Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen (Sean Kent, Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak)

You know what’s a lot of fun? Christmas podcasts that drop a week after Christmas! For our final episode of 2020, we spend a festive 47 minutes and 34 seconds sharing stories of celebrity goodwill and Joe Allen cheer with a very special lineup of Joe Allen all-stars. Dana even sings, for Christ’s sake! Featuring the fabulous Kimberly Huie (Orso), the splendid Nick Flatto (Joe Allen), the marvelous Erin Sullivan-Wertz (Miss Joe Allen, herself), the peerless Cheryl Orsini (Orso), the incomparable James Rubio (Orso and brilliant composer of our theme song), and the estimable Dame Mary Hattman (Bar Centrale/Joe Allen.) This episode celebrates the kinds of magic moments that make Joe Allen so near and dear to us all. So put on your yuletide finery, get your wassail on, and soak in Jason’s thoroughly delightful Boris Karloff impression-- It's the Cocktails at Table 7: Inside New York’s Joe Allen Christmas Episode!

Victor Garber is a four- time, Tony Award nominated actor who originated roles in the Broadway productions of Deathtrap, Sweeney Todd, Noises Off, Lend Me a Tenor, Arcadia, and Art. Additional Broadway credits include: They’re Playing Our Song, Damn Yankees, Present Laughter, and most recently, as Horace Vandergelder in the hit Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! opposite Bernadette Peters. He also originated the role of John Wilkes Booth in the seminal, off- Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim & John Weidman’s Assassins.  Film credits include: the Academy Award winning best pictures, Titanic and Argo, as well as, Sicario, The Town, Milk, Legally Blonde, The First Wives Club and Sleepless in Seattle. Television credits include: Alias (three Emmy Award nominations), Frasier (Emmy nomination), Will & Grace (Emmy nomination), Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (Emmy nomination), Damages, Glee, The Orville, Web Therapy, Schitt’s Creek, Family Law, and many, many others

In an award-winning career that has encompassed TV, film, stage and concert work around the globe, Betty Buckley is probably best known as the quintessential musical theatre actress.  Whether she’s breaking your heart with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Memory” in her Tony-winning turn as Grizabella the Glamour Cat in CATS, bringing down the house with “The Writing on the Wall” in a gender-bending performance in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, or simultaneously frightening and moving an entire audience as religious fanatic Margaret White in the cult-classic musical CARRIE, a Betty Buckley performance is one that remains indelibly etched into one’s mind and soul. Buckley’s film roles include Ms. Collins, the gym teacher in Brian dePalma’s 1976 classic CARRIE, country singer Dixie Scott in Bruce Beresford’s TENDER MERCIES (which features her soul-piercing rendition of the Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe winning song “Over You”), and has regularly been featured in the films of M. Night Shyamalan.  She has been seen as a guest star on dozens of popular TV series, was a regular for three years on HBO’s OZ, and also played the lead role of Abby Bradford for four seasons on the seminal 1970’s family drama EIGHT IS ENOUGH.

Judy Kaye first came to prominence playing Lily Garland in the original Broadway production of On The 20th Century opposite John Cullum and Imogene Coca. In a career spanning five decades, she has played theaters and concert halls across the globe, in roles as diverse as Lucy Van Pelt, Rizzo, Maria Von Trapp, Mrs. Lovett, and Grandma Kurnitz in Lost in Yonkers. Recent Broadway appearances include Cinderella, Wicked, Anastasia and Diana. She played Eurydice in Orpheus In The Underworld, Musetta in La Boheme, and Lucy Lockett in The Beggar’s Opera at The Santa Fe Opera. She has twice received the Tony Award; first in 1988 for the role of the tempestuous opera diva Carlotta Giudicelli in The Phantom of the Opera, then again in 2012 for her performance as the high-flying Duchess Estonia Dulworth in Nice Work If You Can Get It. She has also twice received the Theater LA Ovation Award; for her work as Emma Goldman in Ragtime, and as the melodically challenged Florence Foster Jenkins in Souvenir, two roles she originated on Broadway. She has sung with symphony orchestras throughout the US and Europe, and twice at the White House. She is also the voice of Kinsey Millhone in the Sue Grafton Alphabet Mystery Series for Random House Audio. (Bio courtesy of Broadway.com)

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

Stockard Channing is a highly accomplished American stage, television, and film actor, who made her Broadway debut in the 1971 Broadway musical adaptation of "Two Gentlemen of Verona." She is perhaps best known to audiences for playing the feisty Betty Rizzo in the classic film musical, “Grease,” and First Lady Abbey Bartlet on the seminal NBC television drama, “The West Wing.” She originated the role of socialite Ouisa Kittredge in the acclaimed stage and film versions of “Six Degrees of Separation,” for which she was nominated for a Tony and an Oscar. Miss Channing won the 1985 Tony Award for Best Actress for the Broadway revival of “A Day in the Death of Joe Egg,” and has won three Emmy Awards  for her work on The West Wing  as well as for her performance as Judy Shepherd in “The Matthew Shepard Story.” Other film appearances include “The Fortune,” “ The Big Bus,”  Neil Simon’s “The Cheap Detective,” and “Practical Magic.” She also played the recurring role of Veronica Loy on the popular CBS drama “The Good Wife.” 

