Stephen Sorokoff - Page 33

If a visitor from another planet landed here and asked the question “What is Cabaret?” an easy explanation would be to send him/her to attend a performance by KT Sullivan and Jeff Harnar, wether it be solo or jointly. They didn't invent the art form but KT and Jeff's artistry and show construction ranks as one of the finest examples of Cabaret.

Off Broadway enthusiasts are increasingly adding the tag South Broadway to denote the fact that first rate productions are being mounted by creative and savvy theater owners in their audience friendly state of the art venues in South Florida. The Wick Theatre In Boca Raton is one of the newest and most glamorous. I was recently there for the dress rehearsal of the season opener Hot Shoe Shuffle. The Wick audience is in for a fabulous evening of song and dance with an unbelievable display of talent on it's stage. Bravo to Producer Marilyn Wick, Director Jonathan Van Dyke, Choreographer Justin M. Lewis, Jason Tucker musical director and a very talented cast. The show runs October 17- November 10. Check out the photos.

Jay Van Vechten, retired NYC PR man and Chairman of the American Disabilities Foundation, Inc. celebrated his 75th birthday last night as only a former President of one of the top three PR networks in the world could. He put on a superlative Cabaret Show! It took place at the beautiful state of the art Wick Theatre in Boca Raton. The evening was headlined by Country Music royalty Nashvilles's Kellye Cash a former Miss America and niece of Johnny Cash. The exciting evening was directed by Jay Van Dyke. It's probably in the genes, Kellye Cash is a first rate country singer with a captivating personality, one of those type of performers that an audience instantly falls in love with.

Loston Harris brought his elegant piano and vocal interpretations a thousand miles from his usually perch in The Carlyle Hotel's Bemlmans Bar to Delray's Arts Garage last night. The jam packed Arts Garage audience might have been dressed a little more casually then Manhattan's urbane jazz lovers, but this jazz savvy Delray turnout had the same appreciation and enthusiasm for the talented pianist/singer as New Yorkers do. Loston gets you in three ways, his inventiveness at the keyboard, his sophisticated vocals, and his vivacious personality. He is the consummate musician/entertainer in the true tradition of Bobby Short. Loston brings a unique rhythmic percussiveness to his fluent melodic lines which may be due to the fact that he started his music life as a drummer. Luckily for his fans worldwide he switched to piano.

Avery Sommer (Broadway's Ain't Misbehavin', Show Boat, Chicago) and Angela Bacari singer and vocal coach to the stars (Liza Minnelli, Marisa Berenson) joined entertainer Rob Russell for the semi official opening of Cafe Centro's Cabaret season last night and it seemed that everyone present got into the act. Rob, whose engaging Baritone voice can also be heard on Legends Radio spinning records (pressing digital buttons) of other Great American Songbook singers got the crowd going with his Marilyn Maye infused song list.

Heath Saunders brought is show Don't Panic to Joe's Pub and BroadwayWorld was there.  Check out the photos.

You can go to the Museum of the City of New York to relive our town's exciting history or you can walk into Patsy's Italian Restaurant on 56th street and sit at the same table that Frank Sinatra and his pals dined at.  Dean Martin also had his spaghetti at Patsy's. Last night his daughter Deana Martin enjoyed some Pasta (although she doesn't look like she ever touched the carbs) topped with Patsy's great sauce (also on your grocers shelves) during the establishment's 75th Anniversary  invited guests only celebration.  You can also sit at the tables where present celebrities such as Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Madonna, George Clooney, Sean “Diddy” Combs, David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey, Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Lopez, Barbara Streisand, Tony Bennett, Robert DeNiro, Michael Buble, Don Rickles, Josh Groban, Jacklyn Smith, Phyllis George, Calvin Klein, Jerry Seinfeld, James Gandolfini, Christie Brinkley, Jon Bon Jovi, Liza Minelli, Chris Noth, Tony Danza, Farrah Fawcett, Kate Hudson, Chevy Chase, Cheryl Ladd, and Patty LaBelle,  regularly enjoy arguably some of the finest Italian cuisine in the world.  Geno Vento, Owner of the Philadelphia Original Geno's Cheesesteak even flew in for the event to get tips on how to successfully serve food for 75 years.  Who knows, maybe they served Italian baby food in 1944 when “Patsy” Scognamillo opened the place and my parents took me along with them.

Last night it was an emotional unforgettable evening as Jason Danieley honored his late wife Marin Mazzie with Sunflower Power Hour, a benefit concert in support of Cancer Support Community.

There are many high profile and exciting items auctioned off at prestigious Galas. You can have lunch with Warren Buffett or other famous luminaries. You can replace Maestro Steven Reineke on the podium at Carnegie Hall and conduct The New York Pops Orchestra for a few minutes or win this writer to play piano at your private party if you bid high enough at the Pops Gala. Last night at the historic Lotos Club in New York City one of the most prestigious classical music organizations in the country had a dinner and the winning bidder at The Stecher Horowitz 60th Anniversary Gala last April and invited guests were entertained by the prize.

