Every day is opening night.

Spring has officially arrived—not just in temperature but in tempo. If my schedule gets any more jam-packed, I’m going to have to start gate-checking my Filofax.

With Leading Ladies of Broadway, the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, and Good Night, and Good Luck all happening on the same night, a lesser columnist would have made a Sophie’s choice. Me? I made it work.

First stop: Broadway’s Leading Ladies at Town Hall, a PBS-filmed event featuring some of the grandest voices to grace the stage. Hosted by my old pal Bebe Neuwirth and featuring a lineup including LaChanze, Jennifer Holliday, Jessie Mueller, Judy Kuhn, and more, the evening was a stirring tribute to Broadway’s feminine side. Presiding over the occasion was a lady leading Broadway: No Guarantees topper Christine Schwarzman.

Then, a swift dash to Playwrights Horizons for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, where playwright a.k. payne (my editors haven’t been so flummoxed by a name’s stylization since my little-read column on the life of e e cummings) took home the prestigious award for Furlough’s Paradise, a lyrical and searing meditation on grief, home, and survival. Prize executive director Leslie Swackhamer poignantly remarked, “At this moment in our history as a country, and as a Prize which honors women, trans, and non-binary writers, we must acknowledge the very real threats that are being aimed at our hard-won freedoms. We must remind ourselves of the power of our voices, and the special magic we create when we lift them at the theatre.” Beaming in the corner was my handsome pal Jason Butler Harner, who sits on the Blackburn board.

To cap the night: a quick drink with Curran superstar Greg Backstrom before accompanying him to The Winter Garden Theatre, where an up-and-comer named George Clooney made his Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luck. The buzz leading up to his entrance was deafening, and let’s just say, he delivered. Very much in his element as Edward R. Murrow, Clooney commanded the stage with an intimate intensity that made the 1,600-seater feel like a black box. Among the lucky 1,600: the great Keith Olbermann. You know him from his Murrow-style work for MSNBC, but I remember him from his KNBC days in LA. I also spotted the brass behind the buzzy American History Unbound series, John Monskey and Meredith Wagner.

But wait—there’s more! Over at the Golden Theatre, Operation Mincemeat finally saw its marquee light up after a tariff-related customs delay on its specialty bulbs. Broadway is now glowing just a little brighter. Meanwhile, lighting up Off-Broadway: the Andrew Scott-led Vanya officially began performances, drawing an in-the-know crowd who’ve been licking their chops since Scott’s London reviews first surfaced.

And then there was Othello. I couldn’t wait another minute, so I bought a ticket. Taut, urgent, and devastating, it reminds us why this tragedy still resonates. A master manipulator fuels paranoia and division for personal gain—remind you of any recent political playbooks? But I know what you’re here for, so let me tell you: Denzel and Jake are mesmerizing. The direction? Razor-sharp. If you think you’ve seen Othello before, think again.

Meanwhile, I’m filing this from a suite at Nashville’s Hermitage Hotel. I’m here on a too-brief jaunt to see a very intriguing (and hush-hush) new musical. After that, it’s a dash back to the Upper East Side for dinner at Casa Tua. And this is my downtime!

Tidbits from around town…

Spotted Stanley Tucci at a 4:00pm showing of Mickey 17.

Overheard Kristin Scott Thomas saying something to someone in what sounded to this ear like perfect French.

Caught a fan congratulate Kaitlyn Dever on her Oscar win, perhaps having mistaken her for Mikey Madison. Dever played it off perfectly.

Finally, a huge and heartfelt congratulations to Broadway’s favorite lovebirds, Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada, on their engagement. “Who says Orpheus and Eurydice can’t live happily ever after?” The phrase “happy ending” may be a bit icky.

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

Kisses,