Somewhere over at OCC

Jennifer K Mahal

Over the rainbow of our memories, Judy Garland remains alive. Near

holiday times especially, the strains of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and

“Get Happy” waft through the air, bringing back visions of the woman who

was a star almost since the day she was born.

“What attracts me [to Judy Garland] is that she always sang the best

songs from the best composers -- Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, Johnny Mercer

. . .,” singer Lisa Donovan said. “The way she delivered a song was

inspiring to so many people.”

Donovan and Peter Marshall will present a tribute to Judy Garland on

Saturday at Orange Coast College.

This is not the first time Donovan, known for her work as a regular on

the syndicated television show “Face the Music,” and Marshall, of

“Hollywood Squares” fame, have worked together. They shared the stage at

the Desert Inn in Las Vegas.

“Lisa is wonderful,” Marshall said. “She’s a great little singer.

She’s sending me all these songs I’ve never done in my life: ‘Over the

Rainbow,’ ‘How About You.’ I’ll be trying them for the first time.”

Most of Marshall’s songs come from the 1930s and ‘40s -- the big band

era. His soon-to-be-released CD, “Peter Marshall: Boysinger,” capitalizes

on his early career with such bandleaders as Bob Chester.

“It’s the best music to dance to and listen to,” he said.

Marshall, who has worked on Broadway, said the power of Garland’s

voice and presence was amazing. He knew Garland slightly through his

friendship with Sid Luft, her third husband, and his partnership and

friendship with comedian Tommy Noonan, who starred with Garland in “A

Star is Born.”

“Every decade or two, you have a giant,” Marshall said of the woman

who died in 1969, when she was 47. “If you touch people, you have a

lasting effect.”

Donovan agreed.

“I think now she’s gone to cult status,” said the singer who’s first

big break was as a finalist in the Miss America pageant. (She represented

Florida.)

Donovan said she doesn’t particularly sound like Miss Show Business,

but she admires Garland’s fearlessness in choosing music that had been

definitively done by other musicians -- such as “Rock A Bye My Baby,” an

Al Jolson tune.

That song and others -- including “The Trolley Song” and “How About

You?” -- will most likely be performed at the concert.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Peter,” Donovan said. “He’s just so

terrific, so smooth and charming.”

FYI

WHAT: A Tribute to Judy Garland

WHEN: 8 p.m. today

WHERE: OCC’s Robert B. Moore Theatre, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa

COST: $20-$29

CALL: (714) 432-5880 or (888) 622-5376