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"Road to Hollywood" A New (York) Hollywood Tail Attending a June wedding and performing with Broadway veteran Marcia Lewis was to be the highlights of a weekend in New York. "Chicago " (the musical, not the city) director Walter Bobbie was an unexpected surprise. Mr. Bobbie was smitten with Taffy’s performance which ignited a spark in his creative juices. He was in the throws of creating a new musical "Road To Hollywood", based on the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby road pictures and he got an idea. Approaching Phillip after his performance, Mr. Bobbie proceeded to tell him of a part in his new show for a real dog, and wouldn’t it be nice if it were Taffy. Such a compliment, that Taffy can convince people she is real! How could she refuse the role? Since then, the show has been mounted in a concert production at the O’Neill Center in Connecticut (see photo, left) and has consequently been picked up for the Goodspeed Opera House Summer Season 2002. Pictured top left, blending into the background (dressed in black) is Phillip standing between Taffy and Tom Plotkin. (Note the disembodied hand.) Many forget that Taffy needs her trainer even if he disappears in plain sight.
It's a Dog Meet Dog World This was the very first time that Crystal Cruises had been asked to make a special provision & allow a Seeing - Eye dog (with no strings attached) to stay on the ship. Dion is a beautiful & gentle Black Lab, who takes his job very seriously - being guide & companion to his owner Janet. Carefully trained to do his work & ignore distractions, Janet kindly allowed passengers to pet and fuss over Dion, stating they were BOTH on vacation. She even allowed Dion to dress in a red bow tie to go with his natural black tuxedo for the Captain’s Cocktail party. That’s where he spotted a "new friend". Taffy & Phillip where greeting all the passengers when suddenly Dion comes charging over, dragging a slightly bewildered Janet behind him. The two dogs stopped nose to nose with both tails happily wagging (Taffy obviously met with Dion’s approval, although I doubt that she passed the "sniff test"). This romantic exchange quickly became the "talk" of the party and spread throughout the ship. Sadly, these two "love hounds" were only able to get together one more time during the cruise’s final night after Taffy’s performance in the main lounge. Dion still seemed as smitten as before, & Janet labeled it TRUE LOVE. When it came time to leave, Dion’s parting gazed seemed to say ... Here’s looking at you kid.
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A Christmas with Friends and Nabors Christmas Holidays in Hawaii may not sound like a traditional setting for a winter production, but shredded coconut on top of a floating island dessert is as close to snow as Phillip wants to get. So, he will happily be reunited for a third season with Jim Nabors and friends, but with an addition. This time David has been pulled from behind his desk and will be performing part of our two-man act with the Symphony Orchestra. It’s been awhile since Phillip and David have performed together. It will make this holiday one to remember for all.
T he French Riviera has always been like our second home thanks to agent Liliane Ok of Paris and our performing contracts at Loew’s Hotel, and the "Crazy Horse" at the Casino de Monte Carlo. These performances, plus the Lido de Paris, and the success of Phillip’s internationally acclaimed work in the film "Being John Malkovich" brought him to the attention of Monique Nakachian, agent for France’s television production " Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde". Producer and star Patrick Sebastian selected our characters Shirley U’Jest (pictured left) and Taffy for his show. Phillip’s precision artistry with our sultry jazz singer was perfect for the television media and proved successful with both the live and home audience. Taffy did a improvisational bit with Miss France and returned later for the show's grand finale. The camera seemed drawn to this perky canine, so Mr. Sebastian beckoned her to join him center stage where the two playfully interacted for the entire time the credits were rolling. This show aired February 2002, and there is a discussion of encoring a segment of our appearance for "The Best Of" as well as a return engagement in the near future.
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Santa
Monica