Stephen Hanks - Page 2

The art of cabaret lost its Queen almost a year ago when the Julie Wilson died on April 5 at age 90. There will likely be a number of tributes to Ms. Wilson throughout this year and a big one is happening on March 17 at 7 pm at the Metropolitan Room, where Joseph Macchia's Cabaret Cares/Help Is On the Way charity will pay tribute to the cabaret legend with a star-studded variety show that will also raise money for the organization that supports children living with HIV/AIDS. 

Cabaret performers and musicians and fans of the art form tend to refer to the people in this tight-knit niche as "the Cabaret Community." Well, that community is really coming together for one of its own with a benefit concert to raise funds for the extremely popular actor, director, and cabaret performer Erin Cronican, one of a very rare group of women in her 30s who is staging a fierce battle with breast cancer. The star-studded show, billed as Cabaret Beats Cancer and a call to arms to "Crush The Beast" is at Don't Tell Mama (343 West 46th Street, 212-757-0788) on February 27 at 5 pm.

Cabaret performers and musicians and fans of the art form tend to refer to the people in this tight-knit niche as “the Cabaret Community.” Well, that community is really coming together for one of its own with a benefit concert to raise funds for the extremely popular actor, director, and cabaret performer Erin Cronican, one of a very rare group of women in her 30s who is staging a fierce battle with breast cancer. The star-studded show, billed as Cabaret Beats Cancer and a call to arms to “Crush The Beast” is at Don't Tell Mama (343 West 46th Street, 212-757-0788) on February 27 at 5 pm.

After BroadwayWorld launched its New York Cabaret Awards in 2012, the cabaret section's editors realized that the selected categories and the popular vote nature of the election didn't adequately recognize some great performances and shows for that particular year. So in 2013, BWW added "Editor's Choice Awards" to the mix to not only reward special performances but also to acknowledge people who have helped grow cabaret and foster the spirit of the art form. This year, BWW New York Cabaret Editor Stephen Hanks and his reviewing staff-including Alix Cohen, David Clarke, Billie Roe, Rembert Block, and John Hoglund-selected seven stars of cabaret for this special honor. Now that the Awards for 2015 performances and shows are official, we wanted to tell you a bit about this year's "Editor's Choice Award" winners and offer them a chance to thank the New York cabaret community. Congratulations to all these worthy Award recipients.

Breaking News! The fourth annual BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards results are official and for 2015 some bold-faced Broadway names, long-time cabaret stars, and some exciting newcomers were the people's choices this year. More than 32,000 votes were cast for performers and shows in 14 categories. 

With just two weeks remaining in the voting for the 2015 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards, three performers are leading in two different categories, while two Broadway stars--Alan Cumming and Betty Buckley-- are winning the vote in their respective "celebrity categories.' Voting for the awards ends on New Year's Eve, December 31.

On Thanksgiving Day, BroadwayWorld announced the nominees in 14 categories for the 2015 BWW New York Cabaret Awards. BroadwayWorld's cabaret editors and reviewers congratulate all the deserving nominees and everyone who performs in the great art of cabaret in New York. But today, as you munch on the leftovers from last night's dinner, it's time to actually vote for that one performer who you think is the absolute best in each category. Voting ends on December 31 and after a review of the ballots, winners will be announced officially early the week of January 4, 2016. (Note: There will not be a BWW Awards Show this year.)

Happy Thanksgiving Day, Cabaret Fans! Here's some breaking news you can discuss and debate in between courses at tonight's dinner: It's the final nominees for the 2015 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards. This year, the cabaret editors and writers at BWW have cited 116 nominees (including duos and variety show/recurring series producers) in 14 categories. In addition, this year six performers or musicians have been cited for special “Editor's Choice Awards,” led by veteran New York cabaret stars Karen Mason and Mark Nadler who have been named “Performers of the Year.”

