Musicals Musicals and More Musicals

Harmony opened Friday October 10, 2000 on Broadway at the Marque Theatre 1,615..

Copacabana came back to Broadway Sunday March 13, 2005 at   the Gershwin Theatre 1,935.

                                                   

15 Minutes opened on Broadway Thursday February 3, 2011 at the Palace Theatre 1,74

Here At The Mayflower was opening on Broadway Tuesday September 29, 2015 at the Broadway Theatre 1,761.  With Joe Balogna as Joe, Lorna Luft as Esther,  Diane De Garmo as Diane Parr and Ace Young as Kenneth Stone. Someone had suggested that Brian Murphy play the tenant in 1A. However Brian Murphy was going on tour when they were casting for the tenant in 1A. So they got someone else to fill the roll. Now this was Copacabana's second time on Broadway. Copacabana's first time on Broadway was back in November of 1978. In June of 1979 Copacabana swept the Tony Awards winning every Tony it was nominated for. In June of 2001 Harmony swept the Tony Awards winning every Tony it was nominated for. So in 2005 Copacabana came back to Broadway playing the Gershwin Theatre. So in June 2006 Copacabana won Tony Awards for best revival musical.  In June 2012 15 Minutes swept the Tony Awards winning every Tony it was nominated for. With Here At The Mayflower doing rehearsals in July, previews in August and opening on Tuesday September 29, 2015. Something special that Barry was doing on Sunday September 6.  Then vacation between Sunday September 13 and Saturday September 26. Barry would have gone on vacation right after the something special. However Tuesday September 8 was opening night  of the Here At The Mayflower previews. Now that was something Barry didn't want to miss. Barry was going to be off the road after June 20. Then Barry was going back out on the road at the end of October. He was playing  a few cities in the US and cities In Canada. Barry was doing US cities Anchorage Alaska, Minneapolis Minnesota, Kansas City Kansas, Lincoln Nebraska, Indianapolis Indiana and New York City New York. Canada cities Vancouver British Columbia, Edmonton Alberta, Regina Saskatchewan,  Winnipeg Manitoba, Toronto Ontario, Quebec City and Montreal Quebec. Oh BTW can you say maybe a Guinness Book of World Records for being the first Broadway songwriter to having four musical on Broadway at one time.

Brooklyn Blues Tour Leg Two.

OK  So after the week in New York City June 14 through June 20. Barry was going off road for a while. Barry had something he was doing in September. But before that there were preparations for the something he was doing then. After that there was two weeks to relax. Starting in November Barry was going back out on the road again. This time it would be up north. Starting in Alaska.
Alaska Anchorage Evangeline Attwood Hall Thursday October 29  and Friday October 30
British Columbia Vancouver  Orpheum Theatre Sunday November 1 and Monday November 2
Alberta Edmonton North Alberta Jubilee Auditorium  Wednesday November 3 and Thursday November 4
Saskatchewan Regina Coexus Arts Center Saturday November 6 and Sunday November 7.
Manitoba Winnipeg Centennial Concert Hall Tuesday November 9 and  Wednesday November 10.
Ontario Toronto Roy Thompson Hall  Friday November 12 and Saturday November13.
Quebec Quebec City Louis Frechette Grand Theatre de Quebec  Monday November 15 and Tuesday November 16
Qubec Montreal Palace Des Arts Salle Wilfrid Pelletier Thursday November 18 and  Friday November 19
Off Sunday November 22 through Saturday November 28
Minnesota Minneapolis Orpheum Theatre Monday November 30 and Tuesday December 1
Kansas Kansas City Muriel Kauffman Theatre Thursday December 3 an Friday December 4
Nebraska Lincoln Lied Center for the Performing Arts Sunday December 6 and Monday December 7
Indiana Indianapolis  Murat Theatre at the Old National Centre Wednesday December 9 and Thursday December 10
New York City Radio City Music Hall Sunday December 13, Monday December 14, Tuesday December 15, Wednesday December 16, Thursday December 17, Friday December 18 and Saturday December 19.
After the June 14 Carnegie Hall Benefit for the Manilow Music Project Barry wanted to do four nights at Radio City Music Hall. However Tony Bennett and Lady GaGa's  Puttin' On The Ritz show would be at the venue Wednesday June 17, Thursday June 18, Friday June 19 and Saturday June 20. So instead on Wednesday June 17 Barry was playing the Metropolitan Opera House for a PBS taping of their show Great Performances. Then he was doing three nights Thursday June 18, Friday June 19 and Saturday June 20 at the Fredrick P. Rose Hall. Because on Saturday June 20 the cameras would be there to tape the PBS new series Jazz At  Lincoln Centre. Plus that week Barry was also taping the biography program American Masters. When he found out he couldn't have Radio City Music Hall June 17 through June 20. Barry asked to have the week of Sunday December 13 through Saturday December 19 for a week of Christmas shows. For the Radio City Music Hall week Barry was going to do a Christmas spectacular called Manilow In The Swing Of Christmas. That should more than make up for the June dates which would be at smaller venues. The Metropolitan Opera House holds 3,000. While the Frederick P. Rosen Theatre holds 1,233.