Kilty Reidy is currently in Melbourne performing in the Australian premiere of Come From Away after appearing in the U.S. National Tour of the Tony Award-winning hit. He was a member of the original casts of the Broadway musicals The Drowsy Chaperone and In My Life. Off- Broadway productions include Bye Bye Birdie at The City Center Encores!, South Pacific in Concert at Carnegie Hall with Reba McEntire, and Lone Star Love with the Red Clay Ramblers  Selected regional credits include 42nd Street (Bert Barry) opposite Sally Struthers at The Ogunquit Playhouse, A Christmas Story (Jean Shepard) at Capitol Rep, and The Producers (Roger De Bris) opposite Roger Bart and Brad Oscar at Kansas City Starlight Theatre.  He has also appeared on NBC’s The Blacklist in Kelly Reichardt's film Certain Women (2016 Sundance Film Festival) opposite Kristin Stewart. He is a founding member of the Manhattan based theater company B-side Productions, an alumnus of UNC-Chapel Hill (where he was a member of the prestigious all male a cappella group The UNC Clef Hangers) and a proud Actor's Equity Association Member. www.kiltyreidy.com

Peter Khoury is a deputy editor on The New York Times Express Team, which handles breaking news and trending stories. He worked on The Metro Desk at The Times for many years and was the night metro editor for a decade. His nocturnal existence has afforded him ample insight into New York nightlife. A native of Philadelphia who grew up in Washington, D.C., he joined The Times in 1998 after working as a reporter and editor at various newspapers in Maryland and North Carolina.

Read Peter's appreciation of Joe in the New York Times...

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

Jim Caruso is a multi-talented singer, writer, producer, master of ceremonies and longtime staple of the New York Performing Arts community.  As a vocalist, he has performed his acclaimed revues (in collaboration with Billy Stritch, Jane Monheit and Klea Blackhurst) to packed houses around the country.  In addition to curating the “Broadway at Birdland” series at the venerable NYC jazz venue Birdland, he is the host and creator of the long running “Jim Caruso’s Cast Party”, an after-hours, extreme open mic that features, in his own words, “...some of the greatest singers in the Universe; also, other people." In 2009, Jim appeared with the incomparable Liza Minnelli in “Liza’s at the Palace”.  That production won the Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event and its original cast recording was nominated for a Grammy.  Jim is the recipient of six MAC Awards, two BackStage Magazine Bistro Awards and a New York Nightlife Award.  

You can find all things "Pajama Cast Party" related at www.pajamacastparty.com. or check-out "Pajama Cast Party" on Youtube on the  Cast Party Network.You can make a donation to "Pajama Cast Party"  via Venmo @Jim-Caruso-1 or via PayPal at Carsuo212@aol.com.  For more information about NYCNext go to NYCnext.org.

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio.  The producers would like to extend a special thank you to Christina D’Angelo and the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

Jonathan Groff is a two-time Tony Award nominee for his acclaimed performances as Melchior in the hit musical “Spring Awakening,” and as King George III in the iconic smash “Hamilton.” Other stage credits include; the Public Theater’s productions of “Hair” and “The Bacchae,” the City Center Encores production of “A New Brain”, the London revival of “Deathtrap” (with Simon Russell Beale), and the Los Angeles premiere of “Red” (with Alfred Molina). Groff starred in the HBO series “Looking,” the Netflix series “Mindhunter,” and provides the voices of Kristoff and Sven in the Disney’s animated blockbusters, “Frozen” and “Frozen II.”

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

Tom Kitt received the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as two Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Orchestrations for the musical Next to Normal, which he co-wrote with frequent collaborator Brian Yorkey. He also wrote the scores for the Broadway musicals If/Then, High Fidelity and Bring it On, the Musical (with Lin Manuel Miranda.) As an arranger and orchestrator, his credits include 13, SpongeBob Squarepants The Musical, Head Over Heels, Jagged Little Pill, and American Idiot. Tom has also composed and arranged music for numerous film and television projects including multiple Tony Awards presentations, Grease Live!, the documentary Broadway Idiot and the hit film, Pitch Perfect. 

Checkout these wonderful organizations: NYCNEXT, MUSE, Broadway Inspirational Voices, 

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

Donna McKechnie received the Tony Award for her performance in A Chorus Line. Other Broadway shows include How To Succeed...,The Education of Hyman Kaplan, Sondheim-A Musical Tribute,(which she also choreographed) On The Town, Promises, Promises, Company, and State Fair, for which she received the Fred Astaire Award. She has starred in numerous productions in London’s West End as well as Paris and Tokyo. Donna has also guest starred extensively with Symphony Orchestras throughout the country, as well as on television and in film. Ms. McKechnie’s memoir, TIMESTEPS- My Musical Comedy Life, was published by Simon and Schuster. For more information check out: www.donnamckechnie.com

Dominick LaRuffa Jr. is a Brooklyn native who has established himself in recent years as an in-demand actor with roots across multiple disciplines. His film credits include Lazy Susan opposite Sean Hayes, Matthew Broderick and Allison Janney, the critically acclaimed coming of age drama Sarah Q, opposite Burt Young and Sally Kirkland, and Martin Scorsese's Academy Award nominated The Irishman. Selected off-Broadway credits include How Alfio Learned to Love and My Big Gay Italian Wedding. Mr. LaRuffa is also an accomplished theatrical producer whose credits include Deaf West Theatre's Tony nominated remounting of Spring Awakening, the Tony nominated original Broadway production of An American in Paris, and the Tony Award winning All the Way. He is also currently Tony nominated for 2019's critically lauded revival of Betrayal.

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

John Benjamin Hickey made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning play "Love! Valour! Compassion!," a role he later recreated in the feature film adaptation. Other Broadway credits include: "The Inheritance," “Cabaret,” “The Crucible,” “Mary Stuart.” “Six Degrees of Separation,” and the 2011 revival of Larry Kramer’s “The Normal Heart” for which he received the Tony Award for best supporting actor. His extensive television and film credits include the WGN America series “Manhattan,” "Law & Order," Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers," “The Good Wife,” the HBO series "In Treatment," “Modern Family,” and the Showtime series "The Big C," which earned him an 2013 Emmy nomination.

