12 July 2010
 

Hi, Everything comes to those who wait! Sorry I haven't posted in a while but hey here I am!! Well the summer season brings many things... it was lovely to see some of you at the Spirit of Summer opening at Earls Court, it raised the profile of The Children's Trust, one of my favourite charities, and kick started the event - hope you all didn't spend too much money - it would be easy to do with all those gorgeous stalls.
		Elaine at the opening of the Spirit of Summer

And talking of shopping! I spent an hour on QVC! What fun! Surrounded by memorabilia, chatting away about various costumes, props, and memories.. excuse the pun ... so I thought I might as well sing a couple of songs while I was there. It was great success - thank you to all at QVC especially Alison Keenan who interviewed me. Watch this QVC space ... I may make “a return"!

Next up was the 55th Ivor Novello Awards at Grosvenor House which was a fun lunch sitting, as I was, on the BBC table, front row seats, its a true music biz event! Had a lovely chat with Neil Sedaka who received a Special International Award - great to meet him, saw songwriters Lily Allen and Greg Kurstin (songwriters of the year) ; Paul Weller Lifetime Achievement and Tommy Steele, a sometimes tennis partner of mine, who awarded the Academy Fellowship to Sir Tim Rice ... I know him, so what...ha ha!

Then I was off to the Chelsea Flower Show ... wow so beautiful. It always take's my breath away and I think it was truly the first day of summer ... just glorious. Great weather for tennis! And talking of which ... I was lucky enough to be invited to the World Champion's dinner hosted by Andrew Castle held at the Pavilion d'Armenonville in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris ... ooh la la! And ooh la la, la la .. I met Roger Federer!!! Say no more! The next day I had the honour to be invited to the President's Box at Roland Garros - this time enjoying the brilliance of Raffa!

Tuesday 8th June saw me at Holland and Holland Shooting Ground in West London, hosting another EP Charity Shoot in aid of The Children's Trust and the Menat Trust. It was a clay pigeon shoot to raise the profile and funds for the charities. A fun day had by all ... luckily I didn't shoot myself in the foot! Another charity event followed the week after at Wentworth Golf Club this time for the Dan Maskill Tennis Trust (see charity section of my site) my first event as President and whilst there I was able to meet up with Robin Maskill, daughter of Dan and at dinner, after the prize giving, I sat next to John Barrett who was the past president who's big boots I shall fill. No mean 'feet'.

Hope all my American Fans enjoyed the PBS Special of highlights from the DVD - thanks for all your enthusiastic responses. The full DVD and my live CD will be available from PBS and other outlets such as amazon.com on 20th July along with my live CD.

Then surprise, surprise, the Aegan Championships at Queens Club - another week of heaven! I took my godson, Jack, to the semi finals - he got stung by a bee within 10 minutes of being with me! Help! Not exactly Auntie Mame am I? But he was fine and soldiered on finger in ice and we enjoyed the afternoon together.

Lunch at Clivedon on Sunday, always a treat, was of course followed by WIMBLEDON!!!! Two more weeks of heaven! Album? What album?? Had friends over from the states and I was able to share several days at the courts with them. A real treat for us was an invitation to the royal box followed by lunch with HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Rt Hon Sir John & Dame Norma Major, and Wimbledon Champion Yvonne Goolagong ! Look at me hobnobbing!

And then to do something completely different I went last Sunday to a garden party for the WTA (Women's Tennis Association) and spent time with the great and the good from women's tennis... 6 No 1 champions no less, were there! And most importantly the one that gave me my passion for tennis as a young girl - the great Billie Jean King. Then it was off with a dear pal in the evening to see Paul McCartney in concert in Hyde Park - we stood at the side of the stage for 3 glorious hours! His performance and his music reminded me of so many people and places from my past and present. A wonderful experience.

And finally please take a look at www.ad-international.org and, if you can, help us all defend and save these poor animals from the awful suffering they are experiencing. Thank you.

Now I'd better to do some work otherwise you'll all be buying a blank CD in the autumn!!

Hope you all have a wonderful summer - and great holidays (those of you that have them planned)

I'll be in touch soon.

Lots of love
EPxx

10 May 2010
Hello,

Well what a busy month April showered upon me.

First off.....40 years on, the original London cast of ‘Hair’ gathered at the stage door of Gielgud Theatre on the opening night of Cameron Mackintosh’s American Public Theatre Production of ‘Hair’ - what a night. Both casts joined hands on stage prior to the first performance and my youthful memories came back to haunt me ... some of whom I didn’t recognise!!! What a great night, what a great show still. What a great cast - its a MUST see - and as the ovation rang in our ears I found myself feeling very emotional. It was so wonderful to meet up with all my old friends. A night I’ll never forget.		The original London cast of 'Hair' link hands and form a circle on stage with the cast of the 2010 production of 'Hair'

...... Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse! Why? Cheltenham Jazz Festival .. another first and after 40 years in show-business that’s saying something! A fantastic band, headed this time by John Smith - a wonderful jazz pianist- with Don Richardson on bass, James Powell on drums, Pete Callard on guitar, and blowing up a storm on sax was Martin Willimas. And what fun we all had. The audiences seemed to like it to, maybe like me it was refreshing to hear a new set away from musical theatre ... after all this was ‘jazz man’ ... starting with that very song ‘All That Jazz’ - the only song alluding to musical theatre. As always thank you for your support you know who you are - it was great see you all and some of you in person afterwards. Thanks for coming from near and far.

