Every day is opening night.

Ladies and gents,

And just like that, the season is over.  A show, a season, a lifetime: all fleeting, leaving us with nothing more than the memory.

Here are some memories from the 2018/19 Broadway season that I won’t soon forget:

• The divine and sophisticated way Eva Noblezada settles into the gorgeous story of Hadestown with that once-in-a-season vocal.  (And did anyone else notice that you can still feel the presence of Bruce Springsteen at the Kerr, as if he his poetry made way for Anaïs Mitchell’s?)
• How Jeremy Pope, playing my first crush, Eddie Kendricks, in Ain’t Too Proud, turns “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” into its own one-act play.
• Nathan Lane, Nathan Lane, Nathan Lane!  (If only I could conjure him by saying his name three times out loud – I’d never leave him alone!)
• The way Ephraim Sykes treats that mic stand!  Needed to pony up for a bottle of water at intermission!
• The juxtaposition of Patrick Page’s deep, mysterious bass to Reeve Carney’s angelic tenor.
• Michael Urie giving us an Arnold Beckoff for the 21^st century, with the courage to take on a role made famous by its still-living author, the wisdom not to duplicate that iconic original, and the talent to pull it off so beautifully.
• Mary Testa, Mary Testa, Mary Testa!
• Damon Daunno and Patrick Vaill in utter darkness – the boldest choice in a production so full of bold choices.
• That, even in a year full of great musicals, some of the most fascinating, haunting, and sexy music is in plays.  Hats off to Danny Elfman, Adam Guettel, and Philip Glass for knowing how to underscore a theme like nobody else.  Literally.
• Glenda Jackson, Glenda Jackson, Glenda Jackson!
• John Lithgow teasing out the humor and the pathos in the former leader of the free world, proving that power can be its own form of powerlessness.
• The words!  From Lucas Hnath to Taylor Mac, all we have are the words, and what gorgeous words they are!
• And lest we forget the long running shows, Dear Evan Hansen hit 1000 performances, Beautiful is now in its sixth year, and Kinky Boots took its final bow after a record-breaking run.

Next week will come the nominations.  All rise!

Tidbits from around town:

Spotted Martha Plimpton walking her dog in Riverside Park on the most perfect spring day.

Overheard Micah Stock humbly accepting praise on his new Netflix show “Bonding“ from a fan on the street.

Caught Joel Grey performing a host of show tunes translated into Yiddish alongside the cast of his Fiddler on the Roof at the Easter Bonnet Competition. I was kvelling!

And finally, a fond farewell to Mark Medoff, who wrote of the earth-shifting play Children of a Lesser God, and passed away this week at the age of 79.

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

Kisses,

Photo: Little Fang Photos