CRUISE CONTROL
Talk about pulling off a red carpet coup! Rosie O’Donnell surprised everyone at the 14th Annual Kid’s Circus Awards at the Santa Monica Barker Hangar with her special guest — Tom Cruise. Tom’s top gun appearance was kept top secret till the very end. He did his part for the kids after being whisked in by a private plane and taking a limo straight to the hangar. When the show was over, Rosie and her not- so-tall, but very dark and handsome, hi-profile pal high-tailed it off into the night.
PLAY DAY
Jason Alexander, Carl Reiner and Kirk Douglas were among the theater lovers who trekked down to the Mark Taper Forum for a look at Alan Alda’s new play “QED.” The production depicts the life of eccentric Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman with Alda in the starring role, and runs through May 13. Also at the Music Center, the Ahmanson Theater is gearing up for a trio of new one-act musicals called “3hree.” Beau Bridges takes the stage as a ready-for-a-sex-change mid-westerner in “Looking for Normal” at the Geffen. Dame Edna’s Royal Tour is set to open at the Shubert and Gladys Knight will be bringing down the house when “Smokey Joe’s Caf” hits the Wilshire Theater on May 29.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Actress Sally Kellerman served as mistress of ceremonies at this year’s TSA awards dinner honoring David E. Kelly. TV’s mega producer was given high praise for his efforts to help raise awareness in the fight against a neurobiological disorder called Tourette’s syndrome.
“This event is the culmination of a dream that combines our commitment to Tourette’s and our responsibility to our children and everyone afflicted with this life-altering syndrome,” said dinner chair Jeffrey Kramer. Kramer explained that last year’s fundraising efforts, together with a $9 million award from the National Institutes of Health, have brought the organization closer than ever to finding a cure. Kelly was singled out for top honors after incorporating the syndrome into several episodes of his hit TV shows — most recently “Ally McBeal,” which featured Anne Heche as a teacher living with Tourette’s.
HOT STUFF
Disco diva Donna Summer will be taking us back to those sensational ’70s at this year’s Rock & Soul to Erase MS on May 18. The Studio 54 icon joins an all-star line-up, which includes Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Tony Danza, Tom Arnold and Bill Maher. The Race to Erase MS was created by Nancy Davis in 1993 and has become one of the largest and most successful annual events funding research for multiple sclerosis. This year’s festivities are expected to raise a whopping $3 million. And chances are it will be an evening to remember on May 19 when Johnny Mathis takes the stage at this year’s Diamond Anniversary Gala to benefit Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center. The event, which enjoys the generous support of many Malibu docs, is celebrating its 75th year. Happy Birthday!