“LIZA’S BACK” NYC 2002

“LIZA’S BACK”
New York City
June 2002

In 2002 my husband and I flew from San Jose, California to New York in early
June to see Liza in “Liza’s Back,” a concert produced by her new husband, promoter
and producer David Gest. ”The show had opened in London to rave reviews, and I couldn’t wait to see Liza on stage again since her tribute to her father, “Minnelli On Minnelli” in December, 1999.
We hadn’t been in the air long when my husband became ill, his blood pressure dropping dangerously low due to a bad reaction to a new medication. We had to make an emergency landing in Colorado Springs. Our plane was met by paramedics who
took us by ambulance to a downtown hospital. Gratefully Dave was found to be all right and was cleared to fly the next day. After spending the night in Colorado Springs, we rose early and once again headed for New York City. Our luggage, having arrived  the day before, was fortunately waiting for us in a special holding area. We had planned to have dinner with Sue Meyer and other fan friends that evening, but we barely made it to Manhattan and our hotel in time to raid the mini bar for some snacks, change clothes, and get a hotel limousine to the Beacon Theatre.
Needless to say, I was still running on adrenalin by the time we found our seats, which to our delight were close to those of Sue Meyer’s. Right before the lights dimmed, comedian Rosie O’Donnell arrived, waved, and took her seat in one of the front rows.
Liza looked terrific, and we enjoyed the show, but we were so tired and hungry that night, that we returned to the Plaza Athénéé Hotel after the show, not even attempting to get backstage.
The next morning I talked to Sue on the phone and learned that security was so tight both opening night and the night we had attended that not even Liza’s former fan club president for twenty years, had been allowed backstage. Sue, though disappointed
not to see Liza personally, had loved the show, but was now headed back to California. Dave and I spent that day and evening visiting friends in Morristown, New Jersey. They arranged for a limousine to pick us up at the Plaza Athénéé and another to return us to Manhattan after dinner. Such royal treatment – I felt rather like Liza.
    The next night, I got a single ticket to “Liza’s Back,” and went to the Beacon with a handwritten note on hotel stationery addressed to Liza. I complimented her on the show and requested a backstage visit. On entering the theatre I noticed that it was not filling as rapidly as two nights before and that David Gest was watching the crowd from a curtained area adjacent to the stage. I went up to him, handed him the note, saying, “Please give this to Liza, she knows who I am.” He said he would, passed my envelope to man standing behind him, and I returned to my seat.  I sat next to a fan from Michigan and shortly we were joined by a New York fan who helped Liza with her fan mail and had even been invited to Liza’s marriage to Gest earlier that year. She had purchased tickets to each show and her seat that evening was in the balcony. To her surprise those seated in the front of the balcony, as she was, were told by the Beacon staff to take seats downstairs in the orchestra. After the show, which I thought outstanding we old fans checked to see if we might be welcomed backstage. We were not, so we stood outside to wait Liza’s exit. It was a long wait.  It was a crazy boisterous crowd of new and old fans in all types of dress. Not even in New York do people often dress up for the theatre.
One middle aged man kept insisting he would get an autograph for his wife, who was standing next to him. He was determined and most protective of his ‘good spot’ close to the stage door and near the beginning of the cordoned off aisle to Liza’s limousine.  A tall gay fellow holding a long stemmed rose repeatedly said, “I’m her most devoted fan! Does anyone know what her favorite flower is?” We two old fans just chatted, watched the crowd, and wondered how long we’d have to stand there shifting our weight from one foot to another. Bill LaVorgna exited the theatre, seemed in a hurry to leave and didn’t notice us. I thought: “I’m getting too old for this scene.”
Finally Gest and apparent body guards, including, I believe, Liza’s longtime houseman, M’Hammed Soumayah, escorted Liza out to their waiting limousine. They moved fast, but Liza acknowledged a few of us who had extended our hands in greeting as she passed. She seemed to do a double take when, I choose to believe, she recognized me as  a familiar face in a sea of fans. Liza said something like “Hey, Baby…or take care of the baby!” ( I never really understood her quick greeting), and she was gone. The man who expected to get her autograph did not.
M’Hammed is listed as one of two “security directors” in the glossy program I had purchased. The program, once again with cover art by Joe Eula is a large booklet featuring spectacular photos of Liza from infancy to her marriage to David Gest. Definitely collectible, the “Liza’s Back” program even includes advertising and a full page black and white photo of Michael Jackson, looking Liz Taylorish and rather reserved, At the bottom left of the upper body photo is printed in script: “I Love You Liza, Michael Jackson.” David Gest didn’t miss a trick.
It was disappointing not to be able to tell Liza in person how wonderful
it was to see her performing again, looking well and happy, but Gest was now in charge, it seemed, and the faces surrounding Liza were different. Gest was most protective
of the woman he had married and helped put back in the limelight with first their spectacular wedding and reception and then “Liza’s Back.” It had been two years since the publication of “Imagining Liza,” and I wondered if I would ever have the opportunity to see Liza personally again. Naturally, I hoped so. By the next year Liza’s highly publicized marriage was over and divorce papers and accusatory lawsuits filed. For the most part fans didn’t like David Gest. Many suspected he was gay, and most thought him bizarre and much too controlling. I didn’t know what to think of Gest, but he did come into Liza’s life at a time when she may have needed someone to help get her get back on stage and into the spotlight after so many health problems. Separated from Gest, a stronger Liza emerged. She seemed determined to get her career and life back on track. I couldn’t help but admire her strength to do so.

