertainment

Drama Desk Panel 2013 at Sardis (L to R) Bertie Carvel, Jane Houdyshell, Ronald Rand, Isa Goldberg, Kristine Nielsen and David Hyde Pierce

Drama Desk Panel 2013 at Sardis (L to R) Bertie Carvel, Jane Houdyshell, Ronald Rand, Isa Goldberg, Kristine Nielsen and David Hyde Pierce
Photo: Barry Gordin.

The 2013 Drama Desk Luncheon at Sardi’s served up convivial buffet of seasoned Broadway actors. Moderated by Ronald Rand Founder/Publisher of The Soul of the American Actor, the panel included David Hyde Pierce (Frasier’s brother psychiatrist) and Kristine Nielsen (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike), Olivier Award Winner Bertie Carvel (Matilda), and Jane Houdyshell (Dead Accounts Wicked, Follies).  Topics included: Acting vs. Life: Carvel asserted, “Acting is artifice –not life. Your job is to make it as lifelike as possible.”  Nielsen quoted Stella Adler, the famed acting teacher, “Your imagination is more interesting than your life.” Comedic Acting: Pierce advises, “Tell story and be funny, humor is in writing. Comedy is musical and rhythmic. Really good actors have some kind of music in them.” Acting in Farce, Fantasy and Musicals: Houdyshell, who performed in the fantasy musical Wicked, said,  “Wicked is a fantastical story, broader than life.  For and actor pretending comes from believing. When you wear a 35 pound costume and enormous wig, you know you must become something else!” Directing:  Houdyshell stated, “I respond most creatively to directors who create a safe environment in rehearsal and don’t judge. I prefer collaborative directors who are interested in what actors bring to the table.”  Pierce added, “I recently started directing, which is natural for me. I’m always conscious of the arc of the whole story, not my character’s story.” Audiences: Houdyshell commented, “Audiences sometimes don’t realize that the actors on-stage can hear them. I was once on stage pretending to be asleep, and these two ladies in the front row started arguing about whether I was a dummy.  The first one said, “I just saw her breathe.” The second one answered, “She’s a dummy – just look at her legs!” Reviews: Pierce recalled the opening night of a play in which he played a lead role. After the show, he was sitting with his parents in a restaurant, and the reviews came out. The New York Times critic Frank Rich was very negative. The after-show party was cancelled and soon after that the production closed. Pierce said, “I just sat on that stage and cried – but I love this fantastic business!” Houdyshell nooded in rueful understanding.  “One reviewer said my accent was a thick as my ankles.  See, it always goes back to the legs.” Nielsen commented, “Reviews are a necessary evil. I don’t read them, but my friend does and gives me general tenor.” In contrast, Carvel, who reads all reviews said, “There are as many opinions as there are reviewers, and now with blogs, it’s infinite.  I forget the bad reviews.” Happiness/Success Habits: Take Reviews and Opinions with a Grain of Salt – take what’s helpful and ignore what’s useless or mean-spirited.  Most spiteful remarks come from ignorance, envy, or constipation (of the body or spirit.) This is easier said than done. As the great actress Ethel Barrymore quipped, “For an actress to be a success she must have the face of Venus, the brains of Minerva, the grace of Terpsichore, the memory of Macaulay, the figure of Juno, and the hide of a rhinoceros.”   (Photography: Harry Kierman, Barry Gordin, Editor: Jay Berman)

 

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Book: “Queens of Comedy” (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and more!) www.smashwords.com/books/view/219367

Musical: “SssWitch”: www.ssswitch.net

 www.YouTube.com/drsuecomedian https://www.youtube.com/feed/my_videos  

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Dr. Sue Travel Mini-Cation Positive Entertainment

Brunch with Sue

Brunch with Sue

Between a vacation and stay-cation is a mini-cation – a short vacation with a minimum of packing and mileage. It’s a chance to get away from computers, cleaning, cooking, kids or whatever constitutes your daily scene and upgrade your routine. Instead of hosting a dinner and dealing with sleepover arrangements, mini-cations offer a low-stress, high-fun way to connect with out-of-town friends and family. Many hotels offer dining with a great weekend brunch (often an all-you-can-eat buffet) for hotel guests and locals. A buffet brunch (like the one at the Nassau Marriott) is an easy way to celebrate special occasions – without a huge price tag or the need to negotiate special diets and different sized appetites. Tables can usually be re-arranged for singles, couples, and large groups . Away from urban centers, there is ample parking for overnight and dining guests – a big plus for car-owners and buses.
Pool

