Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen

Our pal, Lee Wilkof, has been a regular at Joe Allen for decades, almost as long as he has been delighting Broadway and off-Broadway audiences in seminal musical hits like Assassins, Kiss Me Kate, and Little Shop of Horrors. On this, our final episode of “Cocktails at Table 7” of 2022, we enjoy a heartfelt and intimate chat with one of the great New York character actors. We discuss everything from the integral role his wife of 35 years played in his casting as Seymour Krelborn, the recent health crisis that shook up his world and set him on a path of greater health and happiness, his longtime friendship with the late, great, Mark Blum, and the ineffable appeal of that enduring Joe Allen classic, the La Scala “salad”. (*not actually a salad)

This episode's guest really needs no introduction, but we'll try. She was once a regularly scheduled visitor in our living rooms or (for some of us) our college dorm room, an actress, comedian, staunch supporter of Broadway, lover of theatre, activist, and, most importantly, for us, a beloved Joe Allen regular. We are honored, giddy in fact, that the one and only Rosie O’Donnell joined us for a round of cocktails. She regaled us with tales of her early days as a comedian, educating people about theatre history, what it was like interviewing Julie Andrews, the infamous cajun chicken sandwich scandal….. Thank you Rosie! Cheers!

In addition to being one of the busiest and most respected actors on Broadway, Danny Burstein is equally beloved in the theatrical community for his boundless warmth, humor, and kindness. We were honored to share this round of “Cocktails” with him, learning all about his early childhood growing up on Shakespeare Avenue in the Bronx, his time spent dancing in traffic at the world famous Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art, the early jobs and relationships that launched his career, and the pearls of wisdom he collected working with the legendary Tony Randall. Danny also shared beautiful remembrances from his decades long marriage to the radiant Rebecca Luker, insights on how he has managed to cope with the profound challenges of the recent past, and how gratitude is central to his life and art.

Matthew Broderick isn’t just a two-time Tony Award winning award winning actor who has starred in a dozen Broadway shows, or a beloved star of countless hit films and TV shows who has been an audience favorite for decades. He’s also one of the most engaging and hilarious guests we’ve ever had the privilege of “sharing a round” with, and, in this episode, we have an absolute ball discussing anything and everything with this true Joe Allen all-star. We explore Matthew’s affectionate decades-long relationship with Joe Allen Restaurant, his incredible collaborations with showbiz icons like Neil Simon, Mel Brooks, Jason Robards and Marlon Brando, and the stringent requirements one must meet in order to land a coveted spot on the Joe Allen flop wall.

Before Jesse Tyler Ferguson was a charming, familiar face in American living rooms on the groundbreaking hit sitcom, Modern Family, he was a charming, familiar face at Joe Allen. This week, we enjoyed a high-spirited round with this versatile actor, producer, author, and regular, who is currently back on Broadway in a much anticipated revival of Richard Greenberg’s Tony Award®-winning, Take Me Out. We explored the life changing philanthropic work Jesse’s Modern Family fame has enabled him to do, the inspiration he found as a young theatergoer in the work of William Finn and James Lapine, the ins and outs of the Albuquerque children’s theater scene, and what it takes to brave the elements on the stage of the Delacorte Theatre.

To celebrate Valentine's Day, we had the great pleasure of having a round of cocktails with Tony Award winning Ms. Donna McKechnie! Not only is Ms. McKechnie an award winning dancer, singer, actress, and choreographer, she also has the distinction of being a Joe Allen “day-one” regular. We chatted about everything from standing on "A Chorus Line”, learning from the greats, the first days of body mics, to the special place Joe Allen has in her heart. She put a smile on our faces, we know she’ll put a smile on yours. Cheers!

For our first episode of 2022, we shared a round with one of the classiest and most accomplished people we know, Victor Garber. Victor’s association with Joe’s goes back decades and we were thrilled to have him share memories of evenings spent there with colleagues and friends. We were treated to hilarious and heartwarming anecdotes about legends past, including Gilda Radner, Robert Moore, Stephen Sondheim, and Maureen Stapleton. We also covered the pleasures of a visit to Schitt’s Creek, the charms of Bernadette Peters and Jennifer Garner, and the undeniable appeal of a Joe Allen LaScala Salad. Like Victor himself, an actor who has played everyone from Jesus to Liberace, this conversation has a lot of range

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!

On this week's episode, the brilliant Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez gave us a peek into the family ties and subversive joy that fuel their amazingly successful musical collaborations. We covered the rough and tumble development history of “Frozen,” the surprising emotional power of “WandaVision,” the enduring flop appeal of “Dude,” and how “making it up as we go along” became a mantra for both pandemic survival and catchy TV theme song gold.

