WHAT’S THE BUZZ POCAST®™

Critics have called Geoffrey Mark a walking encyclopedia of show business history. Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised all over the country, Mr. Mark has spent his entire life in one part of show business or another. He has been appeared off-Broadway and in summer stock, been a singer and stand-up comedian in New York nightclubs and cabarets as well as on cruise ships, the proud recipient of an Emmy Award and a Grammy Award nomination, hosted two radio series in Los Angeles, writes comedy for several stand-up comedians, writes and produces documentaries and reality shows for cable television, as well as hosted two radio series of his own as well as several special programs on radio and television. Mr. Mark is also in demand as a performer in nightclubs, on cruise ships and for corporate events.

His books are the best selling The Lucy Book, and Ethel Merman: The Biggest Star on Broadway, as well as The Family Affair Cookbook. His newest book is Ella: A Biography of Legendary Ella Fitzgerald. Geoffrey is the producer of Nigel: Come Back to Me, a CD with a seventeen piece Big Band, and directed Spirit of the King, an Elvis show at the Spa Casino in Palm Springs.

Dean Butler was born on May 20, 1956 in Prince George, BC, Canada. He is a producer and actor best known to audiences for his portrayal of Almanzo Wilder from 1979 to 1983 on the iconic pioneer drama, Little House on the Prairie. He co-starred in the feature film, Desert Hearts, played Moondoggie in the syndicated The New Gidget, and Buffy's dad, Hank Summers, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. On Broadway Dean played Rapunzal's Prince in the original company of Into the Woods, toured internationally as Tony in West Side Story, and appeared with Carol Burnett in a regional production of Company.

Since 2011 Dean has been the Senior Producer of the Emmy nominated Feherty series on Golf Channel. He lives in Los Angeles and is married to actress, Katherine Cannon.

Alistair Cross’ debut novel, The Crimson Corset, a vampiric tale of terror and seduction, was an immediate bestseller earning praise from veteran vampire-lit author, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, and New York Times bestseller, Jay Bonansinga, author of The Walking Dead series. In 2012, Alistair joined forces with international bestseller, Tamara Thorne, and as Thorne & Cross, they write – among other things – the successful Gothic series, The Ravencrest Saga. Their debut collaboration, The Cliffhouse Haunting, was a bestseller. They are currently at work on their next solo novels and a new collaborative project.

In 2014, Alistair and Tamara began the radio show, Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!, which has featured such guests as Anne Rice of The Vampire Chronicles, Charlaine Harris of the Southern Vampire Mysteries and basis of the HBO series True Blood, Jeff Lindsay, author of the Dexter novels, Jay Bonansinga of The Walking Dead series, Laurell K. Hamilton of the Anita Blake novels, Peter Atkins, screenwriter of HELLRAISER 2, 3, and 4, worldwide bestseller V.C. Andrews, and New York Times best sellers Preston & Child, Christopher Rice, and Christopher Moore.

THE TOP 20 TV SHOWS OF ALL TIME

(Composer and lyricist; born July 10, 1931, in New York City)

It only takes a moment to realize that Broadway's Golden Age is alive and well and thriving as long as Jerry Herman's around. "When they passed out talent," the legendary Carol Channing has said, "Jerry stood in line twice." Almost single-handedly, the creator of Milk and Honey, Hello, Dolly!, Mame, La Cage aux Folles and so much more has revitalized and nourished the all-American tradition of great and unstoppable show tunes. His music and lyrics have kept audiences tapping their feet, humming along, and wiping their eyes with tears of joy for generations.

Even as often he's been underrated as being too easy to like in a world of dark and foreboding musicals, too entertaining, too tuneful and much too upbeat, the genius of Herman's deceptively simple songs cuts through any shortsighted criticism. "Jerry has succeeded so well in his mission that people don't give him credit," said Michael Feinstein, "because to be simple without being cliche is nearly impossible."

Herman's genius, in truth, is not so much simple as it is subtle. For all his cock-eyed optimism-and very much in the tradition of his forefathers Rodgers and Hammerstein-a Herman musical always carries a message of timeless values, of humanity's triumph over hatred and ignorance, of happiness over despair. 1983's La Cage aux Folles, a smash hit on Broadway and a Tony Award winner in all three of its Broadway productions-and counting-is not only a bona fide crowd-pleaser but also the most sweetly radical musical of its age.

Here on the Broadway stage, decades before the fight for marriage equality hit the headlines, was a pair of gay dads raising a family, and here was "...a man singing a love song to another man-I don't think that's ever been done in a Broadway musical before." Herman told The Washington Post that during previews in Boston "I didn't know whether or not they'd throw stones. The audience gave it an ovation." "By the time Georges and Albin-having weathered a son's passing ingratitude and a zealot's intolerance-walked hand in hand into the St. Tropez sunset, the audience was on its feet," The Washington Post reported. "What La Cage aux Folles celebrates, after all, is loyalty and love, respect for others and respect for self and, yes, even family. The good old values."

Gerald Herman was born in New York in 1931 and raised in Jersey City. His parents Harry and Ruth ran a children's summer camp in the Catskills, where young Jerry surprised everyone by teaching himself the piano. Once, he recalled years later, "my parents took me at a tender age to see Annie Get Your Gun, and I was absolutely dazzled. I have one of those retentive ears, and when I came home I sat down at the piano and played about five of the songs. My mother was amazed." Many more would be amazed. At 17, he was introduced to Frank Loesser, who encouraged him to continue composing once he heard some of Herman's songs.

