Gregory Toroian News

Renowned cookbook author, lifestyle and entertaining expert Pamela Morgan has been tantalizing the taste buds of discerning New Yorkers and Hamptonites for more than a quarter of a century. Featured on the Food Network, Meet Bobby Flay and The Today Show, and Real Housewives of New York among many other places, Pamela's special events and culinary company, Flirting with Flavors, creates a once in a lifetime experience for all those who attend her exclusive events at intimate, sophisticated venues in New York City and on Long Island's East End.

Jackie Draper and Repeal the Blues returns to the Laurie Beechman Theatre, on Sunday, March 24th at 1:00 PM and Thursday, April 11th at 7:00 PM. Draper will perform in song and dance, in English and French, to banish the blues. Composers and lyricists presented include Charles Aznavour, Irving Berlin, Cy Coleman, Dietz & Schwartz, the Gershwins, Jerome Kern, Michele Legrand, Lieber & Stoller, Johnny Mandel and many more.

Suzanna Ross will be singing in her new show - Bewitched - at Don't Tell Mama on February 7, 2019. The show highlights a collection of bewitching and romantic songs from around the world, including American, French, and British songbooks. There are favorites as well as a few surprises. The line-up spans jazz, pop, French chansons, bossa nova, movie songs, and a country tune. From the song lists of Peggy Lee, Doris Day, Charles Aznavour, 1960s pop, Jobim, Marlene Dietrich, Patsy Cline, and more. Suzanna's singing has been described in reviews as 'convincing to the ears,' 'passionate,' 'well-paced,' and 'magical.'

Continuing its 35th Anniversary season, Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director; Tom Toce Producer) proudly announces the line-up for this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2018, which will begin Wednesday, December 12 featuring some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday,December 22, 2018 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

Suzanna Ross will be singing at The Triad Theater in a repeat performance on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 7p.m. With a romantic line-up of songs drawn from American, French, and other songbooks, recent reviews include "convincing to the ears" - whether sung in English or French - "passionate," "well-paced" and "magical."

Cabaret Producer, Promoter, and Performer Stephen Hanks has been chosen by Urban Stages Founding Artistic Director Frances Hill and Director of Musical Theatre Peter Napolitano to Produce and Host the Opening and Closing Night Gala Shows for the organization's Ninth Annual WINTER RHYTHMS SERIES, running this year from December 12 through December 23 at the Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues).

Sue Matsuki & Gregory Toroian continue their monthly series Coming Home to Mama with If I Could Talk to the Animals - a show chock full of tunes about animals that became standards! Did you know that Sarah Vaughan recorded a song about a frisky lion or that a love song that Diana Krall sings is from Dr. Dolittle and was originally sung to a seal? Or that a song called "The Snake" actually refers to an agent? The special guests for this upcoming performance are the one and only Sidney Myer and legendary bass player Jay Leonhart. This series continues Friday, April 7th at 7 pm at Don't Tell Mama and celebrates Sue and Gregory's 23 years of artistic collaboration.

To Celebrate their 23rd year of artistic collaboration, MAC Award Winning Duo Sue Matsuki & Gregory Toroian and Matsuki Productions are launching a new monthly series at Don't Tell Mama called "Coming Home to Mama". Each show will feature a wonderful Special Guest and each show will have a certain theme or celebrate a monthly holiday. They will also be bringing back encore performances of a few of the shows they have performed over the years.

Sue Matsuki is ready for the new year with these cabaret performances. Check them out below!

Many New York cabaret performers have tackled the songbook of the iconic Joni Mitchell, but few have put the kind of transformative twist on it the way Remy Block did when she performed On a Lonely Road: Travelin' with Joni between 2014-2015 at Don't Tell Mama and The Duplex. Block's tribute to the legendary pop singer/songwriter was a personal exploration of a young woman's life as a seeker, a lover, and an artist, with Mitchell's tunes serving as the "sacred text and rough guide" for her journey. Cabaret show reviewers raved about Remy's take on Joni's songs. Now, Remy Block is bringing a revised version of On a Lonely Road: Travelin' with Joni to PANGEA (178 2nd Avenue, between 11th and 12th Streets) on November 7 at 9:30 pm and December 8 at 7 pm.

