David Clarke - Page 20

Lea DeLaria's HOUSE OF DAVID serves as a jazz tribute to David Bowie. Each of the twelve tracks has been pristinely arranged by Lea DeLaria. Across the recording, Lea DeLaria pays fascinating homage to David Bowie's original genius while creating wholly original and spellbinding versions of these well-known and beloved tunes.

At the top of her show, SEE JANE SING!, Jane Lynch jokes that she always wanted to be the kind of TV celebrity that held an audience hostage for an hour as she dabbled in the art of cabaret. Luckily for us, deft comedienne Lynch surprises the audience by being a fantastic singer, leaving the audience begging her for more encores.

Earlier in 2015, the final musical from legendary musical creative team John Kander and Fred Ebb opened at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway. THE VISIT captivated audiences despite its brief run and lack of Tony Award wins. Now, the unique and devastatingly beautiful score is available from Broadway Records and Yellow Sound Label on THE VISIT (Original Broadway Cast Recording).

Pretty much all of New York is absolutely in love with SOMETHING ROTTEN!, a new musical comedy with music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell. Now, Ghostlight Records release of the cheerful SOMETHING ROTTEN! (Original Broadway Cast Recording) shares the merriment with the world.

New York based theatre company Ego Actus is staging the world premiere of award-winning playwright Penny Jackson's I KNOW WHAT BOYS WANT. The play is a thought provoking cautionary tale that explores the seedy underbelly of cell phone camera surveillance and how once something is shared online, it never truly goes away.

When I think of NYMF, I typically think of quirky musicals that would otherwise slip through the cracks of mainstream theatre. HELD MOMENTARILY: A NEW MUSICAL, with book, music, and lyrics by Oliver Houser, fits perfectly into this box, and given its previous performance history at 2014's New York International Fringe Festival, that is no surprise.

My favorite thing about attending NYMF is the fact that I truly never know what to expect from the works I see there. Walking into SINGLE WIDE, I was expecting a completely irreverent musical soiree along the lines of David Nehls and Betsy Kelso's THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL. Instead, I was treated to a nearly complete project with a heartwarming story that was as wholesome as it was entertaining.

The Birdz are back by popular demand, and they're as funny as ever. Last October, I had the pleasure of reviewing Tziporela's ODD BIRDZ, when the hilarious sketch comedy troupe made their US Debut at New York City's The Player's Theatre. While back with the same show, some bits have been tweaked and expanded. Whether you saw them in 2014 or not, Tziporela's ODD BIRDZ is sure to have you bowled over with laughter.

Having appeared on many of New York City's cabaret stages, Gregory Nalbone returns to the Metropolitan Room with The Sounds of My Heart. Directed by Lennie Watts and music direction by Kenneth Gartman, this show showcases Nalbone's baritone register and Pop-Broadway instrument and allows him to bare his soul as he sings some of his and our favorite tunes.

Sutton Foster is currently wowing audiences as Queenie in City Center's Encores! Off-Center concert production of Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. Her beguiling and sweet debut album WISH was released in 2008 by Ghostlight Records, In 2011 they also released her radiant sophomore album, AN EVENING WITH SUTTON FOSTER - LIVE AT THE CAFE CARLYLE.

Last December, Texas treasure Holland Vavra made her 54 Below debut in Cuz We're F#cking Talented, a concert where a handful of artists showed off their skills. Last night, she made a special trip from Houston to premiere her tribute to Frank Sinatra, Holland at the Sands: My Blue Eyed Sinatra. With her own brand of lovable, quirky humor and her golden instrument, Vavra made her solo cabaret debut a delightful spectacle.

Recently, Migguel Anggelo returned to Joe's Pub in New York City with an encore performance of his latest concert, I, Inmigrante. Like his pervious concert, Between Dreams / Entre Sueños, the set featured music from both of Anggelo's solo albums, his electrifying energy, his brilliant vocal range, and his unique artistry. Anggelo's latest cabaret is a dynamic treat sewn together with palpable heart and rib-tickling humor.

It's summer, which means its time to turn the radios up, dance in the streets, soak up the sun, and enjoy life's journey. That's exactly what New Yorker by way of Ohio Aiden Leslie is doing. With his music climbing the charts, I recently sat down with the popular pop vocalist to chat about his music and LGBTQ advocacy. Aiden Leslie will have a busy NYC Pride Week, and plans to be spreading his dance inducing beats all summer long.

Summer in New York City is always a great time to brush up on your Shakespeare. It seems there is always some novel way to (re)experience the works of William Shakespeare. Fitting into this idea, Alex Ates and Patrick Greeley's THE SHAKESPEAREAN JAZZ SHOW is a triumphant tour de force that pristinely blends Shakespeare's poetry with a catchy New Orleans jazz beat.

After a four year run in Los Angeles, Brad T. Gottfred's hit comedy WOMEN ARE CRAZY BECAUSE MEN ARE A**HOLES is running Off-Broadway at New York City's Cherry Lane Theatre. The outlandish comedy is about four couples coming together for a brunch to celebrate the minting of a new couple. With a premise ripe for a fun-filled romantic comedy, it's a shame that the play is such a staggering disappointment.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is a crowd-pleasing favorite of both theater and music fans alike. The vibrant jukebox musical tells the story of the world's most infamous impromptu jam sessions. Filled with toe-tapping hits and tons of heart, I chatted with Gabe Bowling (Carl Perkins) and Bryan Langlitz (Sam Phillips) about the spirited musical.

The Toxic Avenger, based on Lloyd Kaufman's character and film by the same name and winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical, returned to New York City on Monday night for a special one-night-only concert reunion at 54 Below. Following a critically acclaimed run at The Alley Theatre in Houston, TX, the quirky musical about a New Jersey based radioactive mutant superhero may have its sights set on Broadway.

It's that time of year, and I can't help but wonder if your CD collection and iPod are Tonys ready. It's just a handful of hours until the 69th annual Tony Awards, which will be broadcast live on Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 8/7c on CBS. This Broadway season has some exciting contenders in the musical categories, and to get you ready for the big night, I'm recapping the albums you should be listening to (or at least pre-ordering).

Last week, Betty Buckley returned to Joe's Pub to debut her newest cabaret concert DARK BLUE-EYED BLUES. Thrilled to have been recognized as a chanteuse in recent reviews, Buckley programmed the evening to be the "musings of a chanteuse," packing the set with standards and contemporary hits. The Broadway legend performed with tangible vivacity and charm, making this intimate evening a joy to experience.

June is just around the corner. In New York, this means that spring is melting into summer and that New York City's annual celebration and remembrance of the original Stonewall riots is here. While the official NYC Pride website only lists a week's worth of activities late in June, denizens of the city are aware of festivities spanning the whole month. One of the most popular is the annual, star-studded NIGHT OF A THOUSAND JUDYS fundraising concert.