"Cruella" Close gets close to Lypsinka and is her newest fan.

Nicole Kidman came to see "Lypsinka! As I Lay Lip-Synching." Perhaps you will too?

Also in attendance were the friendly TV and stage icons Bruce Vilanch and Rue McClanahan.

I finally got a snap of myself with my idol, The Great God of Musical Theatre --
and a fun pal who loves to talk showbiz -- Stephen Sondheim.

Yours truly can be seen in the upcoming HBO film "Angels In America" in December 2003. Filmed in Manhattan, directed by Mike Nichols from Tony Kushner's play, the movie stars Meryl Streep, Al Pacino and Emma Thompson. Here I am relaxing on the location set in front of St. Mark's Church in the East Village.

The interior scene was shot further downtown. I share the screen with Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross.

Buy the HBO/Tony Kushner/Mike Nichols "Angels In America" here!

I opened for Patti Labelle at the Winter Garden Atrium -- across the street from used to be the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center. Here I am backstage with my escort, classical singer and musician Troy Gordon.

John Epperson, my maid, performed his show "John Epperson: Show Trash" at posh Joe's Pub. Here he is with his pals who were seated ringside -- Carrie Nye (Mrs. Dick Cavett), legendary Jane White of "Once Upon A Mattress" fame, and Rex Reed, who gave me and Epperson 4 stars in our scrapbook! Carrie drew a picture of herself in sunglasses.

At the benefit for The Art Party, we schmoozed backstage with Rufus Wainwright and designer Zaldy. Graham Norton, Alan Cumming and Faye Dunaway were all nearby!

Here I am, Oscar in hand, going from the dressing room to the stage to gawk at The Fabulous Faye!

More recent news: nominated for the Helen Hayes Award in Washington, D.C. for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Non-Resident Production ("Lypsinka! The Boxed Set"), John Epperson actually WON the thing for Outstanding Non-Resident Production beating 4 Bway shows -- "Mamma Mia!," "The Full Monty," "Copenhagen" and "Man of La Mancha." As Joan Crawford nonsensically said at the premiere of the 1954 movie "A Star Is Born," "Christmas came early this year with Judy Garland AND Helen Hayes!"

"John Epperson: Show Trash" will be at Joe's Pub again, so be sure to check back for more info.

Patti Lupone, Bryan Batt, T. Scott Cunningham, Jenn Harris, Jack Ferver, Bradford Scobie, Jonathan Fried and Jenny Sterlin all appeared in the reading of Epperson's play MY DEAH (the Medea legend set in The South) under the auspices of The Art Party co-founded by Alan Cumming and Nick Philippou.

Simplicity Bullard (Jenn Harris), the daughter of the Governor of Mississippi has a hissy fit as her would-be fiancee Gator Hedgepeth (T. Scott Cunningham) and his current wife My Deah (Patti LuPone) ponder her in awe.

Busy-bodies Myrna Loy Seabrook (Jack Ferver) and Brooksie Jones (Bradford Scobie) enjoy some back-fence gossip at My Deah's expense. MY DEAH photos by Francis Hills.

Keep your fingers crossed that there will soon be a production of this kooky play!

Patricia Neal and my maid, John Epperson, deign to be photographed at the MY DEAH after-party: Jim Caruso's Cast Party in The King Kong Room at The Supper Club. Photo by Rob Rich.

Here's how Lypsinka appears in Albany, NY's Times-Union "The Best Of..." magazine promoting the Hudson River Theater! That's Dan Rupe's painting of John Epperson in the background. Photo by Cindy Schultz.