Ritziest Event! Other than standing outside of the Gerswhin the night of the Tony Awards for the year which saw BLOOD BROTHERS and KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. . .well, that was rizty in that Rob Marshall would keep running back and forth between the theater and the press room across the street and keep me informed of the winners, introduce me to Chita Rivera and generally be quite charming. . .
BUT the ritziest event by far was the $500 a plate dinner and concert given by (and for) The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust on the stage at Pgh's Benedum Center.
Trust me when I say that I did not pay $1000 for my then-pastor Judy and I to see and hear Ms. Betty Buckley perform, oh no, not at all! Rather, Judy and I went down town to drop some stuff off for Betty - I had a copy or two of some CARRIE sheet music which Betty had told me on our first meeting that she didn't have, as well as the pictures taken at The Bottom Line the previous Halloween; and Judy had some stampning stuff to present her with - our plan was to get there early, greet Betty (either wlaking or getting out of her limo) and give her the items, take a picture or two, and go home.
When Betty did arrive, via limo, she took the time to look over our gifts, pose for a photo and INVITE US TO THE CONCERT! (Betty also slyly turned to her p.a. (Shawn) and asked, "I CAN have guests at my own concert, can't I?")
Shawn and Betty escorted us to her dressing room where Betty made us feel at ease while she sent Shawn up to the stage to set up seating for us. When Shawn took us to that seating, we were stunned!
The stage of the Benedum was filled with linen-clothed tables, all filled with the elite of Pittsburgh society, bedecked with candelabra, champagne on ice, the works. . .Judy and my "seats" were flush up agains the stage, with enough leg room to spread out, still, right there, stage right of where Betty would be performing.
A classy-looking event all the way around.
And most assuredly, the ritziest event I ever attended.
(an honorable mention would go to the opening night of Pittsburgh's Civic Light Opera's production of PORGY AND BESS, of which I was a cast member, which brought in several of the remaining Gershwin heirs).
(and I must'nt forget that I second-acted Barbara Cook's "It's Better with a Band" concert at Carnegie Hall. Something which had recently come back to haunt me when Barbara inquired of me, through a mutual friend, if I happened to have a bootleg recording of that concert).
And finally, a side-note on the Buckley concert - one of the big-wigs from Carnegie Mellon University (Head of Student Affairs, as a matter of fact) approached me at the intermission and complimented me on the food and drink. She was aghast when I informed her that I had nothing to do with the catering, and was Ms. Buckley's "guest" for the event. It's times like that which make you believe in the graciousness, and humaness, of our so-called "divas."
On another note, D-flat minor, the wierdness going on between Tim (I'll publish a book whenever I feel like it) Lucas, dear esteemed BK and the Scarlet Street regulars is providing much-needed entertainment this weekend. . .
I've been out of it most of the week due to antibiotics, but I'm feeling up to par now.