© 2006 Beverly Fauvre

    

Comments

[Buzz]

Speaking of Liza Minnelli, this week over at the Yahoo version of The Judy Garland Experience beloved entertainer from the 20th century, Sammy Davis Jr, takes a crack at the Judy Garland songbook. Sammy sings 'em all, including The Man That Got Away, Over The Rainbow, But Not For Me, and many other Garland classics. He even sings two duets with the great lady herself, as well as one with her daughter Liza.
This kind of show biz, and this kind of entertainment doesn't exist anymore!

Another great file posted over at the Yahoo Judy Garland Experience is a radio program that features an interview with a talkative flight attendant who recounts an adventurous red eye flight she took with Judy and her hairdresser, Orville, back in 1963.
This one is a real hoot!

Other new files over at the Yahoo version of The Judy Garland Experience include two episodes of the Charlie MCCarthy radio show. One is from June 7, 1942, and the other is from December 7, 1941, better known as Pearl Harbor Day.
This nerve wracking broadcast which featured Judy, along with Abbott And Costello ,was constantly interrupted with news of various countries making declarations of war!
Nevermind that Judy rises to the occasion and offers up some great entertainment, this was history in the making!
Even if you are not a Judy fan you might want to check out this broadcast for it's historical significance alone!

And if that isn't enough several parodies of the song The Lady Is A Tramp, as sung by Frank Sinatra have been posted over at the Yahoo experience. Frank salutes his friends Orson Welles, Maureen Starkey, and Spiro Agnew, as well as remarkable duets of the song with the great Ella Fitzgerald which were recorded over the span of 33 years. There is even an ultra rare rendition performed by Frank with Buddy Greco!

There are also tons of other rare audio files by Judy and others.
For those of you who aren't familiar with The Judy Garland Experience it is an exciting group on yahoo that features lively and informative discussions, and the rarest audio, video, and photo files of Judy anywhere! The membership includes Garland family members, people who knew and worked with Judy, other celebrities, authors, film makers, and fans of all levels and persuasions. The only one missing is you.

Please stop by The Judy Garland Experience and check it out. I promise you won't be disappointed.
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/thejudygarlandexperience/

[Buzz]

Speaking of Liza Minnell, this week over at the Yahoo version of The Judy Garland Experience beloved entertainer from the 20th century, Sammy Davis Jr, takes a crack at the Judy Garland songbook. Sammy sings 'em all, including The Man That Got Away, Over The Rainbow, But Not For Me, and many other Garland classics. He even sings two duets with the great lady herself, as well as one with her daughter Liza.
This kind of show biz, and this kind of entertainment doesn't exist anymore!

Another great file posted over at the Yahoo Judy Garland Experience is a radio program that features an interview with a talkative flight attendant who recounts an adventurous red eye flight she took with Judy and her hairdresser, Orville, back in 1963.
This one is a real hoot!

Other new files over at the Yahoo version of The Judy Garland Experience include two episodes of the Charlie MCCarthy radio show. One is from June 7, 1942, and the other is from December 7, 1941, better known as Pearl Harbor Day.
This nerve wracking broadcast which featured Judy, along with Abbott And Costello ,was constantly interrupted with news of various countries making declarations of war!
Nevermind that Judy rises to the occasion and offers up some great entertainment, this was history in the making!
Even if you are not a Judy fan you might want to check out this broadcast for it's historical significance alone!

And if that isn't enough several parodies of the song The Lady Is A Tramp, as sung by Frank Sinatra have been posted over at the Yahoo experience. Frank salutes his friends Orson Welles, Maureen Starkey, and Spiro Agnew, as well as remarkable duets of the song with the great Ella Fitzgerald which were recorded over the span of 33 years. There is even an ultra rare rendition performed by Frank with Buddy Greco!

There are also tons of other rare audio files by Judy and others.
For those of you who aren't familiar with The Judy Garland Experience it is an exciting group on yahoo that features lively and informative discussions, and the rarest audio, video, and photo files of Judy anywhere! The membership includes Garland family members, people who knew and worked with Judy, other celebrities, authors, film makers, and fans of all levels and persuasions. The only one missing is you.

Please stop by The Judy Garland Experience and check it out. I promise you won't be disappointed.
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/thejudygarlandexperience/