Eda Sorokoff News

The Broadway at Birdland concert series presented singer/pianist Steve Ross in “Songs I Love” last night. Steve looked back at his long career and revisited songs from his first recording (1979) and his more recent efforts celebrating Alan Jay Lerner, Noel Coward and Stephen Sondheim. KT Sullivan who is currently appearing with Steve at the Irish Repertory Theatre in LOVE, NOEL: The Songs and Letters of Noel Coward (written and devised by Barry Day) joined Steve for a few songs.

The man who has a supreme dexterity with words, who possess an ability to weave them together and create harmonious and engrossing ideas came to see the man ( and woman) who do the same with music notes last night at Birdland. Stephen Holden the esteemed music and theatre critic of the New York Times, now retired came to hear John Pizzarelli and his special but not surprising guest (wife) Jessica Molaskey.

Mr. Finn's Cabaret at Barrington Stage Company has become one of the countries leading presenters of the art form of cabaret. The road going from Birdland and Feinstein's/54 Below to Pittsfield Ma. now also comes from Las Vegas. Clint Holmes, one of the main attractions on the strip and in nightclubs around the country came to Barrington Stage Company last night and made the Berkshires and Mr. Finn's officially become part of the nightclub circuit.

Alan Cumming said it best: 'I've known Frances for almost 30 years but she never ceases to surprise and amaze me with the ways she reinvents herself, finding new levels of expression and excellence, always with total commitment and her signature sensual passion. I cannot wait to see what she does next.'

Last night at The Green Room 42 (570 10th Avenue), Broadway star and recording artist Luba Mason (Chicago, Jekyll & Hyde, How to Succeed, recently earned a Lucille Lortel nomination for her role in the acclaimed Public Theater production of Girl From The North Country) premiered a new Broadway-centric concert, Luba Mason - 5' 10' with the pianist & music director to so many Broadway stars and legendary singers, Billy Stritch!

Barrington Stage Co. presented award-winning composer, lyricist, arranger, orchestrator, director, virtuoso pianist, humorist and humanitarian Jason Robert Brown, on its stage for a concert last night, July 9.

Caruso's Cast Party with Billy Stritch, which is a New York City institution and sought after attraction at important cabaret venues nationwide wowed the audience at Mr. Finn's Cabaret at Barrington Stage Co. last night. Mr. (William) Finn himself was present for the always funny and sophisticated show biz banter that is the hallmark of any Cast Party when Caruso and Stritch bring their music and comedy to what is arguably the most famous 'Open Mic' in the entertainment world.

Joanna Gleason gave a  memorable performance in her superbly crafted, written and directed show last night at Feinstein's54 Below. Jeffrey Klitz, her music director and pianist, created some of the most haunting and extraordinary arrangements for a group of musicians consisting of guitar, banjo, autoharp, cello, percussion and 3 back-up vocalists called the Moontones.

You recently saw the television camera focus on David Yazbek seated in the audience at the Tony Awards and last night if you were at Feinstein's54 Below you saw him seated on the piano bench with his killer band and special guest Etai Benson in a thrilling performance by the composer himself.

Ann Hampton Callaway has had many of the world's greatest pianists, arrangers, and music directors accompanying her throughout her celebrated career. Last night at her show 'Jazz Goes To The Movies' sitting on the piano bench at Feinstein's54 Below she had the one who started with her at the very beginning. It was the one who probably knows how to pianistically surround her extraordinary artistry the best and the one who is able to create the harmonies that intertwine most effectively with her prodigious talent. It was Ann Hampton Callaway playing for herself!

It can be quite intimidating to perform in the Friars Club. Pre show a performer might be relaxing in the Billy Crystal Room on the main floor or upstairs in the Barbra Streisand Room.

Pittsfield's Mayor Linda Tyer officially declared June 24th as Barrington Stage Day as Barrington Stage Company celebrated its 25th Anniversary Season with its most successful Summer Gala honoring Founding Artistic Director Julianne Boyd.  The completely oversold event also raised 160K for The Julianne Boyd New Works Fund.

Barrington Stage Company presents Into the Woods with performances June 19 through July 13 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage.

Speaking French wasn't a requirement for a table at Yanna Avis' Cabaret show at the famed French Bistro La Goulue last night but it sure felt like everyone was fluent in the language. PADAM, PADAM, PADAM, an overflow audience could't resist the temptation to sing along with the alluring chanteuse at times who re-located the legendary New York City French establishment to Paris for the evening. Yanna made it a magical evening for all the patrons as they enjoyed the finest in French cuisine and the finest of French Cabaret.

Nicolas King, one of the most  exciting, talented and technically disciplined JazzPop voices around was swinging at The Green Room 42 last night.  

The temp may be a bit high during the summer months in Florida but the music at Jazz on a Summer Night With Jill & Rich was pretty cool (and Hot) at the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County last night.

There are many organizations that have been established to preserve our musical heritage and at the forefront of those that specialize in The Great American Songbook, Michael Feinstein's foundation is one of the most important and influential.  Last night at a private event Michael entertained for a Park Avenue apartment full of generous New Yorkers who had gathered to help support The Great American Songbook Foundation founded by Michael in 2007.

It's quite common to see crowds gathered on 54th street waiting to attend a show at Feinstein's/54 Below. In the case of John Lloyd Young last night there were also crowds waiting to get a glimpse of John leaving Broadway's Supper Club after his electrifying performance on it's stage. There are few artists with the voice and bio of John Lloyd Young.

In its 114 year life the Dutch Treat Club has had a membership that included, Jimmy Cagney, George S. Kaufman, Walter Cronkite, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein ll, and Presidents Hoover, Eisenhower, Truman, and Ford. The great Broadway producer George Abbot was a member for 52 years when he died at the age of 107. But enough about the past. This year this historic New York City institution which was founded by and for creative people decided to honor someone young, creative and contemporary, so they chose...Marilyn Maye…an artist for every generation.

Since it's inception in 1954 as a mother-daughter luncheon honoring Marlene Dietrich and her daughter Maria Riva the organization has raised more than $100 million and has established: a Wing for Prenatal Sutdies and Research in Birth Defects, a Clinical Research Institute for Child Development, and funded major research in immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy in cancer.