Francesca Blumenthal News

While it was billed as a presentation celebrating the release of his 13-song CD, Tales From the Bonus Round, and his 60th birthday, Steven Schalchlin's recent show at the Metropolitan Room was so much more than that. It was also one about fear, fortitude, anxiety, anguish, compassion, courage, and love, all expressed in poetic and often clever lyrics and melodies ranging from uplifting gospel to Billy Joel-sounding mid-tempo pop to sensitive ballads, many colored with musical theater undertones. At their core, most of the songs conveyed what Schalchlin has thought, felt and experienced since early 1993, when he was diagnosed with AIDS, launched one of the first internet diaries/blogs (in early 1996), stared death in the face on a daily basis, took an experimental AIDS drug (Crixivan), and ultimately regained his health and career. When you listen to his songs, it's not hard to believe Schalchlin when he claims that during those scary days writing music and the “healing properties of piano vibrations” also helped save his life, and the 17 years since are what he calls his “Bonus Round.”

It turns out that when it came to Tanya Moberly cabaret shows and this reviewer, the third time was the charm. After being blown away by Moberly's powerful voice and stage presence when I first caught her one-song performances at the Sunday Salon Open Mics three years ago, I wasn't crazy about either of her full-blown cabaret shows the past two years (Tanya Moberly Sings Di Franco/Tanya Moberly Sings Jonatha Brooke in 2011 and Tanya Lorraine Moberly Sings Barbra Joan Streisand in 2012—in spite of her receiving MAC and BroadwayWorld.com Best Female Vocalist nominations for the latter). But her new show that opened this past Friday and Saturday nights at Don't Tell Mama, I Love New York Songwriters, pressed many of my cabaret buttons—in a good way. While there were still some minor flaws—owing to a certain stubbornness in her approach to a cabaret show—this eclectic set of original songs written by some of the city's best “unknown” composers was consistently entertaining. In this particular show, Ms. Moberly was Tanya Terrific.

Sutton Foster may be a Tony-Award winning Broadway Musical Theatre darling, but if her opening-night show this past Wednesday at Café Carlyle (which launched her current three-week run until September 28) is the best she can do, she's far from also being considered a nightclub/cabaret diva.

It's April 1st. Do you know when your Spring is coming? During another longggggg New York winter, the good news is that there were a ton of warming cabaret shows. The bad news is that there were so many, even during this seemingly endless winter our intrepid reviewer Stephen Hanks didn't have enough time to review them all right after the performances. So in what is becoming a seasonal ritual, here he offers yet another compilation of 13 'catch-up' cabaret show reviews.

When Dana Lorge's run as a Variety Show hosted ended at the Iguana Restaurant last July-and after winning two 2012 MAC Awards for 'Best Variety Show' and 'Best Variety Show Host'-who knew she'd be reduced to being a cabaret audience member searching for a new showcase? But a Metropolitan Room Mentch has come to the rescue in the form of Bernie Furshpan (the Met Room's General Partner and Manager), who has provided Dana with a monthly forum for her unique brand of cabaret shtick beginning Friday, April 5 at 7-8:15 pm. While the new show won't be the two-hour plus extravaganza of yore featuring more than a dozen performers, Dana's new 'Variety Show' promises to feature a solid group of experienced and well-known cabaret and musical theater pros. For the April 5 opener, the Lorge Lineup features Richard Skipper, her former Award-winning Co-host from the Iguana days; film and stage actor Jim Brochu (of Zero Mostel One-Man Show fame), singers LaTanya Hall (from the CBS show 'Blue Bloods) and Peggy Herman Klat, Rick Crom (Creator of Newsical the Musical), and Mr. Furshpan, who will show off his stand-up comedy chops. But the real star of the show will always be the hilarious, unpredictable, darling Dana, who will both crack you up with her infectious humor and surprise you with her engaging singing performances.

Jeff Harnar, one of the most celebrated performers of the American Popular Songbook, returned to The Laurie Beechman Theatre in the show 'Does This Song Make Me Look Fat? (Lighter Fare for a Winter Night)', which continues on Friday, February 8. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos from the concert below!

Jeff Harnar, one of the most celebrated performers of the American Popular Songbook, will return to The Laurie Beechman Theatre in the show 'Does This Song Make Me Look Fat? (Lighter Fare for a Winter Night)' for four shows at 7:00 PM: Monday nights from tonight, January 14 to 28 and then Friday, February 8.

Jeff Harnar, one of the most celebrated performers of the American Popular Songbook, will return to The Laurie Beechman Theatre in the show 'Does This Song Make Me Look Fat? (Lighter Fare for a Winter Night)' for four shows at 7:00 PM: Monday nights from January 14 to 28 and then Friday, February 8.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs presented the 26th Annual MAC Awards Show on March 29th. The awards ceremony was held at B.B. King Blues Club, and the show was directed by Lennie Watts and produced by Julie Miller. BWW was there to cover the event. Check out the photos below!

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs announced the winners of the 2012 MAC Awards last night at the 26th Annual MAC Awards Show. The awards ceremony was held at B.B. King Blues Club, and the show was directed by Lennie Watts and produced by Julie Miller.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs today announced that Lucie Arnaz and Phil Ramone have been added to the list of presenters at the upcoming 26th Annual MAC Awards Show on Thursday, March 29th.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs (MAC) has announced the nominees for the 26th Annual MAC Awards. The winners will be announced live at the MAC Awards Show on Thursday, March 29th, at the world-famous B.B. King Blues Club & Grill.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs (MAC) is pleased to announce the 26th Annual MAC Awards Show. The event will be held on Thursday, March 29th, at the world-famous B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in NYC. The evening will feature many live performances as well as the live announcement of the winners of the 2012 MAC Awards. In addition, as MAC celebrates The Year of the Songwriter, five exceptional songwriters will receive special honors.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre has announced that Tony Award-winner DONNA McKECHNIE, one of Broadway's most beloved and esteemed performers, will return to The Laurie Beechman Theatre with her critically-acclaimed solo show, My Musical Comedy Life, which will play the midtown venue on Monday, April 4th at 8pm. Currently co-starring off-Broadway in Love, Loss & What I Wore, Ms. McKechnie returns to The Beechman for one night only.

April at The Metropolitan Room

The Laurie Beechman Theatre has announced that Tony Award-winner DONNA McKECHNIE, one of Broadway's most beloved and esteemed performers, will return to The Laurie Beechman Theatre with her critically-acclaimed solo show, My Musical Comedy Life, which will play the midtown venue on Monday, April 4th at 8pm. Currently co-starring off-Broadway in Love, Loss & What I Wore, Ms. McKechnie returns to The Beechman for one night only.

April at The Metropolitan Room