FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM NOVEMBER 25, 2021 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 41
Victoria’s
SECRETS
Victoria
SCHNEPSYUNIS
vschneps@schnepsmedia.com
During the busy season for
Dan’s Papers this summer,
I was invited to a
Hamptons International Film
Festival aft erparty at a poolside
home hidden in the woods of
Easthampton.
It was a picture-perfect day
and there I met Hamptonite
Wendy Federman, the talented,
multi Tony Award winning
Broadway producer.
For years I had been receiving
her company’s press releases,
and now she was sitting next
to me enjoying the company of
many theatre and fi lm people.
We instantly bonded. She is a
fi ery woman, standing 5 feet tall
with blonde hair and a beautiful
face, and has produced more
than 90 Broadway shows, a true
“Power Woman.”
When she called last week and
asked me to be her “date” at the
opening night of “Company,”
one of the shows she recently
produced, I instantly accepted.
The great Patti LuPone
returned to her brilliant role
of Joanne, starring alongside
a show stopping cast led by
Katrina Lenk.
Wendy and I decided to have
dinner before the show and I
wanted to go to Skirt Steak, a
new restaurant in the Th eatre
District owned by world famous
Chef Laurent Tourondel. I
had just met him and his partner
at his newest addition in
Westhampton, LT Bar & Grill.
I had taken my grandkids there
a few weeks ago for the restaurant’s
juicy burgers, but we were
blown away by their over the top
and delicious ice cream fl oats!
Worth every calorie!
We headed to Skirt Steak,
but sadly they had an emergency
and were closed. Aft er
four calls, we fi nally got reservations
at well known
Bridgehampton icon
Bobby Van’s restaurant
on West 45th
Street, just down
the block from the
Bernard B. Jacobs
Theatre, where
“Company” was
being performed.
I learned many
years ago that the
theatre streets are
always jammed at
show time and the
safest bet is to eat
An action-packed week
near the show. Success!
To my amazement and delight,
the theatre district was alive and
hopping! People were everywhere
and the dazzling lights
of Broadway and Times Square
were as they had been before the
pandemic.
When we pulled up to the theatre,
there was a line wrapping
around to the corner. I could feel
the electricity and excitement of
the people waiting patiently to
be vetted for their vaccination
cards and IDs in what turned out
to be a sold out, standing room
only performance.
Adding to the thrill of the
fi rst performance was to see the
91-year-old lyricist and music
genius Stephen Sondheim, who
was there in the orchestra seats
and received a tribute of endless
standing applause and bravos
Wendy at the sold out, opening night
performance of “Company.”
Wendy Federman in front of
the “Company” poster outside
the theatre.
from the audience.
Everyone was in a party mood
and was given a party hat and gift
bag to celebrate the long-awaited
reopening aft er the show had to
close because of the pandemic.
Th ey were back full-blast!
First produced in 1970,
“Company” reveals the story of
Bobbie (now a girl) celebrating
her 35th birthday and it is as
fresh and meaningful as it was
Birthday celebration
Terrace on the Park, my go-to
destination to host our events,
was my “home away from home”
before the pandemic. As I drove up into
their parking lot, they had the exterior
lit up with brilliant blue and ruby red
lights on Friday night.
I was there to celebrate the brilliant
business leader and Terrace on Th e
Park owner George Makkos’
birthday.
When I entered the
jammed parking
lot, I realized parties
were back!
I was happy
to be there
to celebrate
with George,
his family and
friends, and I was
delighted to see
the iconic symbol of
our city be able to open
up for parties once again!
back then. Love, fear, friendship
and joy are eternal emotions and
are set to exhilarating song and
dance.
I was in awe as one performer
aft er another received well
deserved standing ovations
throughout the show.
Th e songs “Sorry-Grateful,”
“Have I Got A Girl for You”
and “Getting Married Today”
were among my favorites and
were magnifi cently performed to
thunderous applause.
Being there made me feel truly
alive — I forgot how much I
loved going to Broadway shows
and even if everyone was masked
up, it was great to be back!
So, treat yourself to a show
and support the great talent on
the magical stages in the greatest
city on earth.
WE’RE BACK!
LT Burger West
owners Laurent
Tourondel and
Steven Carro.
Judge Kimon Thermos
and Eleni Thermos.
George and
Antonia Makkos.
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