Who is Carly Nicole Simon?

Who is Carly Nicole Simon. Carly Nicole Simon was born on March 25, 1957 in the Pelham Gardens neighborhood of the Bronx Carly was born to John Daniel Simon and Norah Kate Ginsburg Simon. Carly's dad was a veterinarian at the Bronx Zoo. Carly's mom was a secretary at NBC studios in Manhattan.  Carly has an older sister named  Jill Marcie Simon Bernstein. Jill is married to Jacob Samuel Bernstein. Samuel and Jill have two kids Twin boys Jonathan Elliot and Samuel Andrew Bernstein.  Jill and Sam live in Seattle Washington. Both Jill and Carly attended Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx. Jill graduated in 1973 and Carly graduated in 1975. Carly then went on to Duke University in Raleigh North Carolina where she majored in science. She graduated from Duke in 1979. She then went to North Carolina State University's school of veterinarian medicine. She graduate from North Carolina State University in 1983. after college Carly got her first job at the Pittsburgh Zoo in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. She left there in 1989 for a job she just couldn't pass up. The opportunity to work as a veterinarian at the Bronx Zoo where she's been ever since. Carly always wanted to be a veterinarian . She also always wanted to work at the same zoo her dad worked at. Carly got her love of animals when she was very little. Carly and her sister Jill always  had dogs growing up. Carly has a five year old male beagle named Charlie. Carly moved back to the Pelham Gardens neighborhood where she grew up. In fact she bought the home her parents owned when they decided to move down south. After her parents retired they decided  to move to the Florida keys. That's where they bought a house in Key West Florida. Years ago they fell in love with Key West. So when they decided to retire they bought a house down there. Her parents made sure there was four bedrooms when their kids came down for visits. Carly had a few boyfriends throughout her life. But there were  none she really wanted to get married to. So that's why she was still single at her age. There was Rodger Anderson the Delta pilot, Stephen Curtis the lawyer, Mitch Jameson the motion picture camera man, (Who Carly later found years later out was gay.) and Jacob Cutler the travel writer. So when Carly met Barry Manilow she actually felt something. Barry was a very good looking older guy. Sixty-eight year old, six foot tall, one hundred and sixty pounds, light brown hair and baby blue eyed guy. What a very handsome guy he was. Barry was mostly Jewish with a little Irish thrown in. Which was really ok by Carly. Barry thought Carly was  absolutely beautiful. Fifty- four year old, five foot five, one hundred and fifteen pounds, medium blonde hair and blue eyes. How did he get so lucky to find such an absolutely beautiful woman to fall in love with. Yes he was totally over the moon when it came to Carly Barry loved listening to her talk about what happened at the zoo. He even went so far to take part in their adopt an animal program. He adopted a penguin named Mariana. Barry called Carly to tell her he'd see her Monday morning. Barry called her Sunday night to tell her to be ready by seven am tomorrow. So Carly went to bed earlier than she usually did. At six thirty am Carly's alarm clock went off. Carly got out of bed went into the bathroom. She did a few things then went back to the bedroom to get dressed. Carly put on a pair navy slacks, with a blue and grey patterned sweater and a pair of black winter boots. She went down stairs to get her navy pea coat, scarf, cap and gloves. Right then the door bell rang. Carly went to answer it. There was Barry wearing black dress slacks, grey sweater, black jacket and black pea coat. He also had on an NYC baseball cap and leather gloves. Are you ready to go he said. Sure said Carly. They went outside to the waiting limo. Barry opened the back door and Carly got in. She slid over so Barry could also get in. He told the driver you know where to go. Yes said the limo driver. The driver took them across the Brooklyn bridge into Manhattan. The driver drove to the corner of 44th St. and Broadway. Which was where the Good Morning America studios was located. Outside were co- anchors Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulas . Carly said I see the GMA anchors are outside on this cold morning. The GMA anchors knew what was about to happen. Barry told Carly this is where my street sign Manilow Way was put up. As he pointed towards the street post. when Carly looked up she saw on the big TV screen in the middle of the ABC sign. She saw herself and Barry. Underneath that was the date Monday December 23, 2014. Under the date was tickertape with the continues news. The tickertape  had stopped to the message Carly will you marry me. Carly looked at that for a second. Then Barry tugged on her coat. Carly turned to her right to see Barry on bended knee with a navy velvet box open to reveal a diamond engagement ring. Will you marry me Carly Barry asked her. Carly nodded her head and said yes. Barry put the ring on Carly's left ring finger. Barry then got up to give Carly a kiss on her lips. While the tickertape flashed "She said yes." The GMA anchors came over to congratulate the happy couple as the crowd cheered.

