Rex Benincasa News

Five years after her well-received show 'Jazz and Cocktails,' 2008 MAC Award nominee Kathryne Langford returns to the cabaret stage with a compelling and topical new show, 'For What It's Worth.' Directed by multiple MAC Award winner Lennie Watts, Langford's show features songs by Stephen Stills, Bob Dylan, Lennon & McCartney, Sting, David Frishberg, Johnny Mercer and Henri Mancini, and more. The show is at Don't Tell Mama on July 13, September 7, and November 13, all at 7 pm.

Tony Award winning choreographer and director George Faison (The Wiz) presented Andre De Shields, a two-time Tony nominee, Drama Desk nominee, Emmy winner and multi-Audelco Award and Outer Critics Circle Award winner, with the 2018 Bob Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award at the 33rd Annual Bistro Awards Gala, held at Gotham Comedy Club in New York on March 12th. De Shields received the Bistro Awards' highest honor for his five decades of stage and nightclub accomplishments.

Come to the Cabaret! Russ Woolley Proudly Presents Richard Skipper Celebrates... John Kander on his 91st Birthday with a cavalcade of Tony-winners, icons, and American musical theater notables from Broadway - today and yesteryear.

It's a Carol Celebration! The Laurie Beechman Theater and Russ Woolley start the new year with the first of the Richard Skipper Celebrates. The show features Christine Pedi, Diane J. Findlay, Wendy Scherl, Karen Saunders, and a special guest to be announced January 5th. All under the musical direction of Michael Lavine with Rex Benincasa on percussion, Erik Lawrence on Sax, and Maryann McSweeney on bass.

After highly successful performances in both New York and Chicago of her cabaret show, 'New SCHERL in Town', New York born vocalist Wendy Scherl is offering one additional performance on January 20th at Don't Tell Mama. Cabaret reviewers responded enthusiastically to 'New SCHERL in Town' and Wendy's bracing blend of solid gold standards and choice lesser known items.

Russ Woolley and The Laurie Beechman Theater ANNOUNCE The Cast of the next edition of Richard Skipper Celebrates... CELEBRATING LEGENDARY BROADWAY Actress Carol Channing

After the highly successful debut of her brand new cabaret show, 'New SCHERL in Town' in April, New York born vocalist Wendy Scherl is offering two additional performances this October at Don't Tell Mama.    

Multi-award winner Richard Skipper, who is fast becoming a New York cultural icon, returns to the stage to his audience's delight on September 10th 2017.

Even if you've never heard a note sung by Ella Fitzgerald (and if that's the case, you should stop reading this review immediately and look up some of her recordings on YouTube) Andrea Frierson's duo-bio solo show, ME & ELLA, can be related to by anyone whose life was influenced by a popular artist they've never met.

The York Theatre Company's 2017 summer New2NY Series presentation of the new musical Me & Ella, written and performed by Andrea Frierson (Once on This Island, The Lion King), direction by the Tony Award-winning team of Murphy Cross and Paul Kreppel (Jay Johnson: The Two and Only), with music direction and arrangements by Ron Abel (Hazel, A Musical Maid in America, 'Happily Divorced') opened last night, July 16.

Russ Woolley presents Richard Skipper Celebrates ... A Special Father's Day Brunch Show celebrating the birthdays of Jeanette MacDonald and Sammy Cahn, and remembering Peter Allen on the anniversary of his passing. Sunday, June 18th at 1 pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre below The West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42 Street.

In 2015, after a lengthy eighteen year hiatus, New York born vocalist Wendy Scherl returned to the world of cabaret with her highly acclaimed solo show, What Do You Do All Day at Don't Tell Mama (directed by Helen Baldasarre.) The success of that show led to a string of notable singing appearances in various clubs around the city, culminating in Wendy' s triumph as the first runner up in the 2016 MetroStar search at the Metropolitan Room.

To celebrate the 121st birthday of lyricist E.Y. 'Yip' Harburg, Richard Skipper has assembled a brunch time cabaret tribute to the legendary lyricist, to be staged at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on April 8, with cabaret stars Karen Oberlin, Leslie Orofino, Maureen Kelley Stewart and a special appearance by Anita Gilette.

Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents a concert of the John McMahon-Jay Jeffries musical LOVE AND OTHER FABLES on April 9, 2017 at 7pm.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present Broadway/cabaret star Karen Mason with a concert celebrating her newest recording, "It's About Time."  

???????Russ Woolley proudly presents Richard Skipper Celebrates...Liza Minnelli (on her Birthday!) He will be joined by Julie Reyburn, David Sabella, introducing AmeliaRose Allen, and a very special Well Known Mystery Guest...!

Richard Skipper knows everyone in Cabaret and almost EVERYONE in show business! and ... almost everything about them, making him the perfect host for this ongoing Classic Variety/Talk Show format.

Russ Woolley and Wright Bros. Real Estate, Nyack, NY proudly present Richard Skipper Celebrates His Birthday...nd He'll Sing If He'll Want To! He will be joined by Sidney Myer, Cathy Szabo, Josephine Sanges, and a very special Well Known TONY NOMINATED Mystery Guest*!

It all began 53 years ago when Carol Channing opened HELLO, DOLLY! on January 16, 1964, at The St. James Theatre. To celebrate this milestone, Richard Skipper Celebrates the 53rd Anniversary of Hello, Dolly! on January 16, 2017, at 7pm at the Triad on 158 West 72nd Street in NYC.

Today, December 9th at 7pm, at The Triad, Richard Skipper Celebrates with an Old-Fashioned Variety/Talk Show with Musical Direction by Bryon Sommers, with Rex Benincasa on percussion & Jeff Carney on bass & a great lineup of featured guests including One Mystery Guest every month. Previous Mystery Guests have included Hilary Kole, Melba Moore and Stacy Sullivan.