Liza Minnelli Tribute...

Liza Minnelli to Wed Producer David Gest


NEW YORK, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Liza Minnelli and producer David Gest will marry in New York on March 2. The pair met while Minnelli was appearing on Gest's production of "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration," which is one of the highest rated musical specials in the history of television, seen by nearly forty-five million people. The two Michael Jackson concerts at Madison Square Garden were also the highest grossing non-charity shows in history. The announcement was made today by Warren Cowan, Gest's publicist.

"I am the happiest I've ever been. Everything I've been through was worth it to find David," Minnelli said in announcing their engagement.

The couple was introduced by Jackson, who, with his brother Tito, will serve as Gest's "best man" at the summer ceremony. Both Michael and Tito as well as their brothers have been friends with Gest since childhood. This is to be Gest's first marriage and Minnelli's fourth.

Minnelli, winner of three Tony Awards, an Academy Award, two Golden Globes and an Emmy Award will receive a Gest produced television tribute in March, 2002, that will feature Michael Jackson and Minnelli in a ten minute dance number taken from Vincente Minnelli's "THE BAND WAGON." Also slated to appear in the tribute are: Whitney Houston, Mya, Usher, Chaka Khan, Chita Rivera, Joel Grey and more than twenty contemporary musical guests as well as one hundred stars.

Gest has produced shows for Whitney Houston, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, the late Frank Sinatra, Clint Eastwood, Sir Anthony Hopkins, the late Princess Diana, Marc Anthony, Julio Iglesias and the Four Tops, to name a few. He is currently producing the "Miracle On 34th Street" at Madison Square Garden on December 18, 2001, featuring Enrique Iglesias, Mariah Carey, Deborah Cox, Shaggy, Shakira, Marc Anthony, Gloria Gaynor, Mya, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Blu Cantrell, Craig David and Alicia Keys, with a special appearance by Minnelli performing "New York, New York" with the firemen and victims' families of the World Trade Center joining her.

NEWSFILE: 24 NOVEMBER 2001