Joseph Macchia News

Joseph Macchia, producer of the award-winning fundraising series, Cabaret Cares, has announced the next event for Help Is On The Way Today - and the talent lineup is amazing!

St. Catherine of Bologna Performing Arts Guild in conjunction with Cabaret Cares presents From the Heart, A Valentine cabaret featuring New York performers and community entertainers.

Metropolitan Room's Joseph Macchia and Bernard Furshpan are excited to announce the formation of the Cabaret Hall of Fame (CHOF), as well as the Inaugural Induction Black Tie Gala tonight, January 16th, 2016 at Metropolitan Room, named New York's Best Cabaret by New York Magazine.

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.”

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Telly Leung: Songs For You CD Release; Ann Hampton Callaway Celebrates Women Songwriters; Lena Hall: The Villa Satori - Growing up Haight Ashbury; Laurie Beechman Tribute at the Metropolitan Room; and Sondheim Unplugged.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director, Peter Napolitano, Producer/Director of Musical Programming) today announced the line-up for this year's Award-Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre. WINTER RHYTHMS 2015 marks the seventh year that Urban Stages has brought noted musical artists to its stage during the holiday period. The mission of Winter Rhythms is to bring the talents of known and unknown singers, musicians, lyricists and composers to the attention of the New York theater community while performing at Urban Stages Theater. Winner of the 2015 Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Series MAC Award, WINTER RHYTHMS benefits Urban Stages' acclaimed Outreach Program, which brings more than 200 free "arts in education" presentations to libraries and schools throughout the five boroughs. This year's event features 20 shows and more than 100 artists.

Urban Stages announces the line-up for this year's Award Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30thStreet, just East of 8th Avenue). Tickets are $25 per show and may be purchased by visiting urbanstages.org or by calling (866) 811-4111. For complete schedule information, visit urbanstages.org.

The Metropolitan Room hosted two simultaneous events last night. The 10th year of the MAC Award Winning Benefit Series Cabaret Cares, and the 3rd 40th Birthday of the charities creator Joseph Macchia. The non profit Joseph started 10 years ago has raised over $100,000 to help children living with HIV and AIDS. It was a cabaret spectacular and Broadwayworld was there to catch all the action. Check it out below!

On Saturday, September 12, 2015, William V. Madison, author of Madeline Kahn: Being the Music, A Life (University Press of Mississippi, 2015), hosted a musical tribute to the late singing actress as part of Metropolitan Room's GONE TOO SOON series, produced by Joseph Macchia. Directed by three-time MAC Award-winner Peter Napolitano, The Music of Madeline Kahn, with music director Jeff Cubeta on piano, featured friends & colleagues of the comic legend, as well as performers who have been inspired by her.

Tonight, September 12, 2015, William V. Madison, author of Madeline Kahn: Being the Music, A Life (University Press of Mississippi, 2015), will host a musical tribute to the late singing actress as part of Metropolitan Room's GONE TOO SOON series, produced by Joseph Macchia.

On Saturday, September 12, 2015, William V. Madison, author of Madeline Kahn: Being the Music, A Life (University Press of Mississippi, 2015), will host a musical tribute to the late singing actress as part of Metropolitan Room's GONE TOO SOON series, produced by Joseph Macchia. Directed by three-time MAC Award-winner Peter Napolitano, The Music of Madeline Kahn, with music director Jeff Cubeta on piano, will feature friends & colleagues of the comic legend, as well as performers who have been inspired by her.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Darius de Haas: 'Something to Live For: Celebrating Strayhorn & More;' Linda Lavin: Starting Over; Carter Calvert at 54 Below; Nicholas Guest: Finding Nick; and Madeline Kahn Tribute.

On Saturday, September 12, 2015, William V. Madison, author of Madeline Kahn: Being the Music, A Life (University Press of Mississippi, 2015), will host a musical tribute to the late singing actress as part of Metropolitan Room's GONE TOO SOON series, produced by Joseph Macchia. Directed by Peter Napolitano, THE MUSIC OF MADELINE KAHN will feature several friends & colleagues of the comic legend, including her co-stars from Richard Rodgers' Two by Two, Walter Willison and Joan Copeland, with Lawrence Leritz, guest star on 'Cosby'. They will be joined by performers from theatre, cabaret & opera who have been inspired by Kahn, including Ann Harada (Avenue Q, "Smash"). Jeff Cubeta serves as music director. 

 Minda Larsen eeked out a MetroStar win last night, finishing on top of a strong and tightly matched Top Five line-up in a spellbinding contest finale at the Metropolitan Room.  To win the 8th annual MetroStar Talent Challenge Larsen captivated the judges with her confessional and inspirational story of having competed in the contest three other times (unsuccessfully) and dramatically changing her attitude about her work this time around.  The attitude adjustment succeeded as Larsen soared in the finale, beating out the delightful everyman Thomas Dieter (1st runner-up) and gloriously-voiced Josephine Sanges (2nd runner up). The two other Top 5 finalists were Lisa Remick and April Leonhard.

 In nail-bitingly close voting Monday night, the MetroStar Talent Challenge bid farewell to two audience favorites in a hotly contested semi-final round.  Let go by the jury were the contest's popular 9th grader Josephine Bianco and the veteran piano bar performer Sheree Sano.

The Broadway Artists Connection (BAC) is presenting a brand new one night seminar on 'Making it on Broadway & in Cabaret' on Sunday August 2nd at 7pm at the Metropolitan Room (34 W 22nd St NYC).  Participants will have the opportunity to meet a panel of professionals, ask questions and learn invaluable career building tips.