LIZA! at 80! - CARNEGIE HALL — Page 3

And also, for the life of me, I could not locate any cameras recording the event....why no cameras for later broadcast? Odd.

Paul Wontorek confirmed cameras were there filming. He wasn’t able to get any info what it was for.

What would you think if somebody said to you, “You’re going to be 80. How do ya feel?” Well, I can tell you, you stop auditioning for approval. You know who you are, what you love and what matters. At 80, the noise fades and the music gets clearer. I’ve had a life in front of audiences, under lights, through triumph and heartbreak. What’s left is joy. Real joy. The kind you don’t chase. You recognize it, you hold it and you say thank you.

The worst thing

You lose people. That’s the truth of it. Friends, collaborators, parts of your own history. You carry them with you, but the room gets quieter. And your body has its own opinions now. I’ve learned to listen, not fight it. You adjust. You find new rhythms. Still, the missing never quite goes away.

Any advice for the president as he turns 80?

I would say this to any president: Turning 80 gives you perspective. You’ve seen enough to know what lasts and what costs people too much. Use that. Stay curious. Stay engaged. Experience is an asset if you keep learning and listening. Surround yourself with people who tell you the truth. You are there to take care of people. Listen when they are struggling. Act with fairness. Remember every decision reaches someone’s real life. Lead with empathy.

Cameras were set up in the rear orchestra, though I suspect we won't see any public footage of this concert. They've had the same setup for the Follies and Dolly concert the last two years and neither of those were ever released in any form.

DroughtofApathy said: "Cameras were set up in the rear orchestra, though I suspect we won't see any public footage of this concert. They've had the same setup for the Follies and Dolly concert the last two years and neither of those were ever released in any form."

I wonder if the Dolly issue was Bette not wanting the larger audience know what's happened to her voice.

I absolutely loved the show. I think they did an excellent job with the selection of singers for each song. Robyn Hurder, Marisha Wallace, Jessica Vosk, and Andrew Rannells were the standouts. Mo Rocca and Marc Shaiman did an excellent job as hosts moving things along. And getting appearances by John Kander and Lorna Luft were lovely.

I think Julie Halston definitely stole the show. I was cracking up throughout her entire story. The comment after that it was all of pride month balled up into one story was perfect.

As to the comments about Liza not appearing, I definitely didn't go in expecting her to be there. There was nothing in the advertising that made it seem that way to me. And I even texted a friend right before the show that I was hoping for a surprise Liza cameo but didn't think it would happen.

The one thing I wasn't expecting was for it to run so long! Follies and Dolly both ran much shorter. I ended up missing my train and had to pay a fortune to get a later train home! But it was worth it. I hope Transport Group keeps these concerts going, because every one has been a hit and thrilling to me.

It also wasn't Bette's Birthday concert. The cast didn't know Liza wasn't attending. They joined with the idea she would be there.

I cannot fathom how anyone expected Liza to show up, given her erratic attendance and health matters over the past 15 years (and especially recently), and the fact that this was in New York and not Los Angeles.

It was never advertised to buyers that she would be making an appearance on stage or in the audience, and for good reason. Even if the performers were told that Liza intended to be there (which I don't believe they were), no sane person should have believed that would be happening with certainty.

As for someone's comment a few days ago about this being a "cash grab," this was a one-night benefit for the Transport Group (a micro-budgeted nonprofit theatre by New York standards), and Liza's team was involved as partners. I don't think anyone was being duped, and I also don't think any one person or organization was rolling in cash because of the concert, due to the costs of renting the hall, rehearsal costs, singer/musician costs, arrangements, and marketing. It probably cost Transport Group close to half a million to mount, and I'd be shocked if they earned more than that...sometimes these nonprofit benefit concerts are mounted as a loss-leader for donations.

Updated On: 6/30/26 at 01:37 PM

You know what happens when you make assumptions, joevitus…

CoffeeBreak said: "Starting with Lorna's appearance, the room was energized. That "I bet she comes out soon". When bows began faces of the audience drop, energy fall out and people began to leave while turning back to the stage confused. There was a definite air of disappointment."

You described pretty much exactly my own roller-coaster of feelings. Sure, we all knew that there was a significant risk that Liza wouldn't be able to make it, but this didn't mean that there wasn't a possibility that she would. And given the final build-up, it really seemed that this was going to happen. And then it did not (which was very disappointing, but understandable). And then no Liza video appeared (which remains hard to understand). And then her closest entourage didn't even peep a word at the end (which is unforgivable, if you ask me). And my heart sank. Not Liza's fault as previously discussed, but... hard to take.

PS. I don't really agree with the cash grab perspective though. I do believe this show was made out of love for Liza and that most (if not all) performers came from there. The TCG marketing guys *clearly* obfuscated their communication, but in all fairness, I suspect there was a lot of uncertainties during the entire process. As to the books, the signature thing was never realistic and I for one was happy to have a small bonus and I will happily give those copies to other Liza lovers who don't already have it.