Julie Wilson News

Cookie's Corner, an ongoing party celebrating life and new talent, hosted by Cookie Stark, Eric Michael Gillett's newest discovery, will feature special guest star, 2012 Julie Wilson Award Winner Shana Farr.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center today announced the appointment of Grammy and two-time Emmy Award winner John McDaniel as Artistic Director of the Cabaret & Performance Conference, its third, which will take place July 31 - August 10, 2013. The Conference focuses on developing new artists and forms for cabaret theater, and closes the O'Neill professional summer season of new work annually.

World-class jazz pianist Hal Schaefer died this past Saturday morning, December 8, at his home in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He was 88 years old and still active.

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts will present its annual holiday party and fundraiser for its Scholarship Fund and other programs in the key of Ellington - Ring Dem Bells! - on Monday, December 10, 6 to 9 PM, at Landmark on the Park, 76th Street and Central Park West.

Never seen since its original New York run, LEGS DIAMOND kicks off the third season of MUSICAL THEATRE WEST'S REINER READING SERIES tonight, December 2, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

Shana Farr, who last month won The Mabel Mercer Foundation's 2012 Julie Wilson Award as "a cabaret singer who is a rising star," has just completed her debut CD, titled Shana Farr: Out Of The Shadows , which will be introduced at a CD release party and performance at The Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South, in New York City tonight, November 30, at 9 PM. Ms. Farr is backed by a trio comprised of Music Director Jon Weber (piano), Adam Fisher (cello) and Dan Levinson (clarinet).

Never seen since its original New York run, LEGS DIAMOND kicks off the third season of MUSICAL THEATRE WEST'S REINER READING SERIES on December 2, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

Shana Farr, who last month won The Mabel Mercer Foundation's 2012 Julie Wilson Award as "a cabaret singer who is a rising star," has just completed her debut CD, titled Shana Farr: Out Of The Shadows , which will be introduced at a CD release party and performance at The Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South, in New York City on Friday, November 30, at 9 PM. Ms. Farr is backed by a trio comprised of Music Director Jon Weber (piano), Adam Fisher (cello) and Dan Levinson (clarinet).

Noted composer/lyricist/arranger and two-time Grammy Award nominee Larry Kerchner will be celebrated on Monday, November 5, 2012, at 7 PM at a special benefit performance of his musical works, titled Hidden Treasures: The Songs of Larry Kerchner, at The York Theatre (at St. Peter's), Lexington Avenue at 54th Street, in New York City. Produced by Sandi Durell, the musical evening will benefit The Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative and The Mabel Mercer Foundation.

Jennifer Sheehan reprises her critically acclaimed '60s show, "I Know a Place," for three nights this month at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street.

There may have been 40 cabaret performers strutting their stuff this past week at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center, but the true star of the three-night extravaganza (October 17-19) was the late Donald Smith, the cabaret impresario and guru to the genre's luminaries, who died this past March at 79. Sponsored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, which Smith founded in 1985, this year's Convention featured numerous homages to Smith from the performers, many of whom had their career's supported and advanced with the help of the colorful and beloved cabaret producer and promoter. Early in Wednesday's Gala Opening Night show, the 'first lady of the American keyboard' Barbara Carroll called her friend Donald Smith 'the quintessential New Yorker,' and when Mark Nadler closed night one with George and Ira Gershwin's 'Our Love Is Here to Stay,' he said, 'Everybody who cares about the myths of these songs are in this room tonight.' Well, it was clear that anyone who cared about Donald Smith was at the Rose Theater for at least one of the three shows.

Legendary Latin/jazz percussionist Jack 'Mr. Bongo' Costanzo has only performed twice in New York City in the last 60 years--once at Carnegie Hall in 1948 and once at the famed Basin Street East in 1961--but he'll make a rare NYC appearance October 30 at The Iridium to perform with cabaret favorite Terese Genecco & Her Little Big Band featuring Ricky Ritzel. Sets are at 8 & 10pm.

The annual New York City Cabaret Convention -- conceived, launched, and brilliantly sustained for the past 23 seasons by The Mabel Mercer Foundation --has honored many specific people and events across the past two decades. Legendary performers, composers, lyricists, and their anniversaries have all had their day and their due as the Convention grew in visibility, stature, and acclaim.

Jennifer Sheehan reprises her critically acclaimed '60s show, "I Know a Place," for three nights in October at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street.

Singer-actress- cabaret performer Shana Farr will receive the 2012 Julie Wilson Award, presented annually by the Mabel Mercer Foundation 'to a cabaret singer who is a rising star,' at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater, Jazz At Lincoln Center, today, October 17, at 6 PM, the Opening Night of the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention, hosted by KT Sullivan, Artistic Director of the Mabel Mercer Foundation.

Last night, October 9, The Iriduim Jazz Club welcomed Nicholas King, winner of the 2010 Julie Wilson Award and the 2012 Bistro Award for Outstanding Performer. King voiced the character of "Oscar" in Discovery Kids' "Kenny The Shark", and has opened for his mentor Liza Minnelli across the US since 2006. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the concert below!

T. Oliver Reid, a veteran of numerous Tony Award winning Broadway musicals, 2012 MAC award recipient for Best Debut-male and the 2011 Julie Wilson award, will Debut at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency, 540 Park Avenue, Wednesday November 28, 2012, Sunday December 2, Monday December 3 and Sunday December 9, 2012. All four performances will be at 10:30 PM.

Singer-actress- cabaret performer Shana Farr will receive the 2012 Julie Wilson Award, presented annually by the Mabel Mercer Foundation 'to a cabaret singer who is a rising star,' at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater, Jazz At Lincoln Center, on Wednesday, October 17, at 6 PM, the Opening Night of the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention, hosted by KT Sullivan, Artistic Director of the Mabel Mercer Foundation.