Eda Sorokoff News

Essential Voices USA (EVUSA) presented BEYOND BROADWAY: COMPOSERS GO CHORAL at the DiMenna Space for Classical Music last night and broadwayworld was there.

Just coming off of her Tony-winning performance in Broadway's HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, Lena Hall made her Cafe Carlyle debut last night, April 7. The show continues through April 18. Check out a first look at the show below!

Stacy Sullivan brought her new show, "Since You've Asked' to The Metropolitan Room last night and broadwayworld was there. Whether you're a fan of The Great American Songbook or VH1, you'll find something to love within this eclectic evening of music and story. With musical director Troy Fannin on guitar, Matthew Watanabe on piano, and Jaime Mohamdein on bass, Sullivan has created her most personal, thought-provoking evening to date. With music by Randy Newman, Nina Simone, Ray LaMontagne, Hoagy Carmichael, Judy Collins, Ed Sheeran, Woodie Guthrie, Stevie Nicks, Cole Porter, George Harrison, Noel Coward, David Hajdu, Fred Hersch, Jonsi, Stephen Schwartz...and others.

World-renowned maestro and violinist Itzhak Perlman just headlined a concert and gala celebrating National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene's 100th anniversary and honoring legendary financier and philanthropist Sanford I. Weill and Broadway impresario Jordan Roth last night, at Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street and Seventh Avenue. NYTF is the longest consecutively-producing Jewish Arts company in the world.

The Metropolitan Room became one of those Art Deco Night Clubs in a1940 Black & White Movie last night. Harking back to the days when the girl singers had that luscious, sensual, understated, but spectacular voices and musicianship that made every person in the room fall in love with them. Although I have ears that sometimes show signs of wear and tear from a lifetime of hearing a lot of stuff, Celia's ability to annunciate and melodically roll out lyrics had me hearing vowels and consonants I usually miss in a crowded noisy cabaret. Come to think of it, the Metropolitan Room had the quietness of a recording studio as the very musically sophisticated audience was held in rapt attention by Celia's artistry. I would be enamored with any song she wrapped her voice around, but her unique song selection made the evening especially compelling. How fitting it was the Stacy Sullivan and Joanne Tatham were in the audience. Two singers that represent that same kind of sexy, restrained and understated musical excellence that Celia Berk possesses. It was also ironic that the title song of the show ( You Can't Rush Spring) was written by another of my favorite ladies - Ann Hampton Callaway.

The show started off with a bang as Steven Maglio was "requested" by Dominic Chianese to introduce the evening. Dominic Chianese, the multi talented actor who is best known for his role as "Junior" in The Sopranos, can also sing (not as in FBI). There were a lot of "family" present for this yearly event at the Friars Club. Good food and good entertainment by fellow Friars were the specials of the day as General Manager Michael Caputo and Food & Beverage Director Giuseppe Tarillo expertly guided the evening. Even Chazz Palminteri (A Bronx Tale) luckily gave a thumbs up!

Cabaret had it's beginnings in Germany, so I guess it was "Bashert" (yiddish - meant to be) that the German and Romanian Ambassadors were among those that filled the Actors Temple last night to hear acclaimed European Cabaret Star Adrienne Haan perform. As Rabbi Jill Hausman pointed out in her opening remarks, "actors have always used their talents to raise money for the historic shul".

There are eight million stories in the Naked City-and a song to go with each of them. For decades, songwriters - from Porter, Rodgers & Hart and Ellington to Bernstein and Billy Joel have been fueled by this city's places, promises and roller coaster existence. With Lyrics & Lyricists production of New York: Songs of the City, artistic director Deborah Grace Winer had the ultimate show for New Yorkers-or anyone who's ever wanted to be one. Vocalists Klea Blackhurst, Darius de Haas, La Tanya Hall, Leslie Kritzer, Jeffrey Schecter, and pianist/vocalist Billy Stritch-brought the sounds of the city to life on March 21, 22 and 23.

The Grand Ballroom at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club was filled with concerned and caring Palm Beach residents who support the American Humane Association. The association has been protecting children and animals for more than 138 years and the afternoon's event highlighted the courageous K-9 Battle Buddies, who have served along side our troops in war zones around the world. Naomi Judd was a special guest at the event and there were performances by "American Idol's" Stefano and Palm Beach favorites Will and Anthony Nunziata.

On Friday night, The New York Pops continued its 31st season with two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster in her solo debut at Carnegie Hall. Among other musical standards, Foster reprised her unforgettable performances of 'Anything Goes' and 'I Get a Kick Out of You' from her Tony Award-winning turn as Reno Sweeney in the Cole Porterclassic. She also offered her own take on 'Down with Love,' made famous by Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. Foster was joined by special guest artists Joshua Henry and Megan McGinnis, who sang the showstopper 'Let It Sing' from Violet, and the touching 'Neverland' from Peter Pan. Check out photos from inside the after party below!

Detroit came to Boca Raton yesterday at Lynn University. Jan McArt founder and producer of Libby Dodson"s "Live at Lynn" theatre series may soon have Dr. of Alternative Physical Therapy added to her titles. The sold out crowd at the Motown in Motion concert were tapping,clapping, swinging, and moving along pretty good to recreations of the great sounds of Tina Turner, The Supremes, The Temptations, Michael Jackson, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder and all the other great Motown Artists.

Steve Tyrell has brought the Brill Building (New York's legendary hit song making manufacturing edifice) down to Palm Beach with his current show at the Royal Room. Check out photos from his latest performance below!

It was all in the family and all for the family at The Friars Club last night. La Famiglia, Mishpucha, La Familia, CeMbR, Rat Pack, Broadway and Cabaret, were assembled by producers Laura Slutsky and Jamie at the Friars for a spectacular Jamie deRoy & friends show last night. You had to be in the family or know someone in the family to get into the sold out event. Probably no family gathering had so much fun, good food, and great performances as this one did.

The song list given to the lights and sound director Darwin Best at Cafe Carlyle starts off one of the hotels most memorable music offerings

The voice of the people sang and spoke out last night in Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater, Appel Room and Ertegun Atrium. Many of the world's finest musicians, and many of the finest citizens of NYC assembled to celebrate an effort to return 'The People's Opera' to New York. They did so in a Gala Concert and Dinner to honor the life of the late Maestro Julius Rudel, who was the Opera's General Director and Principal Conductor from 1957 to 1979.

Just like the breakfast specials in the sunshine state which cost you half as much as those offered around Columbus Circle, Lynn University audiences are now getting the best of Cabaret at a similar discount. Artistic Director KT Sullivan has connected The Mabel Mercer Foundation's Live at Lincoln Center to producer Jan McArt's Live at Lynn Cabaret Series. I don't have a photo of the Florida Hat KT wore when she opened the new series with her performance in January, but I do have plenty of photos of the Broadway and Cabaret star Sally Mayes in last nights wonderful performance at the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center. Jan and KT chose wisely in having a singer/actor of Sally's caliber take the stage of "Live at Lynn" to represent the excellence from Cabaret at Lincoln Center. Sally's theatrical voice and jazz vocals thrilled the salt & pepper haired Boca audience. It was wonderful to see the Florida crowd tapping their feet to a jazz waltz. I don't think it was because Sally sang a great tune about Viagra in the water that made the Lynn audience rise to their feet, she gave them a fun filled superb musical evening. Talking about jazz waltzes, Boca is in for a real treat when Marilyn Maye is "Live at Lynn" on June 7th, but first audiences will be treated to Eric Yves Garcia April 1, and Carol Woods on May 20th, two quality performers from the Mabel Mercer reservoir of talent.

There was astonishment on the faces of a packed Concert Hall at Lynn University in Boca Raton Florida, as Tommy Tune at the end of the show asked the audience to sing Happy 76th Birthday to him. The way Tune had just danced, sung, and charmed, no one including producer and Elizabeth Taylor look-a-like Jan McArt could believe the stunning nine time Tony Award winner was a senior citizen. A designated New York City Living Landmark had become a snowbird for the weekend to perform at the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center at Lynn University. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the event below!

Lives of the Saints, a world premiere collection of delightfully funny and unforgettable short plays by David Ives (All in the Timing, Venus in Fur) and directed by Tony Award winner John Rando (All in the Timing, On The Town, Urinetown), is currently playing at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street - a NEW 42ND STREET project. The limited engagement runs through March 27, 2015. Opening night is Tuesday, February 24 at 7PM. Check out photos from inside opening night below!

During World War ll actors were among the very few who were left untouched to do their craft in Germany. There was a women named Eleonore who started in theatre at age 12, acting on stage with her father, Heinrich Schroth. Eleonore was one of the last generations of the most famous acting family in Germany, dating back 5-6 generations (like our Barrymores). One branch of the family was French, and one of it's members was an actor and famous rebel in the French Revolution under Robespierre. His name was Collot d'Herbois. Eleonore later recalled of "touring" as an actor and having to travel to the next town in the back of a potato cart for the next show. Her father had to walk behind the cart because there wasn't room for him. It was the middle of winter and his shoes had worn out so he was almost barefoot. Her cousin, Hannelore Schroth, became the first famous movie star after the war, the German version of Elizabeth Taylor. Her Uncle, Carl-Heinz Schroth also became famous on film, and is known as one of the most famous historic German comic geniuses, actors, and directors. He had the longest running comedy series called"Karschunke und Sohn, which was an exact parallel to "Sanford and Son". Eleonore moved to the United States with her family in 1971.

In a few weeks Tovah Feldshuh will be attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Last night she took her inspired performance at 54 Below to new heights.