Latest news with #ColePorter
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel promises it will finally reopen in September after numerous delays
Cue up Cole Porter! The iconic Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, once home to the great Broadway composer but closed for eight years, will finally reopen to guests in September — months later than Hilton promised it would, and after four previous delays since the hotel closed in 2017. A Hilton Instagram post says, 'The iconic hotel is set to welcome guests once again this coming September.' A Waldorf-Astoria New York spokesperson told The Post, 'We expect to open our doors sooner. Our exact opening date is still being determined.' An industry source said, 'No wonder they're being cautious. Every time they touted a reopening, it didn't happen.' A reopening will be a relief to Hilton, which has 90 years left on a 100-year management contract. The Waldorf was first touted to reopen in 2021, 2023, 2024 and, most recently, this spring. The Waldorf-Astoria is beloved by New Yorkers and visitors for its Art Deco architecture and interior treasures such as Peacock Alley with Cole Porter's piano, which will again be on display. Multiple media outlets have touted hotel managing director Luigi Romaniello, its decorators, a restaurant called Lex Yard run by Gramercy Tavern chef Michael Anthony — and also the inaccurate opening schedules. A Hilton web site posting for staff uniforms 'designed by NO Uniform, the specialist design studio led by acclaimed British couture designer Nicholas Oakwell,' also included the September reopening date. Construction sources told The Post in February that the Waldorf's spring target couldn't be met and the hotel wouldn't be ready to receive guests until as late as October. Hilton operates several dozen hotels and resorts around the world branded as the 'Waldorf Astoria Collection.' But sources said Hilton suits were 'privately fuming' over repeated delays to bringing back the original Waldorf on Park Avenue. Hilton sold the landmarked property to China's Anbang Insurance Group for $1.95 billion in 2015. Anbang was to convert more than half of the landmark to luxury condos while reducing 1,400 guest rooms and suites to 375, although the new ones would be larger than the originals. But as the $2 billion-plus construction project inched along, Anbang's chief executive was imprisoned by the Chinese government in 2018. A new company, Daija Insurance Group, took over the Waldorf job — but proved little more swift than its predecessor. The new Waldorf boasts 375 luxury condo units, a few of which have begun receiving residents. Sources said Daija's frenzy to complete the condos — from studios priced just below $2 million to lavish four-bedroom units up to $15 million — got the most attention. 'The hotel part wasn't on the fast track,' one source said.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel promises it will finally reopen in September after numerous delays
Cue up Cole Porter! The iconic Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, once home to the great Broadway composer but closed for eight years, will finally reopen to guests in September — months later than Hilton promised it would, and after four previous delays since the hotel closed in 2017. A Hilton Instagram post says, 'The iconic hotel is set to welcome guests once again this coming September.' 3 The iconic Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, which has beenclosed for eight years, will finally reopen to guests in September — months later than Hilton promised it would. Christopher Sadowski A Waldorf-Astoria New York spokesperson told The Post, 'We expect to open our doors sooner. Our exact opening date is still being determined.' An industry source said, 'No wonder they're being cautious. Every time they touted a reopening, it didn't happen.' A reopening will be a relief to Hilton, which has 90 years left on a 100-year management contract. The Waldorf was first touted to reopen in 2021, 2023, 2024 and, most recently, this spring. The Waldorf-Astoria is beloved by New Yorkers and visitors for its Art Deco architecture and interior treasures such as Peacock Alley with Cole Porter's piano, which will again be on display. Multiple media outlets have touted hotel managing director Luigi Romaniello, its decorators, a restaurant called Lex Yard run by Gramercy Tavern chef Michael Anthony — and also the inaccurate opening schedules. 