Joan Rivers Has Passed Away

[mamaleh]

I know she rubbed a lot of people the wrong way with her strong opinions and take-no-prisoners humor, but I thought she was a hell of a brave woman who paved the way for the women in comedy who followed. She was a comic genius, so full of energy that I thought she would go on forever, like the Energizer Bunny. Hers was the only reality show I watched--because it was Joan. Hugh was a fan, as well. I consider her a Woman of Valor. May she rest in peace. Condolences to her family.

Ellen

[chessie]

She was a pioneer, that's for sure. She was also a huge fan of Hugh's. I remember the interview she did with him and Deb following the Emmy awards the year he won. She was positively gushing, and seemed so excited to be near him. RIP Joan.

Carol

[jo]

Rest in peace, Joan.

[jo]

Hugh Jackman @realhughjackman · 1h

We lost one of the true originals today. Joan Rivers. A force. You will be missed. Love Hugh & Deb. @deborra_lee

[jo]

And Hugh helped say Farewell to Joan --

www.people.com/article/joan-rivers-funeral-temple-emanu-el-private-service

...Toward the end of the service, which lasted barely more than an hour, Hugh Jackman delivered a rousing rendition of the Peter Allen song, "Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage," which contains the line, repeated several times, "Put your hands together."

This the audience did, before it stood up and applauded the showman when he concluded.

Closing prayers came next, then the crowd slowly began to leave the temple to the sound of bagpipes played by the Pipes & Drums of the Emerald Society.

The swell of the pipes playing "New York, New York" could be heard all along 5th Avenue, while several streets in the East 60s were closed so the crowds of fans and guests could watch the pipers play.

A dramatically fitting send off for such a beloved icon of the city.

And from another account --

Hugh Jackman delivered a moving tribute, singing Peter Allen's 'Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage.' A touched crowd stood up and applauded, following along Jackman's lead as he sang the line, 'Put your hands together.'

Audra McDonald, of Broadway fame, left mourners in tears as she sang...

More details from People.com --

www.people.com/article/joan-rivers-friends-reflect-her-life-funeral

As Joan Rivers's funeral on Sunday closed with the sound of bagpipes filling the air on New York's Fifth Avenue, the gathering of specially invited guests spilled out onto the sidewalk outside Temple Emanu-El to listen and reflect.

The Fashion Police star's grieving daughter, Melissa Rivers, was among the first to depart, quietly and without fanfare, while Hugh Jackman, who delivered a rousing musical tribute to Rivers is=nside the synagogue, slipped away virtually unnoticed...



Speaking of Joan, a red-eyed Deborah Norville, who spoke during the hour service, told PEOPLE afterward, "She's been my friend for almost 25 years." As for the funeral, she said, "It started with Howard Stern saying things I don't think you're supposed to say in a sanctuary."

She continued, "Joan was brash, Joan was out there. And a lot of the comments went that way, and it was a happy time. Yet it's really sad."

Still, she pointed out, "Hugh Jackman had us on our feet, we were clapping, we were fired up. It all started with the gay men's chorus singing 'Beautiful Sunday' and 'A Wonderful World.' And that's where I took my cue to begin my remarks. It is a beautiful Sunday, and it is wonderful world, but it's a little less beautiful and wonderful because our dear friend isn't here." ...



Dr. Mehmet Oz told PEOPLE Rivers would've loved the ceremony.

"My favorite part was she could invite her accountant ... then have Hugh Jackman do a church revival at the end," he said. "How special is that?...

And from E!News --

Jackman, who won a Tony in 2004 for his leading role in Peter Allen's autobiographical Broadway musical The Boy From Oz, performed one of the show's songs—"Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage." In the musical, Allen, the first husband of Liza Minnelli, sings the tune to honor his late mother-in-law, Judy Garland.

Sample lyrics are: So put your hands together and help her along / All that's left of the singer's / All that's left of the song / Stand for the ovation / And give her one last celebration" and "Quiet please, there's a lady on stage / Conductor, turn the final page / And when it's over we can all go home / But she lives on—on the stage alone."

Jackman received a standing ovation. The last one for Joan.

Not to detract from the somberness of the occasion, Hugh does touch people right in the heart! The song was requested by Melissa Rivers; it was Joan's favorite song from THE BOY FROM OZ.


Jo

[jo]

From a BWW regular poster who attended the funeral --

PalJoey
Broadway Legend
joined:3/11/04



RIP: Joan Rivers has passed away
Posted: 9/7/14 at 05:05pm



And Hugh Jackman! When he started that song, I wondered, "How is he going to get everyone to stand and clap at a a funeral?" But he did--and after he left, the applause continued. And I realized we were all applauding for Joan.

[jo]

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/joan-rivers-funeral-hugh-jackman-bikes-to-service-sings-classic-tune-she-asked-for-in-her-will/story-fni0cvc9-1227051219200?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&nk=900218e1d3927b5a82c0a56d12148e1d

HUGH Jackman closed Joan Rivers’ funeral at a star-studded send-off on Sunday with a song she requested him to sing in her will.

The late celebrity funnywoman wanted nothing more than to have the Aussie actor perform Peter Allen’s classic Quiet Please There’s A Lady On Stage, it was revealed by Deborah-Lee Furness on The Today Show this morning.

Jackman, who arrived to the funeral on a push bike wearing a tie, collar and suit pants, sang in front of an army of mourning Hollywood stars.




Hugh Jackman rode his bicycle to the Joan Rivers funeral in Manhattan



Furness said Rivers made specific and out-there requests including that she wanted to be buried with a red carpet.

“It was what she wanted,” Furness said on the program about Jackman’s performance.

“When Hugh sang Quiet Please There’s A Lady on Stage there wasn’t a dry eye in the house including me.”


Furness suggested Jackman was shocked when he descovered the request.

“Hugh said, ‘I’m in Joan’s will,’ and I said ‘What? It was very random,” she said.

“(Joan) said, ‘I want him to sing,’ she loved him as a performer - she requested that song.

“She orchestrated everything... everything.

“It was really a celebration and everyone was joyous and had a smile on her face,”

[foxie]

All I can say is what a way to go!You will be missed Joan!

[birchie]

Sept 8, 2014 3:53:38 GMT -5 jo said:

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/joan-rivers-funeral-hugh-jackman-bikes-to-service-sings-classic-tune-she-asked-for-in-her-will/story-fni0cvc9-1227051219200?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&nk=900218e1d3927b5a82c0a56d12148e1d

That's a great piece and I loved Deb in the video. Unfortunately I was distracted while I was watching because I kept thinking OMG this is a TV show with professional hair people why couldn't they comb her hair? <please>
Sue

[jo]

Howard Stern was also left tearful during Hugh's performance --


gothamist.com/2014/09/08/howard_stern_joan_rivers.php

Hugh Jackman sang the Peter Allen song "Quiet Please, There's A Lady On Stage," which made Stern weep, "I was so fucking moved...I had tears... You know me, I'm a big scumbag. I don't get moved... Fucking Wolverine is up there singing in a suit!"

And as reported by Hollywood Reporter --

At the funeral, Stern said he teared up when Hugh Jackman sang one of Rivers' favorite songs, "Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage" by Peter Allen.

"I was so f—ing moved by this guy's performance that I had tears. You know me, I'm a big scumbag. I don't get moved. I appreciated this guy so much," said Stern.

And here's another peek into the private ceremony --

www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/08/inside-joan-rivers-funeral-laughs-tears-howard-stern-hugh-jackman-and-new-york-new-york-on-bagpipes.html

Rivers had wanted “a big showbiz affair with lights, cameras, action,” and so Hugh Jackman, at his shamelessly scene-stealing best, then sang, and danced—and had us up on our feet clapping—through Peter Allen’s ‘Quiet, There’s a Lady on Stage.’

[foxie]

Great words from Howard!!

[jo]

If you listen to the account of his radio show the following Monday, his reaction to the Jackman performance was even more heartfelt -

celebrity.yahoo.com/the-insider/howard-stern-speaking-joan-rivers-232056306.html

He said Hugh's performance was probably the most emotional thing he has seen in his life.



I wonder -- Howard seems to be even more impressed with Hugh this time, even if he already showed a healthy amount of respect during that long interview in the past -- will he want to talk to Hugh again when Hugh starts meeting media for THE RIVER? The play is a mysterious piece of theatre - he may want to explore the dark depths of the personality of THE MAN and how an actor like Hugh can plumb the depths of such a fictional character?

Jo