On this week’s episode of “Cocktails at Table 7,” we celebrate our one- year anniversary the only way we know how… by posting the episode two weeks late! We think it was worth the wait though, because we got to interview not one, but TWO spectacular guests. First, Christina D’Angelo, bar regular and graphic designer extraordinaire, offered her insights on what makes Joe Allen her spiritual home away from home, and how she incorporated elements from the iconic flop wall into her brilliant logo for our podcast. Next, we enjoyed a chat with James Rubio, our co-worker as well as a brilliant composer, who shared with us the eclectic musical influences he drew upon to create our amazingly catchy theme song. Christina and James were integral to the launch of “Cocktails at Table 7,” and it was a joy to have them on the show! Also sprinkled throughout this episode are a few memorable snippets of warmth and wisdom courtesy of past guests F. Murray Abraham, Lauren Graham, Betty Buckley, John Glover, Marilu Henner, Kilty Reidy, and Jeffrey Whitty. It’s a fitting tribute to a delightful year of community and conversation, and the first of what we hope are many anniversaries to come. Cheers!

Peter Gallagher has been a favorite of stage, film and television audiences for over 40 years. On Broadway, he’s excelled in everything from splashy, feel good musicals to the devastating masterworks of Eugene O’ Neill and Clifford Odets. He’s shared the screen with everyone from Adam Sandler to James Cagney, and on this week’s episode of Cocktails at Table 7, we got to spend a hugely enjoyable hour with this seriously entertaining and talented man. Peter shared memories of the icons of old Hollywood he was lucky enough to cross paths with early in his career, the amazing resilience of New York and the theatrical community, his love of Joe Allen and the LaScala salad, and the time Bob Fosse complimented his unique and “interesting” sense of rhythm. You don’t want to miss this!

From Broadway, to classic sitcoms, to the biggest horror, action, and comedy hits of the 1980’s, Adrienne Barbeau is an iconic part of American pop culture. Before all of that, however, she worked at Joe Allen! We were so lucky to spend some time with this gracious lady, discussing the late night, party vibe of New York in the late 1960’s, the close knit ties forged among the up and coming casts of “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Grease,” her brisk transition from Broadway Rizzo to TV stardom, the ass kicking Howard Hawks inspired horror heroines she popularized, and the fascinating world of “Carnivale." It took us a while to get this “wishlist” guest, and it was well worth it. Cheers!

As an actor, writer, producer, and teacher, the brilliant Austin Pendleton has worked with everyone from Jerome Robbins to Miss Piggy. Understandably, with a resume that eclectic, he’s collected more than a few terrific tales to share over Cocktails! We discussed Austin’s long association with the seminal HB Studios, the rocky out of town trials of Fiddler on the Roof, the focus and intensity required to make great film comedies like What’s Up, Doc? and My Cousin Vinny, and, most interestingly, playing referee between the legendary Ethel Merman and a Bad News Bear.

Long before Lauren Graham charmed audiences on the fan favorites Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, she spent years in New York, working odd jobs while trodding the boards at off-off Broadway theaters across the city. It was a pleasure for us to enjoy a round with Lauren and hear about her early dreams of rep company “stardom,” her stint as a waitress at the legendary Improv, her failed attempts to channel her inner llama, and the cozy camaraderie that has always made Joe Allen a special place to her.

The brilliant, Tony Award winning Len Cariou joins us for this week’s round of cocktails. As an up-and-coming actor gaining prominence on Broadway in the late 60’s, Len quickly became a familiar face at Joe Allen Restaurant, as well as a close friend of the man, himself (spoiler; they were gym rats together!) We touched upon the highly impractical version of the restaurant portrayed in “Applause,” Len’s memories of collaborating with the great Hal Prince, and the unconventional way Stephen Sondheim served Len his very first helping of “A Little Priest.”

Liz Callaway has one of the most beautiful singing voices we’ve ever heard, and this week we got to chat with this Tony Award nominated singer and actress about just how singularly qualified she is to be a guest on this podcast! We also touched upon the connection Liz forged with Hal Prince and Stephen Sondheim during the tumultuous run of “Merrily We Roll Along," the fun you can have with your kid backstage while dressed as a cat, her imminent return to live performances, and the immensity of, intensity of...two people in love.

This week we enjoyed a “second round” with the wonderful Jonathan Groff and finally got around to discussing his contributions to two of the biggest entertainment phenomena of the past decade, “Frozen” and “Hamilton.” We explored his childhood love for all things Disney, the honesty of “Looking,” the intensity of David Fincher and “Mindhunter,” and perhaps the greatest professional challenge of Jonathan’s career; surviving kitchen issues during a Sunday Brunch shift in Hell’s Kitchen.

