Stephen Sorokoff News

There's no 'Tomorrow' for this years four day 27th New York Cabaret Convention but there certainly was a thrilling performance of that song by host Kela Blackhurst and the Broadway by the Year Chorus.  The composer and lyricist were in attendance as their songs were performed by a wonderful group of cabaret artists. The convention even produced a 12 year old to recreate the emotions of seeing 'Annie' as Zoe Gelman sang Maybe & NYC to the Rose Theater audience. Luckily there will be a 'tomorrow' for the Mabel Mercer Foundations Cabaret Convention and mark your calendars for the 28th New York Cabaret Convention in 2017.

KT Sullivan made an astute call and turned over the creation of the third night of the Cabaret Convention to host Rex Reed.  If there is anyone in the world who symbolizes music sophistication with a flawless comprehension of what good cabaret performance is about it is the elegant Mr. Reed. The Convention's final evening is yet to be heard (tonight), but last evening must have been one of the finest chapters in the long history of Donald Smith and the Mabel Mercer Foundation's twenty seven year old creation. The musicians, singers, and material, which honored the legendary cabaret performer Sylvia Syms truly represented the highest quality of cabaret performance. Rex also made an important artistic decision….he included himself as one of the vocalists.  Rex Reed was a participating member of the golden age of New York life and his unique ability to verbally convey it's history honored Sylvia Syms, who as Rex pointed out at the start of the evening…..died the way she wanted, singing in a  nightclub (Oak Room Algonquin)  to a standing ovation.  She collapsed into the arms of audience member Cy Coleman.  

The national music treasure, award-winning Marilyn Maye, will grace the stage and delight audiences at Dino's Backstage and The Celebrity Room today, October 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. for a Hollywood style Black Tie Gala Weekend.

The second night of the 27th New York Cabaret Convention at Rose Hall was hosted by long time cabaret artist favorites, Jeff Harnar & Andrea Marcovicci. The evening including performances by: Sally Mayes, Aaron Morishito, Julie Reyburn, Maureen Taylor, Raissa Katona Bennett, Will Nunziata, Anthony Nunziata, Jennifer Sheehan, Kevin Dozier, Sarah Rice, Donna McKechnie, Jon Weber, Marissa Mulder, Eric Michael Gillett, Celia Berk, Josephine Sanges, Steve Ross, Karen Akers, Sidney Meyer, Iris Williams, and Marta Sanders. Tonights evening will be hosted by Rex Reed and the Conventions closing night honoring Charles Strouse will be hosted by Klea Blackhurst

Still witty, smart and funny at 95 years of age, the legendary comic Marty Allen was hosted (not roasted) at a Friars Club lunch.  Emmy Award winning Friar Bill Boggs interviewed Marty about his long career in show business.  Marty worked as an opening act for stars such as Sarah Vaughan, Eydie Gorme and Nat King Cole gained enormous fame when he teamed up with singer Steve Rossi and made 44 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.  In 1961 and 1962 Allen appeared on Broadway in Let It Ride! at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre and then went on to perform in the pre-Broadway tour and Broadway performances of I Had A Ball.

Lovers of Cabaret flocked to New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theatre last night to attend The 27th New York Cabaret Convention and BroadwayWorld was there. Unlike a political convention there was complete agreement that this annual event produced and sponsored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation is one of the best entertainment experiences of the year.  Madam Chairman' and artistic director KT Sullivan kept complete order as one by one the wonderful vocalists made their case to the extremely knowledgeable 'delegates' filling Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center. It's not politically correct to pick winners at the annual event, which presents newcomers and veterans of the cabaret art form, but if there's one......  The Audience!  For two hours they hear some great music and get a potpourri of diverse singing styles that make the long evening seem brief.  The superb song stylist and New York based vocalist Natalie Douglas was deservedly presented the prestigious Donald F. Smith award, and legend Maureen McGovern received the Mable Mercer Award. 

The Friars Club hosted a one night only event last night that will be remembered for many years by Ben Vereen.  Chita Rivera brought him to the club for what Ben thought was a small dinner in his honor.  When Ben walked out of the elevator the huge mahogany  doors of the Milton Berle Room and Barbra Streisand Room swung open to a capacity crowd of Friars shouting "SURPRISE" and singing Happy Birthday.   It was an emotional happy celebration as Ben's many friends toasted the legendary performer and humanitarian.  Friar Board Member and Chairman of the Friars Admission Committee Bill Boggs officially made Ben Vereen an Honorary Friar.  As Bill pointed out to Ben in his presentation,  " I have the power to bestow this title on you….. being an Honorary Member entitles you to walk into the club at any time, enjoy a great meal in the Frank Sinatra dinning room…..and pay for it! "  

The winners of the First Annual Berkshire Theatre Awards have been announced. Seventeen arts journalists voted on 120 nominees in 25 categories chosen from artists in the 75 live theatre productions mounted in Berkshire County and adjacent areas between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016.

