The big diva news of the week was the confirmation that Tony and Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone — who received a Drama Desk Award for her work in the 1987 Tony-winning revival of Anything Goes — will reunite with two of that production's stars, Howard McGillin and Linda Hart, for a one-night-only Lincoln Center benefit performance of the Cole Porter musical on April 1. The gala performance, which also boasts a cast including John Cunningham, Boyd Gaines, Kaitlin Hopkins, Elizabeth Hubbard, John Jellison and Michael McGrath, will honor Joe Cullman, a great friend of Lincoln Center, on his 90th birthday. Visit for more information Hargayoto drafter

The Anything Goes concert will be performed at the Vivian Beaumont Theater — where the smash revival played — on Monday, April 1 at 6:45 PM. Featuring direction and choreography by Side Show's Robert Longbottom, the evening will also include musical direction by David Chase. The performance, which is the centerpiece of the Lincoln Center's 2002 Spring Gala, will be followed by dinner at Tavern on the Green at Central Park West and 67th Street. Tickets to the performance only (in the loge section), priced at $50 and $100, are now available at the theatre's box office (150 W. 65th Street) or by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200. Tickets for the performance (orchestra seats) and dinner are priced at $600, $1,000 and $2,500 and are available by calling Karin Schall at (212) 501-3251.

Flashback: About her performance in Anything Goes, former New York Times theatre critic Frank Rich had this to say about La LuPone: "Forget about the Coliseum, the Louvre museum, a melody from a symphony by Strauss—Patti LuPone is the top. As Reno Sweeney, the sassy nightclub singer in the Lincoln Center revival of Anything Goes, Ms. LuPone has her first sensational New York role since Evita in 1979, and, given that Cole Porter is the evening's buoyant guiding spirit, you don't have to fear that she'll succumb to death scenes in the second act. With her burst of Lucille Ball red hair, a trumpet's blare in her voice, and lips so insinuatingly protruded they could make the Pledge of Allegiance sound lewd, Ms. LuPone's Reno is a mature, uninhibited jazz dame: loose, trashy, funny, sexy." LuPone currently stars in the hit revival of Michael Frayn's comedy, Noises Off at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

How exciting to walk inside the Virgin Megastore in Times Square and see that Bernadette Peters' new recording, "Bernadette Peters Loves Rodgers & Hammerstein" is loved by all! In fact, the CD is the number one seller in that store, a true rarity for a Broadway performer, even one of the caliber of Peters. But, it seems, talent occasionally wins out. As was already reported, Peters will perform an entire evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein — with a few surprises, no doubt — when she makes her Radio City Music Hall concert debut on June 19 . . . When I was sent the CD, the press kit also included some glowing reviews of recent BP concerts, and I thought you would enjoy reading a few select quotes, which follow:

Nancy Stetson in the Naples Daily News (Florida; 1/8/2002): "Peters sang a few numbers from Rodgers and Hammerstein . . . One of the more surprising selections was 'There Is Nothin' Like a Dame' from South Pacific, which is traditionally sung by men. But in Peters' interpretation, the tune became a song celebrating her own womanliness. 'They don't do it exactly like that in the show,' she said when she finished. 'But that's the way I do it.' . . . When she sang 'I'm Flying' from Peter Pan, she sang it with such conviction and wonder, moving her arms fluidly through the air, that it wouldn't have been surprising to see her hover above the audience . . . Peters seems to recreate herself with each song, being vampish for one, sophisticated for another, then wistful for the next. She exudes sexiness but also sweetness, confidence and vulnerability. And though she's on stage, performing, there seems to be nothing pretentious or artificial about her."

Pat Craig in the Contra Costa Times (1/22/2001) "Quite fittingly, the show opens with Peters singing 'There's No Business Like Show Business,' which leads quickly into a rousing 'Can't Get a Man With a Gun,' two Berlin tunes from the revival of Annie Get Your Gun, which earned Peters her most recent Tony Award. She gives it just the right theatrical touch by donning a battered cowboy hat and brandishing a rifle . . . Quickly, she moves into Sondheim territory, with 'No One Is Alone,' from Into the Woods. It is the first of a number of Sondheim songs, from 'Children Will Listen' to 'Some People' from Gypsy, Peters' first touring show when she was a teen, and a musical revival she's scheduled to launch next year. The tune, a show stopper by the Mama Rose character, gave plenty of evidence that Peters will be stunning in the role that was created by Ethel Merman in 1959 . . . [Peters'] most memorable material was from her latest fling with Rodgers and Hammerstein . . . The songs were excellent additions to the Peters catalog, primarily because they have strong stories, like much of the other material she performs. And that may be the key to the diva's appeal. She is very much an actress as well as a singer, so even fairly contemporary ballads, which are often sung in that stentorian anthem style, become intimate and emotional when Peters wraps her voice around them."

I've received a few letters asking what songs — other than "The Ladies Who Lunch" and "Zip" — that Elaine Stritch performs in her one-woman show at the Neil Simon Theatre. So, I thought I'd list all of the songs that are mentioned in the show's Playbill, which says, "The following songs may or may not be performed in Elaine Stritch At Liberty." ! And, as I've written before, don't miss your chance to see this legend onstage. You will not regret it . . . but you may regret it if you don't go!

