On a Saturday night in February, Carole King and James Taylor’s music was featured as the draw for the audience of 200 at Vallejo’s Empress Theatre. Many of us of the grey hair variety, who actually still remember the words to many of the songs and were sub vocally singing along, showed up. The performances were excellent.
If you have been to the Empress lately, you might have noticed a few changes, one of which was a large wooden carving set center stage with the word “LOVE.” Then there were the tables cabaret style at the edge of the stage. But I am getting ahead of myself.
The first thing I noticed was when we picked up our tickets at will call, the woman at the counter was very welcoming-friendly, warm, happy to tell us about the program and the theater. The ticket taker smiled at us and thanked us for attending. Once inside we found these amazing comfortable couches in the disabled section. It was from here that we had an excellent view of the second show that was taking place in the cabaret. A group of people had meandered in from the bar and were joyous in their entry. They were hugging and kissing each other, taking seats at the tables they spread out. Maybe there were ten of them initially. Soon others joined and by the time of the performance there were 30 very attractive people all so happy to see each other- all of a certain age. One woman stood out from all the rest. She was very pretty with blond curly hair, slender and she was buzzing around the entire crowd. By this time I was engaged, wondering who these people were; what group they belonged to; why they were so loving to each other like you are when you haven’t met for awhile.
So I sent Bob on a mission. It would have been difficult for me to move through the dancing throngs at the front of the theater with my mighty cane. So Bob approached the blond beauty and told her we were enchanted by the group of friends and wondered what brought them together. The mystery solved. It was her 60th birthday and she had bought tickets for 30 of her friends and family to celebrate at the Empress.
But that was not all. The James Taylor singer was also celebrating his 60th with his entourage. And then there were “Carole King’s” family and friends hugging and kissing that singer. But let’s not leave out the audience who were clapping to the music, dancing near the stage, or if single standing up at their seat and swaying. I tell you, it was a happening. After the break, several of the best saxophonists from the Bay Area, James Taylor singers friends, showed up and the Motown music began.
I don’t know if I have ever been at a venue where the audience and the performers merged. And then back to the worker bees who greeted you with warmth. Not to leave out the security guard who smiled at us when we left a little early and said “Let me walk you to your car. I want to make sure you are safe.”
I will be “Empressing” more often. At this time, I am encouraging everyone to attend the Academy Awards on Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. It’s free on the big screen.They even have limo service. And on the stage in big bold wooden letters is the word, “LOVE.”

Ellen Blaufarb is a Marriage Family Therapist

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