The Show Must Go On.(New York after September 11)(Brief Article)

"Make New York City the place it ought to be." New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is urging us all to go out, to a show, to a bar, to a restaurant... Anything to return life to normal.

It hasn't been easy. Everything enjoyable in the city now has an underlying theme to it--a sense of duty, a sense of guilt or, for many, just an all-too-conscious need for therapy or an escape from the relentless horror. The first weekend after the attacks, nightclubs, restaurants and bars were reopening for business all over town. Promoters, like my DJ friend Tony Lee, weren't sure if the timing or tone was right. Nervously, Tony Lee suggested hosting a World Trade Center relief event that Friday at Baktun, a dance club on 14th Street. The night went smoothly, and people soon slipped into "regular mode"-- drinking, dancing and letting themselves go. But the need for a breath of fresh air outside the club quickly brought back the tragic reality as the smoke wafted by from 30 blocks away.

We all agree with Rudy; the show must go on. But how? Broadway has been hit hard--five major shows have decided to shut down, and only a select few have managed to sell out (yes, "The Producers" is still doing just fine. But even nobodies like me can get tickets now). Producer Cameron Mackintosh, of "Les Miserables" fame, summed up the grim scenario: "This is probably the bleakest moment in Broadway history."

Broadway's rebirth depends on the audience, but I'm not sure we're ready. And tourists are hardly flocking to Manhattan, let alone 42d Street. Last Thursday, at the last standing bastion of half-priced Broadway tickets, TKTS in Times Square (the other outlet for such deals was located at 2 World Trade Center), there couldn't have been more than 30 people in line--a far cry from the usual hundreds crowding the sidewalks to see the latest hits. And most of those waiting were doing so out of necessity rather than just for fun. One couple visiting from Indiana told me they were "doing it for the economy." They didn't even know which show they wanted to see. New Yorkers have stepped up to try to fill the emotional void. "I feel like I need to laugh," said Christina Vaccanino, in line for tickets to "Stones in His Pockets." "I can't even talk about it all without getting to the point of crying," she said. Maybe a show would be the solution, maybe not. At least she, unlike so many others who have been staying home feeling helpless, thought this "form of therapy" was worth a shot.

I've been seeking out my own therapy just by spending time out with my friends. But beneath all the laughter and gregarious bar talk that is easing its way back to normal decibel levels, there's a feeling ...