Every day is opening night.

When my late pal Jimmy Buffett told me about a musical act, I paid heed. He was discerning about all things – food, liquor, home goods, and – above all else – music. So, when he told me he was taking me to a show, I hightailed it to Teterboro and boarded his beloved Dassault Falcon 900EX without a moment’s hesitation. (My lack of hesitation was particularly notable as this was October 2021, and I hadn’t been to a live performance in about a year-and-a-half.)

The short flight to Atlanta was monopolized by Buffett waxing poetic about this band – The Avett Brothers – we were rushing to see. The show, in front of a sold-out crowd at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, was every bit as rousing as Jimmy had promised. We went backstage afterward to meet the band, Seth Avett, Scott Avett, and Bob Crawford. I was more than charmed. I was spellbound.

At that point, their second studio album, Mignonette, had already been adapted into a stage musical called Swept Away, but its planned world premiere engagement was scrapped when the pandemic hit. Now that the world was starting to reopen, Berkeley Rep. had slotted it into their 2022 schedule. Jimmy was making sure Broadway types, like yours truly, were already oriented to their sound before making the trip to California to see the show.

Well, so taken was I with Swept Away that I would take not one, not two, but three trips to Berkeley in early 2022 (belated thank you to artistic director Johanna Pfaelzer for the many margaritas we consumed at nearby Comal, obviously a nod to the great Jimmy) . I saw it two more times in its next iteration at Arena Stage in DC, where the theater was filled with New York-based literati, including what felt like half the newsrooms of the New York Times and the Washington Post. (I saw Times reporter Mark Mazzetti there both times I went.) And now, after a 10-year journey, it’s finally about to open on Broadway.

For most shows, the hardest part of getting to Broadway is booking one of the perennially over-committed theaters. Well, no such issue for Swept Away. After their buzzy presentation at last year’s BAA Conference in Miami, Bob Wankel made the Longacre more available than an 8:00 p.m. table at Joe Allen.

The production marks a much-anticipated reunion between Tony Award winner John Gallagher, Jr., who stars, and Tony-winning director Michael Mayer. The pair are two for two, so far, with Spring Awakening and American Idiot featured prominently in their bios.

And if that wasn’t enough, the musical’s book is by Tony winner John Logan (if you put a gun to my head and asked me to pick a favorite play, I’d answer RED.)

I hear opening night will be a suitably cool mix of music industry types, theatrical heavyweights, and well-connected fans of The Avett Brothers (from Frank Marshall to Mary Chapin Carpenter). I’m sorry Jimmy’s not around to revel in its glory, but I’m delighted to see he’s listed posthumously as a producer.

Tidbits from around town…

Spotted Barbara Corcoran dropping off a pair of shoes for repair at Vince’s Village Cobbler in Soho.

Caught SNL breakout Bowen Yang on what sure looked like a date at Vinegar Hill House.

And hearty congratulations to Chelsea Nachman and Jessica Phillips, who celebrated their nuptials last weekend with friends and family. I was stuck on deadline but have ordered a couple bottles of tequila to celebrate with them before the holidays are upon us.

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

Kisses,,”