BRANDON MAGGART

Sat., Dec. 14,   BRANDON MAGGART’s 91st Birthday Bash.  Although longtime Gardenia patrons know Brandon Maggart best as the Dad of Maude Maggart (and Fiona Apple,) Mr. Maggart himself had a storied career on Broadway, and was connected with The Gardenia even before either Maude or The Gardenia were born, having starred on Broadway in Applause! when Tom Rolla, founder of The Gardenia, was that show’s assistant choreographer.  Nominated for a Tony Award as “Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical” for his portrayal of “Buzz Richards” in the show, Mr. Maggart can also count among highlights of his prolific theatrical career that he was an original cast member on Sesame Street; that he portrayed “Lou,” the eldest of the three titular brothers on TV’s Brothers (for Showtime;) that he was featured as one of Broadway’s “New Faces of 1968;” and that he appeared on film in The World According to Garp.  Already an artistic painter, Mr. Maggart more recently took up the pen as a writer and poet, but returned to his musical roots last year with a unique cabaret show celebrated on the actual date of his 90th birthday.  We are all so pleased that he is choosing to celebrate his 91^st birthday with us this year as well, albeit two days after his actual birthday.