Eda Sorokoff News

It isn't just her New Year's Eve Party that launched the start of a great new New York City Cabaret year.  Marilyn Maye is also keeping the musical festivities going at the Metropolitan Room on Jan. 6,7,11,12,13, and 14th.  It's become one of the hottest tickets in town.  Her song selection may be a little different than New Years but the excitement and excellence of her performance are the same.  The Metropolitan Room is also launching their new menu selections for 2017.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series presented internet sensation Randy Rainbow hosting a Pre-Inaugural Situation at the historic music room last night and BroadwayWorld was there.

It may not have been Times Square, but 22nd street was the place to be for a celebration as Marilyn created the greatest New Years party ever. You just don't attend a Marilyn Maye performance, you live it, feel it, and it embeds itself in your musical soul forever. We don't know what's going to happen this year, but seeing Billy Stritch & Marilyn perform started it off in a wonderfully optimistic way. They re-create the excitement on Jan 5,6,7,11,12,13,& 14 at the Metropolitan Room

See Shawn Moninger in his second foray onto the cabaret stage BECAUSE I CAN 2 'SECOND ADDICTION'

You might think of Bing, Andy or Perry when you think Christmas Music Specials, but for the past seven years it's been BIlly, Jim, and Klea with an an extraordinary presentation of swinging Holiday music.  This year it's only on the Birdland schedule for 3 nights because the the trios sleigh took them to folks on the other side of the country too.  You can still get this present  on Sat. 12/24 and Sunday 12/25 at Birdland. 

KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler brought their show "Almost Like Being In Love" to the Laurie Beechman Theatre last night and BroadwayWorld was there.

Six Grammy Award nominations, Two Emmy Awards, Nominations for Drama Desk, Tony Award, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle Award.  The recipients were on 54's stage yesterday in two separate shows and if there is another award for great nights at Feinstein's/54 Below it would be given to Michael Feinstein's A Holiday to Remember at 7PM and Norm Lewis's 'I'll Be Home For Christmas' at 9:30. 

It was cold in NYC last night but the warmth of the music created by The New York Pops and guest artists, sisters Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway ,and brothers Will and Anthony Nunziata carried over to the after party across the street from Carnegie Hall.

The 2016 ASCAP FOUNDATION HONORS were given out last night at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Appel Room last night and BroadwayWorld was there.

Gabrielle Stravelli performed at SubCulture last night to celebrate the launch of her new CD Dream Ago and BroadwayWorld was there.

Bryna Wasserman officially stepped down as executive director of The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (NYTF) last night at a lavish gala concert and dinner honoring Golden Globe nominee and Tony winner Liev Schreiber.  The 'Golden Gala' at the Museum of Jewish Heritage featured a concert starring a line-up of young performers with dazzling voices, including three stars of the Drama Desk-nominated musical, 'The Golden Bride,' Rachel Policar, Cameron Johnson and Adam B. Shapiro. They were joined by two superlative young singers, Grace Field and Daniel Greenwood.  Folksbiene's artistic director Zalmen Mlotek led a 16-piece orchestra.

Some of the best stories begin in the "Green Room" at the 77WABC studios where "The Late" Joey Reynolds broadcasts very live. Last night's guests included Academy Award Nominated Actor and Cabaret performer Danny Aiello, Super Singer Julie Budd, and comic Steven Scott. KT Sullivan was also scheduled, but was having so much fun at that Green Room party that she didn't make it into the studio on time. Danny Aiello talked about his Annual Christmas Party which takes place at The Triad on December 19th and Julie Budd, who appeared with "The Chairman" many times appropriately brought her new album for his birthday -  Mr. Sinatra. Joey Reynolds' famous Cheese Cake also made an appearance on the show.   

Remember in the golden era of live night club shows when the star of the show had a great opening act?  A Boca Raton audience got a double dose of entertainment last night as legendary actor, comedian, (and if you didn't know it WW ll hero) Marty Allen brought his show to the Boca Black Box.  In true show biz tradition the audience was warmed up, or more accurately put thrilled and fired up by the exciting vocalist pianist, and songwriter, Karon Kate Backwell.  She possesses all the excitement and talents of a Wayne Newton, Jerry Lee Lewis and Celine Dion. The audience gave her a standing ovation and so did her husband of 31 years Marty Allen.  

Seven-time Grammy Award-winner Gladys Knight, known as the 'Empress of Soul' performed at the 23rd Annual LIFE 'Lady in Red' Gala and BroadwayWorld was there.

He's been swinging and singing the holiday season at The Carlyle for the past 11 years, and Tyrell's songs, warmth, good feelings and musicianship have never been more impressively on display then in his 12th year. Last night he welcomed New Yorkers to his 2016 engagement at the legendary hotel.  You can only compare a Steve Tyrell performance to the happiness an audience must have experienced when seeing such super stars as Perry Como, Dean Martin, Glen Campbell or similar male vocalists. Singers who kept their audiences tunefully engrossed and mentally jubilant during their shows.  The Grammy Award-winner and two-time Emmy nominee has settled in for a five-week run at Cafe Carlyle. 

Playwright, screenwriter, and author Tony Kushner was presented the Louis Auchincloss Prize last night at The Museum Of The City Of New York and BroadwayWorld was there.

TV producer and comedian Angela LaGreca hosted the Sunshine Commitee's Comedy & Raffle Night at the Friars Club last night and BroadwayWorld was there for the fun.  A group of very funny comics kept the Friars laughing in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room as they raised funds for the important work of the Sunshine Committee.

Husband-and-wife duo John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey made their annual fall pilgrimage to Cafe Carlyle with an all-new show, The Arc of a Love Affair  last night and BroadwayWorld was there. The show runs November 22-December 1.

Joe Sirola, who has been seen or heard in over 10,000 commercials brought his one man show "With A Little Bit Of Luck" to the Metropolitan Room yesterday. The audience didn't need much selling to realize why this fantastic actor has had such a successful career in Film, TV and on the stage.  Unlike his commercials which were replayed many times (much to his financial pleasure) it was a one time event at the world famous Cabaret on 22nd street in Manhattan.    

The 90th Macy's Day parade balloons will not pass by the Friars Club on 55th street but the celebrity guests at the club got to see some great photos of them yesterday at the club.  Sheldon and Margery Harnick hosted a Book Launch Party for Matt Harnick who has a wonderful new book © Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: A New York City Holiday Tradition, Rizzoli N.Y. 2016, which is filled with exclusive photography by Matt, along with archival images of the spectacular floating balloons.  The book offers a never-before-seen look at the planning and preparation of the parade.  Italy features text by Stephen M. Silverman, Foreword by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Afterword by Terry J. Lindgren, Chairman & CEO of Macy's Inc. in conjunction with this milestone anniversary.  The guests in the Milton Berle Room of the Friars Club were also treated to a performance by Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin and a conversation with Sheldon Harnick, Matt Harnick and Amy Kule, Executive Producer of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  It was a great afternoon and it was nice and warm watching the parade go by inside the club.