Oh! He's You Know.

Barry decided to do some surfing on the internet for a change. He stumbled on a message board where fans were discussing his sexual orientation. Oh really thought Barry I'm what? Excuse me but I was married to my high school girlfriend Susan back in 1964.  We were married for a year and a half. Susan wanted a nine to five husband. Which I didn't want to be. Oh back when we were married I worked at CBS in on air operations. But while at CBS I met Bro. Harold who ran the Thirteenth Street Theatre. He introduced me the world of theatre. So I started spending evenings over at the Thirteenth Street Theatre. I even tried to get Susan interested in this however she was not at all interested in the theatre. I knew what I needed to do I left her in September of 1965 during the annual San Genaro Festival. I knew if I had stayed married to her I would have been miserable. So I left her for good. She was so mad at me she changed the lock on our apartment door. She finally let me have my clothes my records and my spinet piano. But that was all she let me have. We divorced soon after that. I still have my divorce papers to prove it. I started the divorce not her. So those who think she divorced me because I was gay are wrong. Susan realized after our divorce that we did the right thing. Susan has been happily married for forty-five years to her second husband Daniel Ginsberg. They have three kids Andrew, Michael and Sara. Susan and I are now great friends now. She and Daniel now live in Seattle Washington. While at CBS Barry met a girl named Linda Allen they dated on and off from 1969 to 1985. Then again between 1998 and 1999 they dated. After Linda there was Abigail Stern, Julie Berkovic and Skylar Hertzbach. Abigail's college boyfriend came back into the picture. She broke up with Barry. Barry proposed to Julie Berkovic. Julie accepted his engagement ring. But then again an old boyfriend came back into the picture. So Julie broke off the engagement with Barry. Skylar  on the other hand was not the marring kind as Barry soon found out and so they finally broke up. Later on it came out that Skylar was a lesbian. Now just because Barry wasn't seen in public with anyone. Didn't mean he wasn't in a relationship with anyone. Or that he was really a homosexual. He was not a homosexual.  Brian Murphy was and he lived with his manager Darrin. In fact Barry was in a very serious relationship with someone right now. Carly Nicole Simon was her name. And no he was not dating Carly Simon the singer famous for  songs like Nobody Does It Better and others.  who was  married to singer/songwriter James Taylor The Carly Simon that Barry was dating was the head veterinarian at the Bronx Zoo. Barry met her on the Today Show  a few years ago when she was on there with a few baby animals from the zoo. Barry was there to promote his new musical 15 Minutes with his songwriting partners Adrienne Anderson and Enoch Anderson. Enoch and Barry wrote most of the songs for the musical. While Barry and Adrienne wrote three songs for the musical. Enoch also wrote the book for the musical. Carly had brought a bunch of zoo babies to the show. A monkey, wolf,  bald eagle and a giraffe. Barry went to the zoo a few days later to see Carly and ask her out on a date.. The baby giraffe  that was on the Today Show didn't have a name. Today Show viewers got to name him. The baby giraffe ended up with the name Tony from the song Copacabana. Tony was paired with a female giraffe named Lola. Barry was super thrilled when Lola had her baby boy giraffe and the zoo decided to named him Barry after him. Barry loved hearing about Carly's adventures at the zoo whenever they went out for a date. He also found out that Carly liked classical music concerts,  jazz concerts and the theatre.  He soon discovered he and Carly had a lot in common.

