#Stardust diner portable
#Stardust diner professional

The final day of training leaves a new server in charge of his or her own section. By Day 3 of the five-day training and shadowing week, new servers are expected to perform.

#Stardust diner professional

If it feels like a fit, potential servers will move on to a more traditional service job interview and then progress to training.Д«ecause EllenвЂ™s servers are already professional (or nearly professional) performers, they prepare songs on their own time. EllenвЂ™s artistic director, Scott Barbarino, evaluates the performance and singerвЂ™s interaction with the crowd. Auditionees prepare songs of their choosing (and songs off a list selected by the management) and then perform a song selected off that long list. To audition for the role of server (sometimes secured through casting calls, but, like anything else, more likely if you have personal connections) prospects stand in front of the dining room and sing for an audience of diners. But whatвЂ™s it actually like to work here? Flickr/Jazz Guy Yeah, itвЂ™s fun enough to patronize this flamboyant establishment, to partake in the fantasy for a minute. Business (both show and restaurant) has returned to normal at EllenвЂ™s, which continues to staff a slew of insanely talented performers, many of whom have appeared on Broadway to belt out ballads and pop hits between serving Love Me Tenders (thatвЂ™s chicken tenders served with both onion rings and waffle fries) and refilling cups of water. The controversy over unionization has since settled. In 2016, EllenвЂ™s made headlines for unionizing, a rare feat for diner employees, but a common one for actors who must maintain union status in the ActorвЂ™s Equity Association (AEA) or Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in order to work in or audition for certain roles. In some ways, it feels like a touristвЂ™s best-kept secret. Sure, the food is overpriced (a grilled cheese goes for $14), thereвЂ™s a substantial wait outside (the same can be said for dozens of additional restaurants that are вЂњcoolвЂќ to stand in line for), and the restaurant is in the heart of Times Square - but during my stay here, I text at least two dozen people, promising to take them all to this joyous, over-the-top place. As a New Yorker, IвЂ™d never think of setting foot in here, but IвЂ™m hooked. This may be the happiest place in New York.ДЄs a reporter, I skip the line of hoodie-clad, Playbill-clutching tourists curling around the blue-tile plated diner to snag a seat at the bar. A server, whom the MC announces recently returned from Italy, says heвЂ™s going to sing a classic the audience will вЂњreally like.вЂќ He prances out in a long blonde wig to the familiar chords of Shania TwainвЂ™s вЂњMan, I Feel Like a Woman.вЂќ Confetti curls from the balcony, straw wrappers are thrown in glee. Thousand Island (one has relish, right?) while browsing a set list to see whoвЂ™s up next. Nearby, two servers debate the difference of Russian dressing vs. Two women belt out RentвЂ™s вЂњTake Me or Leave MeвЂќ from the narrow catwalk-style stage in the middle of the dining room, while an audience of grilled cheese-eating diners cheers along. We share our experiences walking throughout Manhattan, visiting the American Museum of Natural History, seeing the Broadway musical вЂњThe Book of MormonвЂќ, sipping adult milkshakes at EllenвЂ™s Stardust Diner, taking a walking tour through midtown and riding to the top of the World Trade Center One building.ItвЂ™s 6 oвЂ™clock on a Saturday night, and nearly everyone packed into EllenвЂ™s Stardust Diner - the neon-lit bi-level Broadway-themed eatery on the corner of 51st and Broadway - is an adult.

#Stardust diner portable

On this weekвЂ™s episode, weвЂ™re off to New York City! We took our portable recorder along with us to capture the sights and sounds of New York, and we share what we did, where we went, the food we ate, the sights we explored, and much more. Stream here or on iTunes or Stitcher New York!