Raissa Katona Bennett News

Artistic Directors Bick Goss & Frank Evans and Board President Stephen Hanks present the new musical: "DRIVE" with book, music and Lyrics by Andy Monroe, Outer Critics Circle Award Winner for 'THE KID.' Monroe's previous musicals for Musical Mondays include "THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN JEFFERSON JOE BLOW" seen at the Greenwich Street Theatre and "THE TRAGIC AND HORRIBLE LIFE OF THE SINGING NUN" subsequently produced by the New York Musical Theater Festival. DRIVE will be presented at The Jerry Orbach Theater, Snapple Theater Center, 210 West 50th, Just West of Broadway on Thursday, December 6, 6:30PM . Single Admission: $18.00; Subscriber Series for 'DRIVE' and 2 more new musicals: $39.00 reservations@musicalmondays.org or call: 212-989-6706

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).

After receiving more than 3,000 nominations once BroadwayWorld.com announced it's first-ever New York Cabaret Awards in early October, BWW is now pleased to announce it's final nominations ballot in 20 categories. Now it's time for all you cabaret performers and fans to vote for the best singers, musicians and shows of the year. Voting will continue until December 31 and winners will be announced in early January.

On November 5, the Theatre at Saint Peters (Home of the York Theatre) Lexington Avenue at 54th Street presented the songs of Larry Kerchner ("Somewhere in Time") sung by some of today's most formidable singers: Hilary Kole, Laurel Masse, Kevin Spirtas, Stacy Sullivan, Jeff Harnar, Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano, Karen Oberlin, Sidney Myer, Raissa Katona Bennett, Jill O'Hara and a host of others. Check out photos from the event below!

The Group Theatre Too (GTT), in association with Paul Michael's The Network, NYC, presents a star-studded benefit performance, Broadway at the Met Room, at New York's premier cabaret venue, The Metropolitan Room, on Sunday, December 2nd at 7pm. The performance is raising funds for GTT's Broadway Performance Project and will unveil the "Nicole Fosse Scholarship". Created by Kimberly Vaughn, The Broadway Performance Project is dedicated to discovering and nurturing new talent. This mini-conservatory trains the student to achieve Broadway caliber performance which is further shaped by industry professionals in prep for a two-evening performance at a top NY cabaret venue. Early this Fall GTT board member, Nicole Fosse agreed to create a scholarship in her name giving more opportunities for performers to take part in the 2013 season of Broadway Performance Project.

Tonight, November 5th at 7 pm, the Theatre at Saint Peters (Home of the York Theatre) Lexington Avenue at 54th Street will resound with the songs of Larry Kerchner ("Somewhere in Time") sung by some of today's most formidable singers: Headliner: Ann Hampton Callaway, Hilary Kole, Laurel Masse, Kevin Spirtas, Stacy Sullivan, Jeff Harnar, Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano, Karen Oberlin, La Tanya Hall, Sidney Myer, Raissa Katona Bennett, Jill O'Hara and a host of others. Musical Director is Tex Arnold. The event is produced by Sandi Durell.

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.

On November 5th at 7 pm, the Theatre at Saint Peters (Home of the York Theatre) Lexington Avenue at 54th Street will resound with the songs of Larry Kerchner ("Somewhere in Time") sung by some of today's most formidable singers: Headliner: Ann Hampton Callaway, Hilary Kole, Laurel Masse, Kevin Spirtas, Stacy Sullivan, Jeff Harnar, Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano, Karen Oberlin, La Tanya Hall, Sidney Myer, Raissa Katona Bennett, Jill O'Hara and a host of others. Musical Director is Tex Arnold. The event is produced by Sandi Durell.

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.

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.

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.

The Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor concert series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, dedicates the fourth concert of this year's summer series to the singer-songwriter and actress Ann Hampton Callaway, on Wednesday September 12 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens.

Feinstein's at Loews Regency continues its Summer 2012 season with the return of MAC and Bistro award winner Raissa Katona Bennett in a special week-long engagement through August 25. The show will celebrate the release of her new CD, Another Kind Of Light from LML Music, produced by Rob Abel. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from her first concert below!

Feinstein's at Loews Regency will continue its Summer 2012 season with the return of MAC and Bistro award winner Raissa Katona Bennett in a special week-long engagement from tonight, August 21 to August 25. The show will celebrate the release of her new CD, Another Kind Of Light from LML Music, produced by Rob Abel.

The Broadway Ballyhoo continues with the announcement that Tony Nominee CHAD KIMBALL (Memphis)is performing in this week's Broadway Ballyhoo.

So many cabaret shows, so little time . . . to write reviews that is. During his almost two years as a cabaret reviewer, BroadwayWorld.com critic Stephen Hanks managed to do a pretty good job of writing critiques during a show's run or soon after the run ended. But this summer he just couldn't keep up. Finally, here are observations on 10 performances over the past two months.

Feinstein's at Loews Regency will continue its Summer 2012 season with the return of MAC and Bistro award winner Raissa Katona Bennett in a special week-long engagement from August 21 to August 25. The show will celebrate the release of her new CD, Another Kind Of Light from LML Music, produced by Rob Abel.

Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor concert series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, dedicates the third concert of this year's summer series to the music of rock 'n roll legend Neil Sedaka.

If you're looking for some cool cabaret/nightclub shows over the next month, try these on for size: Darren Williams (July 26) and Lauren Robert (August 7) are ready to rock Iridium, while two lovely ladies of cabaret will be featured at Feinstein's: Karen Oberlin (July 24-28) and Raissa Katona Bennett (August 21-25).

In her third Feinstein's engagement, MAC & Bistro Award winner and Broadway's Raissa Katona Bennett (Christine in "Phantom of the Opera") celebrates the release of her latest CD, Another Kind of Light. The concert version of the album premieres Tuesday August 21 at 8pm, playing five shows through August 25.