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.