Stephen Sorokoff - Page 26

The Tony Award winner (The Sisters Rosensweig) Madeline Kahn was lovingly remembered on what would have been her 75th Birthday by some of her show business friends at the Friars last night and Broadwayworld was there.

Bernie Furshpan pointed out that one door closes and two doors open inasmuch the clubs new home will have two entrances. It would have required many streets in Chelsea to accommodate all the performers and musicians who have appeared at the Metropolitan Room over the last 11 years. Dozens gathered outside with Bernie to celebrate a closing and an opening.

Barry Levitt the acclaimed pianist, conductor, composer, musical director and mensch passed away on September 21 after suffering a massive heart attack at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Sept 21st.

A pianist and a singer alone on a stage is usually not my favorite cabaret experience I usually feel like I'm listening to a rehearsal and musically reduced version of the the real thing. In the case of Three-Time Oliver Award winner Maria Friedman and her pianist Jason Carr on Feinstein's/54 Below stage last night it probably is the best way to soak up every note of a spectacular concert.

New York City has a talented new resident and what better way to introduce herself to the Big Apple than to debut at Cafe Carlyle. Last night Dianna Agron, the acclaimed singer, dancer and actress did just that and New Yorkers gave her a warm welcome.

Opening night at Shakespeare & Company's production of God Of Carnage displayed the exceptional versatility and riveting acting of four of Shakespeare & Company's players, Elizabeth Aspenlieder, Allyn Burrows, Jonathan Croy, and Kristin Wold. The play is presented in Shakespeare's Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre which is the perfect intimate setting to put the audience in the middle of the carnage.

Put Lang Lang, Billy Joel, and Harry Connick into a piano blender and you will create something approaching the excitement of Peter Cincotti. Add in a dose of Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles and you're getting close to the final product. To my ears there is nothing better than the special bonding and coordination a singer pianist has. The fingers know exactly how to wrap around the vocal chords and Peter can do that extraordinary well .but last night at The Cutting Room it was a Long Way From Home which is the title of his newest album. Peter has a huge fan base and the exuberant demographically diverse audience were joining in on some of the new refreshing songs coming from this innovative composer/singer/pianist. The exhilaration and musical arousal created by his piano playing reminded me of the description of the effect the great classical pianist Franz Liszt had on his audiences who on occasion could not control their enthusiasm. I must say I was taken by surprise at the start of Peter's performance. A tall thin guy sneaked onto the stage who I thought was the best looking piano tuner I'd ever seen. It looked like he was about to prepare the strings for the hammering they would soon endure, but it was Peter who put his hands on the keys and the brilliant overwhelming technique and creativity let loose. This was a show in every sense of the word.

Birdland, the venue that has presented so many music luminaries in it's long history had the Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Melissa Manchester on it's stage last night. Melissa, one of the true giants of the music world made her Birdland debut and celebrated the release of her 21st album, The Fellas. The album pays tribute to the male singers, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Mel Torme, and others who influenced her as a young artist.

Celebrities, lovers, fun seekers, and glamorous sophisticated New Yorkers can be found at The Carlyle's Bememlmans Bar on Sunday nights from 9-12 getting a major dose of great music and wit as Jim Caruso and  Billy Stritch hold court on Bobby Short street. There was a hurricane in Florida but everything was Sunny inside the Carlyle last night and Broadwayworld was there.

It's a world where the norms of the past are being challenged on a daily basis.  We don't have  Walter Cronkite to tell us 'that's the way it is', and respect for elected officials, symbols, and monuments is tried and tested every day. Sometimes I scratch my head wondering why I don't always 'get' the new notes, harmonies, lyrics, or humor anymore.  So for me, walking into The Carlyle, past the photos of JFK, Jackie, and Bobby Short, and then proceeding into Cafe Carlyle to hear the music of Herb Alpert is a welcome respite in melodic heaven.  Herb's trumpet doesn't overwhelm you with his amount of notes or volume, rather he overwhelms you with his melodies and elegant sophisticated improvisation, and of course so many of the tunes on his song list are hits he's made famous.  It gets better….Lani Hall, Herb's wife who started her career as the lead singer of Sergio Medes' legendary group, Brazil 66 is on stage with him to supply vocals.