Question: Would you buy an orchestra ticket (or any ticket for that matter) to an experimental Broadway musical called The Sweaty Smorgasbord where the 11 o'clock number is "Supper Sings Tonight?" How about checking out a derivative Jason Robert Brown musical titled The Gassy Breakthrough, where the song "Too Soon" is about whether the protagonist should fart on the first date? Here's one that potential musical theater show investors would love: A new Disney style musical called The Sticky Snake. Of course these aren't real or even prospective Broadway musicals. They are ideas that have emerged from the creative minds of some young composers and lyricists who might very well have their musicals gracing Broadway theaters some day. But in the meantime they have been conjuring up these wild concepts in Tune In Time, a musical theater game show staged semi-regularly at The York Theatre Company on East 54th Street (the next installment will be on Monday, November 9 at 7:30 pm) that could have been created by some hybrid of Chuck Barris (of The Gong Show fame) and Mel Brooks. As the show's creators and producers Amy Engelhardt and Heather Shields are fond of promoting about Tune In Time, "Anything goes . . . and usually does."

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director, Peter Napolitano, Producer/Director of Musical Programming) today announced the line-up for this year's Award-Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre. WINTER RHYTHMS 2015 marks the seventh year that Urban Stages has brought noted musical artists to its stage during the holiday period. The mission of Winter Rhythms is to bring the talents of known and unknown singers, musicians, lyricists and composers to the attention of the New York theater community while performing at Urban Stages Theater. Winner of the 2015 Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Series MAC Award, WINTER RHYTHMS benefits Urban Stages' acclaimed Outreach Program, which brings more than 200 free "arts in education" presentations to libraries and schools throughout the five boroughs. This year's event features 20 shows and more than 100 artists.

Maxine Linehan, one of New York's rising star concert and cabaret vocalists, sure knows how to celebrate the newly-crowned National League Champion New York Mets and their sudden home-run slugging superstar Daniel Murphy. The Irish-born Linehan recently took to the roof of her midtown westside residence to sing a special song in honor of fellow Irishman Murphy, who recently set a Major League Baseball post-season record for belting a home run in six consecutive playoff games. What song did Linehan pick as her love ode to the Murphy and the Mets? What's else but a parody of that iconic Irish ballad 'Danny Boy,' the original of which Linehan featured in her critically acclaimed cabaret show Beautiful Songs. As you'll see and hear in the video below, Maxine Linehan knocked this one out of the park.

On Monday, October 2 from 7 pm to 12:30 am at The Players Club, Patrick Solari's Prohibition Productions Series, THE SALON, will present an exclusive 'Antique Cocktail Party' celebrating the Playboy Clubs of the 1960s. The event will feature live music, DJs, classic burlesque, antique cocktails (made from unopened vintage bottles of 1960s spirits), and of course BUNNIES, all in honor of the book release of 'PLAYBOY SWINGS: How Hugh Hefner and Playboy Changed the Face of Music' written by Patty Farmer and Will Friedwald. Serving as the iconic 'Playboy Mansion' will be the beautiful & historic olde-world private club, The Players on 16 Gramercy Park South (between Park Ave and Irving Place on 20th Street). Like each Playboy Club of the era, guests receive a key upon arrival and have three rooms to frolic, dance and imbibe--THE PLAYPEN, THE LIVING ROOM, and THE LIBRARY-during what promises to be a sophisticated and titillating soiree.

On Monday, October 2 from 7 pm to 12:30 am at The Players Club, Patrick Solari's Prohibition Productions Series, THE SALON, will present an exclusive 'Antique Cocktail Party' celebrating the Playboy Clubs of the 1960s. The event will feature live music, DJs, classic burlesque, antique cocktails (made from unopened vintage bottles of 1960s spirits), and of course BUNNIES, all in honor of the book release of 'PLAYBOY SWINGS: How Hugh Hefner and Playboy Changed the Face of Music' written by Patty Farmer and Will Friedwald. Serving as the iconic 'Playboy Mansion' will be the beautiful & historic olde-world private club, The Players on 16 Gramercy Park South (between Park Ave and Irving Place on 20th Street). Like each Playboy Club of the era, guests receive a key upon arrival and have three rooms to frolic, dance and imbibe--THE PLAYPEN, THE LIVING ROOM, and THE LIBRARY-during what promises to be a sophisticated and titillating soiree.

