Amanda McBroom News

If you're wondering whether or not 2013 was a fantastic year for the cabaret art form in New York, all you have to do is scan the amazing list of nominees for this year's BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards and you'll know it was one of the best ever. So now it's time for all you cabaret performers and fans to vote for the best singers, musicians, songs, and shows of the year. Voting will continue until Sunday night January 5 and the winners will be announced later that week. We hope that all the winners will be able to perform in the Award show on Sunday night February 23 at Joe's Pub.

Move over Grinch; Santa Claus is coming to town and taking up residence at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura! Rubicon's November/ December HOLIDAY CENTRAL calendar offers a sparkling array of more than 35 shows and events for all ages. The festivities begin with the return of a holiday revue with six Broadway singers and a local children's chorus; followed by a late-night adult comedy presented in a cabaret setting; a poetic reading of wartime love letters; and culminating with an enchanting new musical from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director of Les Miserables and Nicholas Nickleby and the creators of Jane Eyre and Daddy Long Legs, who will have a five-week residency at Rubicon during the holidays.

Please help salute renowned music historian Rick Starr, former manager of the legendary sheet music store Hollywood Sheet Music, and pillar of the entertainment community. Rick offered his expertise in classic popular song and theatre music to scores of singers over the years.

Move over Grinch; Santa Claus is coming to town and taking up residence at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura! Rubicon's November/ December HOLIDAY CENTRAL calendar offers a sparkling array of more than 35 shows and events for all ages. The festivities begin with the return of a holiday revue with six Broadway singers and a local children's chorus; followed by a late-night adult comedy presented in a cabaret setting; a poetic reading of wartime love letters; and culminating with an enchanting new musical from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director of Les Miserables and Nicholas Nickleby and the creators of Jane Eyre and Daddy Long Legs, who will have a five-week residency at Rubicon during the holidays.

Please help salute renowned music historian Rick Starr, former manager of the legendary sheet music store Hollywood Sheet Music, and pillar of the entertainment community. Rick offered his expertise in classic popular song and theatre music to scores of singers over the years.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) just featured Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Stephanie Umoh(Ragtime), Jim Stanek (Freud's Last Session) and Host Edward Hibbert as The Drowsy Chaperone's 'Man in Chair', Wicked composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber (Shrek the Musical), Telly Leung (TV's 'Glee'), Ciara Renee (Big Fish) and Sarah Stiles (Into the Woods) in SHOW OFF!, in a benefit concert celebrating 25 years of NAMT's Annual Festival of New Musicals last night, October 20 at 7pm at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.

The Show Goes On Productions presents To Carry On... a Tribute to the Life and Music of Laura Nyro written and performed by Mimi Cohen. Gretchen Cryer directs and Jeffrey Klitz music directs. The production opens on Ms. Nyro's 66th birthday, tonight, October 18th, and runs for six performances beginning tonight, October 18 to Sunday, October 27, 2013, at The TBG Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor in NYC.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today that Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Stephanie Umoh (Ragtime), Jim Stanek (Freud's Last Session) and Host Edward Hibbert as The Drowsy Chaperone's "Man in Chair" join Wicked composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber (Shrek the Musical), Telly Leung (TV's "Glee"), Ciara Renee (Big Fish) and Sarah Stiles (Into the Woods) in SHOW OFF!, a benefit concert celebrating 25 years of NAMT's Annual Festival of New Musicals on Sunday, October 20 at 7pm at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square).

One night only - Please help salute renowned musicologist Rick Starr, former manager of the legendary Hollywood Sheet Music. Rick was a pillar of the entertainment community who offered his expertise in classic popular song and theatre music to scores of singers. All proceeds will be donated to The Actors Fund. Directed by David Galligan, celebrated director of the famed annual S.T.A.G.E. Benefit Concert Series. Musical director, Tom Griep, along with Randy Landas on bass and Denise Fraser on drums, leads an outstanding line-up of performers singing songs chosen for them by Rick. All proceeds will benefit The Actors Fund.

