{"id":504,"date":"2025-05-13T19:04:48","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T19:04:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hubpsotemail.net\/?p=504"},"modified":"2025-05-30T11:24:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T11:24:28","slug":"liz-gillies-takes-over-cafe-carlye-for-intimate-residency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hubpsotemail.net\/index.php\/2025\/05\/13\/liz-gillies-takes-over-cafe-carlye-for-intimate-residency\/","title":{"rendered":"Liz Gillies Takes Over Caf\u00e9 Carlye for Intimate Residency"},"content":{"rendered":"

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There\u2019s something timeless about the Upper East Side. Even after all the recent Met Gala chaos, there\u2019s a certain quiet glamour that lingers above 59th Street. And this past week, that feeling found itself within Liz Gillies, who took over the iconic Caf\u00e9 Carlyle for an intimate five-night residency. <\/p>\n

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Following her on-screen roles in Victorious<\/em><\/em> and Dynasty<\/em><\/em>, Liz recently made her return to the stage this past March with a standout performance as Audrey in the off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors<\/em><\/em>. But this past week at Caf\u00e9 Carlyle <\/em><\/em>was different: She wasn\u2019t playing a role \u2014 just herself with a microphone, a band and a room of people ready to listen, returning to the stage <\/em>as Liz.<\/em><\/p>\n

When Liz reached out asking if I was around to tag along for the week, I didn\u2019t hesitate. I grabbed my camera, hailed a cab and headed uptown to capture the most intimate moments from the show-filled week. What unfolded over the next five nights was something rare: five performances that felt both deeply personal and completely timeless. From pre-show rituals to post-show drinks, The Carlyle became her personal stage.<\/p>\n

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I arrived at The Carlyle Hotel on Tuesday afternoon and met Liz in her suite to go over the plan for the week as she prepped for opening night. The energy was calm but exciting, opening night always feels like that. She wasn\u2019t nervous, just ready. Liz wore a beautiful black-and-white gown, which she handpicked herself, as she did with all of her looks for the week. In true Liz fashion, she did her own makeup, of course, as she always does.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like to keep my entourage small, basically nonexistent, for the exception of my hairstylist and friend Jenn, who\u2019s been doing my hair since the first season of Dynasty<\/em><\/em>\u201d she tells me. And as final touches went on, we ran around the hotel to shoot ahead of call time.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>It\u2019s opening night, how does it feel being back at The Carlyle and doing this residency?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m so happy to be back. I\u2019m trying to convince them to let me live here so I can just do this forever. I\u2019ll let you know if I\u2019m successful.<\/p>\n

What are you most excited for tonight?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I just love being in that room. It\u2019s so beautiful and classic. And tiny! I think I feel most comfortable in an intimate, cabaret setting where I can joke and talk to the audience and play around. It\u2019s harder to do that in a bigger venue. I can\u2019t wait to get in there. Every audience is different so I like to go in with zero expectations and just see where the night takes us.<\/p>\n

What can the audience expect from you this week?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Good music and hopefully a few laughs. I really like my set list this year. I hop around genres a lot but I still think it works. Keeps it interesting.<\/p>\n

How is this show different from anything you\u2019ve done before?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Carlyle is a singular experience. I\u2019m not sure there\u2019s anything in the world exactly like it. <\/p>\n

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As Liz did her final vocal warm-ups, I headed into Caf\u00e9 Carlyle and took my seat, ready to experience opening night. The audience buzzed with excitement as they sipped champagne and martinis ahead of Liz taking over the stage. She opened the show with a cover of Nancy Wilson\u2019s arrangement of Sinatra\u2019s \u201cOh! Look at Me Now,\u201d and suddenly, the room was transported to the charm and glamour of old New York.<\/p>\n

Throughout the night, she performed a range of songs honoring icons such as Joni Mitchell, Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington and more. Between numbers, Liz connected with the audience on a personal level, sharing stories, exchanging glances and slipping in a few subtle jokes. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never had an espresso martini, are they good?\u201d she pointed out as she asked what everyone was drinking tonight.<\/p>\n

As she finished \u201cThe Nanny Named Fran,\u201d <\/em><\/em>the theme song from The Nanny,<\/em><\/em> she laughed and said, \u201cMy friend was here tonight and he\u2019s younger than me – he didn\u2019t even know what the show was. But I love that song.\u201d I loved it too \u2014 so much that I immediately set a reminder to finally watch The Nanny<\/em><\/em> once the week wrapped.<\/p>\n

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With just a few songs left in the set, Liz invited Little Shop of Horrors<\/em><\/em> cast member Jeremy Kushnier to join her on stage for a duet of \u201cFalling Slowly\u201d from Once, <\/em><\/em>followed by a heartfelt rendition of \u201cSomethin’ Stupid\u201d by Frank and Nancy Sinatra with her co-star Milo Manheim. Having seen them on stage together in Little Shop<\/em><\/em>, it was transformative to experience them in a new light, revealing a side to them we hadn\u2019t seen before. <\/p>\n

