Ron Abel News

Birdland Theater was thrilled to present singer/actor/host/legend John Davidson in concert on Monday, May 27.

If you were making a movie about New York City and were tasked to re-create the perfect intimate night club experience that included a beautiful glamorous singer and famous New Yorkers at the tables look no further. That scene took place at the Beach Cafe with actress/singer Linda Purl performing her show up close and personal singing to you from the curve of Tedd Firth's Grand Piano on the East Side of Manhattan last night.

Friends, Fans, and Friars gathered in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room last night as host and theater historian Richard Skipper 'celebrated' Julie Budd. Julie shared songs and stories from a career that saw her appearing in every major venue, on every major Television Show, and with most of the legendary performers of our generation.

For those unenlightened, Jazz/Pop vocalist Nicolas King might seem like an overnight sensation. If you are new to the scene you've only recently discovered one of the most skillful and exciting male singers around. As they say in the trade, 'He's Hot'. Truth be told, Nicolas has been working and honing his amazing talent for 18 of his 27 years, and coincidently collecting many industry awards along the way. Last night at The Beach Cafe on New York's fashionable East Side, Nicolas thrilled an intimate group of sophisticated and musically astute New Yorkers who had gathered in a location that harks back to the golden age of New York City night life. Proprietor Dave Goodside has recreated the ambience of those fashionable Manhattan night spots that enticed you with good food, drink and entertainment. It may not be the 1950's El Morocco or La Martinique (and surely doesn't cost as much), but this special eventing at The Beach Cafe definitely left the Saturday late night audience feeling they were sharing that same nostalgic supper club experience listening to the romantic and Jazz infused vocals of Nicolas King.

Nowadays it's quite common for a show to have '& Friends' in it's title. I don't know if Broadway Producer and entertainer Jamie deRoy invented the concept, but over the last 30 years she sure has perfected the inclusion of having her uber talented friends perform in Jamie deRoy & friends variety shows. In fact, some folks must think '& friends' is Jamie's last name, she has an impressive contact list (remember rollodex).

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present singer Natalie Douglas with another edition of her hit series entitled "TRIBUTES."

Show business tour de force and six-time TonyAward-winning producer Jamie deRoy brings her star-packed Jamie deRoy & friends cabaret show to New York's famed Birdland, Monday, April 15, at 7 p.m.  

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

Producer Rick Murray will present the 2019 Cabaret at the Crown Series in Provincetown, MA this summer at The Crown & Anchor's Paramount Theatre and Town Hall Auditorium.  Tickets are now on sale for the Series, in which an impressive list of award-winning stars will be performing live in full concerts.  Following up on last summer's smash hit season, the 2019 Cabaret Series will include the talents of comedians Lisa Lampanelli, Margaret Cho, and Sandra Bernhard, as well as Broadway stars Lucie Arnaz (They're Playing Our Song, Pippin), Lillias White (The Life), Linda Lavin (Broadway Bound, Gypsy), Lorna Luft (Promises, Promises), John Lloyd Young (Jersey Boys), Linda Eder (Jekyll and Hyde), and television favorites Leslie Jordan (The Cool Kids, Will and Grace) and Fran Drescher (The Nanny).

David Engel (La Cage Aux Folles, Seussical, Forever Plaid) joins the cast when FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Ron Abel and Lissa Levin's Twist of Fate, a musical comedy in concert, on Wednesday, March 20th, at 9:30 pm. With Abel's electrifying flamenco/pop score and Levin's Kleban Award-winning book, Twist of Fate is as compelling as the unique first amendment case on which it is based. What happens when a gypsy fortuneteller fights to legalize fortunetelling in 1970's Los Angeles?

Fresh from the 40th Anniversary Actors Fund benefit concert of 'They're Playing Our Song' at the Music Box Theatre in NYC, it's star Lucie Arnaz joined entertainer and Key West impresario Randy Roberts for 'We're Singing Our Songs' at the Tennessee Williams Cabaret Theatre.

