Sean Harkness News

The singer, songwriter and recording artist Carolyn Montgomery-Forant continued her recent comeback as performed her critically acclaimed 'Visible Phoenix' at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, a show which took off in October. The flame-throwing wit's first solo show since returning to the stage in January of last year, 'Visible Phoenix' marches on Fridays, March 13, and April 10. All shows are at 7pm. Check out photos from the show below!

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.

Bernie Furshpan, operating partner of the Metropolitan Room served up Champagne at a reception to celebrate Julie Budd's Residency at the Cabaret. Lots of show biz friends turned out to congratulate Julie on her "new home".  Julie's first show is on May 14th and Richard Skipper her publicist announced the the opening performance is almost sold out.

Jazz singer/songwriter Abigail Rockwell, granddaughter of beloved American illustrator Norman Rockwell, will make her New York cabaret debut tonight, April 30th at 7pm at theMetropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street - between 5th & 6th Avenues) in 'Ringing in the Spring.'

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was thrilled that Los Angeles singer Todd Murray brought his acclaimed show 'CROON: When A Whisper Became A Song' to the historic music room this past Monday. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

“Lover, when I'm near you . . .” sings the debonair Todd Murray this past Monday night at Birdland, mere feet away from rapt eyes into which he pours himself. He's performing the waltzy song acoustically, voice full out in opposition to lyric mood. The back of the house undoubtedly finds sound muted. “This is how you would've heard a band singer in 1925, before a new technique called 'crooning',” he tells us. “From the time I started working, they always called me a crooner.”

It's not exactly a secret that cabaret has for decades been a world dominated by female entertainers. Sylvia Syms, Julie Wilson, Margaret Whiting, Karen Akers, KT Sullivan, Karen Mason and myriad others have assumed the top notches of the art form. But, perhaps, men might be taking their place among the front lines and a perfect example this past week were the shows from cabaret veterans Kevin Dozier and Frank Torren.

Todd Murray celebrates the release of his new CD CROON with a special performance of his acclaimed CROON: When A Whisper Became A Song at the legendary Birdland, 315 West 44th St.,New York, on Monday, April 13th, at 7pm. There is a $30.00 cover charge (there is a $10 food/beverage minimum). Due to the high demand for this special event, reservations are highly recommended by calling 212-581-06-0440. You can also visit BirdlandJazz.com or ToddMurray.com for further information.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for April 13-19, featuring James Carter Organ Trio, Todd Murray in "Croon: When A Whisper Became A Song," Barbara Carroll, Jazz Party with Natalie Douglas, and more!

Jazz singer/songwriter Abigail Rockwell, granddaughter of beloved American illustrator Norman Rockwell, will make her New York cabaret debut on Thursday, April 30th at 7pm at theMetropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street - between 5th & 6th Avenues) in "Ringing in the Spring."

The Metropolitan Room became one of those Art Deco Night Clubs in a1940 Black & White Movie last night. Harking back to the days when the girl singers had that luscious, sensual, understated, but spectacular voices and musicianship that made every person in the room fall in love with them. Although I have ears that sometimes show signs of wear and tear from a lifetime of hearing a lot of stuff, Celia's ability to annunciate and melodically roll out lyrics had me hearing vowels and consonants I usually miss in a crowded noisy cabaret. Come to think of it, the Metropolitan Room had the quietness of a recording studio as the very musically sophisticated audience was held in rapt attention by Celia's artistry. I would be enamored with any song she wrapped her voice around, but her unique song selection made the evening especially compelling. How fitting it was the Stacy Sullivan and Joanne Tatham were in the audience. Two singers that represent that same kind of sexy, restrained and understated musical excellence that Celia Berk possesses. It was also ironic that the title song of the show ( You Can't Rush Spring) was written by another of my favorite ladies - Ann Hampton Callaway.

At a ceremony held last 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.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its April 2015 schedule, featuring Sheila Jordan with the Steve Kuhn Trio, Ms. Lisa Fischer, Eliane Elias, James Carter Organ Trio, Barbara Carroll, The Beegie Adair Trio with Monica Ramey, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs will present the 29th Annual MAC Awards on Thursday, March 26st, at 7:30pm, at B.B King Blues Club & Grill in New York City.

In just three years since the inception of the BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards, the ceremony has evolved into one of the community's most-anticipated events. And this year's festivities, the second one at Joe's Pub, proved to be the most glittering and energetic assemblage to date. In fact, there couldn't have been a more promising start to the annual cabaret awards season, which continues with the Bistro Awards at Gotham Comedy Club on March 4, and culminates with the MAC Awards (Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs) at BB King's on March 26. The 3rd Annual BWW Awards Show was just the right spark to get this season's prizes off to a veritable fireworks display.

Nancy Seabold will be debuting her show 'Love and How It Grows You... A One Woman Musical Revue' tonight, February 21 at 1pm at the Metropolitan Room. Nancy will sing songs from a mix of different genres from Cabaret to Musical Theater to Opera; Pop to Country, and American Songbook. She will be joined by Steve Ross on the piano and Sean Harkness on the guitar.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is where the brightest Broadway, jazz and cabaret stars hang out, celebrate and entertain each other until the wee hours of the morning. Birdland has been the Manhattan home to the 'extreme' open mic for twelve successful years, and with a newly signed 20-year lease, there are many, many nights of madcap, shocking and musically thrilling impromptu performances in store.

THE METROPOLITAN ROOM presents Kevin Dozier in 'A NEW YORK ROMANCE' on March 17, 2015, April 8 2015, and May 13, 2015.

The 2014 BWW New York Cabaret Awards will celebrate the best cabaret performers and shows of last year as voted on by 7,500 fans in December after a one-month preliminary ballot process. Produced, directed, and hosted for the third straight year by BWW Cabaret Editor Stephen Hanks, the BWW Awards show will feature performances by many of the winners, many of whom are among the cream of the crop in the art of cabaret. Joining a star-studded cast (see below) will be two-time 2014 BWW Cabaret Award nominee and Broadway Musical star Len Cariou, who will perform a special tribute to the late songwriter Ervin Drake.

Cabaret in New York has never suffered from a dearth of impressive jazz-oriented chanteuses. These include such past and present delights as Mary Foster Conklin, Laurie Krauz, Sally Mayes, Janis Siegel, Kat Gang, and the late Claiborne Cary. It is therefore most unfortunate that Birdland, an otherwise-impeccable jazz nightspot, had to suffer the recent show of Joanne Tatham (celebrating the recent release of her CD Out of My Dreams). While Tatham drew a very good house indeed, the lady has very little business referring to what she does as 'jazz.' In fact, it's not even cabaret. What Tatham delivers is really more a sad club act that couldn't even take it's place among the bluest of blues.