Ring Ring

 

 Barry had just came in from taking Max and Maggie out. He took off his jacket and opened the closet. He found a hanger and hung the jacket on the hanger. He closed the closet. He then went up to the third floor to his home office.  He dialed up Marc Hulett's number. The phone rang and Marc picked it up. Hello Marc this is Barry he said. Hello Barry what's up. I was thinking about giving eight lucky fans a week they'll never forget. Oh said Marc and what pray tell were you thinking about doing. Well Barry said I was thinking about giving the eight lucky fans a week in New York City all expenses paid by me. They will come in on Sunday June 14 and stay till Sunday June 21 when they will all head for home. Sunday they will get to go to the Manilow Music Project Benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. Monday will be a free day. Tuesday evening it's dinner with me and a Broadway show of my choice. I was thinking since it's still on Broadway my musical Here At The Mayflower. Wednesday daytime tour of my home borough of Williamsburg Brooklyn. Wednesday evening Radio City Music Hall show number one. Wednesday after the show they're being  invited to my birthday party at the Copacabana. Thursday evening City Music Hall show number two. Friday early morning Today Show summer concert series on the plaza. Friday night Radio City Music Hall show number three. Saturday Radio City Music Hall show number four. On Sunday June 21 is when they'll leave to go home. Right now I'm going through the fan club membership list to find eight fans who joined the Barry Manilow Fan Club before it became international. Then from that list I'll find my eight fans said Barry. It's my way of saying thank you to eight fan club member who have been with me from the beginning. Just then Barry saw something over on Facebook. Oh gees said Barry. When did these ladies discover me? I know they're fans of Brian Murphy's. Because I saw them hanging by the stage door after one of Brian's Madison Square Garden shows. This was  back in May of 2011 during his Ultimate Hits Tour. Marc asked what are these ladies saying. One fan named Kristy Smith mentioned she can't wait to see me in Chicago at the Chicago Theatre. Then this other person Dana Thomas said she can't wait to see me at the Chicago Theatre too. Then her friends  Stacy Williams, Gabriel Francis and Barbara Lewis commented to her post that they couldn't wait to see the Ultimate Super Mega Star Sex God. BARRY MANILOW.  Now w hen did I become the Ultimate Super Mega Star Sex God? said Barry. I've always been Barry Manilow to my fans. Not BARRY MANILOW mega star. Yesterday I talked to Alicia Galay the fan club director . Alicia said that we got a huge influx of new members. She said to be exact that sixty-five new people who joined the fan club. She said all sixty-five of them were women. Alicia mentioned that two of the ladies who joined also  purchased front row tickets to ten of my shows. She said they bought tickets to the Chicago Chicago Theatre three shows, Pittsburgh Benedum Center three shows, Atlantic City Borgata Music Box Theatre twelve shows, Mashantucket Foxwood Grande Theatre three shows, Boston Wang Center two shows and New York City Carnegie Hall benefit one show, Metropolitan Opera House one show and Rose Theatre three shows. That's a total of twenty-nine shows. The thing is Alicia said that Dana Thomas who called for Chicago, Pittsburgh and Atlantic City said she wanted four tickets front row dead center for each show.  