2021–2022 SEASON SPONSORS
At Ameritas, fulfilling life is what we do daily. This means helping our customers enjoy life at its very best. It’s about reducing uncertainty, helping grow assets and protecting what is most cherished. As a mutually based organization, we put our customers first. Backed by a foundation of financial strength, we offer a competitive array of insurance, retirement and investment products. Securities offered through affiliate Ameritas Investment Company LLC., member FINRA/SIPC and investment advisory services offered through the business name of Ameritas Advisory Services.
The Friends of Lied is a membership organization of over 1,000 members, governed by a board of directors from across the state of Nebraska. Its purpose is to support and promote the Lied Center through education experiences, fundraising, social events and service. The Friends of Lied is a 501c3 taxexempt organization, serving as a support group for the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Contributions to the Friends of Lied are tax-deductible, and membership starts at just $50. Since its inception in 1989, the Friends of Lied has contributed over $7.5 million in support of the Lied Center’s mission to educate, inspire and entertain the people of Nebraska through the performing arts. Visit LiedCenter.org/FriendsOfLied to learn more.
UBT is a locally owned bank that takes a personal approach to providing a breadth of services with a warm, helpful personality. Major turning points in your life— first car, first job, going to college, getting married, a new home, having children, retirement— are what UBT loves to help you with. At UBT, people don’t have your money — your money has people.
BERNADETTE PETERS FEBRUARY 26, 2022 SPONSORED BY:
SEASON LIEDERS:
RHONDA SEACREST MICHAEL & MARVONA TAVLIN
ABOUT BERNADETTE PETERS Throughout her illustrious career, three-time Tony Award recipient Bernadette Peters has dazzled audiences and critics with her performances on stage and television, in concert, and on recordings. Bernadette recently appeared in such TV series as NBC-TV’s Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist for which she earned a Primetime Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. This past December 2021, the popular series was made into a TV movie musical titled Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas for The Roku Channel. Other TV appearances include The CW’s Katy Keene; CBS All Access’ The Good Fight; and Amazon Prime’s Mozart in the Jungle, which won the 2016 Golden Globe for Best TV Comedy or Musical series.
Bernadette made a surprise appearance in the popular Jonathan Larson biopic, tick, tick…BOOM! on Netflix Films and in 2020, she appeared in the romantic comedy,The Broken Hearts Gallery. In 2018, Bernadette completed a highly successful run starring as Dolly Gallagher Levi in the hit Broadway musical, Hello, Dolly!. Other recent theater credits include City Center’s Encores! Production, A BED A CHAIR: A New York Love Affair featuring music by Stephen Sondheim and orchestrations by Wynton Marsalis. On Broadway she also starred Stephen Sondheim’s Follies and A Little Night Music. In 2012, Bernadette was honored with The Isabelle Stevenson Special Tony Award that acknowledges an individual from the theatre community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations.
Prior to that Peters added author and songwriter to her roster of achievements with her debut children’s book, a New York Times Best Seller, Broadway Barks, aptly named after the organization she co-founded with Mary Tyler Moore. The organization’s annual star-studded animal adoption event takes place in Shubert Alley, the heart of NYC’s theater district, and benefits over 30+ animal shelters around country. The book package includes a CD recording of an original song written and sung by the author. Her second children’s book, Stella is a Star features another of her original songs. All of the proceeds from the sale of her books, including her third, Stella and Charlie: Friends Forever benefit Broadway Barks. In November 2009, Peters performed a special one-night-only at New York City’s Minskoff Theatre, Bernadette Peters: A Special Concert for Broadway Barks Because Broadway Care”, which benefited both Broadway Barks and Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS.
LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS
In 2003, she received her seventh Tony Award nomination for her electrifying portrayal of Momma Rose in Sam Mendes’ record-breaking Broadway revival of Gypsy, and her brilliant performance was captured on the GRAMMY™ awardwinning Gypsy cast recording.