Christine Ebersole who is currently appearing at Cafe Carlyle dropped in to say "hello" to her friends Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch during their Sunday night residency in Bemelmans .  Of course it wasn't just a "hello".  The lucky folks at The Carlyle got to hear some great singing by Christine, with Billy Stritch at the piano adding some vocal harmonies.  You never know who's going to come in and say "hello" to the sophisticated duo, and now that Billy is also Tony Bennett's pianist/conductor.

Show business tour de force Jamie deRoy brings her star-packed Jamie deRoy & friends cabaret show to New York's famed Birdland, Sunday, October 16, at 6 p.m.

Michele Lee brought her new concert show - Nobody Does It Like Me, The music of Cy Coleman last night to the Razz Room at The Prince Theatre in Philadelphia, PA.  and Broadwayworld was there.

The New York Pops started it's 34th season off with a glorious concert celebrating the legacy and timeless works of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. In the closing concert of his inaugural season in 2010, music director and conductor Steven Reineke celebrated the music of Lerner and Loewe and the response was so heartwarming that he decided it was the right time to revisit the material.

Tonight, October 14, 2016 at 8:00PM, The New York Pops, led by Music Director Steven Reineke, will launch its 34th season at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, celebrating the legacy and timeless works of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director JuliAnne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson,  hosted its annual New York City Benefit, BSC In NYC last night to celebrate the acclaimed BSC Musical Theatre Lab and honor its co-founder and Artistic Producer William Finn and Broadwayworld was there. 

The national music treasure, award-winning Marilyn Maye, will grace the stage and delight audiences at Dino's Backstage and The Celebrity Room on Friday, October 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. for a Hollywood style Black Tie Gala Weekend.

Ask Celia Berk what she loves about New York and she'll give you a list. Or, better yet, an album. Corporate executive by day, cabaret chanteuse by night (and a damn good one), Berk has won a MAC Award (New York Debut – Female), a Bistro Award (Vocalist), a BWW Award (NY Cabaret Debut), and The Margaret Whiting Award from The Mabel Mercer Foundation since her 2014 debut album You Can't Rush Spring. Her latest, Manhattan Serenade, is an eclectic collection of New York and New York-esque songs steeped in nostalgia and romance, complete with arrangements by Alex Rybeck and a stunning orchestra. Extended by popular demand, Berk will celebrate its release once more at the Metropolitan Room this Friday, October 14 at 7:00 pm. Before the show, we sat down for a discussion on her love note to New York, carving out a space for yourself in the city, and typical New York resilience.

Multiple Tony Award-winner Christine Ebersole made her highly anticipated return to Cafe Carlyle with an all-new show titled After The Ball, last night and Broadwayworld was there. The engagement runs through October 22.

The celebrities were both on and off stage at the Triad as "New York's funniest show Celebrity Autobiography turned another page at the Triad last night and BroadwayWorld was there. 

Chicago-based vocalist Sam Fazio returned toFeinstein's/54 Below for a special evening on October 8th. He was accompanied by pianist Chris White and bassist George DeLancey.

Some of Broadway's most interesting and talented show business personalities are starting to stream through the WABC studio where famed talk show host Joey Reynolds holds court every Sunday at 9pm on Cumulus talker WABC/770. Joey will also be streamed on iHeartRadio, and his friend Art Vuolo says the Sunday show "will be added to 790 AM KABC Los Angeles, and syndication will begin thanks to William G. Nye and Mike Cave." Joey's long career stretches back to the early 1960s in Hartford (WPOP, WDRC), Buffalo ("KB Radio" WKBW), Cleveland (WIXY), Detroit (WXYZ), L.A. (KMPC) and Philadelphia (both WIBG and WFIL). Joey's first guest on his inaugural show was WABC icon Cousin Brucie who is currently hosting shows on SiriusXM. This weekends show biz guests featured comedians Pat Cooper, Steven Scott and Broadway producer Jamie deRoy.