Last night was Falling In Love With Love: The songs of Rodgers & Hart, hosted by Andrea Marcovicci andJeff Harnar; performances by the cohosts plus, Karen Akers, Christine Andreas, Joyce Breach, Anna Bergman, Liz Callaway, Lauren Fox, Eric Michael Gillett, Clint Holmes, Todd Murray, Steve Ross, and Iris Williams. Check out photos below!

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today that Wicked composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber (Shrek the Musical), Telly Leung (TV's 'Glee'), Ciara Renee (Big Fish) and Sarah Stiles (Into the Woods) are scheduled to appear in SHOW OFF!, a benefit concert celebrating 25 years of NAMT's Annual Festival of New Musicals on Sunday, October 20 at 7pm at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square).

The Show Goes On Productions presents To Carry On… a Tribute to the Life and Music of Laura Nyro written and performed by Mimi Cohen. Gretchen Cryer directs and Jeffrey Klitz music directs. The production opens on Ms. Nyro's 66th birthday, Friday, October 18th, and runs for six performances beginning Friday, October 18 to Sunday, October 27, 2013, at The TBG Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor in NYC.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson Managing Director, welcomed back award-winning singer/songwriter Michele Brourman and Heather Mac Rae with Love & Take Out, for two performances September 21 at 9:30pm and September 22 at 7:30pm at Mr. Finn's Cabaret, located on the lower level of the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

The Development Wing which has dedicated itself to nurturing new musicals via partnerships with regional, not for profit theaters will hold its exclusive, intimate one-night-only benefit concert featuring Broadway stars singing songs from several new musicals at the historic Tewksbury, New Jersey home of Cherie King, President, The Development Wing and her husband composer, lyricist and book writer, Jonathan Brielle, Artistic Director of The Development Wing and Vice Chairman, The Johnny Mercer Foundation.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced their brilliant line-up of marvelous talent for the month of October 2013. Birdland will kick-off their electrifying month of programming with the following acts:

The Development Wing which has dedicated itself to nurturing new musicals via partnerships with regional, not for profit theaters will hold its exclusive, intimate one-night-only benefit concert featuring Broadway stars singing songs from several new musicals at the historic Tewksbury, New Jersey home of Cherie King, President, The Development Wing and her husband composer, lyricist and book writer, Jonathan Brielle, Artistic Director of The Development Wing and Vice Chairman, The Johnny Mercer Foundation.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced initial casting for the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

On September 21, Macchia--who works full-time as a florist by day and part-time as a manager at the Metropolitan Room by night--will celebrate his 'Fierce and Fabulous' 40th birthday with the launch of Season Eight of Cabaret Cares. Over the first seven years of the variety series, now staged at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, Macchia has raised more than $80,000 to help children from infants to teenagers suffering from HIV and AIDS. During the first year, funds raised through the Cabaret Cares benefit shows helped 22 children. Now Macchia's Help Is On The Way charity-which is run out of Joseph's home and has no salaried staff--services around 650 kids, supplying everything from school backpacks to weeks at a summer camp.

3-D Theatriclas presents Funny Girl Sept 6 - Sept 22, 2013 at the Plummer Auditorium, and Sept 27 - Sept 29, 2013 at Redondo Beach. Funny Girl is a musical with a book by Isobel Lennart, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Bob Merrill. The semi-biographical plot is based on the life and career of Broadway, film star and comedienne Fanny Briceand her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nick Arnstein. Its original title was My Man.

One of the biggest downers perpetrated by American culture is the characterization of Labor Day weekend as the 'unofficial end of summer.' But given what has passed for cabaret entertainment-at least the shows I was able to attend--since the 'unofficial start of summer' on Memorial Day weekend, the end of summer can't come soon enough. But my dismay over the hours lost watching average shows this season was tempered a bit by the pride and joy I felt watching the June performances of three strikingly attractive and talented 30ish brunettes with powerhouse voices-- Jackie Kristel, Karen Gross and Jodi Beck, who all staged entertaining shows as spring was turning to summer.