TUESDAY: DAMMIT JIM, I’M JUST A COWBOYActor...
TUESDAY: DAMMIT JIM, I’M JUST A COWBOY
Actor William Shatner will not be wearing his Star Fleet uniform to the kickoff party for the sixth annual Hollywood Charity Horse Show Reining Royale. The party will be held at the Cowboy Palace Saloon in Chatsworth on Tuesday. But daring to go where no shameless celebrity has gone before, Shatner says he’s willing to do just about anything to raise money for “the kids.”
“I started the horse show as a charitable event,” Shatner says. “We raised over $50,000 last year.” Shatner, who owns quarter horses at ranches in Kentucky and Simi Valley, has combined his love for the animals with raising money for several worthy causes--all involving children.
The horse show, taking place at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank on April 27-28, is a fund-raiser for three programs: Ahead With Horses, a therapeutic riding group for handicapped children; Directions for Youth, which helps at-risk youngsters and teenagers; and Futures for Children, an organization dedicated to helping Native-Americans.
Shatner says no administrative charges are deducted from the monies raised by the show. “Every penny goes to the children,” he says.
The quarter horse competition will feature more than 125 entrants with more than $20,000 in prizes. As part of the festivities, a Western-style party with music and barbecue will be hosted by the Cowboy Palace Saloon on April 27 at the Equestrian Center. Tickets to that party are $30. Admission to the Chatsworth kickoff event is free.
In keeping with the event’s “Star Trek Goes Country” theme, Shatner says invitations have been sent to his fellow Star Trek cast members and other celebrities. Cowboy Palace Saloon owner Bob Rustigian says last year’s press party had many celebrities in addition to Shatner, who raffled off prizes and even auctioned himself off for dances.
Rustigian says that although it’s officially called a press party, the public is welcome to hear the music, see the celebrities, eat the barbecue and support the cause.
* The “Star Trek Goes Country” Celebrity Press Party for the sixth annual Hollywood Charity Horse Show Reining Royale at 7:30 Tuesday at the Cowboy Palace Saloon, 21635 Devonshire St., Chatsworth. No cover. Call (818) 341-0166.
WEEKEND: NEVER NEVER LAND
Peter Pan--in Pierce College’s production of the musical of the same name opening this Friday--will fly, but not with the help of fairy dust. Like Mary Martin, Sandy Duncan, Cathy Rigby and others who have played the role, Pierce’s Pan will soar across the stage with the help of cables and rigging.
Jim Loeffler, Pierce College theater manager, says the same company that created the flying effects for the original production of the Broadway musical in the early 1950s, and for most of the productions since, will handle the flying chores for the college show as well.
The show opened on Broadway starring Mary Martin as Peter Pan and Cyril Richard as Capt. Hook. The two later appeared in several performances of the musical televised in the ‘50s and early ‘60s by NBC-TV.
The musical is based on the classic children’s book, “Peter and Wendy,” written by Sir James Barrie, and its score is a mixed bag with several songs by lyricist Carolyn Leigh and composer Mark Charlap. Other music is by Jule Styne with lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
“We’ve been trying to do something that will appeal to adults as well as children,” Loeffler says. “We always wanted to do a musical.”
* “Peter Pan” opens at 8 p.m. Friday at Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills. Subsequent performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Ends May 5. Tickets are $12 general, $10 children, students and seniors. Call (818) 719-6488.