This is Your Night Russ Weathford
Cabaret at the Metropolitan Room


You never know what kind of fabulous thing is going to happen at the Metropolitan Room.  Bernie Furshpan and his team have so many tricks up their sleeves, and never cease to fill our hearts and ears with top of the line entertainment.    This night was no different, except for one special twist.  All of the entertainment lined up for this night was to honor a very special man, Russ Weatherford.

There were songs of love, home made songs, comedy and parody, but what filled the room most of all was love. Love for Russ Weatherford, who gets this honor because of his significant contribution to the New York City Entertainment Scene.
 
I was probably the newest member of the Russ Weatherford fan club in the room.  I only met him personally one time, and that was just a few months ago at a Shana Farr show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.  I’d known about Russ for some time through Facebook and have enjoyed seeing the magical moments he captures in his wonderful photographs of Cabaret.    I learned on this evening that Russ “Rusty” was born on 8/2/1946.  He was raised in North Carolina, and it was evident that the theatre was born in him, when his first production opened one summer in his very own childhood backyard.   Russ also served time in the armed forces hosting a radio show and also directed the military theatre.  He later gained a scholarship to the USC theatre program.   Russ went on to do it all.  Acting on the stage (nude even) and in soap operas and movies.   He directed, produced and even developed his own acting technique that was aptly titled “The Weatherford Technique” and published books on the topic.
 
As the night went on we realized that of all of Russ’s accomplishments, the one that he was most grateful for happened in 1996 when he met the love of his life, Eric Rudy who he later married in September of 2011. 

Not only was the stage filled with extraordinary entertainment, but so was the audience.  This is especially enjoyable when it comes time for a little audience participation/sing-along and everyone is “in tune”.    Laughter, smiles, happiness, joyful and emotional tears invaded the space.  As the night came to a close, Eric Rudy came on the stage and sang The Impossible Dream, and I can almost guarantee you that there was not a dry eye in the room.  Russ joined Eric on stage and was awarded a beautiful statue to commemorate the evening.    Russ then surprised Eric with a beautiful painting, titled “Circle of Love, Circle of Life, which he said, and I paraphrase…so that he would have something from him that would be with him forever. They were joined on the stage by the artist, 

I myself am a newcomer to this world of Cabaret.  It’s such a tightly knit and loving community and one that takes care of and supports each other in a way that is rarely seen. 

In case you were wondering?  This black tie evening was no surprise party.  Russ was involved in preparing the guest list and entertainment and even made special song requests from most of the performers.  Why not, right?   A night like this is likely to happen only once and this one was for you Russ.  Thank you.  The world is a better place because of people like you.

This article would not be complete without the entertainment line up.  

Carol J. Bufford
Sandi Durell
Steve Ross
Elizabeth Sullivan
Kristine Mills
Jamie deRoy
Randy Levine Miller
Jay Rogers & Aaron Morishita
Raissa Katona Bennett
Karen Oberlin
Joe Sirola
Karen Wyman
Shana Farr
Sidney Meyer
Valerie Lemon
Merrill Stone
Barry Kleinbort
Nancy Opel
Karen Akers
Marilyn Maye & Billy Stritch-Dialed in from the high seas
Scott Siegel & Marya Coburn
Tom Waters & Robert R. Blume
Dean Regen
Larry Kerchner

Natalie Douglas
Erich Michael Gillett
David Austin
Eric Rudy
Musical Director-Barry Levitt

Be sure to visit The Metropolitan Room website for their full entertainment schedule.  There is something wonderful going on every day! ThisbroadSway 5/12/15