The World’s a Stage (plot twists included)
This week, I had the honor of hosting Jodi Picoult for cocktails and conversation at my NYC apartment. As we perched high above Times Square, we sipped martinis and discussed her newest novel, By Any Other Name—in which Jodi makes a bold and compelling case that not only did Shakespeare not write his own plays, but many of them may have been authored by a woman: Emilia Bassano. I won’t attempt to summarize Jodi's argument here—she lays it out far more eloquently in the book—but I will say this: by the end of the evening, the entire room was convinced.
After the conversation wrapped, a few intrepid partygoers joined us for a quick dash down to 44th Street to catch the nightly Sunset Boulevard walkabout. For the uninitiated, it’s the Act 2 opener of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical where the leading man bursts out of the theater and makes a full loop around the block all while belting out the show's title number. Rain, sleet, heat, snow—he’s out there at 8:42 sharp. It’s theatrical, outrageous, and completely irresistible. We always bring along a cocktail to raise a glass as he goes by.
And now to our regularly scheduled programming:
Delightful...
No surprise here, at the top of my book recs is By Any Other Name. If you want your mind blown, grab a copy now. It’s part historical mystery, part contemporary tale of a female playwright fighting to make her mark in the still-very-male world of Broadway. Jodi’s real-life chops as a musical theater writer (seriously, is there anything she can’t do?) make the backstage details sing.
As for the rest of my reads, I must be subconsciously planning a coastal getaway. I just finished Salt Water, set in Capri, and next up is the newly released The Amalfi Curse. Coincidence, or the universe gently nudging me to book a flight to the Italian coast?
Delicious...
My latest indulgence is Étoile, the delicious new ballet drama from the creators of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Gilmore Girls. Set between New York and Paris, it’s a whirlwind of transatlantic hijinks, ambition, and backstage intrigue you truly can’t look away from.
I had drinks last night at Lincoln Center with a recently retired member of the actual ballet company that is the inspiration for the show. Let’s just say that while the series is technically fiction, the outrageous ballet drama? Very, very real.
De-Lovely…
One of my favorite annual moments on Broadway is the Tony Award nominations. This year’s list just dropped, and even though I don’t have a show in the mix this season, I still wake up with that same fluttery excitement. Like a kid on Christmas! Why? Because nestled among the grand Broadway pillars and veteran producers are a few fresh names hearing their nominations for the very first time.
Thanks to social media, we get a glimpse of what that moment looks like—the shock, the joy, the disbelief. It’s pure magic. We all know that simply getting to Broadway is a major dream. But to land a big role and be recognized by theater’s highest honor? That’s a dream most don’t even dare to speak aloud.
So each year, I find myself grinning along with them. Their joy is contagious—a reminder that sometimes, the wildest dreams do come true. And for a little while, I get to ride that high—the feeling that anything might be possible.
De-Rest of the story…
Whew. After a week of epic event hosting, Sardi’s visits, six incredible Broadway shows, and spinning up some exciting things around Last Call at the Savoy (stay tuned!), I’m officially ready for the weekend. Here’s Mister Big and me, curled up and queueing up Another Simple Favor—because we’re both in the mood for one last plot twist.
