Rob Lester - Page 6

At Pangea in NYC, Kati Neiheisel gets jazzy and mostly mellow with a show featuring songs associated with singer Julie London – 'Cry Me a River' and lots by the late chanteuse's husband/TV co-star, musician Bobby Troup. Backed by the Gregory Toroian Trio, the show is a night to remember.

Gracious and groovy, singer Sheila Jordan remains a jazz fan's delight, decade after decade. Her October 16th concert was lovely.

Classy standards done with high-class talent are always on the menu at Dizzy's in the series curated and hosted by Deborah Grace Winer. The October edition on 10/13 featuring standards with music by Hoagy Carmichael was a sure bet.

What star turned down CABARET? What two cabaret stars were born on Halloween? What cabaret club was named for a character in a musical? What Broadway lyricist turns 100 this month? Take the multiple-choice quiz and see what you know (or might guess correctly) about so many talented folks ALL born in October.

A major, long-time cabaret figure gets our monthly birthday Tribute. How many hints will you need to know who it is?

Have a little fun, take a little bit of a lucky guess, and learn a little more about famous music folks all born in August. Our Broadway World cabaret birthday hunter couldn't decide on just one person to salute in the usual 'born this month' feature, so instead there's a trivia quiz that name-drops a whole bunch of them. Drop by BWW and give it a try.

There's a perfect pair this week at 54 Below: a dazzling, delicious, dynamic, dynamite duo. Decades-long friends Liz Callaway and Jason Graae sparkle with real chemistry and connection. The opening on the night on July 3rd had plenty of fireworks of its own. Their bang-up job continues on July 5 and 6.

He was known as 'the man who owned Broadway': Born the first week in July, he wrote/produced/starred in dozens of Broadway shows and a statue of him stands in a key spot in the theatre district. His legacy still shines every 4th of July. We salute this writer, dancer, singer, actor, and producer, George M. Cohan.

A 'Big' salute to songwriters Maltby & Shire, hosted and music-directed by Michael Lavine, brings us 'Closer Than Ever' to perfection. As tributes go, the one filled with the songs of Maltby and Shire, as they were bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award, was tops. Filled with theatre and cabaret performers, it was a great night.

ONE FOR JOHNNY MERCER at Dizzy's was another treat in the Songbook Sundays series. Johnny Mercer had a way with words. Stritch, Blackhurst, Stravelli and Lee have a way of singing and winging them. Duke Ellington's turn comes in August.

The 12th annual NIGHT OF A THOUSAND JUDYS at Joe's Pub had no shortage of pow to wow its eager audience. The annual event drew a big crowd and money for the Ali Forney Center, a non-profit benefitting homeless LGBTQ+ youth. The June 3rd show turned on the energy to the max.

A wonderful singer, wonderful Jimmy Van Heusen melodies, and Jon Weber as M.D.: An ideal combination. What can I say about Marissa Mulder's June 2 performance of SWINGIN' ON A STAR at the Cutting Room? In a word, bravo.

TAKING NOTES is a cabaret show with laughs and lessons learned in life and school. with a lot of pop and musical theatre along the way. Andrew Bova is the student taking it all in. The May 31st show was a promising NYC cabaret debut by a gregarious guy with teachable moments.

Those Girls, the award-winning foursome, were back, with dazzling arrangements and harmonies. Together or separately, they are terrific and endlessly entertaining with any style of music. Those Girls raised their harmonious, glorious voices and raised the audience's spirits, too.

MIRACLE OF MIRACLES, a grand tribute to Sheldon Harnick, closed its trio of concert performances last night. It serves as a radiant reminder of a legendary talent of musical theatre. Sheldon Harnick's lyrics and legacy were warmly presented in the Lyrics & Lyricists series, which he was a major part of in its early years.

HER NAME IS BARBRA on May 24th at The Green Room 42 was a sparkling tribute to the superstar. It was a delightful addition to the panoply of recent Streisand tributes. The fan club remains in session.

The talents and legacy of composer-lyricist Cole Porter are always worth celebrating, especially in his birthday month of June. Here's a look at some current evidence of his lasting presence in cabaret shows, etc.

Barbra Streisand's songbook gets paged through by admiring talents in this Streisand salute on May 23rd

MOSS sang at Joe's Pub almost 20 years ago before making their first (and, so far, only) album. The occasional reunion of this group is an occasion for rejoicing! They were back for one of their regions and sound splendid. They are MOSS and they are marvelous.

Rosemary Clooney's lifetime of music is explored in Carolyn Montgomery's thought-provoking, memory-stoking act GIRLSINGER, directed by Sally Mayes. Its second NYC presentation on May 22nd is updated and expanded from its opening night in January. It will be followed by bookings in Florida plus LA, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, & Seattle.