Pool

Another plus is swimming – many hotels feature pools (outdoor and/or indoor). If you didn’t drop off the kids, you can always drop them in the pool. Mer-folks – like Ariel (the little mermaid) and me – love an all-season dip. We can swim, dry off, and dine in style without going out into the cold – just wrap up in a robe or towel and change for dinner. What happens to that towel? No problem! One lovely perk of mini-cations is that someone else picks up the towels, scrubs the tub, and makes the bed! As for local activities, most hotels are located near museums, movie-plexes, and theatres plus shopping – upscale, downscale, and everything in-between. (One clothing store was so upscale, all I could afford was a christening gown – and how often does a Jewish girl wear that?) As a mer-lady (without fish scales), I settled for a swim cap – for my next mini-cation! Creative Living: Give Yourself a Break: You may not have the time or cash for a major vacation, but a weekend, overnight, or day-cation treat can recharge your batteries and enlarge your point of view!   (Editor/Photographer: Jay Berman)

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Book: “Queens of Comedy” (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and more!) www.smashwords.com/books/view/219367 Musical: “SssWitch”: www.ssswitch.net  www.YouTube.com/drsuecomedian https://www.youtube.com/feed/my_videos  
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Dr. Sue Social Q’s – Eat Dessert First! Book Review Positive Entertainment

True confession: I have an addiction – to Philip Galanes”s “Social Q’s” advice column on Sunday in The New York Times. There’s no excuse.   I should be reading important news (wars, failing economies, natural disasters).  I should be saving my appetite for the main course (a balanced plateful of misery), But instead, what am I doing?  Eating dessert first.   Chowing down on Q’s (questions) from the socially challenged and answers that are tart and tender, smart and blender-whipped into a mousse of  wit and uncommon sense. Who can help licking the spoon?  Not I. And now I don’t have to wait for Sunday! Social Q’s is now a book (light weight or downloadable).  I can carry my social conscience  with me like Pinocchio’s Jiminy Cricket.  If I’m tempted to misdemean or make a scene or lie, Mr. Galanes clues me in on what’s cricket and what’s out of bounds. Good thing too, I can’t afford to have my nose grow – not with the price of cosmetic surgery! If I’m tempted to lay down my personal social laws,  Mr. Galanes lays out some tongue-in-cheek formulas for deciding when to play Mom and when to keep mum. Speaking of tongues and cheeks, I can’t wait to revisit Mr. Galanes’ dessert buffet and expand my uh-mind.  But you know what they say about second helpings – I better wear stretch pants. (Editor: Jay Berman) Happiness/Success Habits: Read Social Q’s!  ‘Nuff said!

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Book: “Queens of Comedy” (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and more!) www.smashwords.com/books/view/219367 Musical: “SssWitch”: www.ssswitch.net  www.YouTube.com/drsuecomedian https://www.youtube.com/feed/my_videos  
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Dr. Sue Duke Ellington Gala Positive Entertainment

The annual Ellington Center Gala was, as ever, elegant, swinging fun! Mercedes Ellington, granddaughter of the legendary Duke, directed, staged and welcomed us to an evening of singing, dancing, and musicianship –  mostly to music by the Duke, with proceeds benefitting the Ellington Scholarship Fund and Programs www.thedukellingtoncenter.org Frank Owens on piano and the Ellington Center Band led off with “Take the A Train.”  Our MC, Adrienne Hahn in top hat, tails, and hot pants (over skyscraper legs) strutted down the steps of the magnificent Landmark on the Park and sang. When she perched on the lap of Ervin Drake,  ultra-dapper, nonagenarian songwriter (“I Believe” “Good Morning Heartache’), and musically invited him to “Come Fly Away.”  I thought he just might!
Duke Ellington Gala 2012

Duke Ellington Gala 2012

The Pitch Blak Bass Band, winner of the first annual Bob Stewart Tuba competition, gave us  a sample of a big, brass sound. Then we  enjoyed the vocal stylings of T. Oliver Reid, Marion Cowings, and Antoinette Montague. Swing dancers Mickey Davidson and Jun Maruda showed us how to jitterbug and jump for joy!  Then, quintessentially graceful Michael Choi and Anna Truhkan (in tuxedo and burgundy velvet)  lifted us on wings of choreographed ballroom dance. After a brief intermission, we sat down to a sumptuous buffet (Spoonbread Catering).  The second half of the program featured the song “My Son” an excerpt from the musical “YES!” by Earl Wilson, Jr.  (vocals by T. Oliver Reid and Erick Pinnick, with Eugene Gwozdz on piano).  Board Member Larry Kerchner and Dennis Chicinno performed “Down at Mama Jones.” Last, but certainly not least, came a showcase of tap dancers, Broadway and opera singers, and, well, me – singing my original, multicultural, holiday song “Happy Hanukrismas”  What a thrill – laughter, applause, a request for lyrics, and a man who told me the song brought tears to his eyes!  Like Earl Wilson, Jr. I said “YES” to “Come Fly with Me” – I was flying! Happiness/Success Habits
  • Do what you love, live your passion, and seize your opportunity! I love writing and singing songs and the Ellington holiday gala was the perfect venue for “Happy Hanukrismas.”  Were  there obstacles? Of course. I had barely finished writing the song that afternoon when I tucked it into my purse (just in case I got a chance to sing it),  and there was no chance to rehearse. But I knew the supremely gifted Frank Owens could play by ear and chords (even with my mistakes).  When Mercedes pointed at me, and said “You go first” I trusted her instinct and went for it!
  • Love and enjoy the arts – any way you can – as a creator,  performer and/or appreciator and supporter! The arts give life beauty, meaning, and joy! Find a way to be part of that – give yourself that gift.
  • Give back and support arts and education.  The Ellington Scholarship Fund and Programs supports developing talent and educational programs.  Keep Duke’s legacy alive!  Please visit www.thedukellingtoncenter.org
(Editor:/Photographer Jay Berman)

