‘City’ finds its country twang
New York goes onward, always.
Francine LeFrak, producer of B’way and Hollywood winners, is behind just opened “Music City” at St. Luke’s West 46th Street theater. Set in a Nashville, Tenn., bar. TV friend Dana Perino discovered its Upper West Side tryout someplace in whoknowswhere long, long ago.
Francine: “I fell for the awesome raw talent. This was an injection. I felt I had to support it. So I came out of retirement to do this. The setting is tables and chairs like a dive bar in Nashville.”
She went to Nashville, inhaled it, read the script, knew the songs, sniffed the creative process again, “Knew I had to do this” and its due last night big-time opening will be larger than my mouth.
Making a Stand
The creative contingent seems to be creating anew.
Peter J. Ward just launched Stand By 1. It’s an all biggie studio. With him is a former NBC “Today” show producer, a former Wall Street Journal hotshot — all biggies on the staff including top writer Peter, who has interviewed me formerly and formally.
Everyone’s a former VIP specializing in inside information, rare interviews, behind-the-scenes stuff and whatever clings to a partridge in a pear tree.
So, if looking for an agent, director, producer or a job, call Peter — not me.
Season of the saucy and sultry
It’s summer and I don’t have any potato salad for you, but I do have a few tasty treats:
James Joyce had a fetish for knickers that were on dolls. Carried them around in his pocket.
Gisele Bündchen, harassed once for modeling fur on the catwalk, says: “I thought PETA was going to hurt me. I’ve apologized. I’m the world’s biggest animal lover. I’ve had dogs and horses and rescues all my life.” PETA cannot recall receiving any apology.
Winona Ryder was disappointed with her on-screen kiss with Jennifer Aniston on “Friends.” She says: “All you see is hair. You don’t see lips. I was bummed out because she’s a pretty nice kisser.”
Kevin Kline on once kissing Tom Selleck in “In & Out”: “It was horrible — yet wonderful, exhilarating and thrilling.”
Susan Sarandon: “It was long back with Catherine Deneuve in ‘The Hunger.’ If you’re going to go to bed with a woman and it’s Catherine Deneuve — you definitely don’t need to be drunk.”
Took an entire shared bottle of brandy before Christopher Reeve and Michael Caine summoned enough courage to kiss each other in 1982’s “Deathtrap.”
Two college girls went to NYC for a little adventure. One turned to the other and said, “I have a secret. Let me be frank with you.” The other jumped up and said: “Oh, no,” and jumped on their bed saying: “Let me be Frank and you can be Alice.”
Only in our New York, kids, only in our New York.