The masquerade lives on!
ANDREW Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” is no phantom. It’s alive and well. Forget thinking it’s dead. The thing’s just sleeping. Closing soon on Broadway, April 16. But returning. This theater classic, which even had nine film lives is not going anywhere soon.
It will return. Downsized. Like a 14-piece orchestra instead of the usual 20. Think Phantom-lite.
Lordship Webber is also writing coronation music to accompany new King Charles. He loves the royals. Gotten multi honors with the royals. Now he’s writing whatever oompahs don’t clash with a crown and ermine cape. If necessary, he’ll even join in tinkling on Prince Empty and meme-Meghan.
More. His newest reworked B’way musical “Bad Cinderella” is now ready to open the Imperial March 22 — his 75th birthday.
Hold the sauce
TOMORROW restaurateur Joe Germanotta, Lady Gaga’s papa, celebrates three years sober with a non-booze dinner party co-hosted by sobriety worker Rachel Hechtman. It’s at his just reopened West 68th Street Joanne Trattoria. No Champagne, wine, beer, scotch. The only alcohol served is for wiping off if somebody schloomps spaghetti sauce onto you. With the food can come whatever’s a pomegranate negroni sbagliato or a blood orange spritz — and just maybe Stefani Germa- notta, a k a Gaga.
The bluest city?
WASHINGTON — which organizes only Biden’s nap time — is now into staging the Democratic National Convention. That mosh pit, like mosquito bites, is soon upon us. Question being, where to hold it. Real question is why?
NYC launched a campaign bid. Also scratching for it are Chicago, Atlanta, Houston. Chicago’s got more problems than we have. Houston? Perfect spot in hot summer. Atlanta? I mean, why? Must be the only body in our capital with its head on straight is the Lincoln Memorial.
All civilization knows there’s no place like New York. Comparatively every other place is a parking lot. De Blasio, with lots of time on his hands, nearly nailed it — but blew the deal. Two reasons. He wanted it held in Barclays in Brooklyn. That was no. Also, he probably wanted his wife to be in charge. And even Lincoln said no.
I GUESS it’s not patriotic to keep knocking Washington. Maybe we should just praise America’s one elected official who actually came second in the voting for Our Most Exciting Speaker Award. The winner? Marcel Marceau.
Only in the USA, kids, only in the USA.