Every day is opening night.

“Cabaret”

Ladies and gents,

My heyday was the 1970’s, and as far as I’m concerned that decade was defined by two things: Barry Manilow and Cabaret. Well, this week proved that some things never go out of style.

Tuesday night marked the long awaited opening of MANILOW ON BROADWAY, and it’s the most fun you can have without risking broken limbs and/or alienating loved ones. I entered the theater just before curtain and saw my old friend Clive Davis being interviewed on camera in the back of the house by none other than Jordan Roth. I can only assume Roth is doing one of his field pieces for “Morning Joe,” which have become the only compelling reason to get out of bed in this weather. I laughed, I cried, I sang along, I waved a glow stick, and I even danced in the aisles with the Countess LuAnn de Lesseps. As for Manilow, he was in fabulous form and fantastic voice. If you weren’t a diehard fan when you entered, you sure as hell were one when you left! The button on the fabulous evening: a party at (where else?) The Copa–Copacabana.

Last night I attended the 40th Anniversary screening of one of the greatest pieces of art ever put on celluloid: Cabaret. The screening took place at the Ziegfeld, where the film premiered all those years back. And the original stars were there, including the incomparable Joel Grey, the irrepressible Liza Minnelli, the charming and adorable Michael York, and the glamorous-as-ever Marisa Berenson. The film has been, oh I don’t know the technical term, remastered? Redeffed? Refreshed? Well, whatever the hell they did to it, it looks just beyond stunning on the big screen. If you’re like me, you’ve perhaps forgotten just how brilliant all those performances are, how inventive the directing is, how provocative the material is, and how thrilling the musical numbers are. As much as I adore the live theater, how wonderful that it’s all captured for eternity!

Tidbits from around town:

Stop being greedy and see above!

As always, a taste of something sparkling to you and yours!

Kisses,