"I love this place," says Patti, as we climb the stairs and watch Angela's party descending into the nearby Orso.

"It reminds me of another vibrant time when people stayed up late to talk. Don't you love the incongruity of the theater district?"

On that note we sit down at the Chita Rivera Table and order martinis. Chats begin with Joe Allen, Matthew Broderick, Roger Bart and Patti's own co-stars Michael Cerveris, Manoel Felciano and Lauren Molina.

Attacking her smoked salmon and seaweed salad, Patti exclaims, "I think Sweeney is the biggest hit I've ever been in. I love the cast. I love the director, John Doyle. I just want to cry I am so happy. It reminds me of my days at Juilliard. So many of today's musicals have problems just getting past the footlights. But this show is different; the audience and cast become one. Oh, yes, and we had a great time as we finished the cast album today. It comes out in January!"

Wait a minute! Patti worked all day Monday and Tuesday recording, played the musical that evening, has two performances on Wednesday and now, after midnight, we're having our second martini? Well, she is Wonder Woman in her own right. And her forerunner, Angela Lansbury, was right there to attest to that!