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

Peter Gallagher has delivered critically-acclaimed performances in such films as  Sex, Lies and Videotape, American Beauty (SAG Award), The Player, Short Cuts (Golden Globe), The Idolmaker, While You Were Sleeping, and Center Stage. Selected television credits include: “Grace and Frankie”, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” “The OC,” “Covert Affairs," “Rescue Me,” and "Californication." Gallagher has worked with some of the industry's most respected directors including Mike Nichols, Robert Altman, Steven Soderbergh, Sam Mendes, Nicholas Hytner, Jonathan Miller and Hal Prince. His Broadway credits include award- winning Broadway productions of Guys and Dolls (receiving a Drama Desk nomination), Long Day's Journey Into Night (with Jack Lemmon, receiving a Tony Award nomination), The Real Thing (Clarence Derwent Award), The Corn Is Green (Theatre World Award), Noises Off, and The Country Girl. -edited from bio posted on broadwayworld.com

Jesse Tyler Ferguson made his Broadway debut at the age of 21 as Chip in George C. Wolfe's revival of On The Town, and later went on to originate the role of Leaf Coneybear in Second Stage’s Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Drama Desk Award, "Outstanding Ensemble Performance"). In 2017, he won the Drama Desk Award for Best Solo Performance for his 40-character turn in the Broadway production of Fully Committed. He has worked extensively with The New York Public Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park in such notable productions as The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, The Winter's Tale, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Comedy of Errors where he performed alongside Al Pacino, Sam Waterston, Jesse L. Martin, Martha Plimpton, Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe. Other theatre credits include Sir Robin in Spamalot and Leo Bloom in The Producers, both at The Hollywood Bowl. He is a five-time Emmy nominee for his role as Mitchell Pritchett on the long-running, Award-winning ABC comedy Modern Family. A longstanding advocate for marriage equality, Ferguson co-founded Tie The Knot (now PRONOUN) in 2012 with his husband, Justin Mikita, where they design limited edition bow ties and clothing, with all the proceeds going to various organizations that fight for LGBTQ equality around the world.

Yin & Tonic Yoga

Ruby's Poison

Frances Ruffelle

From her Tony Award winning performance as Eponine in Les Miserables, to her extensive stage appearances in London’s West End, to her ongoing work as a composer, author, recording artists and cabaret performer, Frances Ruffelle is constantly finding new ways to reinvent herself.  On stage, Frances was able to explore her love of French chanteuse Edith Piaf, playing the title role in Pam Gems’ play Piaf at the Curve Theatre, Leicester, for which she received a UK Theatre award nomination. Additional stage highlights include the role of Dinah in the original production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express, the role of Yonah in director John Caird’s production of Children of Eden, and starring as Roxie Hart in Chicago at London’s Adelphi Theatre. Following the success of her widely acclaimed solo Beneath The Dress concerts at the Edinburgh Festival and in London, Frances took the show to legendary venue 54 Below in New York, for a series of sold out performances. Her follow-up show, Paris Original, premiered at The Crazy Coqs in London.  Ruby’s Poison, her most recent project, is due to arrive in London and New York in the near future. As a singer/songwriter, Frances has released the albums Fragile, Frances Ruffelle (produced by Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp), Showgirl, Imperfectly Me, and I Say Yeh-Yeh. She is also a licensed yoga instructor, and recorded the meditative album Yin&Tonic, based on ancient Sanskrit mantras.

Danny Burstein is a seven- time Tony Award nominee for The Drowsy Chaperone, South Pacific, Follies, Golden Boy, Cabaret, and Fiddler on the Roof, who won a Best Supporting Actor in a Musical Tony in 2021 for his performance as Harold Zidler in the stage adaptation of Moulin Rouge! He has also won two Drama Desk Awards, four Outer Critics Circle Awards, and received three Grammy Award nominations. His other Broadway credits include The Seagull, Saint Joan, and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. On television, Burstein appeared as different characters in six episodes of the original NBC drama series Law & Order and recurred as Lolly Steinman on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. Other TV appearances include: Fosse/Verdon, The Good Fight, Evil, and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. Film roles include: Transamerica, Deception, The Family Fang, Nor’Easter, Blackhat, and Indignation. (Revised bio courtesy of BroadwayWorld.com)

Josephine Buchan began her career on television, hosting television programs for the  BBC, ITV and Sky. Her love of theater led to her embarking on a career as an independent producer/ director. In addition to her passion for first-class commercial theater, Josephine also seeks to develop the skills of young people, many of whom are struggling in the educational system, within the framework of performing arts. www.josephinebuchan.com

Cathie Winn became a bit of a cliche when she dropped out of art school and turned to waitressing while deciding what to do with her life.  After a flurry of odd jobs, she landed at Orso in Covent Garden.  In 1992, Cathie became the Head Maitre’d at Joe Allen London, and has been a beloved caretaker of its unique charms for almost 30 years.  Since the restaurant’s temporary closing in March 2020, Cathie has been occupying herself with her old love of painting (now with added allotment of gardening and baking.)  Cathie is married and lives in East London with her hubby and a Jack Russell terrier named Olive. 

To watch "An Evening at Joe's" go to Joe Allen TV London on youtube. Act 3 drops on November 26th. If you'd like to donate to Save Our West End, click here.

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

 

John Pankow has been a familiar face to television, film and theater audiences for almost four decades. Although he has been a frequent guest on dozens of hit television series, he is probably best known for his roles on two highly regarded, long running sitcoms-as the loveable Ira Buchman on the iconic Mad About You, and as the ruthless & clueless Merc Lapidus on the Showtime hit, Episodes. He has appeared in numerous films including William Friedkin’s To Live and Die in LA, Oliver Stone’s Talk Radio, and the George Romero directed cult classic, Monkey Shines. His extensive credits on the New York stage include the title role in Amadeus, The Iceman Cometh with Jason Robards, The Tempest with Patrick Stewart and Bill Irwin, the acclaimed Roundabout revival of Twelve Angry Men, and, most recently, Kiss Me, Kate with Kelli O’ Hara and Will Chase.

