Roy Sander News

 In nail-bitingly close voting Monday night, the MetroStar Talent Challenge bid farewell to two audience favorites in a hotly contested semi-final round.  Let go by the jury were the contest's popular 9th grader Josephine Bianco and the veteran piano bar performer Sheree Sano.

The 2015 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' is extending its deadline for applications to July 4 and adding new mentoring to help competitors up their games during the 7-week contest. The eighth annual edition of the summer tradition runs for seven consecutive Mondays, from July 6 through August 17.  All contestants must certify that they will be available to compete throughout the jury-and audience-voted, elimination-round competition.

This summer, The Metropolitan Room presents vocalist Rebekah Lowin in 'I Know You By Heart,' a powerful and intimate new show that highlights the life and legacy of the late singer Eva Cassidy, as well as her original arrangements. 

The 8th annual 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' gets under way on Monday July 6 at 7pm. The summer tradition, in which singers of different ages, styles and backgrounds are challenged to raise their standards and push themselves artistically, 'MetroStar' runs eight consecutive Mondays through August 24 at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street. Applications are now being accepted through July 1.

Hot off her 2015 MAC Award win The Sexy Sass Coloratura is laughing  like Adele from ' Die Fledermaus,' 'its so funny ha ha ha,' and it will be funny and glorious when she recreates that famous aria and many more in her critically acclaimed show LEGIT (A Classical Cabaret) Directed by Lina Koutrakos, with Music Direction by Mark Janas with Special Guest Operatic Tenor Christopher Yoon and multi-Award winning songstress Celia Berk.

At a ceremony held Thursday night in New York, the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs announced the winners of the 2015 MAC Awards. The show was hosted by Karen Mason, with musical direction by Barry Levitt, and was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the evening below!

Jazz headliner Carol Fredette and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Lillias White will be among the eleven performers honored at the 30th Annual Bistro Awards gala, which recognizes outstanding achievement in New York cabaret, jazz, and comedy. The celebration will take place on Wednesday, March 4, at 6:30pm at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd Street.

2013 MetroStar winner and Kansas native, Lauren Stanford, made her solo cabaret debut last summer with I'm a Stranger Here Myself. For one special encore performance, I'm a Stranger Here Myself will be presented on February 1st at 1:00pm at The Metropolitan Room. The show explores New York City's enduring lure through songs made popular by small town women such as Helen Morgan, Mary Martin, Julie Wilson, Peggy Lee and more. Directed by Eric Michael Gillett with Music Direction by Mike Pettry.

Hilarious Pacific Northwest performers Susannah Mars and Bill Wells join forces with Easterner Richard Weidlich in the New York premiere of 'Holiday Time,' a wild and poignant holiday cabaret for everyone. The performers will appear for one show only on December 17th, 7:00pm at The Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, New York City. Phone (212) 206-0440 ?for reservations or reserve online at: http://MetropolitanRoom.com. General admission is $20 plus a two drink minimum.

Jason Morris performed his unique show - Musically Yogic - Saturday, night 8/30, at Metropolitan Room, with a repertoire that included Broadway and Pop, from Pink (Glitter in the Air) and Leonard Cohen (Hallelujah) to Rodgers and Hammerstein (Climb Every Mountain).

Performer/producer, Jason Morris, the 2013 MetroStar 1st Runner Up, returns to the Metropolitan Room with encore performances of his acclaimed new show, MUSICALLY YOGIC, at 7pm tonight, August 30th and September 22nd.

Last night were the finals of the MetroStar Talent Challenge and BroadwayWorld was there. One by one the nervous five entered the dark room and the process started. The judges were identified and their qualifications noted by host Tom Gamblin.

On Monday, in one of the most competitive MetroStar competitions to date, five finalists were selected to move on to the two-week finals of the 7th annual MetroStar Talent Challenge. The five finalists, who will go head-to-head the next two Mondays, August 18 and 25, are Joanna Morton Gary, Lindsey Holloway, Leah Jennings, David LaMarr and Kristoffer Lowe. The Top 5, narrowed down from a group of nine semifinalists, are the last singers singing from an initial pool of 48 when the 8-week competition began on July 7.

Performer/producer, Jason Morris, the 2013 MetroStar 1st Runner Up, returns to the Metropolitan Room with encore performances of his acclaimed new show, MUSICALLY YOGIC, at 7pm on August 30th and September 22nd.

ScoBar Entertainment will present ELAINE St. GEORGE for two shows on Sunday, July 27th at 8 & 10pm at the Iridium. She will be accompanied by Musical Director Ross Patterson, with Adam Armstrong on bass & Karen Waltuch on viola.

After a sold out performance at Metropolitan Room, The Bitchy Waiter Show, starring Darron Cardosa makes its return, this time at Don't Tell Mama. Shows are on August 4th and September 6th at 7:00 PM. Don't Tell Mama is located at 343 W. 46th St, between 8th and 9th Aves.

New York's Metropolitan Room is extending its deadline for applications for this year's 2014 "MetroStar Talent Challenge" to July 4.

Starring SARAH RICE (original Johanna, SWEENEY TODD, 2011 MAC Award, 2010 Bistro Award) Special Guests: RICH FLANDERS (SHENANDOAH, ANNIE 2, Will Rogers Cowboy Award, Best Song) CELIA BERKJOANNA MORTON GARY ANNE TARPEY-FLANDERSDAVID VERNON

The 'MetroStar Talent Challenge,' a singers contest which has launched the careers of several standouts in cabaret, pop and jazz,' turns 7 this year. The 2014 'MetroStar' runs for eight consecutive Mondays, from July 7 through August 25 at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street. Applications are now being accepted through July 1.

You don't have to travel all the way to NYC in order to hear songs from theatre, jazz, Great American and International Song Books and classical stages performed by award-winning singers & instrumentalists. At Classic Quiche in Teaneck, NJ on the last Friday of each month, through November, Broadway Concerts Direct presents top performers in a cozy, intimate salon type setting, with an eclectic mix of musical styles and delicious food. -- All in one evening! We are hoping to turn this into an ongoing Salon series of musical treasures. Sarah Rice, the winner of the 2010 Bistro Award and 2011 MAC Award (Best Female Vocalist), is also an opera singer with many impressive performing and stage credits. She was the original Johanna in Broadway's "Sweeney Todd" with Angela Lansbury, which won multiple Tonys and a Grammy and won Sarah a Theatre World Award. Sarah has performed in concert, shows and operas all around the world. www.SarahRice.com