3 The Waldorf-Astoria is beloved by New Yorkers and visitors for its Art Deco architecture and interior treasures such as Peacock Alley with Cole Porter's piano (abovce), which will again be on display. A Hilton web site posting for staff uniforms 'designed by NO Uniform, the specialist design studio led by acclaimed British couture designer Nicholas Oakwell,' also included the September reopening date. Construction sources told The Post in February that the Waldorf's spring target couldn't be met and the hotel wouldn't be ready to receive guests until as late as October. Hilton operates several dozen hotels and resorts around the world branded as the 'Waldorf Astoria Collection.' But sources said Hilton suits were 'privately fuming' over repeated delays to bringing back the original Waldorf on Park Avenue. Hilton sold the landmarked property to China's Anbang Insurance Group for $1.95 billion in 2015. Anbang was to convert more than half of the landmark to luxury condos while reducing 1,400 guest rooms and suites to 375, although the new ones would be larger than the originals. 3 Construction sources told The Post in February that the Waldorf's spring target couldn't be met and the hotel wouldn't be ready to receive guests until as late as October. Christopher Sadowski But as the $2 billion-plus construction project inched along, Anbang's chief executive was imprisoned by the Chinese government in 2018. A new company, Daija Insurance Group, took over the Waldorf job — but proved little more swift than its predecessor. The new Waldorf boasts 375 luxury condo units, a few of which have begun receiving residents. Sources said Daija's frenzy to complete the condos — from studios priced just below $2 million to lavish four-bedroom units up to $15 million — got the most attention. 'The hotel part wasn't on the fast track,' one source said.
Wall Street Journal
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘Kiss Me, Kate' Review: Playing With Cole Porter on PBS
Located at the intersection of Cole Porter and William Shakespeare, 'Kiss Me, Kate' has become a bit problematic in recent decades, given the purportedly misogynistic nature of its source material ('The Taming of the Shrew') and a few of the Porter songs (among them 'I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple,' a lyric changed in the glorious 2019 Broadway revival to read 'people' instead of 'women'). But changes have always been made to Porter's 1948 original, with the book by the married-but-separated Samuel and Bella Spewak. Call it tampering. Call it evolution. During the 2024 London production being presented on the PBS series 'Great Performances,' the alleged woman problem is addressed directly: Shortly after the opening of act II, Adrian Dunbar steps to the front of the stage—he is playing the actor-director-producer Fred Graham, who is also playing Petruchio in the 'Shrew' being performed behind him—says 'Gimme a minute' to conductor Stephen Ridley, and basically apologizes to the audience: 'Some,' he says, 'may find the idea of Petruchio 'taming' Kate difficult.' It is, after all, 1948. 'Women are fully emancipated' (which gets a chuckle out of the Barbican audience). Nevertheless, Shakespeare's time was different. And in any event, the show must go on.
Toronto Star
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Shaw Festival 2025: What shows to see — and skip — this season
From a new adaptation of a classic 'Narnia' story to a revival of the beloved Cole Porter high-seas musical 'Anything Goes,' there's no shortage of offerings at this year's Shaw Festival. The repertory theatre company in Niagara-on-the-Lake is presenting 10 mainstage productions for its 63rd season, which runs through December. Here's a comprehensive guide of what to see — and skip — this year. Anything Goes
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rehearsals underway for community theatre show in Oxfordshire town
Rehearsals are well underway for a community theatre performance in an Oxfordshire town. Amegos Theatre will be performing Kiss Me Kate at the King Alfred's Academy Theatre in Wantage from April 10-12. Cole Porter's legendary musical comedy has backstage shenanigans, Shakespearean sonnets and singing gangsters – not to mention a romance that's just too darn hot – and a full-scale orchestra performing the show tune classics Brush Up Your Shakespeare, Too Darn Hot, Always True To You (In my Fashion) and Tom, Dick or Harry. READ MORE: Empty Oxford city centre shop transformed by artist (Image: Contributed) A simple love story about two people who just can't stand each other, Kiss Me Kate is unmissable entertainment with 'great songs, hot dancing, smart gags and glorious characters'. There will be four shows from April 10-12 at 7.30pm nightly, with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. The bar will be open from 6.45pm. Parking will be available at the Portway car park and for tickets visit
