William Blake News

Joe's Pub at The Public welcomes world premieres, highly-anticipated debuts and the return of many esteemed performers this May and June. Funny girl JULIE KLAUSNER makes her debut with two evenings of cabaret. Legendary downtown performance artist JOHN KELLY returns to premiere Rebel Songs. The 60s-inspired flight attendant PAM ANN returns for five nights in the Cockpit. Elsewhere: Tony Award-winners TONYA PINKINS and LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, Once star CRISTIN MILIOTI, TAYLOR MAC'S epic exploration of popular music, a special appearance from Justin Vivian Bond, JOEY ARIAS, the greatest rapper in the world, CHAMPAGNE JERRY and more. Read on for more May and June cabaret, comedy, Broadway and musical theater highlights at Joe's Pub at The Public.

The Catastrophic Theatre is currently reviving Mickle Maher's THERE IS A HAPPINESS THAT MORNING IS by popular demand. The show originally had its Houston premiere in 2009, and apparently was quite a sensation. At Friday night's opening night performance of this run, I instantly saw why.

The Cleveland Orchestra presents its inaugural neighborhood residency in Northeast Ohio from today, May 11 through 17, 2013, in Cleveland's Gordon Square Arts District. During this first residency, the Orchestra will offer more than 15 events for the community throughout the week, including performances by Cleveland Orchestra musicians, ensembles from the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Youth Chorus, a Cleveland Orchestra concert preview, and educational programs for local students. All of the events will be free and open to the public.

The Cleveland Orchestra presents its inaugural neighborhood residency in Northeast Ohio from May 11 through 17, 2013, in Cleveland's Gordon Square Arts District. During this first residency, the Orchestra will offer 16 events in the community throughout the week, including performances by Cleveland Orchestra musicians, ensembles from the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Youth Chorus, a Cleveland Orchestra concert preview, and educational programs for local students. All of the events will be free and open to the public. Leaders and representatives from Gordon Square businesses and associations have partnered with the Orchestra to plan and host the week's activities.

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, welcomes award-winning trumpeter/vocalist/composer, Bria Skonberg, for its new 'Second Act, A Late Night Series of Fun and Entertainment' at the Cafe Carlyle on April 11-12, 25-26, and May 23-24. Ms. Skonberg's show, Brass and Belles, is a tribute to the historic horn and female vocal pairings of greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Anita O'Day and Roy Eldridge, and more. She is joined by Dalton Ridenhour at the piano, Darrian Douglas on drums, and Sean Cronin on upright bass and vocals. Check out photos from her concert below!

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, April 21, 2013 - Sunday, April 21, 2013.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its cabaret, Broadway and comedy acts today, April 21-July 28, 2013, including: Lindsay Mendez and Michael Holland, Leslie Kritzer, Megan Hilty, Bridget Everett, Song of a Convalescent Ayn Rand, Paul Oakley Stovall and Brad Simmons, NYU Tisch Presents, Blake Pfeil, Storm Large, Nicole Henry, Erin Markey, Joey Arias, Taylor Mac, William Blake, Moments with Ravi, Natalie Joy Johnson, Champagne Jerry, Wau Wau Sisters, The Georges, Pam Ann: Cockpit, Missi Pyle, John Kelly, Tori Scott, Murray Hill and Vagabond Opera.

Texas born and bred singer William Blake--who came to New York six years ago at age 24--has lately taken the town by storm with his terrific tribute show to the legendary Etta James. In the process, Blake has also managed to transform some of the town's most prestigious nightclub/cabaret venues into his own personal concert halls. First it was at Birdland, where in the summer of 2012 and with the support of 'Cast Party' impresario Jim Caruso, Blake launched his Echoes of Etta raucous, standing-room only crowds. Then last February, Blake, his five piece band and three girl backup singers, overpowered Joe's Pub. But the last two nights might have been Blake's most impressive performances to date, as he totally captured the crowd at the elegant and sedate Cafe Carlyle (for the room's new 10:45 'Second Act' sets). It was almost as if you were experiencing an R & B concert at Carnegie Hall.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its cabaret, Broadway and comedy acts April 21-July 28, 2013, including: Lindsay Mendez and Michael Holland, Leslie Kritzer, Megan Hilty, Bridget Everett, Song of a Convalescent Ayn Rand, Paul Oakley Stovall and Brad Simmons, NYU Tisch Presents, Blake Pfeil, Storm Large, Nicole Henry, Erin Markey, Joey Arias, Taylor Mac, William Blake, Moments with Ravi, Natalie Joy Johnson, Champagne Jerry, Wau Wau Sisters, The Georges, Pam Ann: Cockpit, Missi Pyle, John Kelly, Tori Scott, Murray Hill and Vagabond Opera.

