THE BROADWAY LOCAL - Joan Rivers
By: Jessica Lewis May. 03, 2010
From the soaring melodies of classic revivals to the hottest dramas playing today - there is no experience like "Broadway."
And part of what makes Broadway so exciting is that it's located right smack dab in the middle of New York City!
With "THE BROADWAY LOCAL", BroadwayWorld celebrates the creative theatre professionals who bring their talents to the city's Broadway stages and call the Big Apple home.
This month's feature: stage star and television personality Joan Rivers. Former Celebrity Apprentice winner and host of E!'s Fashion Police, Rivers has starred on Broadway in Sally Marr...and her escorts, Broadway Bound, and Fun City. She will launch the second season of her reality series "How'd You Get So Rich?" on Wednesday, May 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. "How'd You Get So Rich?," a TV Land PRIME original series will once again take viewers on a journey to meet mega-rich millionaires who worked hard and struck gold. As Rivers tours the most lavish and extravagant homes, she introduces viewers to folks who made a lot of money in out of the ordinary, fascinating ways and asks all the questions no one else would - in the way only Joan can. "How'd You Get So Rich?" is a six-episode series from Mark Burnett Productions and Zoo Productions, Inc. Mark Burnett, Barry Poznick and John Stevens serve as executive producers.
Memory of your first time seeing a Broadway Show
It's WHERE'S CHARLIE starring Ray Bolger. I went with my girlfriend and her mother and he was just so wonderful, and the end of every matinee he would take the kids backstage and walk them through. And I remember meeting him. And he taught all the children a little time-step. That was the first time I ever stepped on a Broadway stage and I was dancing with the Scarecrow from "The Wizard of Oz!"
Your Broadway debut: When, where and how
My real Broadway debut was in Fun City which I wrote and starred in 1972. And that was very exciting because I'm a New York girl and all my life I knew I was gonna be on Broadway and there I was at the Morosco Theatre On Broadway.
Favorite NYC Street and why you think it's special
Actually, I love the Boardwalk of Brighton Beach. It's my favorite thing in the whole
world because it's like visiting a sea side resort in Russia. And it's a great place to buy
a hot purse. And get great food.
Favorite NYC restaurant
There are a whole bunch. My big favorite restaurants are Joe Allen's because its easy, and they have the best desert: banana crème pie. I also love Fred's in Barneys because no one goes there at night. And The Other Place I love: Sarah Beth's Kitchen.
Pre-show and post-show meals
Pre show- usually it's a glass of white wine. And post show is Joe Allen's for that
wonderful banana crème pie... and coffee. That makes me very happy. Very nutritious, right.
On the subway, what is your line and what other ways do you get around the city?
I don't take the subway too often, but what I do do, which is terribly wrong, I hitchhike. And usually fans pick me up. I do take taxis and at night I take a car. There's nothing more wonderful than coming out of a Broadway show and seeing that town car waiting for you. That ends the night right.
Best Broadway bargain and where can we find it?
I love those wonderful street vendors. I think they're just great. You can always find a $10 scarf that will make your outfit look good.
Who do you think truly defines NYC?
Intelligence! There is no other city that people will say "Have you seen The Nose at the Metropolitan Opera?" or "Did you go to see Tim Burton at MoMa?" It is the most intelligent city.
Favorite NYC Song
"NYC" from Annie. It's very under-rated and I don't know why. That, and the other one is "I Happen to like New York" from Gay Divorce by Cole Porter.
Local Must: one item you never leave the house or theater without
Well I never leave the theatre without taking my Playbill, because it's fun enjoying the show and then going home and reading about everybody. And what I never leave the house without: I always take money with me, always! Even if I'm walking the dogs, $25. You just never know.
Once I went to the Wooster Group in North Atlantic, which is a very avant-garde little theatre group. And they had a mob scene of people that were trying to get in. This is a great city. In this city, people are willing to go and see off-beat things and that's just fabulous. Of course the other great New York moments are after a snow storm and you're waking right down the center of West 46th street in the snow and its all soft and quiet. Ahhhh! And it only lasts about 12 minutes.
Favorite classic NYC spot
The top of the RCA building, the Rainbow Room because you can see everything. Go there when the sun is going down. And that's what this city is all about. And wait!! Nobody ever talks about this place: The lower east side tenement museum.
NY Style: Who has it and why?
Everybody. You stand on the corner of 5th Ave. and 57th Street and you will see maybe not the most beautiful people, but you'll see the most original and the most stylish and the ones who would take the chance. New York women, nobody can top us.
Photo Credit (top): Charles William Bush
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