"All In Fun" music: Jerome Kern; lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II "Broadway Baby" music & lyrics: Stephen Sondheim "But Not For Me" music: George Gershwin; lyrics: Ira Gershwin "If Love Were All" music & lyrics: Noel Coward "Can You Use Any Money Today?" music & lyrics: Irving Berlin "Civilization" music: Carl Sigman lyrics: Bob Hilliard "Hooray For Hollywood" music: Richard A. Whiting lyrics: Johnny Mercer "I’m Still Here" music & lyrics: Stephen Sondheim "I’ve Been To A Marvelous Party" music & lyrics: Noel Coward "I Want A Long Time Daddy" music & lyrics: Porter Grainger "The Little Things You Do Together" music & lyrics: Stephen Sondheim "Something Good" music & lyrics: Richard Rodgers "The Ladies Who Lunch" music & lyrics: Stephen Sondheim "The Party’s Over" music: Jule Styne lyrics: Betty Comden and Adolph Green "There Never Was A Baby Like My Baby" music: Jule Styne lyrics: Betty Comden and Adolph Green "There’s No Business Like Show Business" music & lyrics: Irving Berlin "This Is All Very New To Me" music: Albert Hague lyrics: Arnold B. Horwitt "Why Do The Wrong People Travel?" music & lyrics: Noel Coward "Zip" music: Richard Rodgers lyrics: Lorenz Hart

Two weeks ago I included quotes from an interview that was conducted with the late, great Nancy LaMott just weeks before her tragic death. I also noted that LaMott's recordings are, unfortunately, out of print, although they do occasionally pop up on ebay. A loyal diva watcher and LaMott fan sent me a note to let me know that fans can order LaMott recordings directly from Midder Music (the company that produced her CDs) until supplies last. I contacted David Friedman, the talented composer who ran the now-defunct company, and he confirmed that LaMott's CDs can be purchased through Midder. There are six Nancy LaMott albums available: her debut disc, "Beautiful Baby"; "Come Rain or Come Shine: The songs of Johnny Mercer" "My Foolish Heart," "Just In Time For Christmas," "Listen to My Heart" and "What's Good About Goodbye?" (released posthumously). Here is the info for those interested: CDs are $15 each, plus $2.50 per item shipping and handling. Cassettes are $10 each, plus $2.50 per item shipping and handling. In New York add 8.25% sales tax. On orders of seven or more CDs, shipping is free (except on foreign orders). You can order by emailing [email protected] with your name, address, phone number, credit card number and expiration date (Visa, Mastercard & Amex only), and your order will be sent right out. Orders may also be placed by phone at (212) 663 3656, by fax at (212) 663-3657 or by mail: MIDDER Music Records, 275 W. 96th St., #30A, New York, N.Y. 10025.

Betty Buckley in Concert: March 30 at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, CA April 8 Benefit Concert at the Studio Arena Theater in Buffalo, NY May 4 Benefit Concert at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, IL

Barbara Cook in Concert: April 3 at Symphony Hall in Boston, MA (Mostly Sondheim) April 9 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY (June Lebell series: The Sound Of Broadway) April 12-13 Marilyn Horne and Barbara Cook at the Warton Center at Michigan State University in MI April 18-28 at the Mohegan Sun in CT May 14 Cook receives the New Dramatists’ Lifetime Achievement Award at the Marriot Marquis Hotel in New York, NY May 19-20 with the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall in Boston, MA June 5-9 and June 12-16 at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theatre in Washington, DC June 23-Aug. 26 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater in New York, NY (Mostly Sondheim) July 5 at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts in Long Island August 14-18 at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theatre in Washington, DC Oct. 19 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, WA Nov. 17 at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ

Maureen McGovern in Concert: March 22 at Scullers Jazz Club Boston, MA March 23 Wall to Wall Richard Rodgers at Symphony Space, New York March 24 Airmen of Note Guest Artist Series - DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC April 30-May 6 & May 8-May 13 Cinegrill Grand Re-Opening, Los Angeles, CA May 17-18 "Works of Heart" Seminar - New York, NY June 22 "Music by the Lake," Lake Geneva, WI June 29-Aug. 17 Dear World at Sundance Theater, Sundance, UT July 4 at the Caramoor Center for Music & the Arts at the Venetian Theater, Katonah, NY Sept. 1-2 MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon, Los Angeles, CA Sept. 20 - 22 Grand Rapids Symphony at DeVos Hall in Grand Rapids, MI Sept 26-29 North Carolina Symphony, Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh, NC Oct. 30-Nov. 3 American Music Therapy Association Conference in Atlanta, GA Nov. 19-Dec. 1 at the Plush Room in San Francisco, CA Dec. 6 at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA Dec. 8 at Poway Center for the Performing Arts in Poway, CA Dec. 9 Laurie Strauss Leukemia Benefit, Carnegie Hall in New York City Dec. 12 - 14 at Orange County Performing Arts Center Founders Hall in Costa Mesa, CA

Bernadette Peters in Concert: April 5-6 at the Orange County Perf. Arts Center in Costa Mesa, CA April 13 at the Providence Perf. Arts Center in Providence, RI April 20 at Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis, MO April 26 at the Hilbert Circle in Indianapolis, IN May 18 at the Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at the Morton H. Meyerson Hall in Dallas, TX Well, that’s all for now. Happy diva-watching!