When Al Jolson died in October 1950 at the age of 64, the world lost the man who was arguably the first pop superstar of the 20th century and the Broadway musical theater actor and singing sensation who had been acknowledged as 'The World's Greatest Entertainer.' A few months before Jolson died, a passionate Jolson fan named Dolores Kontowicz from Wisconsin founded the 'Al Jolson Society.' Sixty-five years later, the 1,000-plus member 'International Al Jolson Society' is not only still going strong, the organization holds an annual May 'Festival' at various venues around America and the world. In addition, the Society's current President Jan Hernstat has for the past 18 years produced a 'Mini' Jolson Festival in Long Island, which attracts Society members and local residents who want to revel in the memory of The Great Jolson. This year's 19th Annual event will be held on August 15, 9:30-4:00 pm, in Oceanside, New York (see complete info at end of this story). 

When Al Jolson died in October 1950 at the age of 64, the world lost the man who was arguably the first pop superstar of the 20th century and the Broadway musical theater actor and singing sensation who had been acknowledged as "The World's Greatest Entertainer." A few months before Jolson died, a passionate Jolson fan named Dolores Kontowicz from Wisconsin founded the "Al Jolson Society." Sixty-five years later, the 1,000-plus member "International Al Jolson Society" is not only still going strong, the organization holds an annual May "Festival" at various venues around America and the world. In addition, the Society's current President Jan Hernstat has for the past 18 years produced a "Mini" Jolson Festival in Long Island, which attracts Society members and local residents who want to revel in the memory of The Great Jolson. This year's 19th Annual event will be held on August 15, 9:30-4:00 pm, in Oceanside, New York (see complete info at end of this story). 

Stephen Hanks, Producer of Cabaret Life Productions, and Union Temple of Brooklyn (17 Eastern Parkway) are proud to announce that Musical Director/Pianist Jon Weber will perform his critically acclaimed show, From Joplin to Jarrett: 100 Years of Piano Jazz, at Union Temple tonight, June 19 at 8 pm. The one-man concert will be in the 3rd Floor Social Hall at 8 pm after the 6:30 pm Shabbat Service and dinner. Admission to the concert is FREE.

British chanteuse Barb Jungr is also a staunch defender of the cabaret faith, and an incredibly erudite one at that. In December 2012, for the British online current-affairs magazine, spiked, she made such a great argument for the cabaret art form—in the face of constant putdowns by judges of British singing competitions shows, among others—that BWW felt it needed to be read by the American cabaret community and its fans.

Take the songs of young composer Scott Evan Davis and expose them to a bunch of Broadway babies from Houston making an eight-day trip to Manhattan and you've got the perfect ingredients for a revue that will hit the Davenport Theatre Mainstage on Monday, June 15 at 7 pm. (The Davenport Theatre is on 354 West 45th Street.) Called Perspectives, the revue was conceived by Houston-based Jeannine Rowden and her Rowden Music Studio, and will star 12 up-and-coming performers between ages eight and 18, most of whom are from the Houston area and all of whom are Rowden's musical theater and vocal students.

In 2015, the CabaretFest in Provincetown (MA), one of America's biggest Cabaret events, is returning to its roots. After a one-year layoff, this weekend extravaganza of song that began in 1999 under the guidance of actor and cabaret performer John O'Neil, will be back this June (4-7) bigger and better than ever. Singer and Cape Cod resident Patricia Fitzpatrick and Ambassador Productions has recruited O'Neil to help re-launch the event in its original format-only longer. CabaretFest 2015 Provincetown weekend will be jammed-packed with activities and shows that Fitzpatrick says, 'Promise to be educational, entertaining, and fun, and all will celebrate 'The Art of Cabaret!'

Mary Foster Conklin and Amy Engelhardt, two of New York City's most unique cabaret artists, return to the Duplex to make their own fun tonight, June 3 at 7 pm. Sprung from different parts of New Jersey's underbelly, these unique storytellers with serious potty mouths recently discovered each other's talents--and are now proud members of a mutual admiration society.