I was delighted to perform the first concert at The Daffodil what a great venue and such delightful people - thanks to one and all for everything, and how thrilling for all of us that we sold out in a day!! More nights next time obviously! And what a surprise to meet Jamie Cullen’s parents after the performance who were very enthusiastic and told me that Jamie, only having just got back from Australia due to the Icelandic Ash Cloud wanted to know what I sang and in what order .... so for Jamie, his mum & dad and for all those interested here’s the set list:

- All That Jazz
- Comes Love
- I Told You So I Only Have Eyes For You
- How Long Has This Been Going On
- Blue Skies
- One Fine Day
- Meet Me, Midnight
- St Louis Blues
- Mad About The Boy
- Slap That Bass
- Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
- I Get A Kick Out Of You
- As Time Goes By
- Cry Me A River
- Grow Young

It was a mad dash after the second performance at the Town Hall, which was equally well received, to catch an early flight to New York on Friday morning. I was there for a few days to discuss amongst other things my forthcoming album - exciting! Choosing songs, setting keys and generally getting my NY fix... more news as it happens.

Whilst there had a wonderful evening at the theatre to see my pal, Barbara Cook, and the wonderful cast of Sondheim on Sondheim - a must see if you’re a Sondheim fan .. and even if you’re not. Barbara was wonderful and thrilled that after a long and glittering career she is yet again nominated for a Tony Award (June 13th) for her performance - break a leg Barbara. An evening of sophistication, wonderful performances and glorious music with a true insight of the composer himself as he talks in-depth of the whys and wherefores of his illustrious career from a bank of monitors - a great set design which reminded me a little of Chess.		Elaine Paige, Errol Rappaport & Barbara Cook

I was lucky enough to be in the city when the Monday's Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art took place. It was Vogue editor Anna Wintour's annual fete, co-hosted this year by Oprah Winfrey and Gap creative director Patrick Robinson. With all the paps outside the hotel I was beginning to wonder who was going to be the surprise performer - it turned out to be Lady Gaga! How apt with her penchant for costume.

So many of those attending came and went from my hotel. I spied both in and out of the lift - Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson, Mick Jagger, Bryan Ferry, Jack Nicolson and as John Guilgud would say “and on and on and on and on .......”

And I must stop recounting my life and get on, and on and on ... myself.

I have lots more to tell you soon, as I’m now off to the Cannes Film Festival.

Wherever and whatever ... have fun!

EP xx

18 March 2010
Hello,

As I write on this March morning the sun is shining - there's a spring in my step and spring is in the air. The snow drops are up and the daffodils are in M&S!

I had a fantastic birthday and want to thank you all for your kind messages, chocolates, cakes, sandals, cards and CDs. I had a really fun party with my pals and even had a bit of a jig as a final farewell to another celebration of wisdom!! Frankly its the only way to look at it!

The following day, believe it or not, I staggered off to play a Spring Handicap Tennis Tournament, and believe me I was handicapped!! Knocked out in the second round. Oh well there's always the Equity Tournament in August.

That's enough of 'play for today' my entertainment, but for your entertainment the news is, at last the DVD has been released and I can see from your forum posts that you all seem to quite like it.... phew, what a relief! Several of you said it was worth the wait, I think I'm with you on that. I must say it’s been a long time coming, but I'm quite proud of it. And just so you know it’s available in HMV stores. You can also order it from amazon.co.uk at a special price with free postage! What a bargain! You'll also find it for sale from the store on my website.

As some of you know it’s also available at our favourite 'what would we do without' showbiz store DRESS CIRCLE ... don't you just love it?! You really can get everything you need there to do with musical theatre. It was lovely to see so many of you who came along to the signing - its always great to see you, and hear your news. And following the signing I managed to meet up with some of the fabulous forum over a rather special cream tea ... very naughty of you all, but oh so nice. I left laden with flowers and gifts and a smile on my face. What a wonderful bunch you all are. Next one's on me!!

As lovely as it is talking and typing to you I've got to get back on the case of routineing new material for the upcoming Cheltenham Jazz Festival. And I hope you'll be pleased to hear I'm going back into the studio to record a brand new album which will be released at the end of the year, in time for your Christmas wish list! I'm very excited about it, but can't tell you too much at the moment, as we're in the throws of finalising songs and ideas ... you'll be the first to know though.

That's for now folks.

Lots of love
EP x

P.S. I couldn't resist sharing this with you in case you might have missed it! It's the ident which Berlin's megamember "DN" uses on my forum... for a moment I thought it was early design prototype of Grisabella!