REMEMBERING 9/11/01 - FROM OUR ARCHIVES
PUBLISHED THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th, 2001 in CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE #010903
(Please note: a number of the cabaret venues mentioned below have closed in the past 15 years, and many of the performers listed are no longer with us. ALL DATES SHOWN ARE FOR 2001)
I simply don't know where to begin! So much has happened in the past 50 hours or so, I simply don't have a grip yet on the full impact that the event that occurred around 9:00 am on the 11th of September will have on our lives. Simple little things like the restaurants on my block (46th Street - Restaurant Row) forced to close since they are unable to get deliveries of produce, meat and fish. The Broadway theaters dark for 2 days. The stock market closed for an unprecedented three days. Airports closed from the moment of the disaster until today. No subway or bus service below 14th Street, effectively cutting of the Village, Soho, Chinatown and the Financial District from the rest of Manhattan. No one is permitted below Houston Street without ID that proves they live in that area, making it into a sort of urban ghetto. The tunnels and bridges connecting Manhattan to New Jersey and the other 4 boroughs were closed until this morning. The Holland & Brooklyn Battery Tunnels are still closed as well as the Brooklyn, Williamsburg and Manhattan bridges (except to pedestrians), since they connect below 14th Street.
Long lines of flatbed trucks loaded with earth moving equipment, emergency lighting setups and supplies moving slowly towards the disaster zone. Two dozen refrigered United Parcel trucks lined up near the WTC site to carry bodies to the morgue. Convoys of National Guard troops, with their equipment, passing on 34th Street while I waited for a bus, to the cheers of folks on the sidewalk - like liberators entering Paris. To relieve the overburdened police and traffic officers, hundreds of Police Cadets, barely out of their teens, directing traffic along the avenues, in their grey uniforms and new white gloves - looking tall and proud.
While on Tuesday the streets were clogged and traffic chaotic, and Wednesday the streets were empty, today things are pretty much back to normal. The TKTS booth in Times Square was set to reopen. The acrid smell of the now nearly completely quenched fire just about gone (it was noticeable even on 46th Street, perhaps three miles from the disaster). Amazingly, not only has the city remained calm, there is a real spirit of unity and cooperation in evidence. Lines of blood donors still can be seen at area hospitals, folks who have not held a shovel in years are lining up to volunteer in the search for survivors and remains, and people are actually talking to strangers - something rare in "tough old New York!"
The outpouring of mutual concern by way of the internet and e-mail is astounding. On Wednesday morning I had nearly 150 e-mails from friends and family to read - and they kept arriving all day. Most clubs were closed on Tuesday night. The piano bars began reopening last night, but nearly all cabaret shows were cancelled.
I just came back from having lunch and was amazed that there is a fellow on the corner of 34th Street and Sixth Avenue selling small American flags! And they are selling like hotcakes - people walk away mounting them on their caps, have them sticking proudly out of their back-packs or just waving them wildly. I have not see this type of display of American pride since I was a child - and believe me, I am old. Thus life goes on.
Everyone in the NYC area has been affected in one way or another by the events over the last few days. Those who live in the area might want to take advantage of a special meeting at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 - http://www.donttellmamanyc.com/) on Friday night, September 14th from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Lucille Carr-Kaffashan has cancelled her cabaret show that was scheduled at DON'T TELL MAMA at that time slot. Instead, Lucille, who is a clinical psychologist, will be hosting an open house discussion group. It will be an opportunity for those in the theater and cabaret community to share thoughts and feelings about the horror of the last few days, and to talk about how to promote healing and comfort. All are welcome. There will be no charge of any kind, and no reservations are necessary. Please understand that there is a flow to these kinds of groups and a sequential process is followed, so it is best if you can be there for the whole time. But if you can't get there until late, and if you need to leave early, you are still more than welcome to attend. Hopefully many will take advantage of this opportunity. Come and share your feelings.
There is quite a list on the website of shows that have cancelled, but there are a few folks who wrote me specifically to say that their show is NOT cancelled. Here is my list so far:
Richard Skipper is definitely presenting "Carol Channing +2" on Saturday, September 15th at 5:30 pm at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 - http://www.donttellmamanyc.com/ ). The show features the music of Julie Styne and Jerry Herman. Carol's guests are Miles Phillips and Parker Scott. Musical director is the amazing David Maiocco, and the show is written and directed by Jeff Matson. There is a more complete story, with photo, in the "Breaking News" section of the CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE website (http://www.svhamstra.com/).
Bill McKinley's new show "Don't Tell Walt" at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788) will definitely be presented on Saturdays September 15th (and the 29th and October 6th & 13th) all shows at 8:00 pm. Direction is by Morgan Rice with musical direction by Christopher Marlowe. The show features an animated evening of adult music. There is a more complete story, with photo, in the "Breaking News" section of the CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE website (http://www.svhamstra.com/).
Lucia Spina will definitely return to DAVENPORT'S (1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL - 773-278-1830) with her new show: "Falling Around: songs of leaves, love & other bad trips" on Friday, September 14th at 8:00 pm (additional shows on 21st & 28th). The evening includes standards by Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, and Harold Arlen.
3 Girls 3 will definitely present their show "Hip Hop to Boogie, A Century of Girl Groups" on Sunday, September 16th at 8:00 pm (continuing every Sunday through September 30th) also at DAVENPORT'S (1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL - 773-278-1830 - http://www.davenportspianobar.com/ )
JEROME RECORDS recording star, and Broadway & Cabaret singer/ dancer Stephanie Pope will definitely perform her show at the beautiful cabaret room at ARCI'S PLACE (450 Park Avenue South, NYC - 212-532-4370) tonight, September 13th at 9:00 pm. She will also appear on Friday and Saturday nights, the 14th & 15th at 8:30 pm, but the 11:00 pm shows originally scheduled have been cancelled.
2001 MAC AWARD winning vocalist Audrey Lavine will definitely be appearing at THE FIREBIRD CAFE (363 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-586-0244) tonight, Thursday the 13th (and also the 20th) at 9:00 pm. This is the "A Home With Arlen" show that received such rave reviews a few months back. Musical director is the incredible Ross Patterson. Audrey says she will do the show even if only 6 people show up.
Jerry Wichinsky will definitely be doing his show "Tenderly" at CHEZ SUZETTE (675B Ninth Avenue, NYC - 212-974-9002) on Sunday night, September 16th at 8:00 pm.
Due to the cancellation of performances on Tuesday and Wednesday, at the REPRISE ROOM AT DILLON°S (245 West 54th Street, NYC - Tele-Charge: 212-239-6200) will play a special performance of "Our Sinatra" tonight, Thursday, September 13th at 8:00 pm. The show is usually dark on Thursdays. Performed by Hilary Kole, Tom Postilio, and Ronny Whyte, the show features over 50 Sinatra classics
Laurie Krause is definitely doing her show on Friday night, September 14th (and all Fridays through the 29th) at 9:15 pm at DANNY'S SKYLIGHT ROOM (346 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-265-8133). All profits from this performance will be donated to the American Red Cross.
Linda Fields will be definitely performing her show "Bedazzled by Broadway" at 8:30 pm tonight, September 13th at JUDY'S CHELSEA (169 Eighth Avenue, NYC - 212-929-5410). Musical director is Paul Greenwood.
Now, please remember, if the show you are interested in is not mentioned in this list, it does not mean it has been cancelled. The best bet is to phone the club the day of the show. And if the show is not listed on my "cancelled show" page, it does not mean the show is going to be performed. Call ahead - always the best idea.
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