Jonathan Groff burst onto the scene in the Tony Award winning “Spring Awakening” in 2006 and has captivated audiences on the stage and screen ever since. We were lucky enough to spend a hugely entertaining spell with this incredibly funny and talented actor, and in this first part of a two-part episode, he fills us in on his stint as a waiter at the Chelsea Grill in Hell’s Kitchen, his fortuitous Broadway debut in the legendary lemon, “In My Life,” and the life changing moment during a matinee of “Beauty and the Beast” when he realized he belonged on the stage not in the orchestra pit.

After a two month hiatus, we kick off season three of “Cocktails at Table 7” with the incomparable Stockard Channing. Long a favorite of film, television and Broadway audiences, Stockard brought her formidable talents as a raconteur to Table 7, sharing hilarious and heartfelt stories about her days as a fresh-faced Joe Allen regular crashing at Pa Walton’s brother’s house, her chutzpah-infused first meeting with Hollywood megastars Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson, and the challenges one faces replacing Liza Minnelli in a Broadway musical starring Liza Minnelli. We also reflected on her artistic kinship with John Guare, her admiration for Elaine Stritch and Ethel Merman, and her lovely personal connection to Bar Centrale.

For our last episode until June, we had a delightful round of “international cocktails” with the brilliant Frances Ruffelle! If you’re anything like us, you fell in love with her the very first time you listened to the Original Cast Recording of Les Misérables, and in the course of our humorously honest conversation we discussed everything; the perils of roller skating eight shows a week, her Tony Award winning turn on Broadway, yoga, even the Eurovision Song Contest (don’t worry, she explains it to us.) It may just make you want to listen to “On My Own” on repeat again and again. Cheers!

Dominick LaRuffa Jr. became a familiar face at Joe Allen back when he was tending bar at Bourbon Street on 46th and just launching his career as an actor and producer. Seven years, six Tony nominations, and one pandemic later, he joined us for a spirited hour of cocktails. We discussed the incredible challenges of this past year and the unexpected artistic growth that has come about because of it. We learned about Dom’s hopes for a more accessible Broadway post-COVID, how he managed to break into producing by raising big money from his bar regulars, and how it truly is “an honor just to be nominated” (for a Joey, of course.)

John Benjamin Hickey has been a favorite actor (and customer) of ours for decades. As he was gearing up to make his Broadway directing debut with a much anticipated revival of Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite” starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, COVID struck. This week, we enjoyed a delightful round of “cocktails” with John, addressing the challenges of the past year and our hopes for the months ahead. We covered the wonderful ambience that tinkly glass and crowd noises can add a podcast, how great acting can make “The Crucible” surprisingly sexy, and how learning a person’s favorite songs can be the ultimate icebreaker.

Over the past two decades, you may have seen Peter Khoury at table seven or maybe Orso, but you were most likely to see him at Bar Centrale, sipping a whiskey at the bar and trading stories with The Man himself. This week, Peter shares a few anecdotes and explains why he’s drawn to authentically old school haunts like Joe’s, Bar Centrale, and Elaine’s. We recorded this shortly after Joe’s passing so it’s a bit of a tribute to The Man and the legacy he leaves behind.

What an excellent way to end our month of celebrating extraordinarily talented and accomplished woman; with 12-time Tony award winning producer Daryl Roth. Can you say pioneer? We sure think so! From Anna in the Tropics, to De La Guarda, to Kinky Boots, she has spent decades innovating theatre and breaking down barriers. We chatted about her love of the collaborative process that is theatre, what it takes to be strong in one’s convictions, finding creative ways to bring art to life on stage, and taking chances. Folx, it’s not all about the Benjamins! We can’t wait to see what she brings to life once theatre is back.

Two-time Tony Award winning actress Judy Kaye has been a favorite of Broadway and regional theater audiences for decades. Moving effortlessly between brassy comedies, heartfelt character driven musicals, and darker, more operatic fare, she was busy playing Queen Elizabeth II in the new musical, Diana, when the pandemic shut down Broadway in March of 2020. On this episode of Cocktails at Table 7, we talk to the warm and witty Judy Kaye about the many ways she’s kept busy this past year, the pros and cons of workshopping a new musical via Zoom, how she weathered two Broadway flops in one (long ago) season, and how to party like royalty, even during a blackout.

Before Marilu Henner became a household name on Taxi, she had a thriving career in musical theater. This week, we spoke to the always busy Marilu about the original “down and dirty” version of Grease she never imagined would inspire a smash hit, happy memories of Joe Allen and other theater district haunts from her early years on Broadway, and the painful lengths she had to go to in order to keep a straight face opposite Danny DeVito. We were also fortunate enough to discuss her personal challenges as chronicled in the best selling 2016 book Changing Normal: How I Helped My Husband Beat Cancer, and how the whole concept of “changing normal” is so relevant to this moment.

In part two of our interview with Betty Buckley, we focused on two of her most enduring cult classics. First, we discussed THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, it’s successful journey from the Public Theater to Broadway, and the camaraderie developed within its peerless ensemble cast, including the irreplaceable Bridget Buckley. Then we were treated to her memories of starring in the legendary Broadway flop CARRIE the musical, a show that suffered from unprecedented behind the scenes turmoil from day one. It was a fascinating perspective on a wildly ambitious show that, despite its rocky reception, is regarded by Betty as one of her proudest moments in the theater.

With a steely voice and the will to match, the brilliant Betty Buckley has been at the top of our wish list since we started “Cocktails at Table 7”. This week we finally got the chance to talk to her, and it was everything we hoped for (so much so, that we had to split this conversation into two episodes!) In part one, we cover Betty’s Broadway debut in “1776” alongside a few theater heavyweights who found her Texas moxie and desire to learn irresistible. We got the inside scoop on her time in Hollywood working on projects as divergent as Brian dePalma's screen version of Stephen King's Carrie and the seminal 1970’s family drama Eight is Enough. Finally, we learned how her commitment to study, including time spent in “cat school”, helped cement Betty’s status as a Broadway icon.

Jeffrey Whitty was a server at Joe Allen in the early 90’s, which explains the “hometown” pride we felt when he won the 2004 Tony for his hilarious book to the smash hit musical, Avenue Q. He’s worked on lots of fascinating stage and film projects since then, but this week's episode marked the first time any of us met him--it became clear within moments of talking that he's a guy we would have LOVED marrying ketchups near. During this irreverent and hilarious conversation, we touched upon his love of authentic New York bar and restaurant culture, his very specific definition of taste, the extreme highs (and lows) inherent in developing new works for the stage, and how “rigorous bitchery” can improve almost any professional undertaking.

Kilty Reidy has had the honor of originating roles in two Broadway shows in the same season and played plum character parts at distinguished regional theaters throughout the country. However, he truly distingushed himself among the Cocktails at Table Seven crowd via his three crowd pleasing engagements in the role of Sassy Server at our own Orso Restaurant! In this episode, we discuss the many bizarre facets In My Life, the need for a nationally mandated customer service tour of duty for all Americans, and what exactly a Standby does (it’s way more than the name would suggest.)

This week on Cocktails at Table 7, we got to spend some quality time with our friend and long-time Joe Allen regular, the marvelous John Glover. We discussed his memorable work in high profile projects based on DC Comics, his rewarding artistic collaborations with the great Terrence McNally, how an eavesdropping Joe Allen staff member generously made John’s ultimate show business “dream” come true, and, most importantly, we get to the bottom of who exactly gave him his clever and super catchy nickname, “J-Glo" (SPOILER ALERT: it was us!)

F. Murray Abraham is one of our busiest and most admired actors, and this week we had the pleasure of speaking with him at length about his incredible career, early gigs (including a stint playing Santa Claus at Macy’s,) and his long, affectionate relationship with Joe Allen Restaurant. As expected, our conversation was hilarious, heartfelt, and filled with wonderful memories of what it was like at Joe’s “back in the day."

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!

We here at Cocktails at Table 7: Inside New York’s Joe Allen racked our brains to come up with the perfect Christmas gift for our listeners. We think we may have outdone ourselves with today’s episode! It’s a hilarious, heartfelt, and thoroughly inspiring conversation with a true Broadway legend, Chita Rivera. We were so honored to get to spend some time with this spectacular lady and hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed making it. Merry Christmas!

In addition to being one of the most acclaimed and prolific composers working in the American theater today, Tom Kitt is an artist who is deeply committed to using his talents to advocate for those in need. In this honest and inspiring interview, we discuss his circuitous journey from economics major at Columbia University to Pulitzer Prize winning composer, the iconic pop singers and songwriters that continue to influence his songwriting, and how he has evolved into the go-to guy when rock icons like Green Day and Alanis Morissette decide to make the leap to Broadway. We also discuss how NYCNEXT, a community based organization Tom has been collaborating with, is creating pop up performances in non-traditional venues to keep artists and audiences connected while the future of live theater in New York City remains uncertain.

