Oscar E Moore

I still haven’t recovered from the incredible experience of seeing Liza’show.  Nor have I gotten over the impact of her phenomenal performance.  She is like the phoenix rising from the ashes of her own life.  How hard she must have worked to pull this off so triumphantly.

As she was singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” which her mother, Judy Garland, made famous and which was written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin I was brought back to January 1970.  I was called in at the last minute to go on for an ailing Dick in the New York Production of Dames At Sea at The Theatre deLys – known now as the Lucille Lortel Theatre on Christopher Street.  That night Ralph and his wife Emajo were in the audience along with Liza Minnelli.  What a treat for me back then but nothing compared to the once in a lifetime experience of seeing her powerhouse performance opening night in Liza’s At the Palace.

One of her fabulous four back up boys – portraying the Williams Brothers – is Johnny Rodgers.  Last night, at Jamie deRoy & Friends Holiday bash at New York’s Metropolitan Room I met Amy Hafner, Johnny’s agent, and told her how much I was impressed with the Kay Thompson nightclub sequence in Liza’s show.  As it turns out Johnny Rodgers has recorded some songs with Liza – one of which is “Let’s Make a Date” which you can listen to on www.johnnyrodgers.com .

Johnny will also be celebrating the release of two new CD’s at Birdland – 315 West 44th Street 212 581 3080 December 29^th, 2008 7:00 PM.  Reservations are highly recommended.  So let’s make a date to be there!  He’s terrific. 

To read my entire review of Liza’s at The Palace click on TE FEATURES at www.talkentertainment.com

Tags:   Birdland · Jamie de Roy · Johnny Rodgers · Liza Minnelli · Metropolitan Room · Palace TheatreNo Comments