Celia Berk News

When Michael Silversher wrote A Simple Prayer after 9 11, he couldn't have known it would become a musical offering of hope during another world crisis almost twenty years later.

Stephen Mosher returns with his 20th Pandemic Playlist featuring the great talents of the nightclub industry.

On Monday, March 30th, the 2020 MAC Awards were broadcast via Facebook Live from the living rooms or Lennie Watts and Amy Wolk/Lorinda Lisitza in a split-screen presentation in which The Three Stooges of Cabaret made their community of artists laugh with many hi-jinks, giggles, grins, silliness, and an ongoing series of the new MAC Award theme song, penned by Wolk and Lisitza themselves. The intent was to bring some levity to a difficult time in the world and, judging by the comment scroll during the home-made telecast, the hardworking trio tickled the funnybones of many. As names were announced, recipients called in to say a few words (apropos to the proceedings, Mr. Watts' telephone ringtone is the Benny Hill theme song) and particularly moving speeches from the proceedings came from Lisa Viggiano, Meg Flather, and Jeff Harnar. The entire show can be seen on Broadway World HERE. Results of the voting can be seen below.

With the Coronavirus stopping all social gatherings and causing the closing of Don't Tell Mama for the duration, MAC has made a change from the previously announced event which was to be held at the club.

The MAC Awards were scheduled to be celebrated on March 30th at Sony Hall. Instead they will be announced via Facebook Live from Lennie Watts' home. The times are a little different now, but the celebration of art is the same.

Award-winning vocalist Celia Berk returns to Birdland Theater on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 7pm with a show of all-new material. Berk is again joined by pianist and collaborator Sean Gough, with whom she earned a 2019 BroadwayWorld Best Duo award nomination. Meeting at an intersection between jazz and cabaret, their unique program will again feature hidden gems by great songwriters, including Carly Simon, Johnny Mandel, Jerry Herman, and Billy Goldenberg, who has entrusted Celia and Sean with songs never before heard by New York audiences.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) has announced the 2020 MAC Award nominees. The nominees were determined by votes cast by the active MAC membership, except for the four song and recording categories, which were determined by special committees.

Stephen Mosher looks back at the cabaret scene, as captured by his camera in 2019

Like a holiday cabaret buffet, Rybeck, a musical maven if ever there was one, has assembled these 4 gifted artists in a way that represents the variety of talents available to patrons of the clubs. With youthful Axelrod appearing alongside soulful Berk, and old-fashioned Dozier sharing the stage with sophisticated Oberlin, the merging of musical styles and performance moods in the show are a beautiful bounty of holiday blessings.

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! The people have spoken nominations are set, and now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

5 of cabarets luminaries gather together to celebrate the holidays with wit, style, music and friendship at The Beach Café in 4 FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Here, Stephen Mosher talks with Misters Rybeck, Axelrod and Dozier and Misses Berk and Oberlin.

It's December! Voting is now underway for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! Now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatres and performers are recognized. Check out the first set of stats below.

Cabaret lovers will have many memories from the Mabel Mercer Foundation's 2019 New York Cabaret Convention. Attendees to all four of the presentations at Rose Theater will no doubt have their favorite music moments from the performances of the more than 75 cabaret artists. However, perhaps the most enduring remembrance will be the remarkable organizational abilities and intelligence of the foundations artistic director, it's face (and hat) of the convention… KT Sullivan. Just imagine how difficult it must be to satisfy the requirements of 75 singers, make their moment in the spotlight as successful as it can be, and cope with the egos that are a necessary part of every performers DNA. All the while fulfilling the sophisticated and knowledgeable audience's expectations of a great show. There were many highs and “almost highs” during the 12 hours of music, and that's what makes it so exciting. Every artist brings their own unique talent to the stage.

It was a spectacular start to the four night 2019 Cabaret Convention at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater Last night.

Venerated songwriter and singer Meg Flather brings immaculate marriages of her music and her singing sisters of cabaret to Don't Tell Mama in this show celebrating her work, her friends and sisterhood.

In a combined triumph for the Classic Popular Songbook, its purveyors and adherents, and the professionalism and perseverance of THE MABEL MERCER FOUNDATION, that unique organization presents its 30th Annual New York Cabaret Convention at The Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, beginning Monday, October 28th and running through Thursday, October 31st. The four individual concerts will be offered at 6:00 PM each evening, and more than seventy-five vocalists and musicians are scheduled to perform. Tickets are on sale at the Jazz at Lincoln Center box office and www.jazz.org starting today, Monday, September 9.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) announces the fifth year of its MAC TO SCHOOL weekend event.

In a combined triumph for the Classic Popular Songbook, its purveyors and adherents, and the professionalism and perseverance of The Mabel Mercer Foundation, that unique organization presents its THIRTIETH annual New York Cabaret Convention at The Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, beginning Monday, October 28th and running through Thursday, October 31th. The four individual concerts will be offered at 6 o'clock each evening, and more than seventy-five vocalists and musicians are scheduled to perform.

A group of cabaret newcomers and veterans alike will join Meg Flather on July 14 and September 14 at Don't Tell Mama for MEG FLATHER SONGS: A CABARET SISTERHOOD, performing the work of the MAC and Bistro Award winner.

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with the following acts: