Leap of faith

Whispers was very disappointed due to a prior engagement at having to miss the opening of The Book of Mormon which has finally arrived in Sydney at the Lyric Theatre at The Star in Pyrmont. Fortunately ace snapper Belinda Rolland was there to record the event. We have no idea why everyone is Jumping For Joy. Perhaps they have "found religion". Still, it's all good fun. You too can take a leap and book tickets here for the show but get in early. It's going to be very popular.

The Star lights up for Summer !

Whispers can't really think of a better spot to party during summer than at the Terrace Rooftop Bar at The Star in Pyrmont. With sensational views as you can see above- gorgeous Laura Csortan checks it out - and lots of pretty people plus drinks & fine food with cool harbour breezes. What more could a mortal want? And the following list of lovely celebs at the launch shindig all swear they put in regular appearances and that includes Richard Wilkins, actor Dan McPherson, Laura Dundovic, singers Nathaniel & Samantha Jade. beautiful Jodi Anasta and Sally Obermeder. They're in our pictures below and most are Ambassadors for the Terrace so you can guarantee it will be a great place for star spotting. And where else can you play flamingo croquet?

 We've only just discovered this game : you pile wood bricks on top of each other and keep removing one to place at the top. And then they all fall down !. We thought it looked like fun.

 X-Factor discovery Nat Conway (right) sang at the launch: it's tad noisy but that's because folks were having so much fun !! Below : Richard Wilkins captures the action on the Flamingo Croquet pitch.

 

ARIAs are under way...

Clarissa Walford and Danny Clayton at the ARIAs

 Australia's top music awards, the ARIAs are underway at The Star and we have some pics of the excitement from one of Sydney's top snappers about town Belinda Rolland. More on the awards later.

Pics by Belinda Rolland (c) www.belindarolland.com.au/

A (food) Star is Born

 If you have never tried chef Stefano Manfredi's food you really haven't lived. He's been one of Sydney's most favoured star chefs who is admired by his customers and all in his profession.
Stefano has opened PizzaPerta at The Star casino and it really must be visited. Do your self a favour, these are undoubtedly the best pizzas I have ever tasted and I've traveled the world seeking out the best !
left : Luke Mangan showed his support along with Richard Wilkins and Stefano
Find out more here : www.manfredi.com.au/

where else would you get a juggling waiter ? Perhaps the Veuve Clicquot helped.

The Look at the ACCTAs

Jackie Weaver                               Delta Goodrem                            Cate Blanchet                    Lara Bingle

Shock Video:Dannii Minogue in Three-in-a-Bath Romp

MOVE OVER X Factor and Australia's Got Talent. Long before these shows were discovering young talent- from 1971 to 1988 Young Talent Time was presenting a host of new Aussie kids with some who went onto become major world stars.

On January 22nd YTT (as it is known ) returns to the Ten Network after a 24 year absence with a new cast of kids and Rob Mills as host (the originator of the show and presenter John Young is producer).

Tina Arena, John Bowles, Debra Byrne and Jamie Redfern are just some but the most notable discoveries had to be Dannii Minogue and her big sister Kylie Minogue.

Off course Dannii became one of YTT''s top stars after appearing on the programme when she was 9 and eventually featured every week. At 15 she introduced 17 year old Kylie during a promotion for The Hendersons in which Kylie had scored her first acting role. Eventually Kylie would be come a YTT regular and the rest is history.

Tina Arena (left)

Debra Byrne

Tina Arena stills tours and sings and is a huge star in France. John Bowles is travelling the world appearing in stage shows, Jamie Redfern, who was taken to the USA at age 14 to tour with Liberace (and hang out with Michael Jackson-the first of a series of young Aussie performers to attract MJ's attentions) runs a talent school and agency in Melbourne while Debra Byrne appeared just last week at the opening of Annie at The Star casino, accompanying her 9 year old grand -daughter who appears in the show.

And Kylie of course rules the world ! Below is a rare video we have uncovered (most of the video taped shows were recorded over and lost forever) of Dannii romping in a bathtub with a boy and girl !
(the title of the post?..we did work on a Fleet Street tabloid once)

Lots Of Stars At The World's Most Costly Building

In report after report we are brought the news that the former Star City Casino at Sydney's Darling Harbour has received a much needed make-over (it's rather nice now) that cost a whopping $961 million dollars. (The Shuttle's resident architect says this must rate as the most expensive building  renovation ever undertaken on the planet and suggests the owners re-check their invoices.)

Now re-named The Star, a series of parties have been thrown to show case the joint and it is rather splendid. Leo Di Caprio has even taken a whole floor in the sumptuous hotel tower (reputedly provided free of charge).

We do hope they have enlarged the elevators. The Shuttle was once almost throttled by action star Jean Claude Van Damme in the hotel's lift. It's a long story for another time.

Last night they had a party but Leo avoided the red carpet and inside introduced star act Stevie Wonder to a glittering audience that included Elle McPherson, Tobey McGuire and Russel Crowe.

You can see a couple of photos from the event at the New s Corp's Daily Telegraph which has billed one as  World Exclusive Photo. You have to congratulate the Tele who have had an amazing run of good luck at getting some exclusive snaps of Leo driving cars, on the set of his new film at Fox Studios and so on.

The fact that News Corp owns the Tele, Fox Studios and has invested a mega sum in the new production being filmed at Fox The Great Gatsby (in glorious 3D) is of course, entirely co-incidental.

Irrelevent / Irreverent Fact :Anti-gambling campaiging MP Nick Xenophon on his website It's A Big Fat Lie reckons $12 billion a year is lost on poker machines.