That's twelve tickets for three shows in Chicago, twelve tickets for three shows in Pittsburgh and forty-eight tickets twelve shows for Atlantic City. That's a grand total of seventy-two tickets. Then Stacy Williams called  for twelve tickets for three show in Mashantucket , eight tickets for two shows in Boston, four tickets for the Carnegie Hall benefit, four tickets for Metropolitan Opera House and twelve tickets for Rose Theatre. That's a grand total of forty tickets. So seventy-two plus forty equals one hundred and twelve front row dead center tickets for twenty-eight shows. Alicia said the front row seat tickets for Chicago, Pittsburgh, Atlantic City, Mashantucket, Boston and New York City are gone. She told both ladies that the front row seats were gone for all the cities they asked for. Both girls said you haven't sent out tickets yet have you. Alicia  told them no. Each girl said to her when they called just give us those seats and give the fans who called for them seats elsewhere. Alicia said she can't and won't do that. Give other fans front row seats to these two fans who want them. I suggested she give them nose bleed seats for all twenty-eight shows. That would be the last row of each venue. Fans who just joined my fan club can't expect to get whatever they want. When they do it after tickets have been on sale for a while. Oh one other thing said Barry. What said Marc.  I'm changing venues for the new York City shows. You're what said Marc. I'm changing venues for the four New York City shows not the Carnegie Hall Benefit. Why are you doing that said Marc. Why because I found out that Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga have already booked Radio City Music Hall for their Puttin' On The Ritz concert tour. Their playing Radio City Music Hall Tuesday June 16 through Saturday June 20. So what are you going to do said Marc. Well you know I hate arenas so I won't play Madison Square Garden or the Barclay Center. Yes I know that you hate arenas said Marc.  You're not canceling the New York City shows are you asked Marc. No said Barry I'm not canceling the New York City Shows. I got a phone call from PBS said Barry. You did said Marc. Yes they asked me to do a concert for their Great Performances concert series. Really said Marc. Yes really said Barry. Plus they've asked me to do the show American Masters which is a biography show. I told them yes to both shows. So the Wednesday June 17 show will be at the Metropolitan Opera House which seats 3,00 people. While the Thursday June 18, Friday June 19 and Saturday June 20 shows will take place at the Rose Theatre which seats 1,233 people said Barry. That's super said Marc. The Wednesday June 17 show is being taped for PBS's Great Performances. Then the Saturday June 20 show is being taped for PBS's new series Jazz At Lincoln Center. I'm the artist PBS picked for their inaugural show. So for Saturday June 20 I get to do an all Jazz concert. Now I'm still going with the eight lucky fans week. Now they'll get to be a part of the Great Performances and Jazz At Lincoln Center tapings.

 

Holy Mackerel Again!