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

Richard Ridge is the lead correspondent for Broadway World, one of the most popular theatre websites in the world. Richard hosts “Backstage with Richard Ridge," a popular outlet for Broadway stars and legends to chat about their careers. His guests have included Chita Rivera, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Cherry Jones among numerous other Broadway luminaries. Prior to that, Richard was the host of the groundbreaking “Broadway Beat” for 20 years and his latest venture, the SAG/AFTRA Foundation/ BroadwayWorld “Conversations Q & A Series" celebrates the vibrant theatre community in NYC. Past participants have included Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Harold Prince, Stockard Channing, Nathan Lane, Darren Criss, and Sara Bareilles. Richard made his Broadway debut last season in the groundbreaking musical THE PROM. Here's Richard's page at Broadway World.

Marsha Mason is a critically acclaimed actress who made her Broadway debut in Cactus Flower in 1966. She has appeared in over 30 feature films and is a four-time Academy Award nominee for her work in Cinderella Liberty, The Goodbye Girl, Chapter Two and Only When I Laugh. In addition to her film work, Marsha is a veteran of the stage and has been featured in numerous hit television series including Seinfeld, Frasier, The Middle, Madam Secretary, and most recently, Grace and Frankie. Her autobiography, Journal: A Personal Odyssey was published in 2000.

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

John Glover has been a favorite of film and television audiences since the 1970’s. He gained even greater prominence portraying a series of loathsome but oddly endearing villains in the iconic 80’s classics Scrooged, John Frankenheimer’s 52 Pick-Up and Gremlins 2: The New Batch. More recently, he was Emmy nominated for his turn as Lionel Luthor on the long running television hit, Smallville. In addition to his memorable work in film and television over the decades, our JGlo has appeared in 19 Broadway shows, numerous off- B’way productions, and at distinguished regional theaters throughout the country. In 1995, he won the Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor for his touching dual role as eclectic twin brothers in Terrence McNally's Love! Valor! Compassion!

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

 

 

The Houston native made his Broadway debut in The Who's Tommy, other credits include The Lion King, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Rocky Horror Show, and The Wedding Singer. Off-Broadway audiences have seen his work in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Foreigner (Lucille Lortel nomination), The Wild Party, How I Learned to Drive, and Shaggs. His screen credits include Monarch, GLOW, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Nurse Jackie, Modern Family, The Good Wife, Mars Needs Moms, I Am Michael, and Curse of the Jade Scorpion. Kevin earned 2023 Tony and Drama Desk nominations for his performance as Peanut in the Tony-nominated new musical "Shucked". 

To watch Act 3 of "An Evening at Joe's" go to Joe Allen TV London on youtube. 

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

Lucie Arnaz has had an extremely diversified career spanning over 50 years in show business. She has starred on the New York stage in They’re Playing Our Song (Theatre World, LA Drama Critics and Outer Critic’s Circle Awards), Lost in Yonkers, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Pippin and Grace and Glorie; in the London premiere of The Witches Of Eastwick; in the Coconut Grove Playhouse premieres of Once Removed and A Picasso; in national tours of Pippin, Seesaw, Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Social Security and My One And Only (Sarah Siddons Award); and in regional theatre productions of Wonderful Town, Master Class, Cabaret, The Guardsman, Annie Get Your Gun, I Do! I Do!, Educating Rita, Vanities, and Mack And Mabel, to name just a few.

Lucie has appeared on television in The Lucie Arnaz Show, Sons And Daughters, The Black Dahlia, The Mating Season, Who Gets The Friends?, Washington Mistress, Death Scream and six seasons of Here’s Lucy; on the big screen with Neil Diamond and Sir Laurence Oliver in The Jazz Singer (Golden Globe Nomination), Down To You, Second Thoughts, Billy Jack Goes To Washington, The Pack, Wild Seven and has lent her voice to the new animated fantasy about the NY Yankees, Henry And Me.

Lucie has performed the opening number on the Academy Awards (1981) and at The White House several times. She was Executive Producer of the I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary Special (Emmy nomination), and Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie (Emmy winner 1993). She produced two CD ROMS. She recorded her first album for Concord Jazz, "Just In Time," and her newest CD, "Latin Roots," is a celebration of just what the title says. Lucie has been traveling the country and the world with her various concerts for over 20 years.

With her brother, Desi, she manages Desilu, too, LLC. With her husband, actor Laurence Luckinbill, she manages five grown children. Lucie invites you to visit her online at luciearnaz.com.

Jeffrey Whitty has written the books for several stage musicals including Tales From the City, Bring It On:The Musical, and the smash hit Avenue Q for which he won the 2004 Tony Award. He is also co-author of the screenplay for Can You Ever Forgive Me?, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. In addition to his writing, Jeffrey is an accomplished actor and appeared in the films Lisa Picard is Famous and Shortbus, written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell.

Daryl Roth is a 12-time Tony award-winning producer and holds the singular distinction of producing 7 Pulitzer Prize-winning plays. Her Tony winning credits include: Kinky Boots, The Normal Heart, Indecent,, Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron’s international hit play Love, Loss, and What I Wore, and Gloria: A Life, a play about the iconic Gloria Steinem. Daryl is a Trustee of the Kennedy Center, and served on the Board of Lincoln Center Theatre for twenty years and remains the Co-Chair of the Patron Committee and an Honorary Trustee. She has a myriad of awards and honors including: The New Dramatists Outstanding Career Achievement Award; New York Living Landmarks Award; the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement Award;  2017 Theatre Hall of Fame inductee and was named one of Crain’s 2019 “50 Most Powerful Women in New York.”  She actively supports a diverse group of charitable and cultural institutions, and is involved in LGBTQ rights causes, animal rights organizations, numerous theatre, dance, public television, and cultural arts organizations and created the Daryl Roth Creative Spirit Award which annually honors a gifted theatre artist or organization with financial support as they develop new works in an artistic residency.

