It has been a triumphant year for Betty Buckley, who not only won raves for her interpretation of Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard, but also gave a stunning, sold-out performance at Carnegie Hall that benefited Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Now, after wowing N.Y. audiences in Sunset for over a year, the Tony-winning actress will pass the turban to London's Elaine Paige and embark on a concert tour that will take Buckley all over the U.S. Last month, about 30 of Buckley's nearest and dearest gathered to celebrate the golden-voiced lady's birthday at the famed San Domenico Restaurant in N.Y.C. Playbill Magazine publisher Philip Birsh, who hosted the party, led a champagne toast and thanked Betty for her Carnegie concert that raised over $100,000 for BC/EFA. Birsh spoke glowingly about Buckley, whom he praised for being not only the "star of the concert, but also for her tireless efforts off the stage," which made the fund-raiser such a tremendous success.

In addition to her scheduled concert appearances, Buckley is examining television and film offers as well. Let's hope that her departure from Sunset is the beginning of--to borrow a line from that show--"the perfect year."

-- By Andrew Gans