Spider Saloff News

With its unique combination of the best of past and present popular song, the annual Cabaret Convention stands as a pivotal, highly-anticipated highlight of New York City's autumn music season.

New York's renowned musical organization, The Mabel Mercer Foundation, returns to the Midwest for the first time since 2006 to present its fourth "Chicago Cabaret Convention."

James Levine, Christoph Eschenbach, Gustavo Dudamel, Susanna Malkki, Kent Nagano, a "virtual" Esa-Pekka Salonen, and three conductors making Chicago Symphony Orchestra debuts take the podium. 

Award winning vocalist, Spider Saloff performs and evening of jazz classics and original songs with touch of comedy with pianist Ricky Ritzel.

Old School Square is presenting 13 outstanding shows and concerts in April. Tickets for all of them are available for online purchase now at www.OldSchoolSquare.org.

Veteran entertainer Maurice Hines, "trans-genre" artist Justin Vivian Bond, comedian Jim David, and musician Paul Shaffer have been set as presenters at the 32nd annual Bistro Awards on Monday, March 13 at 6:30pmat Gotham Comedy Club. Hines, Bond, and David are, themselves, previous Bistro Award honorees.

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts continues its star-packed 25th anniversary season in April 2017 with an amazing array of musical performances from Broadway to Motown, from classy Nat King Cole to classic Cole Porter, from piano masterpieces to Pokemon. Also, a soul searing drama (Judgment at Nuremberg) and a side-splitting comedy (Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man).

Award winning vocalist, Spider Saloff performs and evening of jazz classics and original songs with touch of comedy with pianist Ricky Ritzel.

New York's renowned musical organization, The Mabel Mercer Foundation, announced today that it will return to the Midwest this spring for the first time since 2006 to present its fourth 'Chicago Cabaret Convention.'

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Darlene Love, whomRolling Stone has called "one of the greatest singers of all time," and stage actress and cabaret and concert singer Carol Woods are among the artists who will be honored at the 32nd Annual Bistro Awards Gala on Monday, March 13 at 6:30 pm at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd St. As is the Bistro Award tradition, the evening will feature performances by the winners.

Internationally acclaimed vocalist, Spider Saloff makes a rare NYC appearance with award winning pianist Ricky Ritzel.

Curtain's up. Light the lights. Strike up the band. Roll out the red carpet - the upcoming 25th anniversary season of the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts will offer a nonstop series of audience-dazzling performances by show biz legends and super-hot headliners throughout the upcoming 2016-2017 season - an exciting and unforgettable array of international artists and stage shows, from every discipline from rock to pop to classical music, from Broadway to Hollywood to Nashville, from your TV screen and iPhone, and from some of the world's hippest nightclubs and most impressive concert halls.

Old School Square has served for over 25 years as the gathering place for Delray Beach, and the 2016-17 Season will launch a new era of arts and entertainment for all ages.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Today's fire at The Second City, and last week's Jeff Award nominations! Plus 'Glory Days' and the Refuge Theatre season, new musicals in focus with Schonberg and Boublil, Chicago Children's Theatre and more, Joan Curto, Hershey Felder, 'Bat Boy,' and Theatre At The Center's 2016 season!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Monday's trifecta of showtune events, including Jackie Burns following Idina, and 'Boy From Oz.' 'Mormon' and 'Dancing' return, and 'Gentleman's Guide' prepares. That 'October Sky' and 'Starcatcher' are set to open, but a lot of shows are closing. Not 'Ring Of Fire!' Concerts are on tap, too, including Seth McFarlane!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Ravinia's summer season announced, plus the 'Mormon' and 'Merman' rivalry/revelry. 'The Addams Family' and 'Mr. Burns' extend, 'That's Weird' goes musical, Annaleigh Ashford and 'Tyler's Songs' bow on March 21, and Joan Curto and 'Finishing The Birthday Hat' honor Sondheim's 85th birthday!

If you've been a regular reader of this particular reviewer's musings, you know that every year there are long stretches of time where I just haven't been able to critique all the shows I've seen that deserve commentary. So I end up playing what they call in sports, 'Catch-up ball,' and post a mash up of belated reviews from past shows. It's kind of like a critic's version of the song 'Six Months Out of Every Year,' from Damn Yankees. Give or take a month or two, that's usually the time period during which I store unpublished reviews in my fevered brain and then unload them all in one seemingly endless column-like this one is going to be. If my cabaret-show reviewing days will be over (as chronicled here), I might as well go out with a bang-and relieve my procrastination guilt during holiday season. Now I can scratch one New Year's resolution off the list.

Kevin Mahogany to headline the 3rd annual South Bend Jazz Festival, today, August 16th from 4:00 p.m till 11:00 p.m; in front of the Morris Performing Arts Center. Free to the Public! Featuring Six international acts from a Variety of Jazz genres.