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

Tessa Zugmeyer was born in Colmar, France, to a French father and a mother who is a native Californian. Raised in the States, she moved to NYC after completing a BA in Theater at UCLA, and an MFA in Acting from American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. A proud member of Actors' Equity, some of her favorite roles include Rosalind in “As You Like It”, the Greek Female Chorus in “How I Learned to Drive”, Agnes in “Dancing at Lughnasa”, and Leona Samish in “The Time of the Cuckoo." Tessa never leaves home without reading material. She composts, wears Birkenstocks in the summer and lives for the Jackson Heights farmer's market.  Although she is not back to work at Orso yet, she hopes to see you there very soon.

William “Gip” Clark grew up in Greenwood, MS where he dreamed of being a singer/actor. It was after performing 2 years at Dollywood that he moved to NYC.  He worked sporadically as a performer in NYC on both the popular Spirit Cruise Lines and as an iconic Toy Soldier at the fabled F.A.O. Schwartz toy store.  Gip has been an integral part of the Bar Centrale family for many years and, in addition to his sparkling wit and charm, he makes a spectacular, Robert DeNiro approved Margarita.  

Chris Rozanski was born in Troy, Michigan and now proudly resides in Astoria, NY. Chris, along with his sister Ashley, spent his childhood performing in many local community theatre and high school productions. He continued his education by getting his BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Oakland University. Upon graduation, Chris moved to New York and quickly joined The Actors Equity Association. It was then that he chose to perform under the name, Christopher Persichetti to honor his maternal grandparents. They still get excited when they see "Persichetti" in a program! An accomplished bartender and seven time “Joey Award” winner, when Chris is not performing, you can catch him behind the bar at Joe Allen Restaurant, mixing drinks for Broadway's best. Come on in, talk about theatre, and enjoy a "Rosebud"cocktail. www.christopherpersichetti.com

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

 

Adrienne Barbeau began her career in 1963 with the San Jose Civic Light Opera. After graduating high school, she traveled with a musical comedy revue, entertaining our servicemen on Army bases throughout Southeast Asia. In 1965, she moved to New York where she made her Broadway debut as Tevye’s second daughter, Hodel, in Fiddler on the Roof. A Tony nomination and a Theatre World Award for her creation of Rizzo in the original Broadway production of Grease led her back to California and the role of Bea Arthur’s daughter, Carol, in the hit series Maude.  Since then she has become a best selling author, a recording artist, and the star of numerous features, films for television, concert performances, musicals and plays. Movie fans know her best for her performances in The Fog, Escape From New York, Creepshow, Swamp Thing, Back to School, and Cannonball Run. She appeared in the Academy Award winning ARGO.  Recently released are the golf comedy The Eagle and the Albatross with Dan Lauria and K-Pop star Amber Liu, and the ecological horror film Unearth, starring Marc Blucas. Adrienne has a Golden Globe nomination and over 450 screen performances to her credit. She starred as Ruthie, the Snake Dancer, on HBO’s fascinating series, Carnivale. She was Oswald’s mom on Drew Carey, Victoria Grayson’s mom on Revenge, and Venus’s mom on Sons of Anarchy. Daytime viewers know her as Suzanne Stanwyck on General Hospital. Her recent television appearances include Criminal Minds, Grey’s Anatomy, the Netflix  series A.J. and the Queen, starring RuPaul, and American Horror Story. Having starred in over 25 theatrical productions in the U.S. and Canada, Adrienne spent most of 2015 playing Berthe, Pippin’s grandmother, in the National Tour of Pippin, singing “No Time At All” as she hung upside down from a trapeze. Off camera, Adrienne is the voice of Catwoman in Batman, The Animated Series, Ms. Simone in Scooby-Do on Zombie Island, and Scooter’s Mom in the 3-D animated film Fly Me To The Moon. She can be heard in a myriad of video games: God of War, Halo 4, and Fallout 76 among them. She also provides video description for the visually impaired on many films, documentaries, and television series; it’s one of her favorite forms of voiceover work. Adrienne is the author of four books: the best-selling memoir There Are Worse Things I Could Do; the urban fantasy Vampyres of Hollywood and its comedy romance sequels, Love Bites and Make Me Dead. Adrienne is currently at work co-writing Grease- Tell Me More, Tell Me More!  for release next summer to honor the 50th anniversary of the Broadway musical. Published by Chicago Review Press, proceeds from the book will go to The Actors’ Fund.  ©- Adrienne Barbeau

Lauren Graham is an actress and author best known for her portrayals of Lorelai Gilmore on the television series Gilmore Girls and Sarah Braverman on the NBC television drama Parenthood. Additional television series include: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.  Selected film roles include: appearances in Bad Santa, Because I Said So, and Evan Almighty. Ms. Graham published her debut novel, Someday, Someday, Maybe in 2013, and in 2016, published a memoir, Talking as Fast as I Can. Her third book, In Conclusion, Don't Worry About It was published in 2018. 

John Pankow has been a familiar face to television, film and theater audiences for almost four decades. Although he has been a frequent guest on dozens of hit television series, he is probably best known for his roles on two highly regarded, long running sitcoms- as the loveable Ira Buchman on the iconic Mad About You, and as the ruthless & clueless Merc Lapidus on the Showtime hit, Episodes. He has appeared in numerous films including William Friedkin’s To Live and Die in LA, Oliver Stone’s Talk Radio, and the George Romero directed cult classic, Monkey Shines. His extensive credits on the New York stage include the title role in Amadeus, The Iceman Cometh with Jason Robards, The Tempest with Patrick Stewart and Bill Irwin, the acclaimed Roundabout revival of Twelve Angry Men, and, most recently, Kiss Me, Kate with Kelli O’ Hara and Will Chase.  

