Stephen Sorokoff - Page 57

When a Tony Nominee ( On The Town) with an exhilarating Tenor voice who is also a great actor and tap dancer brings his story to a Cabaret stage it's a special experience. Tony Yazbeck took us on his life's journey at The Green Room 42 last night and the trip started from his long hours of practice in his dingy basement as a youngster in Pennsylvania to his successes (and failures) on the Broadway stage.

Stritch hides behind the mantra of Musical Director, Arranger, Songwriter, vocal and piano accompanist for some of the most talented and famous performers on the planet the majority of the times you see him. However, It comes as no surprise to his many fans that when he decides to feature himself and go solo it's an event not to be missed.

In 1904 the Friars started meeting, and in 1918 The Yiddish Art Theatre was founded. How symbolic that the Yiddish Theatre, now a City Village Cinema movie house was the scene of The Friars Sunshine Committee's annual morning of Christmas cheer for New York City Children. The kids are entertained by clowns, are given their early Christmas presents by some famous Friars, and the theatre staff makes sure they have unlimited popcorn while enjoying a movie.

Sometimes a performer is so effective in using his or her talent to entertain and charm an audience that the mention of their name and a venue become synonymous. Sinatra at The Sands, Darin at The Copa, Celine Dion at Caesars Palace, Feinstein at The Regency ( & now 54 Below). Bobby Short was The Carlyle for 36 years, and after his passing in 2005 Steve Tyrell's name and Cafe Carlyle have become intertwined. The artistry of Tyrell and the sophistication of The Carlyle have produced an annual holiday engagement for this music icon that has brought cheer and good feelings to thousands over the years. Steve fills the hotel with his swinging music, and he has been also doing something essential in the nightclub business . he also fills the seats. It's not just New Yorkers that flock to Cafe Carlyle for his performances. The Carlyle becomes a destination point for fans around the country during his runs.

There have only been 9 Abbots in the history of the Friars Club starting with George M. Cohan who held the position from 1907-1932. Then came: George Jessel, Milton Berle, Mike Todd, Joe E. Lewis, Ed Sullivan, Frank Sinatra, Alan King, and the current Abbot Jerry Lewis. The actor, singer, director, philanthropist and comic legend who passed away this year was saluted and given a heartfelt curtain call by The Friars last night. BroadwayWorld attended the event and you can check out full photo coverage below!

It was chilly in SoHo last night but poolside at the SOHO playhouse it was sizzling with non stop laughter during the 80 minutes of Bright Colors And Bold Patters which was written and performed by Drew Droege and directed by Michael Urie.

Last night Pride and Prejudice opened at the Cherry Lane Theatre and BroadwayWorld attended the after-party in the West Village. Primary Stages under the leadership of Artistic Director, Andrew Leynse and Executive Director Shane D. Hudson, together with Founder Casey Childs and in association with Jamie deRoy in a co-production with Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival presented Pride And Prejudice, which is the second play of Primary Stages 2017/18 season.

New Jersey's answer to the now gone performance space of Steinway Hall on 57th street is Forte Piano in Paramus N.J. Forte Piano is one of the foremost piano dealers in the nation and it's owner, Jazz/Classical pianist Vladimir Zaslavsky presented the Dixie Rascals Sextet in concert in Forte Piano's concert space at 159 W.Rt 4 last night.

As Steven Reineke, music director and conductor pointed out in his toast after The New York Pops Concert dedicated to women female Composers . this concert was especially significant in these current times.

The New York Pops main guy Steven Reineke was on the podium to rehearse a concert which is dedicated to female composers and lyricists this afternoon and BroadwayWorld was there.

Julianne Boyd, artistic director of Barrington Stage Co. announced that the BSC/NYC sold out Benefit recently held at the Friars Club was the theatre company's most successful New York City event to date having raised $125,000 for the 2018 New Works Initiative. The evening featured performances by BSC actors and the presenting of the William Finn Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre to Joe Iconis.

Friars have socialized and been entertained by every major Broadway and Great American Songbook composer starting with Friar George M. Cohan, who in addition to writing over 50 Broadway shows and 300 songs happened to pen Over There at a table during lunch at the Friars Club. Last night continuing this tradition, and in the same building that Friar Irving Berlin, Sammy Cahn and countless luminaries have performed, musical theatre legends Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire entertained The Friars with a major dose of Maltby & Shire music.

The invitation proclaimed An Evening of Pure Joy and the Barrington Stage Company's NYC Benefit held at The Friars Club last night surpassed all expectations. A star studded roster from the BSC actors bench filled the Friars Club with song as Tony Award Winning Composer/Lyricist William Finn presented Joe Iconis with the William Finn Award for Innovation and Excellence in Musical Theatre. Julianne Boyd, artistic director and founder of Barrington Stage Company, Mary Ann Quinson, Board Chair, and Marita O'Dea Glodt, opened the evenings festivities. The SRO guests in the legendary Friars Club were entertained by BSC performers, Jennette Bayardelle, Allison Blackwell, Ellen Harvey, Lauren Marcus, Kyle Dean Massey, Jeff McCarthy, Anastasia Mccluskey, Anne L. Nathan, Will Roland, Scarlett Strallen, Will Swenson,Jason Sweetooth Williams,Eric William Morris, and Stephanie Umoh. Musical direction was by Darren Cohen.

Last night Tony Award winner Frances Ruffelle performed her cabaret show titled Frances Ruffelle Live(S) in New York at The Green Room 42 and there was no doubt the audience was ecstatic this Englishwoman, Broadway and West End star lives in New York. The produces of the show promised a widely entertaining ride straight through the core of the most tender hear, fiery passion and loose comic confidence of a seasoned performer at the height of her game and they were spot on with that prediction. Francis created the iconic role of Eponine in Les Miserables and turned On My Own into one of Broadway's most beloved standards. She has made 5 solo albums and has performed countless West End Shows including her most recent critically acclaimed performance as Queenie in the U.K. Premiere of Michael LaChusa's infamous Wild Party .

The Django Reinhardt NY Festival is in full swing at Birdland, it's New York City home. Jean Django Reinhardt was a Belgian-born, Romani French jazz guitarist and composer, regarded as one of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century.

The Bernie & Sid Show is one of the most popular Talk Radio programs in the tri-state area and they were joined by Rita Cosby, Television news anchor, correspondent, radio host and best selling author for an evening of talk at the Friars Club last night. As usual, what happens in the Friars stays in the Friars. Bernie & Sid had a lively discussion about current events that wouldn't make the censors cut on 77 WABC but the Friars didn't have a problem with in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room. Rita Cosby's beautiful complexion turned a little redder than usual as she steered the two provocative talk show personalities around many of the issues of the day. The Q&A was also a lively event with Mayoral Candidate Bo Dietl having some interesting comments about the recent New York City election.

There have been many 100 year birthday celebrations of singers this year and one of the best was Vivian Reed Sings Lena Horne at Feinstein's/54 Below last night.

Husband-and-wife duo John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey make their annual fall pilgrimage to Caf Carlyle with an all-new show, The Little Things You Do Together, November 7-18.

Critics J. Peter Bergman and Macey Levin once again hosted the ceremony, which saw top honors for Best Play go to the Berkshire Theatre Group's production of David Auburn's Lost Lake, and a tie between Barrington Stage Company's production of Stephen Sondheim's Company and the Mac-Haydn Theatre's production of Hello, Dolly! for Best Musical.

Dawn Derow sang Irving Berlin's White Christmas this November afternoon and made it work, just as she made a collection of songs from 1941 work in her show titled MY SHIP.