"Horton" Star, Carol Burnett

Helping Kids Find Their Smiles

by Mac Duffy

Carol Burnett is one of the most talented and versatile performers in history. Although most famous for her incredible eleven year run of the "Carol Burnett Show," she has done it all: Broadway, television, feature films, variety specials, you name it, and has received more top honors than I can write here. Now, she is tackling a new medium, CG Animation, and helping bring smiles to a new generation of fans in the groundbreaking "Horton Hears a Who! ™" coming to theatres March 14th. As one of its stars, Ms. Burnett was on hand to give interviews about the film*, and I jumped at the chance.

I will always remember Carol as the woman who brought her friends into my family's home every week when I was a kid to put a smile on our faces when we most needed it. It was simply the weekly rerun of the "Carol Burnett" show, but the joy that it brought my siblings and me is still immeasurable. It was more than just a group of talented people making us laugh. There was an incredible sincerity behind their performances. You knew they cared about each other and the people watching, and that offered just enough hope that the world wasn't nearly as terrible as we thought.

The effect this had on my own path is clear. It taught me that we don't need a million dollars or years of research to impact someone's life in a positive way. Just a sincere enthusiasm about what you're doing can work wonders and have an effect that far exceeds your expectations.

If you haven't already done so, check out Carol's autobiography, the best-selling "One More Time". According to the Los Angeles Times Book Review, "The spirit of its ending is very much like the ending of one of Burnett's variety TV shows, when she comes out to say good night, and you momentarily sense that you're not just looking at an entertainer-you're looking into the face of a human being."

I agree. Although we were only able to speak on the phone, she has such a warm, inviting personality, I immediately felt like I was sitting next to her, a welcomed guest in her living room.

Anything Is Possible

"One More Time" is a wonderfully told account of a regular person who overcame some significant early-childhood struggles to achieve a level of success that many feel they can only dream of. I've worked a lot with children for close to twenty years, and it's clear that kids need that kind of example now more than ever.

What is her secret? Carol believes "anything is possible." She didn't need to be "famous." "Success for me," she reveals, "was to be able to do (perform) and be able to put food on the table…I just knew I'd be happy in my work. Something would come along and it would happen."

And, it did. Many know the story of the man who helped Carol move to New York City where she got her start in showbiz, but no one knows his name. He chose to remain anonymous, and Carol has honored that promise ever since.

Now, Carol is taking on a new venture to help young people through the arts. In honor of her late daughter, the talented Carrie Hamilton, Carol created the Carrie Hamilton Foundation to help raise funds to establish The Carrie Hamilton Theater and Young Artists Outreach Program at The Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, CA.

World-famous architect, and Carol's good friend, Frank Gehry, generously volunteered his expertise and is in the process of a two-phase pro bono design project of the Playhouse's Carrie Hamilton Theatre.

Carol is excited about the possibilities and hopes to start construction as soon as possible this year. "Frank is making two theatres out of the current space," she shares, "one for multiple uses, the other will be a small 99-seat theatre. We already have the plans; we're just raising a little more money."

Designed to support the works of young playwrights, directors, and actors, particularly at-risk children, and expose them to the world of theater and the value of their own creativity, the outreach program will begin once the theatre is ready, and when it does, it will be an amazing experience for kids. "I would like to see us be able to do master classes and work with the young people whether they be writers, actors, whatever," Carol says. "I know a lot of folks (in the entertainment business) who'd be willing to do that."

Carol Burnett's example is proof that just the simple act of following our hearts and embracing our dreams can have a wide-ranging impact. I know it helped change my life. If you'd like to take a chance and help give a child a needed boost in confidence and a bit of help to realize their ability to achieve their goals, then I invite you to help support the Carrie Hamilton Foundation's efforts. Carol and the kids would appreciate it, and so would I.

For more information on how you can contribute your time or money, visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org or call (626) 737-2846.

*You can read more about "Horton Hears a Who! ™" and Carol's experience filming the movie in this month's article, "Horton Hears a Who - Now You Can, Too!"

Editor's Family Entertainment Pick of the Month

If you'd like to give yourself and your family the gift of some fun-filled family bonding through the best in family entertainment, then I highly recommend ordering the Carol Burnett Show on DVD. This collection is timeless and a must-add to your family DVD collection.

For more information, please visit www.cbshow.com or call 1 (800) 929-9172