Happy days are here again for quite a few of our East End neighbors now that the Broadway stagehands are back to their posts. Thankfully we will no longer see busloads of weepy teens shrieking because they didn't get to catch American Idol star Fantasia in her turn in "The Color Purple".

"Wicked", "Jersey Boys", "The Lion King", "Legally Blonde", and even the critically drubbed "The Little Mermaid" are packing them in. Though ticket sales are still off – and producers will have to do a lot of catching up to satisfy investors – some shows are making a bit of a rebound post-strike.

"The Color Purple" fan Denise Rich with East Hampton's Russell Simmons. Photo by PatrickMcMullan.com

"The Color Purple" got a big boost PR wise with the addition of legendary R & B singer Chaka Khan joining the team as Sophia. No two ways about it the "I'm Every Woman" belter has the pipes and the ample bosom to carry it over the top. As well, American Idol fans were just tickled that dark horse competitor, LaKisha Jones, who never made it past third place, has also stepped up to the mic to wail in the Oprah Winfrey produced musical. And for the gospel crowd there's now Bebe Winans as Harpo.

The billionaire talk show queen and a passel of her glittering pals turned out for the replacements as if it were an opening night. But then Ms. O has deep pockets, and can afford to lay on the champagne if it'll translate to the box office. Southampton's Denise Rich, no stranger to the music biz, was first down the red carpet, followed in rapid succession by producer Scott Sanders, still "Solid As A Rock" singing duo Nick Ashford and wife Valerie Simpson, Oprah BFF Gayle King, Mayor Cory Booker, platinum songwriter Allee Willis, Jonathan Demme, and the legendary Patti LaBelle in a real down-home "going to church" hat! Smilingly happily was Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner, and East Hampton's own, Marsha Norman, who penned the book for the musical. You could almost hear the "Cha-ching! Cha-ching!" as the mobs swarmed the ticket booth.

Marsha was back on the East End days later for The Naked Stages presentation of her 1983 drama "Night Mother" which nabbed her a Pulitzer back in the day. Local faves Kate Mueth and Sloane Shelton took on the roles created by Kathy Bates and Anne Pitoniak in the original Broadway production. Word is the pair was awesome in their portrayal of the final hours in the life of a young woman who believes she has nothing to live for. Chilling and shattering are what folks are saying about Mueth's finely tuned performance. The best thing about this is that the reading was at Guild Hall right in our backyard. Nice having world class writers as neighbors who still like to work close to home.

While I'm on the theater riff, I must give you an update on the lovable green Wicked Witch of the West of "Wicked", Idina Menzel, who created the role of Elphaba some four years ago. The Syosset native scored a pitch-perfect touchdown singing The Star-Spangled Banner at the recent Giants/Patriots game. Her hubby, the hunky Taye Diggs of TV's "Private Practice", had to listen to Idina rehearse at least 400 times. Truly a very patient man! Tony winner Idina also appeared in one of 2007s top movies, "Enchanted" as Nancy Tremaine who in the end found her animated Prince Charming. Her rabid fans have made her showcase appearances standing room only events. Her new CD "I Stand" was just released - check it out.

More on music…Turning lemons into - hopefully – lemonade is Amagansett's Sir Paul McCartney, who'll record a track on Nitin Sawhney's "London Undersound" album. Paul, who co-wrote the song with Sawhney, sings about how he feels regarding his estranged wife, Heather Mills. Insiders tell me he also takes a swipe at the paparazzi in his attack. Somehow, I don't think this will make the 10 Best Love Songs Of All Time list.

Talk about ringing in the New Year with a bang! Lifetime Television's new series "How to Look Good Naked," hosted by the most amusing Carson Kressley, exploded with ratings fireworks during its debut last week, becoming the most-watched reality series premiere in the network's 24-year history. By turns humorous, poignant, and above all empowering, the series proves that some reality is worth tuning in to watch. I just knew my boy Carson was going to land big but didn't imagine it would involve naked women of every stripe! You go, Carson!

Regular readers will know that I have a very special place in my heart for another of the fashion world's reality TV stars, namely Tim Gunn of Bravo's "Project Runway" who is now COO of Creative Design for the gazillion dollar empire Liz Claiborne. Now I have leaned that the irrepressible Isaac Mizrahi will be joining the Claiborne gang. Isaac's contract with Target is up at the end of the year and then he'll take over the post of Creative Director for the women's brand at Liz Claiborne. Don't know if Tim had anything to do with it, but it's a smart move as Isaac's collection for Target is already bringing in some $400 million per year.

Busy as Tim is, he always finds time to pitch in on worthy causes, and this year he will team up with Shelter Island's most creative and fun couple, Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler along with designer John Bartlett to host the 20th Annual Auction Party to benefit Bailey House on Feb. 28 at the Puck Building in SoHo. Already a number of their friends have signed on, including Barbara Walters, Robert A.M. Stern, Jared Kushner, Tim Allis, Martha Stewart, and Anne and Howard Schneider to help Bailey House, the nation's first provider of supportive housing to people living with AIDS, and a national leader in AIDS housing and services. This is always one of my do-not-miss parties because it's sort of like Donna Karan's Super Saturday Sale in the summer - only there are tons of guys shopping, too!

Southampton's Vera Wang just can't get enough of weddings - and neither can her loyal fans. Her bridal themed "Signature" fragrance line has been a runaway bestseller. Now the talented designer, who clearly has a nose for what smells good, will launch two new scents both with romantic undercurrents – "Bouquet" and "Flower Princess". They'll both be in the stores come April – just in time for the June bride rush.

Last week I told you about the super star-studded Gucci opening with Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, Madonna, and so many big names it was hard to keep track. Now I've got the inside skinny on what they'll be unveiling that night. Gucci's love of New York will become very apparent. Creative director Frieda Giannini will display a product line that screams vintage Gucci.

The first collection, "Gucci Hearts NY", is an ode to the city, where Gucci first opened its doors in 1953. Giannini has taken Gucci's iconic webbing and its GG pattern canvas and reinterpreted them in white shiny GG canvas complemented by bold red and royal blue stripes. The "Gucci Hearts NY" moniker, which uses Guccio Gucci's iconic signature, has been irreverently stamped across the fabric.

Among the product offerings in this category are the "Joy" handbag, offered in three different sizes, as well as a silk scarf, priced from $320 to $770. A complementary collection of pieces has also been created in the form of a soft briefcase, toiletries bag, hard-sided luggage, a trolley suitcase, and a duffle bag in two sizes that ranges in price from $895 to $6,900.

Proceeds from the "Gucci Hearts NY" products will be donated entirely to Playground Partners and Patrons of the Central Park Conservancy, which will go towards the care and maintenance of the playgrounds in Central Park. Now that's showing love!