Jul 19, 20222 min
(Image courtesy of Broadway and Vine)
(Image courtesy of Broadway and Vine)
(Image courtesy of Broadway and Vine)
After getting a master's in musical theater, I moved to New York to follow my dream of being on Broadway in 2001. Like many performers, I got a job at my first restaurant, Craft, owned by Tom Colicchio. Craft was also Colicchio's first restaurant. While working for Colicchio, I fell in love with hospitality. After working at Craft, I got a show. Once the show wrapped, I vacationed to Napa Valley and based my wine tasting menu on Craft's wine list. These wines were from smaller producers, who welcomed me with open arms.
(Image courtesy of Shutterstock. Image depicts Row of vintage wine bottles in a wine cellar (shallow DOF; color toned image)
Following various shows and restaurant stints at Daniel and Jean Georges, I transition from working as captain or head waiter to management. Working in management, I had to decide to prioritize either Broadway or hospitality. I stumbled across 54 Below, a Broadway supper club; as a manager, I had the chance to work in fields I love. 54 Below taught me that Broadway and Hospitality could work together. I continued to work in both realms. I moved up the ranks in hospitality at high-class dining institutions. On Broadway, I produced a show with Jake Gyllenhaal.
(Image courtesy of Bob McClenehan)
Almost twenty years after beginning my journey, I came up with the idea for Broadway and Vine in 2020. Broadway and Vine had one concert before the COVID-19 pandemic. After staying in New York for the lockdown, I returned to Napa. The Broadway and Vine program allowed wineries to maximize Napa's outdoor space and Broadway actors to get work. Once in California, the Broadway artists held master classes for the community and performed with local high school students
(Image courtesy of Bob McClenehan)
Broadway and Vine helps expand the definition of Broadway music. I want to capture how Broadway can encompass different genres, areas, and disciplines. A Broadway show can include opera, hip-hop, or country music to tell the story.
(Video courtesy of Broadway and Vine)