The 2025 Tribeca Pageant kicked off with the world premiere of the HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So it Goes, however its topic was unable to attend the celebration.
Joel introduced final week that he had been identified with mind dysfunction Regular Strain Hydrocephalus (NPH), main him to cancel his upcoming concert events and prompting concern from followers.
In step with that target restoration, Joel wasn’t available for the Tribeca Pageant opening evening celebration, however the administrators and producers of the two-part movie, echoing feedback made yesterday from Joel buddy Howard Stern, indicated there’s no cause to be too involved concerning the “Piano Man” performer.
“He’s going to be wonderful,” co-director Susan Lacy informed The Hollywood Reporter earlier than Wednesday evening’s screening. “He simply must get well. He must do the bodily remedy, which he’s doing — the docs had been telling him yesterday he’ll be wonderful.”
Lacy and co-director Jessica Levin added, “He’ll be again,” sharing a message from the performer of their opening remarks wherein he made gentle of his situation, exhibiting his humorousness continues to be intact.
“Getting previous sucks, but it surely’s nonetheless preferable to getting cremated,” Joel stated through a message learn by Lacy onstage.
Joel’s longtime lighting director and And So it Goes government producer Steve Cohen shared that he spoke to him that day.
“He’s doing nice. He’s engaged on his therapeutic and restoration,” Cohen informed THR earlier than Wednesday evening’s premiere. “He’s brilliant; he’s pleased; he’s thrilled for us. He referred to as me and stated, ‘I’m so happy with the work you’ve finished. I didn’t anticipate you to get there,’ and simply nice stuff. He’s an excellent man, that’s what he’s. I believe he’s going to be spending time with the household. He’s going to be doing what he must do to heal from this situation and the prognosis is nice. At the least he’s pleased. He’s my boss; he’s my collaborator. On the finish of the day, he’s my greatest buddy and I don’t give a shit about the rest besides him being wholesome and having fun with this a part of his life. We’ve got finished every part. He has climbed the very best mountain. He’s completed something anybody might ever need.”
Nonetheless, the workforce behind the movie stated it was “bittersweet” that they had been premiering it with out him.
“We wished him to be right here and hoped he can be right here, and he wished to be right here,” Lacy stated.
Producer Emma Pildes added, “That is laborious, however that is what our our bodies do to us. However this can be a celebration of him and his artistry and every part that he’s finished. And we simply want that he was capable of share that with us and be right here with us.”
Although Joel didn’t make it uptown for the premiere at New York’s Beacon Theatre, the occasion was attended by such stars as Whoopi Goldberg, Mariska Hargitay, Mira Sorvino and Tom Hanks, who government produces the And So it Goes along with his Playtone associate Gary Goetzman.
And Tribeca co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal had been on-hand for the opening evening gala, even reciting some strains from Joel’s hits like “Movin’ Out,” “Solely the Good Die Younger,” “New York State of Thoughts” and “You Could Be Proper” throughout their opening remarks.
In a press release when Joel’s mind dysfunction was introduced, De Niro and Rosenthal shared their “love and full assist” for the musician, wishing him a “wholesome restoration.”
“Our hearts are with Billy Joel and his household following immediately’s announcement. As a New York icon and international music legend, he has profoundly formed the cultural material of this metropolis and touched audiences world wide. We ship our love and full assist and need him power and a wholesome restoration,” the pair stated on the time. “We’re deeply honored that this yr’s opening evening celebrates his outstanding legacy and enduring affect on New York’s cultural panorama. That is the proper second to acknowledge a artistic drive whose work displays the very soul of our metropolis — and the center of Tribeca.”
Although solely the primary a part of the two-part And So it Goes was screened Wednesday evening, each installments will premiere on HBO and Max this summer season.