No one was detained or questioned last night for a bad performance at the Gerald W.Lynch Theater as Tony Danza lead the Police Athletic League's (PAL) 3rd Annual one-night-only showcase performance, 'Tony Danza & the Stars of Tomorrow,' It benefits PAL”S Teen Acting Program. The performance starred Tony with the talented young artists in the PAL program, and also had Tony doing some fantastic soft shoe with famed member of the Manhattan Rhythm Kings Hal Shane. Tony's friend singer/songwriter/pianist Peter Cincotti also took the stage and sang an original composition.

Do you want to have the winner of the People's Choice Award for favorite male entertainer come into your living room and become your good friend and delight you for an evening? Head over to Cafe Carlyle and spend an evening with Tony Danza and hang with him as he brings you back to the time when a night club performer did it all.

No, it wasn't an accident the first time around in July. Just as Broadway (Chicago) has recognized her abilities and consistency of excellence so have Haley Swindal's audience's. The only difference in her performance last night was that that black is the new red and Feinstein's/54 Below had another Stephen (Sondheim) in the audience. Here's my review of Haley's July show which was corroborated last night.

Last night, Sheldon Harnick received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Songbook Association! Performers included Kissy Simmons, Klea Blackhurst, Adam Heller, Danny Bacher, Samantha Massell, Melanie Moore, Alexandra Silber, Brad Oscar, Liz Callaway, Jeff Harnar & Alex Rybeck, Alan Schmuckler, Jeffrey Saver and Rhyn Mclemore Saver, Ed Dixon, Sidney Myer, Judy Kuhn, Robert Cuccioli, and Steven Skybell.

Shoshana Bean, star of Wicked, City Center's Songs for a New World, and the most recent Jenna in Broadway's Waitress, is currently in the midst of her long anticipated Feinstein's/54 Below debut.

The Broadway at Birdland series had one of the country's finest pop/jazz vocalists on it's stage last night. No….it wasn't Marilyn Maye, however the cheering and constant standing ovations Clint Holmes was receiving after each spectacular song interpretation was very similar to the ovations at a marvelous Marilyn performance. In the creative soul of Clint Holmes a tune you have heard many times gets deconstructed and reconstructed in ways that create a new work of art.

The Cast of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish may have been expelled from their Home in Anatevka but they were royally welcomed to Home (Plate) at Yankee Stadium yesterday!

There are few places where you can see and hear (up close) a big band comprised of full horn sections, a 7ft Grand Piano, and world class musicians all crammed onto one stage. It happens at Birdland every Friday as the Birdland Big Band blows the roof off the the building on 44th street playing some of the best jazz, funk, Brazilian and Latin music on the planet at the “Jazz Corner of The World”

There was a television show in the 1950's called “What's My Line”. The celebrity panelists had to guess what job a person did by asking them investigative questions. I dare say if Gunhild Carling was a guest on a show her occupation could not be ascertained. Who could imagine a musician that can play 20 instruments, sings, tap dances, is capable of physical frolicking and is a master at all of them. As she started her first number I began thinking is this a karaoke singer who had an extra drink before taking the Mic? but then quickly realized that Gunhild Carling is a superb jazz musician who's technique is reminiscent of the 20's 30's hot swing style. Her vocals have an amorous swing to them and it doesn't hurt that she has a kind of nostalgic glamorous appearance that so fits her persona. At one point in her show she had most of the audience following her around the Birdland Theater as she played The Saints Go Marching In.

We are all aware of those great music scores created by gifted composers for the movies but last night at Dizzy's Club, Christine Tamburr, a gifted composer and virtuoso vibraphonist led a world class group of musicians and jazz great Clint Holmes in a performance of his score “The Awakening “ Sounds For Sculpture”. Just as you can't imagine a movie without the underlying music, something tells me I won't be able to enjoy a “silent” Sculpture anymore after the experience of listening to Christian Tambour's breathtaking music inspired by the Sculpture of world renowned Seward Johnson.

Michael Feinstein's genius is not only exemplified by his voice, his piano, his wit, his encyclopedic knowledge of show business, and his remarkable ability to entertain an audience. He also has an astute talent for choosing the type of guest artist to have in his shows who will create a special magic when paired with his musical personality. Melissa Manchester the Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, actress was on stage with him last night and the combination of these two icons unleashed a chemistry that produced a spectacular event that had a celebrity filled Feinstein's/54 Below enthralled from start to finish. Al Roker, Deborah Roberts, Clive Davis, Brenda Vaccaro, and Michael Riedel among others were in the club for this exciting opening night.