Julie Wilson News

Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano exude warmth. Both superb musicians, they're polished without ostentation, symbiotic without deferring individual fortes, and infectiously (enviably) appreciative of one another without becoming saccharine. Original arrangements never trade lyrical meaning for novelty. Their recent one-night show at Birdland, Only In New York: A Big Apple Valentine, is a collection of songs in which the charming marrieds express the vicissitudes of love, bracketed by affection for the city. Many are sophisticated, some are unexpected, and all are empathetic.

Stars of Tron's 2014 panto Miracle On 34 Parnie Street Johnny McKnight and Julie Wilson Nimmo reunite this March in a edgy new comedy from the brilliant Random Accomplice Theatre Company, Horsecross Arts and the pen of Olivier award-winner Stef Smith-a story of sequins, survival and Sonny & Cher: And The Beat Goes On.

This past Thursday night, a group of die-hard music enthusiasts, vocalists, and musicians packed a private home in Chelsea for the latest iteration of Will Friedwald's Clip Joint. The monthly series, which was launched in the summer of 2013 by the Wall Street Journal columnist, night crawler, and music historian who has authored of eight books on music and popular culture, screens highly curated musical performance on film and video with every third session promoted as an “extravaganza,” additionally featuring live performers.

NiCori Studios and Productions and Irvington Town Hall Theater announce the third performance in the Cabaret on the Hudson series. The performance will be held on Monday, February 16 at 8pm. Cabaret on the Hudson is a series that features three outstanding cabaret performers or small groups, each bringing a 25 minute sampling of their New York City cabaret shows to Westchester, NY. Many of the performers are Broadway veterans and have performed in New York City venues such as 54 BELOW, the Oak Room at the Algonquin, Birdland, Feinstein's at Loews Regency, Iridium, the Metropolitan Room and Jazz at Lincoln Center to name a few. Cabaret on the Hudson will be hosted by multi-nominated Cabaret singer and host of the 'Music at the Mansion' series, Corinna Sowers Adler and will feature Benet Braun on piano.

As the days dwindled down to a precious few in 2014, a few cabaret goers and performers in what is affectionately but also self-mockingly called the “cabaret community” would sidle up and ask if I was planning my annual end-of-the year “Best Of” column, similar to the “Top 20 Bests and Favorites” piece over the first half of the year I posted back in early July. I would respond in the negative with very reasonable and believable excuses, but the truth is I didn't want to reveal my “Bests” of the year until the voting for the 2014 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards had ended. There's enough baggage and backstage whispering that comes with administering the BWW Awards, so I wasn't about to publish any opinions that might influence the vote while it was in process. I may be crazy but I'm not masochistic. But now all bets are off. You want lists? I'll give you lists.

After eight years of terrifically entertaining, monthly fundraisers at The Laurie Beechman Theater, Cabaret Cares/Help Is On The Way Today is on the move! The 501c non-profit organization that assists children and youth living with HIV/AIDS is relocating to new digs. The first event of 2015 will be held on January 25th at Metropolitan Room, where the charity's founder, Joseph Macchia, is the co-booking manager with owner Bernie Furshpan. Cabaret entertainer Gretchen Reinhagen will host "Lovely Ladies Of Cabaret" with Jennylind Parris, Karen Mason, Tracy Stark, and Joanna Morton Gary. Gretchen will also perform. Metropolitan Room is in the fashionable Flatiron District at 34 West 22nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.

2013 MetroStar winner and Kansas native, Lauren Stanford, made her solo cabaret debut last summer with I'm a Stranger Here Myself. For one special encore performance, I'm a Stranger Here Myself will be presented on February 1st at 1:00pm at The Metropolitan Room. The show explores New York City's enduring lure through songs made popular by small town women such as Helen Morgan, Mary Martin, Julie Wilson, Peggy Lee and more. Directed by Eric Michael Gillett with Music Direction by Mike Pettry.