Stephen Sondheim was in the audience at Barrington Stage Company's production of COMPANY the night before, but last night it was all about Joe Iconis and family appearing on the dark Mainstage for a one night concert as COMPANY rested for the evening.  Mr. Sondheim was  highly enthusiastic for the Julianne Boyd directed COMPANY and spent time with Aaron Tveit and the cast after the show.  It was an historic evening for the BSC community as Stephen Sondheim was generous with his praise for all involved with the production, which is the talk of the Berkshires this season. 

Standing Room Only took on a whole other meaning during the Diana Ross performance at Tanglewood last night.  Yes, there was a seat or patch of grass grass for all who attended her concert, but sitting while being thrilled by Ms. Ross wasn't an option. 

STING, one of the most influential people in the world, (TIME Magazine) brought his 57th & 9th World Tour to Tanglewood last night, and BroadwayWorld was there.

When she was a teenager Julie Budd was introduced to audiences by the likes of Ed Sullivan, Merv Griffin, Johnny Carson, Carol Burnett, Danny Thomas, and Liberace, to name just a few.  Julianne Boyd, artistic director of Barrington Stage Company did the honors on the first night of Julie Budd's engagement at Mr. Finn's Cabaret.  The casual summer audience realized this would be a different night as Julie's band under the direction of renowned arranger/producer/pianist Herb Bernstein enter Mr. Finn's attired in tuxedos and Julie looking every bit the glamorous singer she is was wearing a gown.   Julie Budd has enjoyed a legendary career.  Today Julie continues to perform her concerts and one-woman shows, nationally and internationally while adding some of the most prestigious stages to her roster: Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, London Palladium, Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center and many of the finest Las Vegas Showrooms.

Elizabeth Aspenlieder was the best date you could have in the Berkshires last night.  Elizabeth directed and starred in the hilarious and heartbreaking story, Bad Dates presented in the Tina Packer Playhouse at Shakespeare & Co. 

It was one of the most memorable nights of music ever heard in the Pavilion at the legendary French Woods, the French Woods Symphony Orchestra of 62 camp musicians was augmented by 15 Staff members and 15 members of The New York Pops under the baton of Maestro Steven Reineke, music director and conductor of The New York Pops.

No, not in the 1980's when he was a teenage camper.  It happened last night in the Pavilion at French Woods, whose stage has been the spawning ground for many of the actors and musicians who subsequently went on to Broadway.  Ron Schaefer the founder and owner of the camp didn't need to introduce Jason by listing his credits.  The 500 plus campers who filled every inch of space in the Pavilion were very familiar with Jason's work. The cheers and squeals when he appeared on the stage indicated he is one of their musical theatre heros.  Not only did they mouth the words while he was singing and playing the piano, at times Jason pointed to them and the campers responded by singing the next lyric. Some of them surrounding us were even supplying his complicated harmonies as back up.  This was some fantastic bit of spontaneous  sing-a-long, unlike any I've ever heard at a concert.

Somewhere In Time, after another century of marvelous concerts at the MAHAIWE I'm sure Great Barrington audiences will be pointing out that the extraordinarily gifted Broadway star Sutton Foster sang here.  But as they gaze at the historic entertainment photos displayed on the walls of it's lower lobby they will only be able to imagine the heavenly sounds of Sutton Foster's voice.  They will not be able to experience how Sutton held an audience spell bound with singing that makes you want to cheer after every selection, except for the fact that you don't want to interrupt the exceptional musical moment. 

Barrington Stage Company (recently voted Best of The Berkshires) set a new record at the opening night of Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY last night. There appeared to be more selfie photos attempted of Aaron Tveit the show's star and cast leaving the stage door of the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage than happen by the ever present throngs in Broadway's Shubert Alley a show. Aaron, who was Bobby in the extraordinary production directed by BSC's founder and artistic director Julianne Boyd, was mobbed by  what seemed like the entire audience asTveit and the cast tried exit the stage door and continue on to the after party at the home of BSC Chair, Minky and Bruno Quinson. 

It was a memorable eventing of music in New York City last night as John Pizzarelli with Daniel Jobim and Special Guest Jessica Molaskey opened at Birdland on 44th street and Michael Feinstein opened on 54th street.