The Times Square subway station was packed. With the steamy July heat, tensions were high. It was a daunting obstacle course just to reach the steps to exit. I was anxious to get to the air conditioned coffee shop to meet with Broadway star Allison Semmes. Agitated and a bit fatigued, I made my way to the sidewalk. That's when I glanced to my left and there she was, dressed in a red romper with flowing sleeves.

The show first began performances in March 2013 at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre and closed this January after over 700 performances.

Some nights of theatre are pure magic. Whether it's the performance, the material, the audience, the theatre, a mix of all of the above, some nights are special and you know you're having a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Last night on Tavis Smiley's PBS TV show, a singer named Cassandra Wilson was talking about her new album in which she 'interpreted' some of the songs familiarized by the legendary Billie Holiday.