“BERNADETTE PETERS IS A REVELATION!” Ben Brantley of The New York Times declared of her star turn in the show. Peters’ Angel Records CD, Sondheim, Etc., Etc.: Bernadette Peters Live at Carnegie Hall (The Rest of It), features never-beforereleased highlights from her historic 1996 highly anticipated solo debut at Carnegie Hall. The concert was a benefit for Gay Men’s Health Crisis. This performance was repeated for Bernadette Peters in Concert, her London solo debut at Royal Festival Hall, which later was telecast on PBS and is available on DVD. A native of Ozone Park, New York, Peters began her performing career at the age of 3 with appearances on Juvenile Jury, the classic TV game show Name That Tune, and The Horn & Hardart Children’s Hour. She made her theatrical debut in This is Goggle, starring James Daly and Kim Hunter, directed by the legendary Otto Preminger. Still in her teens, she appeared in The Most Happy Fella and The Penny Friend and performed in the national touring company of Gypsy. Peters made her Broadway debut in 1967 in Johnny No-Trump, and in 1968 starred opposite Joel Grey in the musical George M!, earning a Theatre World Award for her memorable portrayal of Josie Cohan. That same year, she received a Drama Desk Award for her show stopping performance in the smash hit off-Broadway musical Dames at Sea, and quickly became one of the most sought-after stars in musical theatre.
BERNADETTE PETERS
Peters received both the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for her critically acclaimed performance in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical Song and Dance. In June 1999, she earned her second Tony Award, her third Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award for her portrayal of Annie Oakley in one of Broadway’s most popular musicals, the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun. Peters also received Tony nominations for her work in the 1992 musical The Goodbye Girl; Stephen Sondheim’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Sunday in the Park With George; the Jerry Herman/Gower Champion ode to the movies, Mack and Mabel; and the Leonard Bernstein/Comden and Green musical On The Town. In addition to these honors, Peters earned a Drama Desk nomination for her memorable portrayal of the Witch in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. Other television credits include the hit NBC-TV series SMASH; Lifetime-TV movie, Living Proof opposite Harry Connick, Jr.; a guest starring role in the two-hour season premiere of the ABC-TV hit series, Grey’s Anatomy; and a recurring role on the popular TV series, Ugly Betty. She has appeared in several performing arts specials such as PBS’ Evening at Pops and The Kennedy Center Honors to early appearances in variety shows such as The Carol Burnett Show and an Emmynominated performance on The Muppet Show. She appeared in the star-studded Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall and also played an opera diva-onthe-verge-of-a-nervous-breakdown in Terrence McNally’s The Last Mile, both for PBS’ highly acclaimed Great Performances series. Other television credits include PBS’ Hey Mr. Producer!: the Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh and the ABC-TV special Quincy Jones: the First 50 Years.
Peters received an Emmy nomination for her performance in the FOX-TV hit series Ally McBeal. She portrayed the wicked stepmother in Cinderella with Brandy and Whitney Houston, and also starred in The Odyssey starring Armand Assante, David, Fall From Grace and The Last Best Year with Mary Tyler Moore. She also appeared in the Showtime movie Bobbie’s Girl (Daytime Emmy nomination) and Prince Charming, a TNT movie co-starring Martin Short and Christina Applegate. Peters recorded the original title song for the 1998 feature film Barney’s Great Adventure: The Movie, written by famed Tony Award-winning Broadway composer Jerry Herman. She can also be heard as the voice of “Sophie” in the feature film Anastasia, as “Angelique” in the special home video Beauty and the Beast: Enchanted Christmas, as Sue in The Land Before Time: The Great Longneck Migration, and the voice of Rita the Cat in the popular Steven Spielberg animated program, Animaniacs.
A performer of amazing versatility, Peters has lit up the silver screen in over 30 films throughout her distinguished career. She received a Golden Globe Award for her memorable performance in Pennies From Heaven. Her film credits include The Jerk with Steve Martin, The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds, Silent Movie with Mel Brooks, Annie with Carol Burnett, Pink Cadillac with Clint Eastwood, Slaves of New York with Mercedes Ruehl, Woody Allen’s Alice with Mia Farrow, Impromptu with Hugh Grant and Mandy Patinkin, It Runs in the Family, starring opposite Kirk and Michael Douglas and Coming Up Roses with Rachel Brosnahan. In addition to numerous GRAMMY™ Award-winning Broadway cast albums including Gypsy and Annie Get Your Gun, Peters has recorded six solo albums: Sondheim, Etc., Etc.: Bernadette Peters Live at Carnegie Hall (The Rest of It); Bernadette Peters Loves Rodgers & Hammerstein (GRAMMY™ Nomination); Sondheim Etc.: Bernadette Peters Live At Carnegie Hall (GRAMMY™ Nomination); I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight (GRAMMY™ Nomination); Bernadette Peters; and Now Playing.