Liz ended the show with \u201cIs That All There Is\u201d by Peggy Lee, and just like that, opening night came to a close, leaving four more shows to go. As applause filled the room, she made her way down the stage to greet fans and took a moment to connect with friends and family, sharing the magic of the night\u2019s success.<\/p>\n

So, opening night is done! What was your favorite moment of the night? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Shocking everyone by singing The Nanny<\/em> theme song with no warning. And Milo and Jeremy! They ran from Little Shop<\/em> and threw on suits to come sing with me. So sweet. I love them.<\/p>\n

What are you most excited for in the rest of the run?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m excited to see how each night shakes out. I know we\u2019re sold out the last few nights so maybe it\u2019ll get a bit rowdy. That\u2019s always fun.<\/p>\n

What was it like performing with Milo out of character? <\/strong><\/p>\n

We have such an easy rapport. It felt lovely. He\u2019s wonderful. By the way, I didn\u2019t know I chose a TikTok song for us to sing until you told me! I just know it as the Frank and Nancy duet! I\u2019m so out of touch.<\/p>\n

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Throughout the rest of the week, show after show, Liz brought the same energy with a few fresh twists: slight changes to the setlist, new looks and surprise guests. Night after night, the audience experienced a new version of the show. Among the special guests were Milo Manheim and Jeremy Kushnier from Little Shop of Horrors, <\/em><\/em>her <\/em>husband Michael Corcoran and even her father, Dave Gillies.<\/p>\n

What did it mean to be able to bring on these special guests to perform with you during this residency?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love bringing out people to sing with me. Last year, I had my friends Aaron Simon Gross and Graham Phillips from 13<\/em><\/em> sing with me which was so special. This year, I had my boys from Little Shop<\/em>. Oh, and my dad! And my husband! Last year, my dad brought the house down with his harmonica solo, so we\u2019re doing it again. I added another song for us to do as well. And I gave my husband a solo because I love hearing him sing this Eric Clapton cover. It\u2019s my show; I can do whatever I want!<\/p>\n

If you could have a dream special guest, living or not, who would it be?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a long list, but I have to go with Peggy Lee.<\/p>\n

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Closing night quickly approached. As Caf\u00e9 Carlyle opened its doors for the final show, Liz slipped into a flowy white dress for last look of the week. While final touches were underway, we captured a few quiet moments ahead of the last performance.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t believe it\u2019s already closing night, how do you feel after performing here all week? <\/strong><\/p>\n

I feel great. I can\u2019t believe it\u2019s over either. Went by so quickly. I had a blast.<\/p>\n

What was the process in selecting the songs for the set list, and why those songs specifically? <\/strong><\/p>\n

I have a very eclectic taste in music and like to sing a lot of different things so the biggest challenge is finding a way to make them all fit together. I try to make it as seamless as possible, but sometimes there\u2019s a joke to be had when you jump from Julie London to Annie Lennox to The Nanny<\/em> theme song. It\u2019s wacky, but I love wacky.<\/p>\n

Were there any songs you wish you could\u2019ve squeezed into the set list? <\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s pretty packed. I take the first couple nights to see which songs are working and which ones aren\u2019t and adjust my setlist accordingly. I\u2019m not sure if there\u2019s anything else I would\u2019ve added in. I scrutinize over it pretty hard.<\/p>\n

What about your own songs? Can we expect an album from you anytime soon?<\/strong><\/p>\n

You never know!<\/p>\n

What was it like performing in such an intimate space like Caf\u00e9 Carlyle? <\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s perfect. I know I keep saying it, but it\u2019s my favorite. I also love being able to hear people\u2019s commentary and specific laughter. You can\u2019t get that in a big space.<\/p>\n

Your friend Ariana Grande was here tonight to support. Do you think we\u2019ll ever get a live rendition of \u201cGive It Up\u201d? <\/strong><\/p>\n

We sang it at the State Farm Arena in 2019! It already happened!<\/p>\n

No way, how did I miss that?! Well, if you could\u2019ve sung a song together with her tonight, what would it have been?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We have so many songs we love singing together, but I\u2019m not going to make her sing. I just want her to relax and enjoy the show and heckle me if she wants! <\/p>\n

Did the past five nights go as expected? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes and no! That\u2019s the beauty of live performing. I welcome the twists and turns. Nothing should go exactly as planned. The unexpected is what makes it fun. Having said that, I am pretty happy with how it went.<\/p>\n

If you could describe this week in one word what would it be?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reinvigorating.<\/p>\n

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All in all, this week at The Carlyle was something truly special. Across five unforgettable nights, Liz delivered a residency that blended stunning vocals, intimate storytelling, and pure artistry – a series of performances that felt both timeless and entirely her own.<\/p>\n

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Photography: Vincenzo Dimino<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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