Catherine Adler News

Prediction:  for the next few days, everyone will be talking about Hugh Panaro and his mesmerizing solo concert debut here in New York City, at 54 Below.  What took so long? Who Knows.  But that doesn’t matter anymore because his two-day run on October 5th and 6th is totally sold out, which means he’ll be back and, surely, be exporting this all over the country, to London, Canada, and Australia, where audiences love exactly what he is giving them- BROADWAY, and plenty of it, but through the singular lens of his career. 

The Museum of Broadway has announced the first special exhibit that will be featured in the Museum, The American Theatre as seen by Hirschfeld, curated by David Leopold, Creative Director of The Al Hirschfeld Foundation.

The 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY) will present a conversation with Tom Stoppard on Sunday, September 18 at 4:30pm at the 92nd Street Y.

Broadway rehearsals have begun for Leopoldstadt, Tom Stoppard's Olivier Award-winning Best New Play, directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Patrick Marber and produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Roy Furman, and Lorne Michaels.

Today, The Museum of Broadway announced a group of featured artists who have designed various rooms and exhibits within the Museum, as well as their team of expert curators. Tickets will go on sale on June 14th. 

Broadway, Cabaret, Concert superstar, and artistic director of The Mabel Mercer Foundation was at a table at the Pelican Cafe Cabaret last night and guess what? Rob Russell ( Mr. Palm Beach) interrupted her dinner and invited KT up to join local singing sensation Alexandra Lewis and famed pianist Rick Krieve (Deana Martin MD).  

Rob Russell survived the pandemic and two heart operations this past year so his return to the stage caused a joyous celebration last night at the Pelican Cafe Cabaret.   His Palm Beach fans gave him a standing ovation as they sang “It’s so nice to have you back where you belong” to “Mr. Palm Beach”.  

Friends, Celebrities, Fans, Dick Robinson’s Legends Radio, together with Mo Rocca and the CBS Sunday Morning Show crew were all in the Cabaret Room at The Wick Theater last night for a momentous performance by Marilyn Maye on the occasion of her 93rd Birthday.  It wasn’t only CBS that had its cameras on for the big event. 

Imagine  a night club gig starring  Mel Torme, with Anita O’Day or Ella Fitzgerald as his guest vocalist, and the Oscar Peterson Trio backing them up.  That’s the way it sounded in the Wick Theater’s Cabaret last night as the award winning singer Nicolas King had guest vocalist Veronica Swift and pianist Mike Renzi and trio on the stage with him.  It was a musically sophisticated audience at the dinner tables for this show.. Everyone in the elegant room had reserved well in advance.  

Pandemics can't stop Broadway Global Producer of the Year nominations!

The Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of writers on New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers and national publications, today announced its plans for honoring the 2019-2020 season of Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents the 2019 TRU Love Benefit: Follow Your Art, Fulfill Your Dreams, on Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 12noon at Caroline's on Broadway, 1626 Broadway (between 49th & 50th Streets). Tickets start at $85 (show only, and two drinks). For additional information and ticket tier pricing, please visit https://truonline.org/events/2019-tru-love-benefit/.

Just last night, Primary Stages held its 35th Anniversary Gala, honor ingPulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck (Downstairs, Bernhardt/Hamlet), and Tony Award-winning producers from the Primary Stages family Jamie deRoy (The Ferryman, Little Women), Dasha Epstein (Ain't Misbehavin', Exits and Entrances), Susan Rose (The Band's Visit, Sabina), and Cheryl Wiesenfeld (Ain't Too Proud, In the Continuum). 

Houses on the Moon Theater Company/HOTM, the acclaimed New York based not-for-profit theatre company with a mission to “dispel ignorance and isolation through the theatrical amplification of unheard voices,” held their 7th Annual Gala Fundraiser, “Amplify 2019,” on Monday evening, October 7, 2019 at The Cutting Room.

You can go to the Museum of the City of New York to relive our town's exciting history or you can walk into Patsy's Italian Restaurant on 56th street and sit at the same table that Frank Sinatra and his pals dined at.  Dean Martin also had his spaghetti at Patsy's. Last night his daughter Deana Martin enjoyed some Pasta (although she doesn't look like she ever touched the carbs) topped with Patsy's great sauce (also on your grocers shelves) during the establishment's 75th Anniversary  invited guests only celebration.  You can also sit at the tables where present celebrities such as Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Madonna, George Clooney, Sean “Diddy” Combs, David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey, Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Lopez, Barbara Streisand, Tony Bennett, Robert DeNiro, Michael Buble, Don Rickles, Josh Groban, Jacklyn Smith, Phyllis George, Calvin Klein, Jerry Seinfeld, James Gandolfini, Christie Brinkley, Jon Bon Jovi, Liza Minelli, Chris Noth, Tony Danza, Farrah Fawcett, Kate Hudson, Chevy Chase, Cheryl Ladd, and Patty LaBelle,  regularly enjoy arguably some of the finest Italian cuisine in the world.  Geno Vento, Owner of the Philadelphia Original Geno's Cheesesteak even flew in for the event to get tips on how to successfully serve food for 75 years.  Who knows, maybe they served Italian baby food in 1944 when “Patsy” Scognamillo opened the place and my parents took me along with them.

Last night it was an emotional unforgettable evening as Jason Danieley honored his late wife Marin Mazzie with Sunflower Power Hour, a benefit concert in support of Cancer Support Community.

No, it wasn't an accident the first time around in July. Just as Broadway (Chicago) has recognized her abilities and consistency of excellence so have Haley Swindal's audience's. The only difference in her performance last night was that that black is the new red and Feinstein's/54 Below had another Stephen (Sondheim) in the audience. Here's my review of Haley's July show which was corroborated last night.

The Cast of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish may have been expelled from their Home in Anatevka but they were royally welcomed to Home (Plate) at Yankee Stadium yesterday!

Mario Lanza brought Opera to Hollywood and Sean Patrick Murtagh brought Mario Lanza to the Cabaret World at The Green Room 42 last night. Sean's lyric baritone effectively handled the repertoire usually sung by a tenor's voice and brought a distinctive vivacity to the songs usually associated with Mario Lanza and other celebrated tenors. Actually this show was about Mario and Richard (not Tucker). It was a heartfelt tribute to Sean's vocal teacher Richard who first exposed him to the Mario Lanza songbook. With his superior musical theater acting skills and charming personality Sean Patrick Murtagh is an exciting addition to the Cabaret World. Similar to the Metropolitan Opera, The Green Room 42 was full of Bravo's last night and I was thinking 3 Tenors plus 1 great Lyric Baritone would also make a great performance.

In the theater community Jamie deRoy is a well known Broadway producer but in the Friars community she is also acclaimed as an entertainer. Friar Jamie deRoy furthermore has the distinction of being the 8th woman to become a Friar subsequent to the men's only club changing it's rules in 1988. Jamie deRoy who is usually the earliest to spot an opportunity had to wait behind the likes of Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers Gloria Allred, and Brooke Shields who were also among the first to join the Friars Club.