"Visa's sponsorship of the 'Movin' Out' national tour extends our strong and long-standing Broadway relationship to Visa member and merchant partners nationwide through a wide-ranging program including a national advertising campaign," said Becky Saeger, executive vice president, Brand Marketing, Visa USA. "And 'Movin' Out' is the perfect partner for Visa. With its unique blend of classic Billy Joel tunes and the exuberant dance of Twyla Tharp, 'Movin' Out' crosses the generations, from those who grew up with Billy Joel to those who are discovering his great songs for the first time. This is another example of Visa giving cardholders the unique opportunity to enjoy and experience the varied possibilities that life has to offer."

Over the years, Visa has been one of Broadway's major supporters. Visa is the only card accepted at the prestigious American Theatre Wing's Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards on CBS-TV. Over the years, Visa has produced six Broadway-themed national TV commercials including three national television spots promoting the Tony Awards. Visa's relationship with the League of American Theatres and Producers has led to Visa's support of numerous shows and the annual "Broadway On Broadway" season kick-off near Times Square.

Visa also is proud sponsor of Live Broadway's Open House Tours, a backstage look at the Broadway community and the American Theatre Wing's charitable efforts.

"We are extremely privileged to have been chosen by Visa USA for this sponsorship and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship," said James L. Nederlander, lead producer of "Movin' Out." "The reach of an entity like Visa USA will take the national profile of 'Movin' Out' far beyond the limits of a typical theatrical marketing budget. The last time Visa sponsored a single theatrical touring production was on the national tour of 'A Chorus Line,' which is humbling company to keep. We celebrate this honor with pride and gratitude not only for this sponsorship on the national tour but also for the ongoing support of the Broadway production."

The Visa/"Movin' Out" relationship will be backed by a robust integrated marketing program including a national Visa television advertising campaign, local marketing support and a special web-site - for ticket purchases. Visa is also supporting the National Tour with a variety of special "Movin' Out" experiences and tie-ins that theatres, Visa member banks and merchants can use to drive card usage at the regional tour locations such as Visa exclusive ticket offers and sweepstakes.

"Visa's national television commercial will make 'Movin' Out' an event that expands the definition of Broadway and in so doing attracts a broader audience to our theatres," says Albert Nocciolino, president of NAC Enterprises, presenter of Broadway shows in seven cities. "This sponsorship is an exciting opportunity for theatrical presenters operating outside of New York to work together on a national scale to introduce new ways to sell tickets to the shows that play in our cities."

The complete schedule for the "Movin' Out" national tour will be announced in the fall although it was disclosed today that the tour will include about 25 stops and a minimum of 52 weeks in major cities such as Chicago, Washington, DC and San Francisco. "Movin' Out" opened on October 24th, 2002 and continues to play to packed houses at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

Billy Joel is one of the most popular and respected recording artists in the world. He has had 33 Top 40 hits and 23 Grammy nominations since signing his first solo recording contract in 1972. In 1990 he was presented with a Grammy Legend Award. Besides "Movin' Out," Billy Joel's classics include: "She's Got A Way," "Uptown Girl," "The Stranger," "Keeping The Faith," "The River of Dreams" and "Only the Good Die Young."

Twyla Tharp is among the premiere choreographers of our time. She has created more than 125 dances, choreographed five Hollywood movies, written an autobiography, received a Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement and two Emmy Awards for her television work. In 1965 she founded her company, Twyla Tharp Dance, and since that time has continued to choreograph for this group as well as for many others including the Paris Opera Ballet, the Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, the Martha Graham Dance Company and American Ballet Theatre.

"Movin' Out" received ten Tony nominations for its stars Michael Cavanaugh, Keith Roberts, John Selya, Ashley Tuttle and Elizabeth Parkinson; its director and choreographer Twyla Tharp; lighting desginer Donald Holden; orchestrators Billy Joel and Stuart Malina; and for Best Musical.

"I'm a surfer, so what I knew about Long Island was that - I've surfed all along the coast," he says. "The Hicksville kind of community was totally foreign." Tharp brought in a researcher to brief the cast - "pictures of the village green, yearbooks." Movies were assigned: Selya mentions "The Deer Hunter," the 1990 film set around the time of the Vietnam war, as "particularly fascinating."

As for Joel's music, "There's drums in it, and any chance you can get to dance to drums and a rock and roll beat, it's welcome. I was already a big fan; now I'm a huge fan." He's also a Bob Dylan fan - the singer's picture is also on his wall - and says Tharp told him to "think Dylan" when she asked him to play Eddie. "That was good news. Suppose she'd told me to model him on Donovan?"

His performance is "very much a collaboration" between him and Tharp, he says, admitting to having been frustrated at ABT. "When you're learning a ballet, you're not allowed to be creative." He turned to choreography, "because I wanted those creative impulses to have an outlet. With Twyla, when I'm dancing I feel the same kind of fulfillment."

