Ritt Hen News

Eric Yves Garcia has stepped away from the piano. I repeat, stepped away from the piano. The performer strides into the center stage light, his dark eyes twinkling, his jaw defined by just the right amount of stubble. This guy could be a movie star. I was excited. For the Metropolitan Room audience, Garcia's November 5 opening night of his new show Pour Spirits was about to be a down and dirty tell-all of some of New York's bacchanalian carousers as related by the handsome, attentive piano man of Chez Josephine, Bemelmans Bar, and other NYC nightspots. Garcia remained center stage for the better part of the show, allowing his inner storyteller and actor to take the reins, punctuating his alcohol-soaked dispatches from the wrong side of midnight with songs far afield of the traditional American Songbook.

For the third installment of his New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits--a wonderful new monthly series at the Metropolitan Room celebrating award winning and critically acclaimed cabaret shows of the past--Producer Stephen Hanks (and his Cabaret Life Productions) wisely chose Maxine Linehan's What Would Petula Do? A Tribute to Petula Clark. Although this show won no awards, nor received critical acclaim in 2009 (when I first saw it at the Laurie Beechman Theatre), Linehan's revival this past Monday night of one of her first cabaret shows could certainly be considered one the best of this or any year. 

After critically lauded shows in New York, London and Paris, award-winning performer Eric Yves Garcia (Margaret Whiting Award; Bistro Award for Singing Instrumentalist) debuts his new show, 'Pour Spirits', tonight, November 5th at The Metropolitan Room.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director, Peter Napolitano, Producer/Director of Musical Programming) today announced the line-up for this year's Award-Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre. WINTER RHYTHMS 2015 marks the seventh year that Urban Stages has brought noted musical artists to its stage during the holiday period. The mission of Winter Rhythms is to bring the talents of known and unknown singers, musicians, lyricists and composers to the attention of the New York theater community while performing at Urban Stages Theater. Winner of the 2015 Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Series MAC Award, WINTER RHYTHMS benefits Urban Stages' acclaimed Outreach Program, which brings more than 200 free "arts in education" presentations to libraries and schools throughout the five boroughs. This year's event features 20 shows and more than 100 artists.

Urban Stages announces the line-up for this year's Award Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30thStreet, just East of 8th Avenue). Tickets are $25 per show and may be purchased by visiting urbanstages.org or by calling (866) 811-4111. For complete schedule information, visit urbanstages.org.

After critically lauded shows in New York, London and Paris, award-winning performer Eric Yves Garcia (Margaret Whiting Award; Bistro Award for Singing Instrumentalist) debuts his new show, 'Pour Spirits', on Thursday, November 5th at The Metropolitan Room.

The Mabel Mercer  Foundation returned to The Town Hall last night for the first of 4 different concerts and BroadwayWorld will be there for all. Here are some photos from the opening night. 2015 is the twenty-sixth annual New York Cabaret Convention.

Ninety percent of the way into her ebullient show last night at Birdland, So, As I Was Saying, Anita Gillette quotes a 1977 review of her performance in Neil Simon's Chapter Two that stated the warmth she exudes could melt glaciers. (The artist wasn't bragging, but was referring to her then difficulty in finding any glaciers, i.e., men to melt.) The description applies today. A packed audience comprised both of devoted civilian fans and theatrical luminaries cheered on the latest iteration of Gillette's dramatized life. Once again directed by Barry Kleinbort with musically directed by Paul Greenwood (who also appealingly sings duets), with Ritt Henn on bass and John Redsecker on drums, the show is as sincere and bubbly as the lady herself.

In his first major Manhattan appearance since his heralded debut at 'Broadway's supper club,' 54 Below, in July, acclaimed NYC jazz vocalist-songwriter MARCUS GOLDHABER returned to encore his new show, 'FREE & EASY: LIVIN' ON SWING STREET,' at the Metropolitan Room last night and Broadwayworld was on the scene! Check out photos from the show below!

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents an all-star cast of 54 Below favorites for an evening celebrating the work of American Songbook pioneer, Irving Berlin. His catalog of songs spans the musical rainbow from rag to pop standard to Broadway anthem. Hear outstanding renditions of Irving Berlin's most memorable songs including 'Alexander's Ragtime Band', 'Always', 'There's No Business Like Show Business' and 'God Bless America'. The evening will be hosted by the incomparable nightlife diva, Molly Pope.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents an all-star cast of 54 Below favorites for an evening celebrating the work of American Songbook pioneer, Irving Berlin. His catalog of songs spans the musical rainbow from rag to pop standard to Broadway anthem. Hear outstanding renditions of Irving Berlin's most memorable songs including "Alexander's Ragtime Band", "Always", "There's No Business Like Show Business" and "God Bless America". The evening will be hosted by the incomparable nightlife diva, Molly Pope.

To paraphrase a Peter Allen song, she could have been a sailor. Instead, she chose to sail the open seas. And now she's singing about it. It all made for a promising theme for the Manhattan cabaret debut of Robyn McCorquodale and her series of four April shows, Diary Of A Piano Girl, at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Pert, lively and totally likable, she shared her stories fused with original songs about wanderlust in which all roads eventually lead back home. From the opening number to closing with "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," her only familiar entry, she took a circuitous route with visits to numerous ports of call. New to our local cabaret shores, but no stranger to entertaining, she's made her mark in the Big Apple with this outing.

Artists in Partnership (AIP), a non-profit cultural arts organization, will host its 13th Annual Cabaret Festival this week, May 13-17 at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. The festival will be a celebration of the cabaret genre honoring the Great American Songbook.

Artists in Partnership (AIP), a non-profit cultural arts organization, will host its 13th Annual Cabaret Festival May 13-17 at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. The festival will be a celebration of the cabaret genre honoring the Great American Songbook.

After successful shows at Judy's Chelsea and Don't Tell Mama, Jennifer Roberts is back to celebrate her love for Manhattan with two shows at New York hotspot 'Don't Tell Mama.' Musical Director Tedd Firth will join Jennifer along with bass player Ritt Henn (www.ritthenn.com) tonight, April 7th and April 9th.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series is proud to announce that On The Town star Elizabeth Stanley will be celebrating the show's creators Betty Comden and Adolph Green in concert in 'Carried Away' on Monday, April 6 at 7pm. Elizabeth's very special guest will be Television/Broadway star Andrew Rannells.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was thrilled to welcome back Broadway and tv actress Anita Gillette, who debuted a new concert entitled 'So, As I Was Saying.' The one-night-only event took place on Monday, March 30 at 7pm. BroadwayWorld has photos from the concert below!

After successful shows at Judy's Chelsea and Don't Tell Mama, Jennifer Roberts is back to celebrate her love for Manhattan with two shows at New York hotspot 'Don't Tell Mama.' Musical Director Tedd Firth will join Jennifer along with bass player Ritt Henn (www.ritthenn.com) on April 7th and 9th.

NiCori Studios and Productions and Irvington Town Hall Theater announce the third performance in the Cabaret on the Hudson series. The performance will be held on Monday, February 16 at 8pm. Cabaret on the Hudson is a series that features three outstanding cabaret performers or small groups, each bringing a 25 minute sampling of their New York City cabaret shows to Westchester, NY. Many of the performers are Broadway veterans and have performed in New York City venues such as 54 BELOW, the Oak Room at the Algonquin, Birdland, Feinstein's at Loews Regency, Iridium, the Metropolitan Room and Jazz at Lincoln Center to name a few. Cabaret on the Hudson will be hosted by multi-nominated Cabaret singer and host of the 'Music at the Mansion' series, Corinna Sowers Adler and will feature Benet Braun on piano.