‘Music’ to stars’ ears
“The Music Man” opening. VIP behinds from Mike Bloomberg to Bradley Cooper filled each of the Winter Garden’s 1,526 seats.
Twixt Chuck Schumer and Harvey Fierstein our Gov posed coatless, sleeveless. Told she’ll freeze her opinions off, Kathy Hochul said: “I’m a tough broad from upstate — used to being rugged.”
Nobody in furs. Anne Hathaway’s black-and-white coat? Valentino. Her husband: “I think she looks great.” Cynthia Nixon’s long black Carolina Herrera could’ve blown her “Sex and the City” salary. A photog crowed: “Anna Wintour’s getting out of her car.” A hearer huffed: “So who cares?”
Between Donna Karan and Donna Murphy, NYC’s big don Eric Adams faced — as usual — TV cameras. To see the show, Nancy Pelosi checked into our St. Regis with the husband. Smart. Best to see him at least as often as the hairdresser.
Alongside Michael Kors, Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Andrew Lloyd Webber told me the show’s song “Til There Was You” was actually recorded by The Beatles.
This wham bam slam jammed A-list? Partly hunger for Broadway. Partly reheating Meredith Willson’s hit. Partly Hugh Jackman who — just stepping onstage — caused the show to stop dead because the applause wouldn’t. Partly director Jerry Zaks, choreographer Warren Carlyle, cash registers Barry Diller and David Geffen — all of whom did “Dolly.” They don’t back flops.
Sutton Foster, Jayne Houdyshell, Santo Loquasto scenery and costumes, A-1. Marching band serenaded the street. Red carpet afterward had Hugh in Tom Ford, Sutton in Dolce & Gabbana.
Great for kids and grandma, “The Music Man” is bang-up old-fashioned your-money’s-worth razz-ma-tazz.
Hasn’t been this much excitement since Biden’s wedding night.
Leftovers & food for thought
The pitiful few celebs NOT at “The Music Man” opening: Kirsten Gillibrand with a friend inhaling eats at Midtown’s Amali. They discussed whiskey. Also guzzling it while discussing it . . . And Lee ZZZeldin whom the GOP thinks hurts the ticket and they want him out of the governor’s race figuring whatsisface Astorino does the least harm . . . Plus from two federal sources: Unwilling to offend Xi and take attention off China’s games, Putin invades Ukraine after the Olympics.
Born to dance
Ballerina Mary Helen Bowers trained Natalie Portman for her award-winning “Black Swan” role. Clients Gigi Hadid, Zooey Deschanel, Miranda Kerr, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Tracee Ellis Ross work with her virtual workout platform Ballet Beautiful which now expanded to 134 countries. Hadid thanked her for “getting me to the sexiest and strongest I’ve ever felt.” Good. Great. May all of DC pay attention.
Love stinks
Happy Valentine’s Day. Mena Suvari actually proposed to her husband Robert Brinkmann. They’re divorced. She’s remarried . . . Pamela Anderson met Tommy Lee on New Year’s Eve. She says, “He came up and licked my face.” The face dried up as did the marriage. They’re divorced . . . Mel Gibson’s heartwarming message to wife Robyn: “I never observe Valentine’s Day. Don’t hold your breath for flowers.” She’s not holding her breath for him either. They’re divorced . . . And for tender prose to be embroidered on your pillow, here’s Sandra Bullock to Us magazine: “Women are like ovens. We need 15 minutes to heat up. Sometimes men can get you so hot that you have to leave the room. I like what a man comes equipped with.”
Happy 80th birthday to Mike Bloomberg. A crate of us wish him back at the old job. However, he doesn’t need the work. DC just named him to lead the Defense Innovation Board. To advise Pentagon leaders on operations, technology, capabilities, people and culture. Better he should start in the White House.
The smarts grow only in New York, kids, only in New York.