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Book: “Queens of Comedy” (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and more!) www.smashwords.com/books/view/219367 Musical: “SssWitch”: www.ssswitch.net  www.YouTube.com/drsuecomedian https://www.youtube.com/feed/my_videos    
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Dr. Sue Hope in the Hurricane Positive Entertainment

Extreme WeatherHurricane Sandy brought much suffering – but also many gifts and insights. Here are a few that I would like to share with you, my dear readers.
  • Cultivate positive relationships – they are the flowers in the garden of our lives.
o   The support of family, friends colleagues, neighbors, and all relationships is very important.  Being a professor gives my life a sense of purpose and community. o   Be kind and respectful to others and protect and take care of yourself.  Forgive others and yourself for mistakes. If you cannot forgive, keep some distance, but do not let your mind dwell on bitterness. Stay away from negative influences, and look for positive associations.
Sue Piano Home

Sue Piano Home

Cultivate something that you love to do – give it value, and stay connected to your passions and interests. o   I love to sing, play piano, and write songs.  When I was isolated at home, I spent many hours every day at my piano singing and improving my songs. I also like painting, and I painted a thank you card for a friend. o   What do you love?  We all need interests and activities we enjoy. o   Learn to enjoy reading – you will not be dependent on electricity or outside entertainment if you have the companionship of a book or magazine – even by candle light.
  • Learn skills and knowledge – including languages, computer, and cell phone.  All skills are valuable – you never know when you need them.
o   My languages have helped me make friends across cultures. My cross-cultural friends supported me in my hours of need. o   My writing/communication skills have opened many doors for me.  I hope you will learn skills that give you opportunities in life. o   My only communication with the outside world (aside from my neighbors) was by cell phone.  To save my battery, I charged my cell phone via my computer (which I did not use), restricted my cell phone use to text and Emails (talking uses more battery power than text or email), and removed the battery when not in use (thanks to  the good advice of my brother).  By the last day, my computer battery was used up, and my cell phone was down to low power – but better low power than none!  Without some knowledge of computers and cell phones, I would have been stuck!
  • Be wise and be positive  – prepare for the worst, and focus on the best.
o   I stored water and food and used them frugally, and I carefully laid out a flashlight, candles, lighter (for my gas stove), and matches.  I cooked food in advance so it would not spoil, and rationed food so it would last.  I ate a stove top dinner by candle light with a glass of wine.  Maybe I couldn’t shower or flush the toilet, but I could still enjoy the comfort of food and feel elegant! o   I focused on what I had (not what was missing) and used my imagination – if Lincoln read by candle light, so could I.  I couldn’t go out because I did not want to climb 17 flights of stairs with a knee problem in the dark – uh-oh!  But that gave me the time to stay connected to music and art.
  • Keep faith
o   We all believe different things, and some of us are atheists.  Personally, I do not care or judge what people do or do not believe. But I do believe that it is important to have faith in something – whether it is traditional religion or a general sense of hope and gratitude.  When the light grew dim, and darkness and long night came into the sky, I played and sang the song “Amazing Grace” with the beautiful verse: “Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come,  ‘twas grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” The hurricane was hard in some ways, but it brought me wonderful gifts – I connected to the people I love, to my art, and to my faith. Please enjoy my song “Dare to Believe” You can download it free from my CD “Keys of Love” www.cdbaby.com/drsue I hope that you are well, safe, and happy.  Thank you for reading my blog.

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Book: “Queens of Comedy” (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and more!) www.smashwords.com/books/view/219367 Musical: “SssWitch”: www.ssswitch.net  www.YouTube.com/drsuecomedian https://www.youtube.com/feed/my_videos