Stephen Sorokoff News

Musical Mondays continues at legendary Le Cirque restaurant with international singing sensation Sabrina Wender in the Cafe. Joining in celebrating Edgidiana Maccioni's birthday was Tommy Tune and a full Cafe of well wishes for the wife of owner Sirio Maccioni.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning regional theatre in downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, celebrated BSC's New Works Initiative with a BSC in NYC at a benefit last night at the American Airlines Theatre Penthouse. The event was co-chaired by Heather Nolin, Mary Ann Quinson, Rosita Sarnoff and Eda Sorokoff. Among the attendees were Tommy Tune, Julie Budd, and Producers Michael Alden and Jamie deRoy.

Broadway's Jarrod Spector, who is starring in the forthcoming Broadway musical Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, just premiered his brand new show, 'A Little Help From My Friends,' at 54 Below! This new musical outing traces the legacy of the great male singers whose vocal prowess made them the rock stars of their generations, even before rock was born. After starring as Frankie Valli for six years in Broadway's smash hit musical, Jersey Boys, Jarrod wraps his critically-praised voice around the songs that have made superstars out of more than a century of tenor legends from Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson to the great Enrico Caruso himself. The show continues November 10, & 17, 2013. For tickets, visit: http://54below.com/ Check out photos from the performance below!

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist celebrated for his many impressive musical theatre scores since his astonishing debut in the 1990s with SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD and PARADE, the one and only Jason Robert Brown. Discussing the finer points of the vastly different scores for his two new stage musicals premiering this year, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, Brown paints a vivid portrait of his composing process in creating both the serious romantic drama and bubbly musical comedy, respectively. Additionally, Brown outlines his experiences collaborating with theatre legends Harold Prince and Alfred Uhry on his first big Broadway musical, PARADE, and also reflects on the subsequent successful national tour which he himself conducted. Most importantly, Brown sheds some light on the sparkling new cast recording of his recent self-directed revival of his two-character cult mainstay THE LAST FIVE YEARS and how the last ten years have shaded his perspective on the piece, particularly as anticipation builds for the release of the highly anticipated feature film adaptation starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, directed by Richard LaGravenese and set for release next year, which Brown confirms he has completed his scoring duties on this month and offers an enticing endorsement of the indie movie musical. All of that, a discussion of his solo album and specialty material penned over the years, astute observations on his sporadic collaborations with wife, songwriter and fellow InDepth InterView participant Georgia Stitt as well as much, much more in this quick catch-up chat with one of Broadway's busiest musical craftsmen.

Tonight, November 1, 2013, The New York Pops continues its 31st season in a return to the days when big bands ruled the dance floor with Tony Award nominee Montego Glover and Dave Bennett, clarinet, guest artists, joining the orchestra in an all-swing program, featuring a tribute to the 75th anniversary of Benny Goodman's legendary live recording at Carnegie Hall. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside rehearsal below!

Well Hello, Little Girl... There were Giants in the Sky last night at 54 Below when host Phil Geoffrey Bond (Sondheim Unplugged) and some of Broadway and cabaret's spookiest talents (along with a ghoulish trio of Sondheimhood's creepiest musicians) collided for a night celebrating the music of these two landmark musicals.

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel present John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey playing through November 23-Tuesday to Friday, 8:45 p.m., Saturday, 8:45 p.m. and 10:45 p.m., and an additional show at 10:45 p.m. Friday, November 22. Check out photos from the opening night concert below!

Friar Neil Sedaka, wife Leba and daughter Dara were in the Frank Sinatra Room of the Friars Club last night to attend a Tribute Show to Connie Francis and Neil Sedaka. Jenna Esposito and Jim Van Slyke performed the hit songs of Connie & Neil and the show was produced by Jeff Leibowitz, Laura Slutsky and Jenna. Friar Bill Boggs hosted. A special Tribute Menu was presented by Friars Chef Anatoly Veksler. It consisted of "Stupid Cupid Vegetables, Mama's Potato Crusted Brook Trout, Roasted Loin of Veal Is Hard To Do, Artichoke & Peppers On Your Collar Chicken Breast and Where The Chocoholics Are Pyramid." Connie Francis was present via a wonderful video message. An emotional highlight of the evening was when Neil was "coaxed" to take the piano bench. He sang a song he wrote for his cousin who recently passed away..Eydie Gorme.

Just ahead of Lincoln Center's official announcement tomorrow, October 29, The New York Times has revealed the lineup for this year's American Songbook series, which will run January through March 2014 in the Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The Gold Coast Arts Center in collaboration with the Town of North Hempstead just presented the 3rd annuAl Gold Coast International Film Festival (GCIFF), featuring fantastic films, parties, panels, and fanfare! The festival has brought the latest Hollywood hits and Indie favorites to the Gold Coast of Long Island. Add A-list celebrities and unforgettable events to the mix and GCIFF has become the 'go to' Festival for film buffs and it is the last major film festival on the East Coast before Awards season.

