Joseph Macchia News

Richard E. Waits will return to DIVAPALOOZA at New York's The Metropolitan Room on Thursday May 22nd at 7 PM.

Cabaret Cares/Help Is On The Way Today, a 501c non-profit organization founded by MAC Award winning producer, Joseph Macchia, will hold its annual fundraising gala (cocktails, auction, dinner, show) on May 18th at the Laurie Beechman Theater, featuring a live show with many of New York's favorite performers who donate their time and talent to this wonderful event.

JOSEPH JOHN PRODUCTIONS present DIVAPALOOZA. The ALL-MALE Diva Cast Singing ALL-FEMALE Diva Songs. Songs by Whitney Houston, Patti Lupone, Audra McDonald, Idina Menzel, Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga and more.

Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, has announced the nominees for the 2014 MAC Awards. Winners in twenty-five categories will be voted by the MAC membership by anonymous ballot and announced at the MAC Awards Gala on March 27th at BB King's Blue Club in Times Square at: 237 W. 42 St between 7th and 8th Avenues. Tickets start at $50.00. For additional information on MAC, to become a member, or to order tickets to the event, visit: http://macnyc.com.

After a huge success in 2013 Joseph Macchia has decided to bring back Its Only Love An Evening Of Broadway Love Songs. On Valentines Day Night some of the most talented Broadway performers will come together at The Metropolitan Room to celebrate Love.

If you're wondering whether or not 2013 was a fantastic year for the cabaret art form in New York, all you have to do is scan the amazing list of nominees for this year's BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards and you'll know it was one of the best ever. So now it's time for all you cabaret performers and fans to vote for the best singers, musicians, songs, and shows of the year. Voting will continue until Sunday night January 5 and the winners will be announced later that week. We hope that all the winners will be able to perform in the Award show on Sunday night February 23 at Joe's Pub.

Broadway On 22nd Street Returns to The Metropolitan Room for its Third Smash Year. Conceived and Produced by Joseph Macchia Broadway On 22nd Street the bi monthly series brings some of Broadways most talented singers down to the Metropolitan Room.

On September 21, Macchia--who works full-time as a florist by day and part-time as a manager at the Metropolitan Room by night--will celebrate his 'Fierce and Fabulous' 40th birthday with the launch of Season Eight of Cabaret Cares. Over the first seven years of the variety series, now staged at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, Macchia has raised more than $80,000 to help children from infants to teenagers suffering from HIV and AIDS. During the first year, funds raised through the Cabaret Cares benefit shows helped 22 children. Now Macchia's Help Is On The Way charity-which is run out of Joseph's home and has no salaried staff--services around 650 kids, supplying everything from school backpacks to weeks at a summer camp.

Cabaret Cares the MAC Award Winning Benfit Series returns for season 8. On Sept 21st Join Joseph Macchia for Forty and Fabulous. Joseph's Birthday Bash. When joseph turned 35 he decided no more parties or presents he wanted to celebrate his Birthday and help the children of Help Is On The Way Today. The non for profit he started 6 years ago to help children living with HIV and AIDS. Cabaret Cares has raised over $80,000 in its first seven seasons.

Broadway On 22nd Street Returns to The Metropolitan Room for its Third Smash Year. Conceived and Produced by Joseph Macchia Broadway On 22nd Street the bi-monthly series brings some of Broadways most talented singers down to the Metropolitan Room.

Something funny's happening to the 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' this year. Singer-restaurateur Carolyn Montgomery-Forant joins the permanent jury, and the comic actor Jay Rogers hosts the 6th annual edition of the singers contest at the Metropolitan Room. The exciting competition has launched the careers of a number of standouts in cabaret, pop and jazz. The 2013 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' runs for seven consecutive Mondays, from tonight, July 8 through August 19.

Something funny's happening to the 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' this year. Singer-restaurateur Carolyn Montgomery-Forant joins the permanent jury, and the comic actor Jay Rogers hosts the 6th annual edition of the singers contest at the Metropolitan Room. The exciting competition, which has launched the careers of a number of standouts in cabaret, pop and jazz, is accepting applications through July 1. The 2013 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' runs for seven consecutive Mondays, from July 8 through August 19.

Unless the host is particularly warm, funny, and charismatic (think Dana Lorge and her new monthly vehicle at the Metropolitan Room) or the show is a way to champion a good cause (like Joseph Macchia's Cabaret Cares events), for the most part cabaret variety shows are clunky affairs which can be too long, too rambling, give too much time to average talent or not enough of a showcase to outstanding talent. I ran into one of the rare exceptions last month (April 23) in the form of the The Concerts for City Greens' First Annual Gala & 2012 Songwriting Contest Finale, a variety show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre that served as a fund raiser for the launch of a new non-profit called Music and Art for Green which will incorporate Concerts for City Greens within its umbrella.

Something funny's happening to the "MetroStar Talent Challenge" this year. Singer-restaurateur Carolyn Montgomery-Forant joins the permanent jury, and the comic actor Jay Rogers hosts the 6th annual edition of the singers contest at the Metropolitan Room. The exciting competition, which has launched the careers of a number of standouts in cabaret, pop and jazz, is accepting applications through July 1. The 2013 "MetroStar Talent Challenge" runs for seven consecutive Mondays, from July 8 through August 19.

Help is on the Way Today, a 501c3 non-profit which assists children and youth living with HIV/AIDS, is announcing their annual Gala on May 19th at the Laurie Beechman Theater.In addition, founder Joseph Macchia is announcing a name change to the charity's Lifetime Achievement Award."It is with a bittersweet pleasure that we've renamed the Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of the late Ruth Kurtzman," says Macchia. "Ruth was a true lady and a kind and caring person who was a tireless supporter of the Cabaret Cares series, as well Help Is On The Way Today, MAC and Broadway Cares. She is someone I will never forget and her kind heart will live on in everyone she touched. I'm very happy to announce the 2013 Cabaret Cares Ruth Kurtzman Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Peter Leavy. Like Ruth, Peter is a true champion of the community, the publisher of Cabaret Scenes magazine - the world's only magazine dedicated to the art form - and a generous supporter of Cabaret Cares and its mission."

The sparkles will be flying this spring as the Metropolitan Room hosts its first 'New York's Next Top Drag Queen Contest.' The six-week affair, running five Mondays through May 6 (no show on April 8), will pit eight pre-selected drag queen artists who will be judged not by looks alone but by how well they sing and entertain. Check out photos from the first round below!

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.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs just announced the winners of the 2013 MAC Awards yesterday, which were presented on March 21st at the 27th Annual MAC Awards Show. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners, and check out photos from the festivities below!

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs has just announced the winners of the 2013 MAC Awards, which were presented last night at the 27th 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. Lifetime Achievement awards were presented to Tom Wopat and Penny Fuller. The Board of Directors Award was presented to 54 Below, and a special award was presented in memory of Ruth Kurtzman. The Hanson Award was presented to Elaine St. George. The show was hosted by KT Sullivan, with music direction by Tracy Stark, and stage management by Amy Wolk.

Help Is On The Way Today, a 501c3 non-profit that assists children and youth living with HIV/AIDS, is announcing their annual Gala on May 19th at the Laurie Beechman Theater. In addition, founder Joseph Macchia is announcing a name change to the charity's Lifetime Achievement Award.