I am an advocate for many causes too. I am the Board President of the Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island, I volunteer as the Parent Advocate for the Human Rights Committee of Eden 2, I am on the Advisory Board of the Staten Island Business People and serve on the Special Needs Committee for the JCC.

I speak out for people with disabilities, like my own 20 year old son who is autistic. My most important accomplishment was co-founding the NY Child Learning Institute, a school that services children with autism.

Community and family is very important to me, as it is to Bette Midler.

4. What did it mean to you to have the opportunity to meet Ms.Midler in person? Meeting Bette Midler has been a wonderful gift. The first time I met her was on the set of, Outrageous Fortune, in 1987. She remarked to me, "Girl, you have a career!" And with those words, she predicted my future.

At that time, I was a manager for Citibank and had no idea that this sort of career was possible. Since then, I've met her at a variety of charity events that I've attended as a guest or volunteered at a performance for her.

I'm proud to call myself a Bettehead, meaning I am one of Ms. Midler's devoted fans...I think she is very beautiful and amazingly talented and feel so lucky to have been given this gift!

Donna Maxon (Left) & Bette Midler (Right)
Photo Courtesy of Donna Maxon's Social Media

5. You are bringing your show Bette & Barry: Back To The Bathhouse (co-written with Michael Schirall and co-starring Fonda Feingold as "Barry Manilow") to the Laurie Beechman Theatre this August. What made you want to create a show that reunites Bette Midler and Barry Manilow for "one more show, for old times sake" at the legendary Continental Bathhouse? I am not the first Bette Midler tribute artist to explore the theme of Bette and Barry. But I believe I am the first to set the scene in the Bathhouse, which is the period I find most interesting.

I can't help myself; I love dirty jokes! And the bathhouse, gives me the ability to do all the Sophie Tucker stuff and all the old tunes, that I love the best.

6. What was the best part about creating this show? The best part of creating the show is working with Michael Schiralli, who co-wrote and directs the show, and Fonda Feingold, who plays "Barry Manilow" is the musical director, too.

7. What do you hope audiences come away with after seeing the show? Regarding the audience, I'm surprised to learn how many people are unaware of the partnership that has existed between Bette and Barry over the decades.

I include original monologues that tells some of the story of their work together. I have been receiving a lot of positive feedback from audience members regarding the historic information that is provided in the show.

Donna Maxon as Bette Midler, Photo Credit: Kelly Williams

8. What made you want to bring the show to The Laurie Beechman Theatre? I've seen so many great shows at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, Boylesque and David Drake's recent show, My Tawny Valentine to name a couple.

I'm honored to be invited to perform there. I also am thrilled to be working through SpinCycleNYC, which brings so many connections and positive energy.

Chip and Ron have been great to work with and I look forward to doing many projects with them. I'm a lucky diva!

9. What has been the best part about working with Michael and Fonda? Michael and Fonda are both tremendously talented and are old friends. I've been working with Michael for several years on other cabaret shows. He is my coach, co-writer, director, advisor and friend.

More recently I met Fonda, at the local dog park. Fonda and I both have rescue dogs and the dogs became good friends. The dogs introduced us! (Another reason to adopt a shelter dog; you meet nice people!!)

When Fonda and I got to chatting, we realized that we both are in the entertainment industry. I downloaded some of her music and was so amazed by her talent that I mentioned her name to Michael.

Michael told me that he and Fonda were old friends! And thus our threesome was born! The world is a small place...

10. In addition to being a performer, you dedicate much of your time to various causes. One of them being autism. You and your husband are one of the founders of the NY Child Learning Institute, a school for children with autism. What made you want to start this school? My most important achievement was co-founding the NY Child Learning Institute, NY state's premiere school for children with autism. My husband and I and seven families opened this school in 1994.

At that time, my younger son, Donald, was just two years old and had been recently diagnosed with autism. I remain active with the Institute as well as volunteer as parent advocate for the Human Rights Committee of Eden 2.

I also serve as Board President of the Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island. Being a parent of a disabled child, I have tremendous compassion for people and find it hard to say no when I'm asked to help out.

I'll be emceeing a Bachelor Auction in October for Gilda's Club, which works with cancer patients. I did a benefit over Memorial Day for the Children's Miracle Network, which helps terminally ill children and their families.

11. What has it meant to you to have this school be such a success? The NY Child Learning Institute has helped so many children and their families and will live on long after I'm gone. I'm very proud to have been a part of making it happen.

12. What have you learned about yourself from being a performer? I've learned that persistence and desire are the most important traits...more important then natural talent. This career came late in life to me.

I was a Human Resources Manager for a bank, with a degree in Psychology; I was not on this path and I wasn't born a singer, I didn't study acting...but through persistence and desire, I have been able to accomplish so much. Also, having wonderful teachers and coaches who inspired me!

13. What's the best advice you've ever received? Become your own entertainment center! Have a sense of humor and laugh every day....and try to make others laugh because when you make some else smile, you feel good too.

And thats what my work is about....spreading joy. I'm not interested in being perfect; I'm interested in reaching and connecting with my audience to take them away from their troubles and daily life and transport them into my world of music and fun...

14. If you could dream about anyone while you sleep, who would it be? My dad, Donald Maxon, who passed away when I was nine months pregnant with my son, Donald. My father would be so proud to see me performing at this level.

My dad was handsome, successful...and loved a good joke! He'd be proud to see that I am a devoted mother, wife, daughter and human being...I miss him everyday.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

15. Favorite way to stay in shape? Walking with my dogs in the park or at the beach.

16. Favorite skin care product? As a hair model for Loreal, I have gotten turn onto Lancome's line of skin care products. They have some great anti-aging creams and serums.

17. If you could have any super power, which one would you choose? The power to heal...especially those with autism...especially my son, Donald, who cannot speak. I'm here to speak for him and those like him, that have no voice.

Donna Maxon as Bette Midler, Photo Credit: Kelly Williams

More on Donna Maxon:

Ala Bette Midler tribute artist, refers to her genre as, “theater-to-go,” and incorporates music, comedy and motivational speaking into her cabaret style shows.

Bette Midler was right when she exclaimed to Donna, “Girl you have a career” back in 1987 on the set of Outrageous Fortune.

Donna, now a member of AFTRA, has appeared on numerous television shows including: Saturday Night Live, The Wayne Brady Show, One Life to Live, Celebrity Apprentice and Maury.

She has been in TV commercials for Bennigan’s and Ford Motor Co., appeared in Forbes magazine, was pictured with Bette Midler in the National Enquirer and was in the movie, Radio Days, with Woody Allen.

Donna has performed at the Borgata, Trump’s and Harrah’s in Atlantic City, and Foxwoods in Connecticut. Her many satisfied corporate clients include: IBM, Coldwell Bankers, Macys and Sterling Drugs.

Donna is President of the Board of Directors for the Council of the Arts and Humanities of Staten Island and serves as the parent advocate for the Eden 2 Human Rights committee. Donna serves on the Advisory Board for the Staten Island Business People and is a member of the World of Women.

Donna donates her time and talents to help many charities including: Camp TLC (for teens with AIDS), Juvenile Diabetes, Hospice, The Borough President’s Conference for Alzheimer’s, the Wounded Warriors, keynote speaker for: NYSARC, A&E Television, and Autism Awareness Day at Shea Stadium. 

Donna has received the Frank LaForgia Humanitarian Award from the Association for the Advancement of the Blind and Retarded. She also received a Heart of Gold Award from the Reali Foundation and was honored as a Woman of Distinction from the World of Women.