If you've been a regular reader of this particular reviewer's musings, you know that every year there are long stretches of time where I just haven't been able to critique all the shows I've seen that deserve commentary. So I end up playing what they call in sports, 'Catch-up ball,' and post a mash up of belated reviews from past shows. It's kind of like a critic's version of the song 'Six Months Out of Every Year,' from Damn Yankees. Give or take a month or two, that's usually the time period during which I store unpublished reviews in my fevered brain and then unload them all in one seemingly endless column-like this one is going to be. If my cabaret-show reviewing days will be over (as chronicled here), I might as well go out with a bang-and relieve my procrastination guilt during holiday season. Now I can scratch one New Year's resolution off the list.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Tony Award-winning play Peter and the Starcatcher tonight, December 5 through December 20, 2014.

Edd Clark and Sue Matsuki kick off the holiday season by bringing their annual show, Sue & Edd's FABULOUS Christmas Show for 2 performances to Don't Tell Mama (343 West 46th Street) tonight, December 4th at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 7th at 3:00.

In a show business world of frauds and air kisses, Baby Jane Dexter is the ultimate survivor . . . the real thing . . . a true New York cabaret legend. Accolades, awards, great press, and life-altering shows have been her calling card over the last 25 years since she returned to cabaret after a decade long absence. She has shared her life experiences through laughter and tears in song and through good times and bad. Regardless of the situation, she has ferociously plowed forward with a vengeance and never let her fans down. Her new show, Rules of the Road (Part 3), running at the Metropolitan Room on weekends through December 27, is another life-affirming mix of shattering realities fused with the promise of better days.

NiCori Studios and Productions and Irvington Town Hall Theater announce the second performance in the Cabaret on the Hudson series. The performance will be held on Monday, December 8 at 8pm. Cabaret on the Hudson is a series that features three outstanding cabaret performers or small groups, each bringing a 25 minute sampling of their New York City cabaret shows to Westchester, NY. Many of the performers are Broadway veterans and have performed in New York City venues such as 54 BELOW, the Oak Room at the Algonquin, Birdland, Feinstein's at Loews Regency, Iridium, the Metropolitan Room and Jazz at Lincoln Center to name a few. Cabaret on the Hudson will be hosted by multi-nominated Cabaret singer and host of the Music at the Mansion series, Corinna Sowers Adler and will feature Benet Braun on piano.

This Christmas the Tron are triply-excited, because we welcome back Scotland's Prince Of Panto, Johnny McKnight -- not only as writer and director, but as outrageous dame Kristine Cagney Kringle in our brand-new, side-splitting, Weegie-fied version of the heart-warming Christmas classic Miracle On 34th Street: Miracle on 34 Parnie Street.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Tony Award-winning play Peter and the Starcatcher, December 5 through December 20, 2014.

Edd Clark and Sue Matsuki kick off the holiday season by bringing their annual show, Sue & Edd's FABULOUS Christmas Show for 2 performances to Don't Tell Mama (343 West 46th Street). Thursday, December 4th at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 7th at 3:00.

On Monday, November 3, the Broadway at Birdland concert series was thrilled to host Tony Award Nominated actress & singer Anita Gillette on the historic stage in a wonderful evening of music and memories, and a hilarious look behind the scenes from Broadway to Hollywood in 'After All...and furthermore...'

This Christmas the Tron are triply-excited, because we welcome back Scotland's Prince Of Panto, Johnny McKnight -- not only as writer and director, but as outrageous dame Kristine Cagney Kringle in our brand-new, side-splitting, Weegie-fied version of the heart-warming Christmas classic Miracle On 34th Street: Miracle on 34 Parnie Street.

Dick Robinson and LegendsRadio.com presented vocalist Deborah Silver in 'Sing Happy,' a benefit concert for The Society for the Preservation of The Great American Songbook on Saturday, October 25th at 8pm at 54 Below (254 West 54th Street - between Broadway & 8th Avenue). BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the event, so check out the photos below!