According to Liz Smith's column today, only 1/2 of the show will be her. The other 1/2 will basically be filled by others. Once we heard that, our plans to get tickets went down the drain. We saw her last time @ the Palace. Not paying $ 125 to see her in 1/2 a show.
"Half of it will be a Liza concert, and half will be director Lewis' version of Kay and the Williams Brothers. (The Brothers are to be played by Jim Caruso, Johnny Rodgers, Cortes Alexander, Tiger Martina. Do I have to tell you that in real life, the original quartet produced the star Andy Williams?) The whole thing is backed up by the incredible Billy Stritch, produced by John Scher. Mr. Lewis has created all new innovative choreography, for there is unfortunately no film record of Kay and the Williams Brothers."
Liza Minnelli will bring her unmatchable magic to Broadway, when she stars in her new show “Liza’s At The Palace…!” opening Wed nesday, December 3rd (6:30PM) at the Palace Theatre (Broadway & 47th Street) for a limited engagement through December 14th. Produced by John Scher/Metropolitan Talent Presents & Jubilee Time Productions and directed and choreographed by Ron Lewis, the evening will feature an incomparable Minnelli songfest including many of her personal favorites and signature hits, followed by a dance-filled tribute to the groundbreaking late-1940s nightclub act of Minnelli's godmother, Kay Thompson. Gary Labriola will serve as Executive Producer.
Along with a twelve-man orchestra led by conductor/drummer Michael Berkowitz and pianist/musical supervisor Billy Stritch, “Liza’s At The Palace…!” will be highlighted with many of Liza’s showstoppers such as “Cabaret,” “Maybe This Time,” and “New York New York” – all written especially for her by the legendary Broadway song writing partnership of John Kander and Fred Ebb. For the first time onstage, Liza will pay an affectionate salute to her godmother, the late Kay Thompson who was a legendary performer (“Think Pink!” from Funny Face), author (“Eloise at the Plaza”) as well a gifted vocal arranger and Music Director/vocal coach at MGM Studios who worked with stars such as Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra and Lena Horne. Supported by a quartet of dynamic singer/dancers, Liza will perform musical hits (with the original vocal arrangements) from Thompson's act including such numbers as “I Love a Violin,” “Clap Yo' Hands,” “Jubilee Time” and “Hello Hello”---set to brand-new staging and choreography by Mr. Lewis. Accompanying her onstage will be Cortés Alexander, Jim Caruso, Tiger Martina and Johnny Rodgers.
The concert performance wil be scripted by Liza and Tony Award-winner David Zippel, and will be full of personal stories, anecdotes and heartfelt reminiscences embraced in a theatrical setting featuring scenery by Ray Klausen, costumes by Halston, lighting by Matthew Berman and sound by Matt Krauss.
It's a wonderful concert. It shows how truly dedicated Liza is to her work and her fans and also to her mother and Kay. She's a truly remarkable performer (something we already knew) who brings quite the infectious energy to her performance. She performed this exact show in Providence, RI for one night only and it was spectacular. If it's still in, her opening medley is marvelous.
Everyone should see Liza perform live as often as they can. I have been seeing since 1970, when I was 14, and my parents took us to the Concord Hotel, in the Catskills.
It was one year after Judy died and one year before Liza made Cabaret. She sang "Mister Bojangles" and "Maybe This Time," "God Bless the Child" and an amazing version of "Shine on, Harvest Moon."
A drunken man yelled out that she should sing "Over the Rainbow" and she said, "There was only one woman who could sing that song, and she's no longer with us." The audience applauded and the drunken man's wife escorted him out.
I went backstage and Liza asked me to hold her dog's leash. The dog pooped in the corridor outside the dressing room. I didn't know what to do, but someone from the hotel cleaned it up and said, "Don't tell Liza." Liza kissed me on the cheek and thanked me for walking her dog.
Thirty years later--I was now 44--I was seated at a dinner table with her and I told her that story. She pointed a finger at me and said, "I was just gonna say...you look VERY familiar!"
This is the show that she has been touring with recently. And yes, everyone absolutely must go! I saw it Labor Day weekend from third row center. It was two full hours, no intermission. And I can tell you that even though she is not what she was (and who is, right?), she IS who she is. Liza must be seen. She sings, she dances, she jokes, she connects, she bares her soul.
If you are reading this, you absolutely must go. If you don't go, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Updated On: 10/20/08 at 01:25 PM
Does anyone know how the lottery will work yet? 2.5 hours before, 3 hours before, etc?
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent