Eric Michael Gillett News

Eric Michael Gillett has done it all and he always does it with an open heart and open hand. His annual holiday gala for Benjamin House was only briefly threatened by the global health crisis - for Gillett, nothing can stop him from honoring his favorite organization to support.

These are tough times. There is no telling when they will get better. Many are choosing to do their shopping, holiday or other, buy patronizing the craftspeople who find themselves out of work at their usual career: show business. Take a look at what these talented folks have to offer, aside from their performance skills.

Whether it's a benefit or a birthday party, a Christmas show or a CD release, the nominees for the Broadway World Award as BEST SPECIAL EVENT, MULTIPLE were events where a good time was had by all.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) has announced the 2020 winners of the Dottie Burman and John Wallowitch songwriting awards. Each recipient receives $500.

MAC Award recipient Michael Kirk Lane has been singing less, and talking more, and the result is a much welcome program of interview shows through the 92Y

The Fountain Hills Theater complex, located in Arizona's Phoenix valley area, officially stopped live performances four weeks ago due to CDC and state and local guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Their production of the farce Footlight Frenzy was halted mid-run and an additional four more shows (which were in the rehearsal/planning stages) were also cancelled. This became the official end of their 2019-20 season, a full two months earlier than was planned. The safety of patrons, actors, volunteers, and staff remains their top priority during this time.

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.

As the cabaret community reaches out to fans and friends through Live Streaming Events, Stephen Mosher continues to bring their Youtube videos to homebound fans who yearn for their favorites.

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

Cabaret doyen Eric Michael Gillett brought his annual Christmas concert DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR! to The Laurie Beechman Theatre before taking it to North Carolina, and audiences were all aglow with joy.

Looking back on a memorable year in her teenage life, Robin Westle delights audiences and inspires in them some happy memories of their own youth.

'Slay it With Music In Concert' played to an ample house to benefit the INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, a global humanitarian aid, relief, and development nongovernmental organization founded by, get this, Albert FREEKIN Einstein (His actual full name lambkins... j/k). The IRC provides emergency aid and long-term assistance to refugees and those displaced by war, persecution, or natural disaster.

Eric Michael Gillett seems to describe himself as a sort of enigma who's just come to New York by chance. His latest soul-searching tour returned him once again to that happy place, the stage, where he could share the story of his career using witty retorts and of course, singing (something he's pretty good at).

Actor-Singer-Director, Eric Michael Gillett, has joined the cast of Michael Colby and Paul Katz's Slay It With Music In Concert a?" to benefit International Rescue Committee. The original musical, acclaimed in both London and off-Broadway, is an ode to Grande Dame Guignol, the genre of 1960s horror movies in which stars like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford made screen comebacks, in the tradition of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Sunset Boulevard, and Psycho. It's a perfect way to cap off Halloween weekend, promising laughs, thrills and chills. The show is Saturday, November 2nd at 7 pm at The Green Room 42, on the 4th Floor of YOTEL at 42nd Street and 10th Avenue. The concert version features an all-star cast, directed by Charles Repole with musical direction by Phil Reno. Tickets range between $22.50 and $62.50, and are available now online at: https://tinyurl.com/yyyo4vhn. There is no minimum required at GR42.

Last night six time MAC Award Winner Eric Michael Gillett ((Broadway's Sweet Smell of Success, Kiss Me Kate, The Frogs and Television's Quantico, Mysteries of Laura, Daredevil, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) returned to the stage at the Laurie Beechman Theatre with Stop This Train, his first new solo show in five years. Seen most recently as Paul Manafort on Showtime's The Loudest Voice, Gillett's Stop This Train is a wry and witty collections of songs and observations about navigating the aging process while trying to keep both your dignity and your mind intact. Featuring contemporary songwriters Dar Williams, David Yazbeck, Paul Gordon, Craig Carnelia, Peter Mills, Demi Lovato, and John Mayer, along with classic cabaret and musical theater composers Stephen Sondheim, Marvin Hamlisch, along with original songs by musical director Mike Pettry (Television's Documentary Now! Presents Original Cast Album: Co-Op)

Urban Dwellers, a short play collection about 'a city we love and the people who call it home' - will be read as part of Emerging Artist Theatre's (EAT) New Work Series on Sunday October 6, 2019 at 5pm at TADA Theater (15 West 28th Street, NYC).

Michael Colby and Paul Katz, the creative team behind Tales of Tinseltown, have another Hollywood musical in the offing. On Saturday, November 2nd at 7 pm, The Green Room 42 presents Slay It With Music In Concert a?" to benefit International Rescue Committee. The original musical, acclaimed in both London and off-Broadway, is an ode to Grande Dame Guignol, the genre of 1960s horror movies in which stars like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford made screen comebacks, in the tradition of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Sunset Boulevard, and Psycho. It's a sharp way to cap off Halloween weekend, promising laughs, thrills and chills. The Green Room 42 is on the 4th Floor of YOTEL at 42nd Street and 10th Avenue. The concert version features an all-star cast, directed by Charles Repole with musical direction by Phil Reno. Tickets range between $22.50 and $62.50, and are available now online at: https://tinyurl.com/yyyo4vhn. There is no minimum required at GR42.