The story of "Movin' Out" revolves around five friends, two of them couples, who experience the era together, for better or worse, and there are four Tony nominees in the group: Elizabeth Parkinson as Brenda (leading actress in a musical) starts off the show as Eddie's girlfriend but dumps him for Tony (Keith Roberts, featured actor in a musical). Ashley Tuttle as Judy (featured actress) marries James (Benjamin G. Bowman), who gets killed in Vietnam. Michael Cavanaugh, who plays piano and sings the score's 25 songs by Joel, is also a featured actor nominee.

Offstage, Tuttle and Selya met when they were 15 in ballet school and were dancers at ABT when they got together in 1995. They are what he calls "spousal equivalents," living with each other in an Upper West Side apartment and in a house in Amagansett, near the waves.

When the story of "Movin' Out" was developing, Selya says there was talk of having the characters of Eddie and Judy get together after James' death. There's a hint in the show that might happen but nothing definite. "Twyla decided against that, and I'm glad she did; people can speculate. We'll find out what happens in the sequel."

"I get a Tony," said Joel in the Tony Awards press room. "The very first Tony they mention. Then I'm playing the piano in the middle of Time Square. Tour buses are going by, same level as me. They're waving. They think this happens everyday. Billy Joel playing 'New York State of Mind' - Sure."

Shortly after relating this anecdote, the press room television connection to the Tony broadcast went out and Joel's microphone began to sputter. Displaying his new-found status as a Broadway trouper, Joel pushed away the mike and broke into the first lines of "There's No Business Like Show Business."

Once the microphone connection was restored, Joel said he had an idea for the book for a new show. "I'd like it to be my idea [this time]," he said. " I need a 'writer' to sit with me and tell me 'You've done this wrong,' or 'You've left this character dangling.'" Joel did not reveal the nature of the story.

"I'm Billy Joel's mother," she said in a Brooklyn accent, barely looking at us, because just then she saw Chita Rivera.

Yeah, right.

Then we were distracted, because Mr. Joel, who was opening the show, was coming down the line. Nervous about opening the show, we asked.

"I'm just doing two verses in Times Square at a piano, which should be a little bit odd, but I've done stranger things in my life," he said, laughing.

Two women were with Mr. Joel, a teenager in a flowery Ralph Lauren dress who resembled him, and a somewhat older brunette.

Who was he with?

"I'm here with my daughter, I'm here with a beautiful woman," he said. "That's Alexa and this is my friend Kate. Kate Lee."

There was the noise of cross-conversation.

"Hi, Mom," Mr. Joel said casually, seeming to spot his mother.

"Are you Kate?" Mrs. Joel said over our shoulder.

"What?" Mr. Joel said. "This is Kate, Mom."

"How are you?" Mr. Joel's Mom asked.

"My girlfriend meeting my Mom," Mr. Joel told us. "All kind of firsts happening."

"Did you sing on 42nd Street yet?" Mom asked.

We were starting to feel superfluous.

"Not yet, Mom," Mr. Joel said.

Tony night segue. (Just figured we'd skip the background, as you will have read 6,000 Tony stories by now.) One thing that was news to us: In addition to the Tony gala at the Marriott Marquis, most of the nominated shows have their own party. "Hairspray," which swept the awards, had two parties; "Gypsy," which was shut out, had none.

But back to the pre-show arrivals. Mr. Maher arrived with his date in a barely existent aqua and black lace dress. "I'm a model and actress," said Ms. Johnsen, whose Web site carries a warning that it is not for minors.

Are she and Mr. Maher an item?

"Yes, you could say that," she replied coyly. "We've been together for a while now."

"Are you taking my space?" Mr. Maher joked, stepping in. "I got dressed in 10 minutes. This one started at 10am."

Mr. Joel's mother, encamped behind us with a woman friend, was so focused on seeing the stars that our questions, after we learned who she was, appeared to be an annoyance.

Name, we asked.

"Rosalind. Rosalinda. You know, 'Rosalinda's Eyes.' That's me," Mrs. Joel said, in a tone that suggested we were distracting her.

Was she excited about her son's nomination? No answer on that from Mrs. Joel, because she had spotted someone important.

"I'm crazy about her! That one!" she said, pointing to Bebe Neuwirth. "That's that 'All That Jazz' lady."

Mrs. Joel turned to her friend. "Don't you recognize her?" she said, then started singing. "And All That Jazz."

Ms. Neuwirth, in black strapless Dolce and Gabbana, and '40s-red lipstick, stopped.

What did she think about Melanie Griffith going into "Chicago"?

"I don't really have any thoughts," Ms. Neuwirth said dryly. "I mean, it's a very hard role. I hope she can do it. I'm sure she will."

A nudge from Mrs. Joel.

This is Billy Joel's mother, we said.

"Oh? Great," Ms. Neuwirth said, cocking an eyebrow and looking a little skeptical.

She wants to take a picture of you, we said.

A few minutes later, Mrs. Joel excitedly spotted Ms. Rivera, a star of "Nine."

"Oh, oh!" Mrs. Joel said, clutching her camera.

"Billy Joel's mother," we said.