New York City native Lionel Shockness returns to legendary piano bar / restaurant Don't Tell Mama (on Restaurant Row)  in Manhattan for "Being  Here And Keeping It Real" - an afternoon of   song on  Saturday,June 25, 2016.

New York City native Lionel Shockness returns to legendary piano bar / restaurant Don't Tell Mama (on Restaurant Row) in Manhattan for 'Being Here And Keeping It Real' - two afternoons of song - on Sunday June 5th & Saturday, June 25th.

Described as “An Afternoon of Famous Duets,” Saturday's Urban Stages Winter Rhythms presentation (Day Four of the 11-day, 20-show festival) was unexpectedly sweeping in its approach, covering duos that sang pop, folk, jazz, Great American Songbook, and musical theater tunes. With veteran cabaret singer Sue Matsuki serving as producer and host, and Musical Director Gregory Toroian on piano, the show encompassed both the predictable and the surprising and was a genuine pleasure.

On Thanksgiving Day, BroadwayWorld announced the nominees in 14 categories for the 2015 BWW New York Cabaret Awards. BroadwayWorld's cabaret editors and reviewers congratulate all the deserving nominees and everyone who performs in the great art of cabaret in New York. But today, as you munch on the leftovers from last night's dinner, it's time to actually vote for that one performer who you think is the absolute best in each category. Voting ends on December 31 and after a review of the ballots, winners will be announced officially early the week of January 4, 2016. (Note: There will not be a BWW Awards Show this year.)

Happy Thanksgiving Day, Cabaret Fans! Here's some breaking news you can discuss and debate in between courses at tonight's dinner: It's the final nominees for the 2015 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards. This year, the cabaret editors and writers at BWW have cited 116 nominees (including duos and variety show/recurring series producers) in 14 categories. In addition, this year six performers or musicians have been cited for special “Editor's Choice Awards,” led by veteran New York cabaret stars Karen Mason and Mark Nadler who have been named “Performers of the Year.”

In November 2014, singer/songwriter Rembert (Remy) Block staged three performances of her cabaret show tribute to Joni Mitchell-On a Lonely Road . . . Travelin' With Joni-at New York's iconic club, Don't Tell Mama. Joined again by her Musical Director Gregory Toroian on piano and her Director Raquel Cion, Remy Block is bringing back her highly praised show, this time to the Duplex Cabaret Theater tonight, June 10 at 7 pm. The Duplex is at: 61 Christopher Street (at 7th Avenue). For reservations, call 212-255-5438.

 New York City native Lionel R. Shockness performs 'Both Sides Now!' - an  evening  of songs on Friday, June 5th and Sunday, June 7th -  at legendary piano bar / restaurant Don't Tell Mama (on Restaurant Row)  in Manhattan.  A regular on the city's cabaret scene - including appearances at Sweetwater's and The Duplex - Lionel's June 5th show is scheduled  for 7:00pm, the  June 7th  performance is set for 6:00pm. Directed by multi-MAC and Backstage Bistro award winner Helen Baldassare,  the performances will  feature accompanist  Gregory Toroian.

Artists in Partnership (AIP), a non-profit cultural arts organization, will host its 13th Annual Cabaret Festival this week, May 13-17 at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. The festival will be a celebration of the cabaret genre honoring the Great American Songbook.

In November 2014, singer/songwriter Rembert (Remy) Block staged three performances of her cabaret show tribute to Joni Mitchell—On a Lonely Road . . . Travelin' With Joni—at New York's iconic club, Don't Tell Mama. Joined again by her Musical Director Gregory Toroian on piano and her Director Raquel Cion, Remy Block is bringing back her highly praised show, this time to the Duplex Cabaret Theater on June 10 at 7 pm. The Duplex is at: 61 Christopher Street (at 7th Avenue). For reservations, call 212-255-5438.