During her distinctive career, she has been acknowledged and honored by such esteemed organizations as the Animal Medical Center, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Manhattan Theatre Club, Theatre World Awards, the Drama League, New Dramatists, New York Women in Communications, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, The Actors Fund, The Police Athletic League (PAL), the City of New York, the Theatre Hall of Fame. Other honors include Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year and the Sarah Siddons Actress of the Year Award, among others.
Bernadette devotes her time and talents to numerous events that benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, in addition to her “pet project” Broadway Barks. She resides in New York City and Los Angeles with her rescue dogs, Charlie and Rosalia.
ABOUT MARVIN LAIRD MUSIC DIRECTOR/CONDUCTOR Marvin Laird is the composer of the awardwinning, Off-Broadway hit musical, Ruthless! (book and lyrics by long-time collaborator and partner, Joel Paley). Since its world premiere in 1992, productions of the musical have been continuously mounted throughout the United States and all over the globe. Most recently staged in the West End, Ruthless! starred Jason Gardiner (Dancing on Ice) and two-time Olivier Award winner, Tracie Bennett. This landmark production was captured by, and currently can be seen on the Broadway HD channel. Marvin has conducted and written dance and vocal arrangements for over two dozen Broadway and West End Shows: Gypsy, Follies, Hans Anderson, Hello, Dolly! to name a few. Laird created the dance music for the film version of Hello, Dolly! starring Barbra Streisand, and New York, New York, starring Liza Minnelli and Robert DeNiro. He was delighted when close friend, Lar Lubovitch, asked him to compose music for his ballet, Smile with My Heart, created for American Ballet Theatre. Marvin has been Music Director for Diana Ross, Cass Elliot, Juliet Prowse, Dusty Springfield, and Goldie Hawn. However, nothing comes close to collaborating with Ms. Peters…since the misty eons of time first began!
BERNADETTE PETERS
Established in 2016, the GK (Glenn Korff) Platinum Artist enables the Lied Center for Performing Arts to bring the most iconic Broadway and popular artists to Nebraska. The series, named in honor of benefactor and UNL alumnus Glenn Korff, celebrates its inaugural year with a performance by multiple GRAMMY® and Emmy Award -winning performers, as well as Tony®-nominated Harry Connick, Jr. “The Lied Center’s Broadway programming has been transformed thanks to Glenn’s generosity,” said Bill Stephan, Executive Director of the Lied Center. This gift allows the Lied Center to bring some of the most accomplished performers in the world to Lincoln, fulfilling Glenn’s dream to enlighten and entertain families and generations of Nebraskans for years to come.” Korff’s passion for the performing arts began on campus as a member of Kosmet Klub, a musical and comedy ensemble for which he served as a set designer. His experiences with theater at the University were among his most cherished memories. The Lied Center was selected to receive support with the hope that stellar performances by some of Broadway’s biggest stars might bring students and Nebraskans the same joy and enrichment that his involvement with musical theater brought to his life. “Glenn’s heartfelt generosity has created an enduring legacy at the University of Nebraska of enriching the human spirit through the arts, and we are forever grateful,” said Chancellor Ronnie Green.
honored to be able to make this contribution in order “ Itoamprovide future programs that will enlighten and entertain families and generations of Nebraskans for years to come. GLENN KORFF
CORPORATE SPONSOR STORY
In 1957, Val and Zena Weiler operated the Campus Fruit Market in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was clear to them that their business would soon be eclipsed by the large supermarkets springing up across Lincoln. The landmark which had stood for a dozen years had to go. In its place, armed with three dozen pizza pans, a recipe that had been in Mrs. Weiler’s family for years, and a generous amount of trepidation, they decided to open a pizza business. They took in $60 their first day, and as the restaurant’s reputation grew, patrons began to gather and watch through the window as the pizzas were made. Patrons would stand in line for an hour or more to sample the pizza and pasta specialties created in the original restaurant. In 1971, the Messineo and Alesio families purchased Valentino’s and soon carefully formulated plans to expand into additional locations. Today, Valentino’s has expanded to 38 restaurant locations throughout Nebraska. Valentino’s success began with those wonderful family recipes that were passed on when the business changed hands in 1971. However, there’s more than recipes to this story. The highest quality food, reasonable prices, immaculately clean and comfortable restaurants, genuinely friendly service, and a written corporate creed which says that “community service is as important as the quality of the food,” have helped keep Val’s tremendously popular.