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

Chita Rivera is one of the most admired and beloved performers in Broadway history. Starting at the age of 11, she trained as a ballerina at the School of American Ballet and made her Broadway debut six years later in Irving Berlin’s Call Me Madam. In her incomparable seven-plus decade career, she originated roles in numerous Broadway classics including West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and The Visit, as well as the autobiographical Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life. She has performed to sold out crowds in theaters throughout the United States and frequently graced the London stage recreating some of her most distinguished roles to great acclaim. She has won two Best Actress in a Musical Tony Awards and received a Tony Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.  She is also the first Hispanic woman to receive a Kennedy Center Honor, and in 2009 was awarded a Presidential Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama. 

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

The Ghost of Christmas Past visited us this time around! Take a trip down memory lane as we chit-chat with the staff about some of our favorite memories in the restaurant. We also wanted to share this episode as a tribute to the man who started it all, our boss and inspiration, Joe Allen, who passed away this past February. Yes, it's last year's episode, but it's been a year since we've heard it and it's just as fun now as it was then. Happy Holidays!

Christina D'Angelo - Art director, graphic designer, illustrator and writer with a drive for smithing big ideas from concept to execution.

I've created collateral across all forms of media internationally — small gigs to corporate — from cabaret shows at Joe’s Pub in New York to foreign exchange stores in Panama, menus in Paris, and theatrical campaigns in Dubai.

With a background as a painter and writer (as well as studies in art history, US presidential history, cinema studies, and typography — plus extensive travel) I get a thrill every time I am able to meld both references and skills into arresting visual solutions; the more arrows in your quiver, the better your chances at hitting the bullseye.

I live in Manhattan with my husband and our beloved son Jimmy Carter McPickles (a grey tabby) who apparently loves when I’m “singing” along to Blossom Dearie on Spotify or he’s wishing he could call the police.

CONTACT christinasworld@gmail.com — INSTAGRAM — LINKEDIN — MEDIUM.

 

JAMES B. RUBIO is a composer/lyricist currently living in Queens, NY.

Works for Theatre: The Day Boy and the Night Girl, with book and lyrics by Katie Baldwin Eng (George MacDonald Award for Charity, Daryl Roth Award, NAMT finalist, Richard Rodgers Award finalist, workshop production at Indiana University, production at the Spirit of Broadway Theatre in Norwich, CT); Show People, with book and lyrics by David Caudle (New Harmony Project semifinalist, Anna Sosenko Assist Trust grant recipient, concert of scenes/songs presented by The Actors Fund in conjunction with the Ziegfeld Society); The Dwelling Time (book, lyrics and music); and Grotesquerie Lake (book, lyrics and music), which had a series of readings at Zeiders American Dream Theater in Virginia Beach (2018) and will be receiving a semi-staged workshop production at Zeiders Theater in October 2019. 

B.M. in Music Composition from Virginia Commonwealth University and MFA from the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, NYU.  Contact: jbrubio.com

Liz Callaway is a Tony nominee and Emmy Award winning actress, singer and recording artist. She made her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in Baby, and for five years, won acclaim as Grizabella in Cats. She has also starred in the original Broadway casts of Miss Saigon, The Three Musketeers, and the off- Broadway musical, The Spitfire Grill, for which she received a Drama Desk award nomination. Other New York appearances include the legendary Follies in Concert at Lincoln Center, A Stephen Sondheim Evening, Fiorello! (Encores!), and Hair in Concert. Ms. Callaway has also established a major career as a concert artist whose extensive US symphony work includes appearances at The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Ravinia, and The Hollywood Bowl. Worldwide, and international engagements in China, Australia, New Zealand, and countless other locales. Liz sang the Academy Award nominated song “Journey to the Past” in the animated feature Anastasia, was the singing voice of the title character in The Swan Princess, and is also the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin and the King of Thieves and The Return of Jafar. She frequently collaborates with her sister, Ann Hampton Callaway, with whom she performed the acclaimed revues, Sibling Revelry and Boom! (a celebration of the music of the 60’s and 70’s). She has also released seven solo albums and, just recently, released her indelible spin on the classic Broadway anthem, “Be a Lion” from The Wiz. www.lizcallaway.com , https://linktr.ee/LizCallaway, @LizGoesOn (Twitter/ Instagram).

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso, and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

"How to Become a Broadway Legend with Marilu Henner"

The Aurora Teagarden Series on Hallmark

Marilu Henner is a five-time Golden Globe nominated actress, television personality, and New York Times best-selling author. Born in Chicago, she started dancing as a toddler and began teaching dance at her family’s Henner Dance School as a teenager. While attending the University of Chicago in 1971, she was cast in the Kingston Mines production of a gritty new musical play about 60’s teenage life called Grease. This led to a move to New York a year later, where, in addition to the Broadway company of Grease, Ms. Henner appeared in the WWII era set musical Over Here! starring the Andrews Sisters and a cast of future stars including Treat Williams, Ann Reinking, and John Travolta. Other Broadway credits include Pal Joey, Chicago, Social Security, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, and Getting the Band Back Together. In 1978, she landed her breakthrough role as Elaine Nardo in the seminal sitcom Taxi. She continued her role on the Emmy-winning series for five seasons and went on to appear in numerous popular films including Johnny Dangerously, The Man Who Loved Women, L.A. Story, and Noises Off.  In 1990, she returned to series TV, and found success for four seasons as Ava Evans Newton in Evening Shade opposite longtime friend and collaborator, Burt Reynolds. On September 5, 1994, she published her autobiography, By All Means Keep on Moving, and has subsequently published eight additional titles. As a health and wellness advocate, she has successfully inspired millions of Americans to improve their lives through diet, exercise, and good mental health practices. She also continues to be a sought-after television presence with recent appearances on hit television series like Grey’s Anatomy, Two and a Half Men, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Neighborhood, Bob Hearts Abishola and the Hallmark Channel’s Aurora Teagarden Mysteries.