There is an historic house in Key West, La Terraza De Marti, which was the home of cigar manufacturer Teodoro Perez who was a symbol of Key West's strong ties to Cuba. On May 3, 1883 Perez welcomed Jose Marti, the man who was the symbol of Cuba's bid for independence from Spain to speak from his 2nd story balcony to thousands of Cuban sympathizers. Marti was an integral factor in freeing Cuba from Spanish rule.

Feinstein's/54 Below will present Ron Abel and Lissa Levin's Twist of Fate, a musical comedy in concert, on Wednesday, March 20th, at 9:30 pm. With its electrifying flamenco/pop score and Kleban Award-winning book, Twist of Fate is as compelling as the unique first amendment case on which it is based. What happens when a gypsy fortuneteller fights to legalize fortunetelling in 1970's Los Angeles?

There were thrilling moments at The Kravis Center Pops Orchestra concert last night conducted by Maestro Michael Feinstein. One was being able to hear one of the most extraordinary vocalists of our generation, Maureen McGovern perform with the orchestra. Another was the Maestro leaving the podium to sing 'I've Got You Under My Skin' with Ms McGovern. In the first half of the concert Will & Anthony Nunziata, two other great voices also thrilled the audience in the Dreyfoos Concert Hall with their mash up of Unchained Melody/Someone Like You.

A party hosted by Jamie deRoy, Board member of Primary Stages was attended by some of the most esteemed members of the theatre community last night. Primary Stages is an Off-Broadway not-for-profit theater company dedicated to inspiring, supporting, and sharing the art of playwriting. The kitchen of Ms. deRoy, the 'hostess with the (theatre) mostess' was also recently used by Rita Moreno for a cooking demonstration for a PBS American Masters series and featured in this weeks New York Times.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Meghan Murphy in Big Red & The Boys  on Dec 19th, 2018 at 9:30pm. An evening of Songs, Stories and Spirits with Songstress Powerhouse Meghan "Big Red Murphy and her holiday boys, Patrick Andrews, John Francisco, TJ Chernick and Nick Davio. This ain't your mama's holiday show! Big voices. Big laughs. Big Red.

The silent auction item at The New York Pops annual gala/concert held at Carnegie Hall and the Mandarin Hotel in April, offered a pianist to play at your private party complete with catering by Trattoria del Arte. The Pops Concert and Gala's proceeds help finance The Pops/Ed Programs. For the third year, the winning bidder got much more than she bargained for. Not only did the advertised pianist (Stephen Sorokoff) appear, but also a slew of New York's must celebrated keyboard artists and entertainers joined the festivities.

Do you want to have the best birthday party ever? First…. be talented and admired entertainers who have lots of talented friends. Then, have many adoring fans and a large loving family. Next, have Sunny Sessa and Craig Neier create and produce your celebration at the Friars Club. The Friars Club which is the ground zero gathering place for show business folks and one of a kind events (most recent the Billy Crystal Icon Award Gala) hosted Will & Anthony Nunziata's Birthday Bash last night and here is a look inside the celebration.

If you were in The Cutting Room for the Stephen Schwartz Concert for the Benefit of the Orphaned Starfish Foundation it is a night you will probably cherish forever. The music of Stephen Schwartz performed by an incredible array of Broadway and stage talent was one of the most inspiring and remarkable events to be a part of.

42nd Street...Crossroads of the world and the place on the planet where some of the most spectacular entertainment events have taken place over the decades was the home to another great performance last night. Will & Anthony Nunziata thrilled the New York City audience with a concert that celebrated the release of their new album Love Always. The event at The Green Room 42 was more like a New Years Eve party, as the multitalented twin brother singer-songwriters had their fans cheering after ever number. 'The Boys' as they are affectionately known to their enthusiasts around the country, used their soulful tenor voices and rich two part harmonies to create an evening of emotional and exciting songs. Will has co-written three original songs on the album and Anthony has co-written seven of the original songs. Their collaborators include Maria Christensen, Jeff Franzel, and Porter Carroll Jr.