"Oh, how sweet!" Ms. Rivera said. Then a NY1 News camera operator ran over and gave Ms. Rivera the diamond bracelet she had dropped, and Ms. Rivera passed it to her assistant to hold. "I lost two diamond bracelets, and I'm not going to take that chance again," she said.

Post Show

We asked Mr. Joel what it was like rushing from Radio City to Times Square. "Well, we had a police escort. You know, that was so bizarre because I'm used to them being behind me for the other reason, you know. Not being in front of me. That was really surreal. They're actually here to lead the way. Or maybe it was just to prevent me from driving."

At the Marriott, Robert Sean Leonard, nominated for best featured actor in a play, in "Long Day's Journey Into Night," wandered around his group, wailing jokingly - but repeatedly - "I laaawst!"

At the Palm, Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave sat at a table together and declined to be interviewed, saying they wanted to be with family. At the "Hairspray" after-party at Bryant Park Grill, Marissa Jaret Winokur, surrounded by her parents and family, showed us the big tear in the train of her lace gown, where someone had stepped on it. "You want me to tie it together?" Ms. Winokur's mother asked. The "Hairspray" after-after-party was at Coral, where a woman in black underwear, garters and stockings, swam in a fish tank.

We ran into Mr. Joel and his party as they were leaving the "Movin' Out" party at the China Club. Mr. Joel was heading toward a large black car, and his mother was going off to a smaller one. Seeing us, Mrs. Joel smiled and waved. Then she got into the front seat, next to the driver, and they took off.

"There was one story that he was caught hiding a wine glass," says a friend. "But it wasn't true."

Joel's supporters are upset because Billy, though he's obviously had some adventures under the influence, does not consider himself an alcoholic per se.

"He went into rehab a year ago from an isolated incident," says one friend. "And he talked about it so people would understand when they saw him having a drink or two in public."

In fact, there was no late night partying for Billy. According to another - and totally impartial - observer, Billy and his gang left the Movin' Out party after about 15 minutes.

What is it about Billy that's made him the target of so much nutty speculation? Among celebs, his reputation is pretty mild. He's not a bold partyer, famous philanderer, or incessant drug abuser. He's just an innocent man, folks.

He's also a brave one. Billy will venture out tonight to the very cool Songwriters Hall of Fame dinner honoring Little Richard, Van Morrison and others. This event has turned into the must-see deal of the midyear, run by former Warner Music maven Linda Moran.

If Billy toasts any of the honorees, I will let you know all about it. (Not!)

"Movin' Out" is Broadway's critically acclaimed dance musical which is told through the choreography of Twyla Tharp and 30 classic songs by Tony Award-winner Billy Joel. "Movin' Out" is a story of lifelong friends through two turbulent decades that change them and the world around them forever. In addition to his work on "The Sopranos," the two-time Emmy Award-nominated actor Chianese has a new album out called "Ungrateful Heart," which is an ultimate Italian collection.

"Movin' Out" currently residing at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre, uses Billy Joel's song lyrics and Twyla Tharp's choreography to tell the story of six friends and lovers across three decades through love, war and loss. There is no dialogue and all songs are performed by pianist-singer Michael Cavanaugh, who sings non stop and heads an on-stage band during the show.

The bookless show received ten nominations for the 2003 Tony Awards including a nod for Cavanaugh. The production took home two prizes - one for Twyla Tharp (Best Choreography) and one for Billy Joel and Stuart Malina (Best Orchestrations).

"Movin' Out" - which kicked off the telecast - sold $350,000 worth of tickets the day after the show.

And in the past week, the show has posted average daily wraps of $250,000.

"Hairspray," which won the award for Best Musical, took in $550,000 and continues to rack up daily ticket sales of between $400,000 and $500,000.

All of which is making the Nederlander family very happy, since they are the producers of "Movin' Out," are big investors in "Hairspray" and own the theaters in which both shows are playing.

Recently, at the urging of readers who vividly recall his Tony Award-winning performance in "Dreamgirls," I asked Ben Harney to drop me a line and let me know what he's been up to the last 20 years.

He did, and I'm happy to report he is deeply involved in producing shows for young people at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn.

He also runs BAMSS - which stands for "By All Means Save Some" - a storefront theater in Brooklyn, currently producing "Last Train to Nibroc."

After "Dreamgirls," Harney starred in "Brownstone," a short-lived musical, and then decided to devote himself to Christian ministry.

"I left acting in the summer of 1988," he said, "because I was unhappy with a lot of the irresponsibility that was going on in the entertainment industry.

"There was rising crack and gang activity in the inner cities at the time, and these lifestyles were being romanticized by film and television. A lot of black exploitation stuff. I realized my calling was to use the arts and ministry to help young people."

Harney says he has "been pursued periodically" by producers and agents to return to Broadway, but he finds working with disadvantaged young people far more rewarding.

He did, however, watch the Tonys this year, which made him wonder whatever happened to his own award.

"It's around here somewhere," he said, "but I can't seem to find it."