Mark Janas News

The Concerts for City Greens may be a Spring and Summer music extravaganza held in the lovely early evening air of Manhattan's East Side, but Broadway actress and cabaret headliner Raissa Katona Bennett, who is the concert series' founder and producer, is launching the 2013 season indoors-with a gala benefit concert featuring a star-studded lineup of performers, including quadruple-platinum songwriter and Today Show regular David Friedman as a special guest performer (with Bennett in photo, left). A celebratory retrospective of the program's first five seasons will be staged at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, tonight April 23 at 7pm.

The Concerts for City Greens may be a Spring and Summer music extravaganza held in the lovely early evening air of Manhattan's East Side, but Broadway actress and cabaret headliner Raissa Katona Bennett, who is the concert series' founder and producer, is launching the 2013 season indoors-with a gala benefit concert featuring a star-studded lineup of performers, including quadruple-platinum songwriter and Today Show regular David Friedman as a special guest performer (with Bennett in photo, left). A celebratory retrospective of the program's first five seasons will be staged at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, on Tuesday April 23 at 7pm.

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.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs previously announced the following presenters who are scheduled to appear at the 27th Annual MAC Awards tonight, March 21st, at BB King Blues Club & Grill. Presenters will include: Helen Baldassare, Jeff Blumenkrantz, John Bucchino, Len Cariou, Mary Foster Conklin, Baby Jane Dexter, Anita Gillette, The Glamazons, Kim Grogg, Sean Harkness, Jeff Harner, Tonya Holt, Thomas Honeck, Mark Janas, David Kenney, Barry Kleinbort, Brett Kristofferson, Julie Miller, Sidney Myer, Julie Reyburn, Ricky Ritzel, Jay Rogers, KT Sullivan, Lennie Watts, and Kristine Zbornik.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs has announced the following presenters who are scheduled to appear at the 27th Annual MAC Awards this Thursday, March 21st, at BB King Blues Club & Grill. Presenters will include: Helen Baldassare, Jeff Blumenkrantz, John Bucchino, Len Cariou, Mary Foster Conklin, Baby Jane Dexter, Anita Gillette, The Glamazons, Kim Grogg, Sean Harkness, Jeff Harner, Tonya Holt, Thomas Honeck, Mark Janas, David Kenney, Barry Kleinbort, Brett Kristofferson, Julie Miller, Sidney Myer, Julie Reyburn, Ricky Ritzel, Jay Rogers, KT Sullivan, Lennie Watts, and Kristine Zbornik.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launches its new series of late night events this March. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher will be the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," and more.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs will present the 27th Annual MAC Awards on Thursday, March 21st, at B.B King Blues Club & Grill in New York City.

By the last August, I had fallen so far behind on writing reviews of cabaret shows from the spring and early summer (I guess it's a positive when there are more performers and shows in New York than days in the week) that I decided to play catch up by combining a bunch of critiques into one big column. I hadn't planned on doing that again, but this fall there were so many shows that once again I couldn't keep up. but at least I've beaten my self-imposed deadline New Year's Eve deadline of posting these reviews of 12 shows, all staged between September-December by lovely, attractive women (okay, so one is a gender-bender) of varying talents and levels on the cabaret depth chart, from established stars to MAC and Bistro Award-winners to comeback 'kids' to interesting beginners and occasional performers who are in the game to follow their bliss. Whether their performances were rave-worthy, earning of qualified praise, or not quite up to snuff, they all deserve kudos for taking the plunge.

2012 was indeed a very good year for the art of Cabaret in New York City. Here, BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Reviewer and Columnist Stephen Hanks offers up his exclusive 'Best New York Cabaret Performers of the Year' for 2012, plus some surprising honorable mentions. Let the debates begin!

Urban Stages, in association with producer/director/lyricist Peter Napolitano, announces a series of musical evenings entitled WINTER RHYTHMS 2012, beginning tonight, December 4 and running through Friday, December 15, 2012 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street).

Urban Stages, in association with producer/director/lyricist Peter Napolitano, announces a series of musical evenings entitled WINTER RHYTHMS 2012, beginning on Tuesday, December 4 and running through Friday, December 15, 2012 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street).

No matter if you call it All Soul's Night, Halloween or Samhain, this is the most mystical night of the Celtic New Year. This biggest and most important holiday is also called Ancestor Night. The music must portray mystery, mystique and magic. It must be ethereal, otherworldly. It is a time when anything is possible.

No matter if you call it All Soul's Night, Halloween or Samhain, this is the most mystical night of the Celtic New Year. This biggest and most important holiday is also called Ancestor Night. The music must portray mystery, mystique and magic. It must be ethereal, otherworldly. It is a time when anything is possible.

The Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, hosts "A Giant, Wild Party," a musical tribute to the celebrated composer/lyricist/librettist Michael John LaChiusa, on Wednesday October 3 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens. (Rain date: Thursday October 4 at 6:30pm.) Feting the 2-time Emmy winner and 5-time Tony nominee, whose new musical "Giant," opens at the Public Theater this fall, will be the Broadway veterans D.C. Anderson ("Queen of the Mist," "Rebecca," "Phantom") and Leah Hocking ("Wild Party," "Billy Elliott," "Mama Mia," "Hairspray"); the cabaret legend and Broadway star KT Sullivan"; and the singer/songwriter and actress Katie Thompson (who is featured in LaChiusa's "Giant"). "A Giant, Wild Party" brings to a close The Concerts for City Greens' fifth annual season of free outdoor summer concerts.

MAC, BISTRO & Nightlife Award Recipient, Julie Reyburn brings her trio to 54 Below, "Broadway's Living Room" today, August 19th at 2pm as part of the ongoing Jazz Brunch series. Come join Julie for a swingin afternoon of Jazz as they celebrate the American Songbook from Ellington to Cole and everything in between. MAC Award winning composer, Bill Zeffiro will be joining Julie as her very special guest.

MAC, BISTRO & Nightlife Award Recipient, Julie Reyburn brings her trio to 54 Below, "Broadway's Living Room" on August 19th at 2pm as part of the ongoing Jazz Brunch series. Come join Julie for a swingin afternoon of Jazz as they celebrate the American Songbook from Ellington to Cole and everything in between. MAC Award winning composer, Bill Zeffiro will be joining Julie as her very special guest.

Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor concert series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, will add flashes of comedy as several quick-silvered wits join the musical mix on Wednesday June 20 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs (MAC) has announced the nominees for the 26th Annual MAC Awards. The winners will be announced live at the MAC Awards Show on Thursday, March 29th, at the world-famous B.B. King Blues Club & Grill.