Some people, especially some cabaret reviewers and cabaret fans, might think it's lazy or a copout or both for a performer to keep recycling previous shows. But when the Café Carlyle comes a'callin' you: A) May not have enough time to create a totally new show or B) Want to pitch the big game with your best stuff or C) All of the above. Since I only started reviewing cabaret in late 2010, I missed the Laurie Beechman Theatre debut of Jennifer Sheehan's 2009 show You Made Me Love You: Celebrating 100 Years of the Great American Songbook, and missed it again when she brought it to the Metropolitan Room in 2010. So I, for one, am not complaining that she dusted off the critically praised set again (with the new slug 'Timeless Classics and New Treasures' from said Songbook show) for her debut last Saturday night at the prestigious Café Carlyle. Sheehan may have been booked for the room's new 10:45 late night series and not the prime time slot, but at least the Carlyle is giving opportunities to exciting young cabaret performers like Sheehan (and Marissa Mulder, who will make her debut at the room on November 7). With You Made Me Love You, Sheehan made everything old new again-at least for me.

Continuing through October 27, 2013 the Gold Coast Arts Center in collaboration with the Town of North Hempstead will present the 3rd annual Gold Coast International Film Festival (GCIFF), and everyone's invited-again-for fantastic films, parties, panels, and fanfare! The festival has brought the latest Hollywood hits and Indie favorites to the Gold Coast of Long Island. Add A-list celebrities and unforgettable events to the mix and GCIFF has become the 'go to' Festival for film buffs and it is the last major film festival on the East Coast before Awards season.

For a special Birdland engagement, Peter Eldridge, 'a superb musical alchemist,' (Jazz Times) and long-time member of the acclaimed vocal group New York Voices, joined forces with critically acclaimed jazz vocalist Jane Monheit, whose honey-smooth vocals, silky phrasing and natural knack for storytelling have earned her two Grammy nominations and established her as one of her generation's most beloved and accomplished vocalists. Check out photos from theiir concert below!

On November 1, 2013, The New York Pops continues its 31st season in a return to the days when big bands ruled the dance floor with Tony Award nominee Montego Glover and Dave Bennett, clarinet, guest artists, joining the orchestra in an all-swing program, featuring a tribute to the 75th anniversary of Benny Goodman's legendary live recording at Carnegie Hall. Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke just held an open rehearsal in his NYC apartment and you can check out photos from the special event below!

Cafe Carlyle, the New York City bastion of classic cabaret entertainment, just presented the historic venue's debut of multi-award winning singer Jennifer Sheehan, continuing Friday, Oct. 25, when she performs her critically acclaimed show 'YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU - Timeless Classics and New Treasures from the American Songbook.' Check out photos of Sheehan in actio nbelow!

New York's darling Marilyn Maye makes her triumphant return to 54 Below! This time, it's all show tunes, all the time! You can expect an evening of purely sublime music interpreted by the incomparable Lady Maye. Performing signature tunes from classic musicals such as Hello, Dolly! and Mame, cabaret's favorite diva also embraces work from tunesmiths such as Stephen Sondheim, Kander & Ebb and Frank Loesser.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) just featured Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Stephanie Umoh(Ragtime), Jim Stanek (Freud's Last Session) and Host Edward Hibbert as The Drowsy Chaperone's 'Man in Chair', Wicked composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber (Shrek the Musical), Telly Leung (TV's 'Glee'), Ciara Renee (Big Fish) and Sarah Stiles (Into the Woods) in SHOW OFF!, in a benefit concert celebrating 25 years of NAMT's Annual Festival of New Musicals last night, October 20 at 7pm at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.

Two of cabaret's most popular and honored vocalists of the last decade, Tanya Holt and Marcus Simeone, bring their dynamic new show, Quiet Storm, to the Metropolitan Room for six Saturday shows running once monthly through November 16 (with a summer break.)

Richard Skipper and Julie Budd sat down down for an intimate chat to discuss Julie's career and life and the people she has worked with. She also performed a few songs! The final fifteen minutes of the event were dedicated to Julie addressing and answering questions from the audience. Julie also be met and greeted fans and friends upstairs following the interview and performance.

The music of Avalon Jazz Band is inspired by the Parisian jazz scene of the 1940's: a mix of swing, Gypsy jazz and French chanson, with influences of Eastern European folklore. Their repertoire consists of French and American standards, as well as a few original compositions. Avalon Jazz Band is actively involved in the New York swing renaissance and, in the two years' time since its creation, has had the pleasure of performing for the French Ambassador and sharing the stage with renowned artists such as Norah Jones & Nellie McKay. Their charismatic vocalist Tatiana Eva-Marie creates a beautiful balance between wild Gypsy energy and the deep and stormy sensitivity of French jazz, inviting the listener on a musical voyage inside her imaginary swing caravan.