Matt Baker News

With Jeff Harnar and Matt Baker by her side, Becca Kidwell's new show has a brilliant new sheen on it.

Four years ago, a novice - today, one of the most productive members of the cabaret community, Becca Kidwell is ready to premiere her new show - only months after opening her last one.

Chanteuse Artemisia LeFay's original show GHOSTS OF WEIMAR PAST made its highly anticipated Birdland Theater debut to an enthusiastic and packed house last week.

MAC Award Nominee and Broadway World Cabaret Award Winner, Becca Kidwell shares her experiences as an introvert during lockdown and post-lockdown in her new show, “Together Inside,” on April 30th & May 22nd at 4pm to Don't Tell Mama.  Becca brings her struggles and joys to life with the assistance of music director, Matt Baker, and her director, Jeff Harnar. 

Singer/Songwriter/Pianist Jacob Khalil made his Birdland Theater debut on Sunday March 20th, 2022 with his show “Most Requested”. The show was a clever set list mixing styles & genres from the American Songbook, Jazz, Pop, and several outstanding original songs penned by Khalil.

Susie Mosher always keeps the talent on the stage classy but this week there was a plethora of piano players to liven things up.

The Duplex presents Zoë Van Tieghem's debut of her new Cabaret, “Love and Stuff.” Van Tieghem will croon a curated playlist of cabaret standards, classic rock, and musical theatre. Lesbian femme fatale Van Tieghem will take you on a darkly comedic journey of love with a mix of cabaret standards and rock classics by artists such as Billy Joel that, “Only a lesbian would sing.” 

Richmond Theatre have today, 8 March, announced that their annual pantomime, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, will star TV-favourite Matt Baker. Matt will star as Joey the Clown, reprising the role he originated in the critically acclaimed 2019 London Palladium production.

On Monday, Australian jazz pianist Matt Baker returned to Birdland with a new version of his project A RHAPSODY OF GERSHWIN. The project is very much in the spirit of Gershwin’s own mix of jazz and classical styles. Using Gershwin’s original compositions as a launching board, he created inventive variations with his 5 piece band. There was a great deal of virtuosity on display. Gershwin’s work lends itself to such displays of bravura. The material is so rich it can’t help but yield fruitful improvisations. Matt Baker’s ensemble definitely rose to the challenge. The joy of the evening was the addition of Grammy-nominated singer Nicole Zuraitis. Ms. Zuraitis has a supple voice that is both warm and delicate. In addition to providing the lyrics, she also had many numbers in which she was treated as another instrument in the band, providing haunting vocalises.

New York/Australian jazz pianist Matt Baker returned to the Birdland stage with a new version of his project, “A Rhapsody of Gershwin.” 

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center is accepting applications for the Cabaret & Performance Conference Junior Fellows Program through March 18.

The weekly look at The Lineup arrives a little late but it arrives, nonetheless.

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are open this February with a full slate of nightly performances! 

You can’t say Jim Caruso’s Cast Party hasn’t had staying power!  Every Monday night for the past eighteen years, musical talent has been celebrated on the Birdland stage.  Superstars, up-and-comers, Broadway legends, jazzers and cabaret divas have all been in the spotlight and taken a turn at the grand piano. 

For the twelfth year in a row, Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch bring “A Swinging Birdland Christmas” to the iconic New York City stage with a five-night engagement.  Rounding out the “festive five” is Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass/Eric Halverson on drums.

This last Monday, the weekly fun at Jim Caruso’s Cast Party continued with a full list of singers and a packed house eager to cheer.  Pop/tv/theater star Nicole Scherzinger showed up while in town rehearsing for the “Annie” movie, and leading lady Melissa Errico caused some musical theater swooning! 

London’s Reviewsgate calls Jason Kravits and his “Off The Top” improv extravaganza “a five-star masterclass in the art of improv.”  

Karen Oberlin brought a brand-new celebration of Lorenz “Larry” Hart to the Birdland stage on Monday night.

Over the past two months, Jim Caruso’s Cast Party has been packing Birdland with throngs of music and theater lovers eager to cheer the return of the show biz scene. Fans of Broadway, jazz, country, and the Great American Songbook have been delighted by the impromptu talent that has consistently shown up to entertain.

The Word's Biggest Panto is back for 2021 with a spectacular arena tour.