He went to the University of Miami, joining its adventurous theater program and himself appearing in undergraduate shows including the musical Finian's Rainbow. His alma mater since then has honored this distinguished alumnus and today boasts the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre at the heart of its drama program. After graduation from Miami, Herman headed back to New York and put together a review of his songs so far: I Feel Wonderful opened at the Theatre de Lys in Greenwich Village October 18, 1954 and ran for 48 performances. He was just getting going. While playing piano in a New York jazz club called the Showplace, Herman brought together his friends Phyllis Newman and Charles Nelson Reilly for another review called Nightcap, which opened in 1958. This one ran for two years. In 1960 came Herman's Broadway debut, alongside material by Fred Ebb and Woody Allen, in the review From A to Z. That same year came Parade, also at the Showplace, starring Reilly and Dody Goodman. A hit, Parade moved to the Players' Theatre and it was during this run that a producer asked Herman if he would be interested in writing a musical about the founding of the state of Israel.

Milk and Honey, starring Molly Picon as the ultimate Hadassah lady, opened in 1961. It earned Herman his first Tony nomination for Best Musical of 1962. He had arrived. It was David Merrick who brought together Herman and the first of his vulnerable but ultimately invincible heroines, Dolly Levi. Hello, Dolly! starring Carol Channing opened in 1964, ran for 2,844 performances, became Broadway's longest-running musical and has been revived often since. It swept the Tony Awards, taking home a then unmatched 10 including Best Musical and becoming one of the happiest episodes in the history of the Broadway musical. Mame followed in 1966, starring Angela Lansbury and teaching the world that in the toughest times "We Need a Little Christmas." What has followed amounts to a life-affirming body of work rivaled by few: Dear World, the underappreciated Mack Mabel, The Grand Tour, Mrs. Santa Claus, Jerry's Girls, and of course La Cage aux Folles.

The theater world knew a good thing when it heard and saw it: Tonys, Drama Desk Awards, Theatre World Awards all followed, as did a 2009 Special Tony Award for Lifetime achievement, and a 2010 Drama Desk Special Award for "enchanting and dazzling audiences with his exuberant music and heartfelt lyrics for more than half a century." Right now in the 21st Century, we can be sure that someone, somewhere is singing a Jerry Herman song. That's one happy way we know the man's been right all along: the best of times is now.

SINGER SONGWRITER

Roslyn Kind is a dynamic, multi-talented entertainer who has forged a successful career in all facets of entertainment from critically acclaimed recordings to sold-out performances on Broadway and in top concert venues and nightclubs the world over. Ms. Kind recently performed with her sister, Barbra Streisand, during an 8 city US/Canadian tour and a 6 city International tour, which brought her to acclaimed venues including the Hollywood Bowl, The 02 Arena in London and Rogers Arena in Vancouver. In addition to performing historic duets with her sister, Ms. Kind shared the stage with her nephew Jason Gould and famed trumpeteer Chris Botti.

A vibrant musical artist, Ms. Kind is familiar to both national and international audiences for her headlining appearances at some of the most prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, The Greek Theater and London's Cafe Royal. The London Times noted "To say she is superb would be an understatement." In 2006 she made her long awaited and rapturously received Carnegie Hall debut with her frequent musical collaborator and friend, Michael Feinstein.

She began her performing career while still in her teens with the release of her first album, Give Me You . A whirlwind of performing activity followed including engagements at the nation's top nightclubs, acclaim from Time Magazine and three appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show leading up to her show-stopping New York debut at the Plaza Hotel's legendary Persian Room.

Her follow up singles and a second album, This is Roslyn Kind , showcased her growth as a recording artist comfortable in a wide range of musical genres. Ms. Kind's latest CD release, Come What May , which the New York Times described as "splendid and sizzling," further establishes her reputation as a virtuoso vocalist possessing impeccable phrasing, a richness and clarity of tone and an undeniable emotional connection to her always first-rate material.

Concurrent with her recording career, Ms. Kind is an accomplished theatrical performer. On Broadway, she starred in the crowd- pleasing musical revue 3 from Brooklyn . Additional theatrical credits include the Off-Broadway production of Show Me Where the Good Times Are, Leader of the Pack and Ferguson the Tailor . She also stopped the show in a critically lauded Los Angeles production of William Finn's Elegies ; The Hollywood Reporter noted, "Roslyn Kind sings like a dream."

Ms. Kind's extensive list of television credits include the film Switched at Birth , multiple episodes of NBC's Gimme a Break, Throb starring Jane Leeves and a humorously memorable turn as herself on CBS's The Nanny . This appearance also showcased her talent as a songwriter in a performance of her composition, Light of Love. She also performed the title song for the made-for-TV movie Not Just Another Affair, as well as the song Hold On for the award winning film Tru Loved . She was recently in the Hallmark movie Ladies of the House with Florence Henderson and Donna Mills. Ms. Kind has appeared on virtually every major talk/variety show including the Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood and Good Morning America . Among her international television credits are England's Pebble Mill Show, Canada's Musique Plus , and Unscripted Bio as well as For Me, Formidable , a Charles Aznavour special for European TV co-starring Dusty Springfield. In motion pictures, Ms. Kind has had starring roles in The Underachievers and I'm Going to Be Famous .

Ms. Kind also takes pride in her work for various animal welfare, Alzheimer's and AIDS related charitable organizations including HSUS, APLA and Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS for which she contributed a song selection to Cabaret Noel, a recent volume in their annual series of holiday CD releases.

One of the premiere interpreters of popular song, Roslyn Kind continues to succeed in every new facet of her performing career delighting audiences with her spellbinding talent. Roslyn's unique artistry is equally at home on stage, screen and disc.