In the second part of our interview with the endlessly entertaining John Pankow, we are treated to tales of John’s time in Hollywood working with a slew of legendary directors and the hair raising lengths William Friedkin went to to nail down the iconic car chase in “To Live and Die in L.A.” (let’s just say OSHA wouldn’t approve). We were also moved by John’s lovely remembrances of sharing the stage with acclaimed Irish actor Niall Buggy, and his not so lovely experience of deftly maneuvering to literally cover his ass in a notorious Broadway flop.

There is no one who holds court like our friend, actor and raconteur extraordinaire John Pankow. In fact, this week’s conversation took so many wonderful and unexpected turns it had to be split into two “rounds." John is one of the great mensches of all time, so much so that in 1997, he was instrumental in enabling a struggling young actor named Sean Kent to qualify for SAG health insurance. You’ll hear all about it on the show, as well as tales of John’s early years as an off- Broadway scrapper, memories of his three-year stint as the first American Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and a very funny story about Jason Robards and an inflatable seat cushion.

On this special Thanksgiving themed mini-episode of Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen, Dana, Sean and Jason take a minute, (more like ten minutes, to be specific) to thank the fascinating guests and loyal listeners who have made the launch of this podcast a joy. We also discuss what we are especially grateful for during this unprecedented time. We discuss how Dana and her husband are STILL happily married after nine months of quarantine, how Jason keeps up with friends while remaining super COVID compliant, and how, try as he might, Sean still has such a hard time managing his microphone properly. Happy Thanksgiving! Make it a safe and joyful one.

This week on Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen, Dana, Sean and Jason enjoyed a fascinating and revealing conversation with legendary actress and force of nature, Marsha Mason! We discussed the vibe at Joe Allen when it first opened, Marsha’s wild early gig as a ‘Doxie’ on the iconic ‘Dark Shadows,' how her time at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco prepared her for almost any role, and how an out of the blue audition for a Neil Simon play changed the course of her life. We also learned about Marsha’s passion for race cars, her life in New Mexico as an organic farmer and developer of herbal wellness products, and her surprise personal and professional connection to Table 7.

For this round of Cocktails at Table 7 - Inside New York’s Joe Allen, we enjoyed the sparkling company of two members of our extended London “family”; veteran Joe Allen manager Cathie Winn and producer/director Josephine Buchan. We discussed the ambitious An Evening at Joe’s series of virtual benefits, which Josephine has produced to raise much needed funds for the West End’s struggling servers and theater artists. Cathie shared with us the challenges she faced early on as a new manager when introducing the concept of “hospitality” to her servers. We also chatted about legendary house pianist Jimmy Hardwick, the close-knit bonds the staff at both Joe Allen restaurants seem to share, and why it's a good thing when Dame Judi Dench hurls her purse at you.

This week on Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen, Dana, Sean and Jason catch up with Tessa Zugmeyer, Gip Clark, and Chris Rozanski three of our favorite friends and co-workers. We talk about staying connected during the pandemic, developing special skills with our surprise time off, the things we still can’t seem to get around to, and what we miss most about life in the Joe Allen “complex." We also discuss Gip’s innovative new side business, “Gip’s Flooring and Whoring."  You don’t want to miss this.

This week on Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen, Dana, Sean, and Jason are joined by the terrific and talented Jen Cody. We discuss the surprising physical perils of “Grease,” the finer points of Joe’s La Scala Salad, the challenges inherent in being an Equity Vice President during a pandemic, and how to make an unforgettable fashion statement with only a handful of Joe Allen menus and some moxie.

This week on Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen, Dana, Sean and Jason spent an evening with the charming Jim Caruso. We spoke to Jim about “Jim Caruso’s Cast Party” transitioning to a virtual format during the pandemic, his professional collaborations with close friends Billy Stritch and Liza Minnelli, and more“Joey Award” related business. We also discussed recent efforts by NYC Next to bring live theater back to the city streets, and Jim’s thoughts on what a “new normal” for performance may look like in the coming months and years.

This week on Cocktails at Table 7- Inside New York’s Joe Allen; Dana, Sean, and Jason have a lively and insightful conversation with Broadway World’s Richard Ridge. We spoke to Richard about his decades-long connection with Joe Allen Restaurant and how his early years as a server at the star-studded Ted Hook’s Backstage led to his current career as Broadway’s most trusted insider. We touch upon Richard’s friendship with MGM superstar Ann Miller, his evolution from performer to interviewer, and his uncharacteristically ambitious quest to win a coveted Joey Award. 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 for her amazing artwork, and the owners of Joe Allen, Orso, and Bar Centrale Restaurants.