It was one of the most love-filled, musically-thrilling birthday parties ever, when the folks at Jim Caruso's Cast Party celebrated the 85th Birthday of the most energetic, vocally dazzling, swinging nightclub divas on Earth, Marvelous Marilyn Maye. Scroll below for photos from the concert!

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, will welcome award-winning trumpeter/vocalist/composer, Bria Skonberg, for its new "Second Act, A Late Night Series of Fun and Entertainment" at the Cafe Carlyle on April 11-12, 25-26, and May 23-24. Ms. Skonberg's show, Brass and Belles, is a tribute to the historic horn and female vocal pairings of greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Anita O'Day and Roy Eldridge, and more. She will be joined by Dalton Ridenhour at the piano, Darrian Douglas on drums, and Sean Cronin on upright bass and vocals.

It's April 1st. Do you know when your Spring is coming? During another longggggg New York winter, the good news is that there were a ton of warming cabaret shows. The bad news is that there were so many, even during this seemingly endless winter our intrepid reviewer Stephen Hanks didn't have enough time to review them all right after the performances. So in what is becoming a seasonal ritual, here he offers yet another compilation of 13 'catch-up' cabaret show reviews.

The Cleveland Orchestra presents its inaugural neighborhood residency in Northeast Ohio from May 11 through 17, 2013, in Cleveland's Gordon Square Arts District. During this first residency, the Orchestra will offer more than 15 events for the community throughout the week, including performances by Cleveland Orchestra musicians, ensembles from the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Youth Chorus, a Cleveland Orchestra concert preview, and educational programs for local students. All of the events will be free and open to the public.

The first-ever BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards show was held at the Metropolitan Room on Thursday, February 21. The evening featured a star-studded lineup, including Marilyn Maye, Ben Vereen, Jim Caruso, composer Jason Robert Brown and cabaret stars Billy Stritch, KT Sullivan, Karen Kohler, Colleen McHugh, Jane Monheit and more. Watch BroadwayWorld's exclusive highlights from the awards show below!

Theatre C will present Echoes of Etta featuring William Blake tonight, February 23 at Joes Pub located at 425 Lafayette Street, NYC.10003 at 9:30 pm.

Performing legends Ben Vereen and Marilyn Maye, celebrated composer Jason Robert Brown, as well as cabaret stars Billy Stritch, KT Sullivan, Karen Kohler, Jim Caruso, and Colleen McHugh are among the winners of the first-ever BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards, and who will appear in a star-studded show at the Metropolitan Room today, February 21 (6:30-9 pm). These entertainers and many others became award-winners after almost two months of voting and the casting of an astounding 10,000 votes over 20 categories on the Cabaret section of the BroadwayWorld.com website. The 2012 BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards Show will be hosted by BroadwayWorld.com's lead Cabaret Reviewer/Columnist Stephen Hanks, while the show's Musical Director will be MAC Award-winning MD and composer Bill Zeffiro.

Singer Ann Hampton Callaway called it 'Musical Church,' and deemed host Jim Caruso the 'Irreverent Reverend!' Monday night's Cast Party was the be-all and end-all of extreme open-mic madness, with impromptu performances by some of the best and brightest on the Broadway, jazz, cabaret and concert scenes. Callaway led a blues vocal quintet, along with headliner Lorna Luft, Broadway leading lady Carrie Manolakos, Birdland's William Blake and Manilow-co-star Muffy Hendrix. Scroll below for photos from the concert!

Jim Caruso's Cast Party continues to dazzle packed houses of showbiz insiders and the folks who love them every Monday night at the historic music room, Birdland. This past week, Carol Woods, currently Mama Morton in Chicago on Broadway, delighted the audience with a soulful performance of 'God Bless The Child,' and her co-workers, Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly) and Patrick Rinn led the applause. Scroll below for photos from the concert!

Cast Party host Jim Caruso turned one year older this past week, so the Monday night 'extreme' open mic was awash in birthday balloons and party hats. The cast of the Broadway production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roofshowed up to celebrate their success, and their very own 'Brick,' Benjamin Walker, performed a very blue/bluesy 'New York State Of Mind.' Cast member Emily Bergl showed why she's one of the most popular ladies in cabaret when she sang her heart out, too. Scroll below for photos from the concert!