Carol Channing Fractures Femur & Hip; Concert Postponed

The Museum of Performance & Design announced today the cancellation of "Carol Channing & Friends in Concert" on Thursday, September 25 at the Herbst Theatre due to fractures to Miss Channing's femur and hip sustained from a slip at her Modesto home. The concert was to be the official kick-off event for HELLO, CAROL! A Celebration of Carol Channing, the first major retrospective exhibition ever mounted on the life and work of this Broadway and Hollywood legend, as well as the official launch of a major fundraising and public awareness campaign by the Dr. Carol Channing & Harry Kullijian Foundation for the Arts, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving arts education in California schools (drchanningfoundation.org). The exhibition is still scheduled to run at the Museum of Performance & Design beginning Friday, September 26, 2008 and running through March 14, 2009.

"It's a painful and temporary set back," Miss Channing said in a statement today. "This week was to be the launch of the statewide campaign to bring back the teaching of the arts in the public schools and that I can't be there hurts almost as bad as my injury. I promise to return to San Francisco in the future. There is no better city to help us begin raising awareness with regard to the necessity for Arts programs in education."

"On behalf of everyone at the Museum of Performance & Design, we wish Miss Channing a healthy and speedy recovery," said David Humphrey, Director of the Museum of Performance & Design. "We look forward to Carol visiting the Museum in the near future to see the incredible exhibit celebrating her life and work as one of America's great Broadway treasures."

The Museum is still moving forward as planned with its benefit evening "Song & Dance: A Celebration of Carol Channing" on Friday, September 26 at the Fairmont Hotel. This black-tie cocktail reception and dinner in the Venetian Room will be followed by a special program of spoken tributes and musical performances honoring Channing. Mistress of Ceremonies JoAnne Worley will be joined by Carole Cook, Chita Rivera, Valarie Pettiford (Tony nominee for Fosse), Alice Playten (the original Ermengarde in Hello, Dolly!), and musicians from the California Pops Orchestra under musical director Kim Venaas.

This marks the first time in her 70 year career that Miss Channing has had to cancel a performance. Among other hit shows, Miss Channing appeared on stage in over 5,000 performances in her title role in Hello, Dolly! - sometimes with broken arms, legs, ribs and even after surgery - without missing a single performance.

Refunds for "Carol Channing & Friends in Concert" are available by calling City Box Office at (415) 392-4400. Tickets to "Song & Dance: A Celebration of Carol Channing," are still available by contacting the Museum of Performance & Design at 415-255-4800.