LETTER PERFECT

Melissa Russo is New Inner Circle President. Show Night: Saturday, March 31, 2012

Hail to the Chief: New IC President Melissa Russo acknowledges outgoing president Mark Lieberman at the annual installation dinner Oct. 28.

IC members enjoy food and drink at The Friars' Club dinner. (Photos by Marvin Scott)

Russo Heads New Officers At Installation Oct. 28

Incoming Inner Circle President Melissa Russo in last year's show.

Melissa Russo will be installed as president of the Inner Circle along with other new officers at the annual members meeting, Friday, Oct. 28.

The event will take place at The Friars’ Club, 57 East 55th St., and will include good food, much drink, and at least some thought about the 2012 show.

It all starts at 7pm.  The officers for 2012 are:  Russo;  Glenn Schuck, Vice President, and Beth Karas, Treasurer. The secretary position is open.

The evening marks the close of Mark Lieberman’s term as president.

Unlike New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Melissa’s never been coy about becoming president. She is also a new Mom, so she’s prepared for the mommy-shopping that will occur from everybody who wants a good part. (Tip: she loves McNuggets!)

REMINDER:  The Friars’ Club requires men to wear jackets in the evening and for women to be “appropriately attired.”

Back to Business: New Officers, Prep For Another Show

Inner Circle members enjoy rooftop party hosted by The Seifmans.

How's the foot Kathy? Good thing you're not the choreographer.

It’s Autumn 2011 and that means the Inner Circle is about to launch into another season, another show.

Plans are in the works for the annual October dinner to install new officers and kick off preps for the show in March 2012.

Contest winner Mike Scholl thumbs through his prize.

Summer was, as always, too short.

A highlight was a rooftop party July 10, hosted by Dave Seifman.

Incoming president Melissa Russo brought along her new friend, Abigail Naomi.

The winner:  Mike Scholl for “Are your sure that’s my best side?” The prize:  a copy of the all-time best seller (no, not “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2″) but “The Inner Circle.”

Runners up: Mara Rubin for Weiner’s Boston mob nickname:  ”Tighty Whitey Bulger” and Kathy Beaver for “You think Weiner’s an embarrassing name?  What about me?!”

Anthony Weiner: How did the Inner Circle know?

"Leave it in, it'll get a laugh!"

Prequel: The Weiner Photos

Click the link right above (be patient) and check out this video clip from the Inner Circle Show, “Meet the Focker-Uppers.”  On March 26, 2011, more than two months before “Weiner-gate” broke, we had it in the show! In his welcoming remarks, President Mark Lieberman playfully said that Congressman Anthony Weiner was picking up where upstate New York representative Chris Lee had just sunk his political career, by posting lewd photos of himself online.

Who knew? Well, it may not have been investigative journalism but it certainly was perfect comic timing!

Our next show is March 31, 2012.  Let the jokes begin!!!

Summer Show-Screening Party July 10

All members are invited to a party Sunday, July 10 at Dave Seifman’s apartment on the East Side to have fun and view the video from our 2011 show, “Meet the Focker-Uppers.”

Dave promises cocktails, outer-borough brews, mayoral margaritas and Inner Circle snacks. But definitely no Anthony Weiner franks (they plump when you photograph them) and no Bloomberg budget burgers.

Besides the screening of the show video (which the mayor is threatening to boycott!), if we’re really good, there will be an additional showing of the long-lost 2010 video, “Trilite-Bloomberg Bites.”

But we gotta know if you’re coming. So please RSVP to Dave at davidleg@aol.com or to Larry Sutton at sutton@nyc.rr.com.

Remember the date: Sunday, July 10, 2011, starting at 5 PM .

Melissa Russo Gives Birth to Baby Girl, Abigail Naomi Gribbon

Abigail Naomi Gribbon and her Mom.

The Inner Circle’s vice president,  Melissa Russo, is the mother of a healthy baby girl born Monday, April 25, 2011.

Abigail Naomi Gribbon greeted her Mom and Dad, Frank Gribbon, at Mt. Sinai Hospital.  She arrived at about 5:30pm weighing six pounds three ounces with a full head of dark hair.  ”Do you believe it??!!” Frank quoted Melissa as saying.

All are healthy and are back home.

Abigail joins her sisters, Grace, 13, and Kristin, 11.

“Focker-Uppers” Is Thumbs Up!

“Spidey Mike” Rebuts 2011 Inner Circle Show

“Meet the Focker-Uppers.” a mildly controversial but always playful parody of politics and government, was met with applause and praise at the 2011 Inner Circle performance, March 26.

Many in the audience ranked it among the best Inner Circle shows in memory.  And the rebuttal by Mayor Michael Bloomberg continued the parade of hits.

Inner Circle cast on stage at Saturday night's hit performance.

Decked out in a Spiderman costume, the mayor “flew” onto the stage. Then, he and the cast of the Broadway musical “Momma Mia” performed several scenes in what they called “Mayor Mia.” And in a good-humored rebuttal, in his closing lines the mayor quipped that the Inner Circle were those “little fockers!”

(Photos by Marvin Scott)

Inside the Inner Circle:

*Hank Walter,  Lynne White and Shelly Strickler

offer their thoughts after this year’s  final curtain

***  See our  OFFSTAGE  Page ***

ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!!

Check Out Our Social Network

The Inner Circle now has its own YouTube channel and a page on Facebook.

See them here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/upcurtain?feature=mhum

http://www.facebook.com/InnerCircleShow

Spread the word about the YouTube channel and tell all your Facebook Friends.