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

Matthew Broderick is currently appearing opposite his wife, Sarah Jessica Parker, in the hit Broadway revival of Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite. He made his stage debut at 17 in Horton Foote’s On Valentine’s Day (opposite his father, James Broderick), and quickly became one of the most respected and beloved actors of his generation.  Broadway credits include Brighton Beach Memoirs (Tony, OCC, Theatre World awards), Biloxi Blues, How to Succeed in Business... (Tony, DD, OCC awards), Night Must Fall, Taller Than a Dwarf, The Producers (Tony, DD, OCC nominations) The Foreigner, The Philanthropist, The Odd Couple, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Sylvia and It’s Only a Play. Off-Broadway, Mr. Broderick has appeared in The Seafarer, The Closet, Evening at the Talk House, Shining City (Obie Award), Torch Song Trilogy (OCC, Villager awards), The Widow Claire, and in the recent London production of The Starry Messenger. Selected film and television credits include: Max Dugan Returns, WarGames, ’Master Harold’...and the Boys, Ladyhawke, On Valentine’s Day, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Biloxi Blues, Glory, The Freshman, A Life in the Theater, The Lion King, The Cable Guy, Infinity, Election, You Can Count on Me, Wonderful World, The Music Man, Margaret, Tower Heist, Rules Don’t Apply, Manchester by the Sea and To Dust. Mr Broderick will next be seen in Painkiller for Netflix. Photo credit: Tawni Bannister

Jonathan Groff is a two-time Tony Award nominee for his acclaimed performances as Melchior in the hit musical “Spring Awakening,” and as King George III in the iconic smash “Hamilton.” Other stage credits include; the Public Theater’s productions of “Hair” and “The Bacchae,” the City Center Encores production of “A New Brain”, the London revival of “Deathtrap” (with Simon Russell Beale), and the Los Angeles premiere of “Red” (with Alfred Molina). Groff starred in the HBO series “Looking,” the Netflix series “Mindhunter,” and provides the voices of Kristoff and Sven in the Disney’s animated blockbusters, “Frozen” and “Frozen II.”

Jonathon highly recommends his friend Ellen Winter, and we encourage you to give 36 Questions a go.

 

In an award-winning career that has encompassed TV, film, stage and concert work around the globe, Betty Buckley is probably best known as the quintessential musical theatre actress.  Whether she’s breaking your heart with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Memory” in her Tony-winning turn as Grizabella the Glamour Cat in CATS, bringing down the house with “The Writing on the Wall” in a gender-bending performance in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, or simultaneously frightening and moving an entire audience as religious fanatic Margaret White in the cult-classic musical CARRIE, a Betty Buckley performance is one that remains indelibly etched into one’s mind and soul. Buckley’s film roles include Ms. Collins, the gym teacher, in Brian dePalma’s 1976 classic CARRIE, country singer Dixie Scott in Bruce Beresford’s TENDER MERCIES (which features her soul-piercing rendition of the Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe winning song “Over You”), and has regularly been featured in the films of M. Night Shyamalan.  She has been seen as a guest star on dozens of popular TV series, was a regular for three years on HBO’s OZ, and also played the lead role of Abby Bradford for four seasons on the seminal 1970’s family drama EIGHT IS ENOUGH.

 

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

One of the theater world's most beloved talents, Len Cariou is a member of the Theatre Hall of Fame and a pre-eminent interpreter of the music of Stephen Sondheim. On Broadway, he has appeared in "Applause," for which he earned a Tony Award nomination and won the Theatre World Award; "A Little Night Music," for which he was also nominated for a Tony Award; "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," for which he won a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award; "Nightwatch;" "Cold Storage;" Teddy and Alice;" "Dance a Little Closer;" "The Speed of Darkness;" "The Dinner Party" and "Proof." 

On television, Cariou has appeared on “Blue Bloods” as the the Reagan family’s patriarch, Henry for eleven seasons. Additionally, he can be seen on "Damages," "Brotherhood," "Murder, She Wrote," "CSI" and "Numb3rs", "Ed," "Law and Order," "The Outer Limits," "The Practice," "The West Wing," and many television films/limited series including “When They See Us” and "Into the Storm,” the latter for which he earned an Emmy Award nomination. 

Cariou's feature film credits include "One Man," for which he received a Genie Award, "The Four Seasons," "Flags of our Fathers," "1408," "Executive Decision," "Lady in White," "Thirteen Days," "About Schmidt," "Secret Window”, "The Boynton Beach Bereavement Club” and “Spotlight”. In addition, he supplied voice narration for the Academy Award-winning documentary, "The Johnstown Flood” and voiced Uncle Frank in “Bumblebee”. 

Cariou was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and holds two honorary degrees as well as the Order of Canada and Order of Manitoba. He currently resides on the Hudson River's shore in New Jersey with wife Heather Summerhayes Cariou, author of Sixtyfive Roses: A Sister's Memoir.

 

F. Murray Abraham has amassed 125 film and television credits in his distinguished career and won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Antonio Salieri, in Milos Forman’s film of Amadeus, written by Peter Shaffer.  He has appeared in feature films directed by The Coen Brothers, Sidney Lumet, Brian DePalma, Richard Lester, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Gus Van Sant and Wes Anderson, to name just a few.  He was twice Emmy nominated for his role as Dar Adal on Showtime's Homeland and has given memorable guest performances on dozens of television series, running the gamut from Louie to Law and Order: Criminal Intent. He is also a prolific stage performer, appearing in over a dozen Broadway shows and countless off- Broadway and regional productions. He has made his home in New York since the early 60’s, and has been a devoted Joe Allen regular for over 50 years.