Holy Mackerel Again! said Barry as he was talking to Marc in his home office. Marc was telling Barry about how Darin Marko Brian Murphy's manager was giving  comp tickets to fans who went to either the 2008 or 2010 Brian Murphy International Fan Club conventions in Las Vegas. Well Darrin Marko is way too domineering said Barry. You never mix business and pleasure said Marc. Which is exactly what Darrin Marko does said Marc. Oh really said Barry. Yes really said Marc. You knew that Darrin Marko and Brian Murphy were partners. No I didn't know that said Barry. But then I don't keep tabs on everything Brian Murphy does. Put it this way said Marc when you're both a manager and your clients  partner that doesn't mix to well. Also they're talking about your personal business again. They are who? asked Barry. The tabloids said Marc. This weeks Globe magazine has the "Who's Gay And Who's Not" story for the umpteenth time. There's a decent photo of you which is fine But and they figure you're gay. Barry thought rolling his eyes not again. Barry said I could tell them the truth  but they would say I was lying. So I just ignore them said Barry. Just then the phone rang. Barry picked it up and said hello. Hello there you said Carly. Well hello there you back said Barry since he knew who it was. Who you talking to?  asked Marc. Carly Simon said Barry. Do you want to say hello to Marc said Barry. Ok said Carly. So Barry gave Marc the phone. Marc said hello Carly.  Carly said hello back to Marc. Barry. Marc Hey Carly how are you doing said Marc. Fine said Carly. So what's new with you? asked Marc. Well I'm  back at work said Carly I spent Christmas and New Years with my family.  I'll let you finish talking to Barry said Marc . Marc gave the phone back to Barry after he said goodbye to Carly. Barry said I'll talk to you later Carly. Next week I'll be in LA to promote New York State Of Mind on  Ellen DeGeneres, The Late Late Show with James Cordon and The Talk Don't forget Barry have a safe trip said Carly. I will said Barry.  I'll let you get back to whatever you were doing said Marc. Ok said Barry. But you know what I was doing. No said Marc. What were you doing? I was making salsa to go with the tortillas. I'm making Mexican tonight salsa and tortilla chips, paella, and chocolate chili cake. I'm going to try my hand at sangria for the drink. Who you having over asked Marc. Some friends said Barry. He wasn't going to tell Marc it was just one friend. Actually it was his best friend Carly Simon. Who was Carly Simon?  She was the same Carly that Marc talked to earlier. Carly Simon was the head veterinarian at the Bronx Zoo. Carly had always loved animals especially giraffes and elephants  Carly met Barry Manilow when they both were on the Today Show. Barry went back into his kitchen to finish cooking dinner. Because Carly was coming over soon. Carly was Barry's best friend. She was someone Barry could easily talk to for hours on end.

What's in your walet?

 

"What's in your wallet?" was the Capitol One credit card tag line. So really what's in your wallet? Barry Manilow I hope. Now with the Manilow Music Project Capitol One Visa cards you can have  Barry Manilow in your walet. Three cards just have just Barry Manilow on them. One has some musical instruments behind a black and white full body photo of Barry Manilow. While one is just some  musical instruments on it for those who didn't want Barry on their card. Barry loved the cards however he was still in the process of tweaking them. Barry figured there should be more color instead of just black. So he took credit card number three card with razor stubble photo and did that card in navy blue too. That made five different Manilow Music Project Capitol One Visa credit cards to choose from. Now Barry was ready to announce his Manilow Music Project Capitol One Visa cards were ready for fan to sign up for. A portion of every purchase would go the Manilow Music Project. The other thing was there would be perks for card holders. Like first chance at concert tickets before everyone else. Even before fan club seats went on sale. Card member parties after each show in every city Barry preformed in. Barry went with Capitol One to back his Manilow Music Project Visa because he trusted Capitol One since that's what was in his wallet. Barry had a Capitol One venture card that gave him points towards travel miles. Barry had long ago ditched his American Express card. Too costly when It came to yearly dues $69 a year to keep the card. Now he heard it had gone up to $99. No thanks said Barry. Barry went onto his Facebook page to make the big announcement about his Manilow Music Project credit cards. Also to tell fans how they could sign up for their very own card. So they too could answer the question "What's in your wallet?" With the answer being Barry Manilow's Manilow Music Project Capitol One Visa card.