NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Jackson’s condition frightened director

LOS ANGELES

The director of Michael Jackson’s ill-fated comeback concerts told a jury on Wednesday that he was frightened when Jackson was shivering and seemed lost at one of his final rehearsals.

The rehearsal occurred six days before Jackson died in June 2009, Kenny Ortega testified during a lawsuit filed by Jackson’s mother.

“I saw a Michael that frightened me,” Ortega said, calling Jackson’s appearance “very, very troubling.”

Jackson improved somewhat as the night went on but wasn’t coherent when he arrived that day, Ortega said. The singer didn’t rehearse that night.

The director-choreo- grapher said Jackson had missed numerous rehearsals for his planned “This Is It” concerts and appeared to be under the influence of a substance on at least four occasions when he did attend the sessions.

Publicist: Travis suffers stroke during surgery

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Country music star Randy Travis suffered a stroke while at a Texas hospital and was in surgery late Wednesday, the singer’s publicist said.

Publicist Kirt Webster said Wednesday night that the 54-year-old Travis suffered the stroke while he was being treated for congestive heart failure because of a viral illness.

Webster said Travis was undergoing surgery to relieve pressure on his brain. He remains in critical condition.

“His family and friends here with him at the hospital request your prayers and support,” Webster said in a news release.

Earlier Wednesday, doctors said that Travis had been showing signs of improvement but was still in critical condition.

The viral illness led to a weakened heart muscle that eventually worsened into heart failure.

Hasselbeck exits ‘View’ with no hard feelings

NEW YORK

Elisabeth Hasselbeck left “The View” after a decade Wednesday, showing no hard feelings toward her colleagues even though her political views made for some awkward and heated exchanges on the daytime chat fest over the years.

Her exit came less than 24 hours after it was announced that Hasselbeck will join Fox News Channel and the “Fox & Friends” morning show in September.

Fellow cast member Joy Behar joked about Hassel-beck being a “fish out of water” on the Fox show, which is popular with conservatives.

Hasselbeck, who appeared at the Repub-lican National Convention in 2008, usually found herself outnumbered on “The View” when she offered conservative political opinions.

Rivera to celebrate birthday with a show

NEW YORK

Chita Rivera plans to celebrate her 80th birthday doing what she does best — performing a show that benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The two-time Tony Award-winning singer, dancer and actress will play the August Wilson Theatre on Oct. 7 in a show written by Terrence McNally and directed by Graciela Daniele.

Says Rivera: “A girl only turns 80 once in her life, thank God, and I want everyone there as proof.”

The performer, one of the stars of the recent musical “The Mystery Of Edwin Drood,” actually turned 80 on Jan. 23.

She originated some of theater’s most memorable roles, including Anita in 1957’s “West Side Story,” Rose in 1960’s “Bye Bye Birdie,” Velma in 1975’s “Chicago” and the title role in 1993’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”

Vindicator wire reports