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

KRISTEN ANDERSON-LOPEZ and ROBERT LOPEZ are the Oscar, Emmy and Grammy award winning, married songwriting team behind the Disney animated films, Frozen and Frozen 2. Together they also wrote the Oscar winning song “Remember Me” from Pixar’s Coco, songs for Marvel’s WandaVision, and the Obama-produced We the People. Their adaptation of Frozen for the Broadway stage earned them a Tony nomination. Robert co-conceived and co-wrote the hit musicals Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon, both earning him Tony Awards. Kristen’s show In Transit made history as the first all a cappella musical to run on Broadway, after earning recognition at the Drama Desk, Drama League and Lucille Lortel Awards for its Off-Broadway run. Lopez and Anderson-Lopez have written for television, film and stage, including Finding Nemo: The Musical; songs for “The Wonder Pets” (two Emmy Award wins) and the Winnie the Pooh animated film. Lopez and Anderson-Lopez both serve on the Dramatist Guild Council. Graduates of Yale University and Williams College, respectively, they now reside in Brooklyn with their two daughters.

Rosie O’Donnell is a beloved comedian, celebrated actress, and talk show legend. Despite all these professional accolades, it is perhaps her generosity of spirit, her tireless advocacy on behalf of children and families, and her heartfelt commitment to the health of the American theater that most definitively define her impact on popular culture.

Born in Commack, New York on March 21, 1962, Rosie O’Donnell embarked on a career as a standup comedian right out of high school, and in short order found herself enjoying a five show winning streak on the iconic television series, “Star Search” Shortly thereafter, she scored additional major appearances on television, including a regular role as Maggie O’Brien on NBC’s popular sitcom, “Gimme a Break” and a high profile run as a VH1 VJ

In 1992, Rosie was cast alongside Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Geena Davis in the smash hit “A League of Their Own.” She went on to further success on the big screen, starring in twelve films between 1992 and 1996, including 1993’s “Sleepless in Seattle,” 1995’s “Now and Then,”and 1996’s “Beautiful Girls.”

Her most monumental break came by accepting NBC’s offer to host a variety daytime television show, “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” in 1996. Rosie’s innate love of all things show business and her easy rapport with the celebrities she had grown up idolizing translated into a unique and hugely popular TV phenomenon. “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” ran for six seasons and went on to win a variety of Emmy awards, leaving a memorable mark on American television before ending production in 2002.

In the past 20 years, Rosie’s dedication to her artistic endeavors and charitable interests have continued unabated. She has been a regular fixture on television, on Broadway, and, in recent years, has gotten rave reviews for her powerful performances in Showtime’s “SMILF” and HBO’s “I Know This Much is True.” She can currently be seen in the Showtime original series, “American Gigolo.”

-bio adapted and edited from Rosie.com

Jen Cody is a genuine triple threat who has been a familiar face on the New York stage for the past 25 years. Since 2018, she has been the Second Vice President of Actor’s Equity Association. She made her Broadway debut as Rumpleteazer in “Cats," and has gone on to originate roles in numerous hit musicals, including Andrew Lippa’s “The Wild Party” and the Tony Award winning “Urinetown." Additionally, she has performed at dozens of regional theaters including The Redhouse Performing Arts Center in Syracuse, NY, where her husband, Hunter Foster, is Artistic Director. She has been a regular presence in numerous Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights Aids fundraisers and has enjoyed great success as a voiceover artist, most notably as Charlotte La Bouff in Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog." www.jen-cody.com

Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen is produced and hosted by Jason Woodruff, Dana Mierlak, and Sean Kent, with music by James Rubio and logo and artwork design by Christina D’Angelo. The Producers would like to extend a special thank you to the owners of Joe Allen, Orso, and Bar Centrale Restaurants.

Austin Pendleton, a Yale University graduate and ensemble member of the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago, made his Broadway debut in 1964 as Motel in the original Broadway cast of Fiddler on the Roof. Other theatre credits include: Oh Dad, Poor Dad…, The Last Sweet Days of Isaac, The Diary of Anne Frank, Goodtime Charley, and Choirboy. He has made over 150 appearances in television and films including: What’s Up, Doc?, My Cousin Vinny, Mr. & Mrs. Bridge, Finding Nemo, The Muppet Movie, A Beautiful Mind, Catch-22, Skidoo, and 2 Days In The Valley. Pendleton wrote the plays Uncle Bob, Booth, and Orson's Shadow, all of which were staged off-Broadway. As a director, Pendleton has worked extensively both regionally and on and off-Broadway. His direction of Elizabeth Taylor and Maureen Stapleton in Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes garnered him a Tony Award nomination in 1981 and his 2011 direction of the off-broadway production of Three Sisters won him an Obie Award.  He currently teaches acting at HB Studio.

Lee Wilkof is a Tony, Obie, and Drama Desk nominated actor, perhaps best known for originating the role of Seymour Krelborn in the original off-Broadway production of the cult classic musical, Little Shop of Horrors. Additional off-Broadway highlights include: originating the role of Samuel Byk in Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins (Drama Desk Award nomination), The Present Tense (Obie Award, Drama Desk Award nomination), Broadway credits include: The Odd Couple; Democracy; The Boys from Syracuse; Kiss Me, Kate (Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations); She Loves Me; The Front Page and Sweet Charity. Mizlansky/Zilinsky or Schmucks, The Underpants and June Moon. He has appeared regionally in productions at Yale Repertory Theatre, Baltimore Centerstage, McCarter Theatre, the Goodman, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Film credits include The Grey Zone; The School of Rock; This Boy’s Life; Private Parts; Xanadu, and Sidney Lumet’s Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead. He also directed the feature film No Pay, Nudity with a cast including  Nathan Lane, Gabriel Byrne, and Frances Conroy

Additionally, Mr. Wilkof has amassed over 100 appearances in episodic television and movies of the week, including Law & Order; The West Wing; Ally McBeal (SAG Award); Max Headroom; Curb Your Enthusiasm; An Early Frost; Cop Rock; Hart to Hart; The Tonight Show, and The Gong Show.