Every day is opening night.

Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play

 
Ladies and Gents,

I’ve been in a deep funk over this oil spill, but luckily I’ve been able to stay sufficiently distracted with lots of fabulous happenings!

Encore!

Last night I attended Creative Alternatives of New York’s star-studded gala, “Broadway at the Boathouse…Encore” at the Central Park Boathouse. I kicked off the evening with a sunset gondola ride. It would have been romantic had I not attended sans date!  I overheard Aubrey Reuben breaking the good news to Katie Finneran about her Outer Critics Circle Award win, and she seemed over-the-moon! Hunky “Glee” star Matthew Morrison showed up with an equally hunky bodyguard in tow (apparently those Gleeks can get overzealous). Dick Latessa and Cady Huffman charmed the crowd as the master and mistress of ceremonies. Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes were a delight performing “What Do You Get.” And what a setting!

Artistic talent

I was wandering all over the East Side this past weekend, and decided to pop into the Whitney to check out their 75th Biennial. I ran into my old friend Tommy Tune checking out the top floor’s retrospective to works from past years. He imparted unto me the most fascinating theory that if someone has artistic talent, it can be applied to any medium (which certainly explains how Tommy manages to create such magnificent paintings, on top of all his other talents). I told him, “Until I see Julian Schnabel tap dance, I’m not sure I buy your theory!” “Oh, I bet Julian can do terrific dances!” Tommy replied.

Fit to be tied

I must offer hearty congratulations to the winners of this year’s prestigious Outer Critics Circle Awards! Notably, they had ties in three categories, which added some drama to the drama! Memphis and La Cage aux Folles walked away triumphant with four awards each. A special shout-out goes to the Memphis creative team: Joe DiPietro and David Bryan (the team behind the fabulous Toxic Avenger), and director Christopher Ashley (who serves as the Artistic Director of the divine La Jolla playhouse in his “spare time” – which I always make a point of stopping at on my occasional trips down to Baja to see my healer, the brilliant Dr. Waya Xanthos-Goldman.)

A hit grows in Brooklyn

Epic Theater Ensemble’s production of Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play has become one of New York’s major cultural events of the year, and it’s all taking place in a converted church in Brooklyn (which explains why so many of New York’s favorite celebs and tastemakers have been spotted on the downtown C Train lately). I was there, naturally, for opening night, alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman, Daphne Rubin Vega, director Mark Wing Davey, Blair Brown, Harry Haun, Stephen Belber, Illana Levine (who, lucky duck, is married to the play’s brilliant star, Dominic Fumusa), Celia McGee, Will Pomerantz, John Pankow, and all the noble, young Epic brass, who were rightfully beaming over their triumph. And, of course, the woman of the hour (well, three-and-a-half hours to be exact), playwright and Tony nominee Sarah Ruhl, was also on hand. The production, literally, puts the “epic” in Epic!

Greats we’ve lost

I must take a moment to remember Lena Horne and Hank Jones—two greats we’ve just recently lost. I was so gaga for Lena that I saw her in the ill fated revival of Pal Joey (titled Pal Joey ’78) a total of six (consecutive) times at the Ahmanson in L.A. Her brilliant “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” is forever etched in my mind and remains the definitive version as far as I’m concerned. That lady was made up of two things: class and talent. And, speaking of class and talent, Hank Jones was one of my all-time favorite Jazz musicians. I never missed one of his legendary Birdland appearances. How lucky I was to experience both these legends time and time again!

Tidbits from around town…

Saw Woody Allen signing autographs for a couple of very young fans and their parents in the elevator lobby of the Carlyle.

Sat beside Oscar-winner (and Beth Henley alum) Holly Hunter at MCC Theater’s Family Week.

Witnessed what I could have sworn was none-other-than Leslie Jordan in a heavy lip-lock with none-other-than Doris Roberts in a back corner of Havana Central on West 46th Street.

Overheard Harvey Keitel ordering the duck “my way” at Mr. Chow.

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

Kisses,