Photo Coverage: Mark Nadler Brings 'CRAZY 1961' to the Laurie Beechman Theatre

The international cabaret star Mark Nadler, who opened his new club act, "Crazy 1961," on December 1 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, was drenched by the time he came off stage. Nadler, a whirling dervish if there every was one, tops off his mile-a-minute survey of the year 1961 with a ten-minute 50-song medley of the 50 top hits of the year. All told, Nadler packs over 61 songs and 61 newsworthy events in an hour-long show.

What happened that year? The year was, in fact, a turning point: “The Music Man” and “Gypsy” ended long runs on Broadway while The Beatles and Bob Dylan gave their first public performances. The Supremes made their first recording. Streisand her first television appearance, and Garland her legendary comeback at Carnegie Hall. Full of promise and danger, the year ushered in JFK’s presidency, the Bay of Pigs, the Freedom Riders, the first human (and primate) in outer space, the Peace Corps, and the erection of the Berlin Wall.

Equal parts raconteur and provocateur, Nadler mixes scholarship and showmanship as he explores a wild assortment of tunesmiths, singers, cultural icons, and groups as varied as Neil Sedaka, Elvis Presley, Betty Comden & Adolph Green, Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini, Noel Coward and Mr. Ed. (All arrangements by Mark Nadler who is backed by Scott Johnson on guitar, Mark Lopeman on reeds, Robert Sabin on bass and Sherrie Maricle on drums.

In a special treat for fans on the last two performances of the run -- two Sunday pre-theatre 1pm matinees on December 11 and 18 -- Nadler will throw a birthday celebration for the Ken Doll and the Pillsbury Doughboy. Both of these American icons made their first appearances in 1961, which, incidentally, was also the year Nadler's birth. Nadler will serve Frito’s corn chips (also introduced in 1961) at the party.

“I’m happy to bring these two together,” Nadler told me, “since they’re from opposite ends of the political spectrum. Dough’s more of a red state kind of boy and Ken, well, we all know about Ken’s life style.”

For tickets and more information, visit www.westbankcafe.com.

Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff

Mark Nadler

Mark Nadler

Mark Nadler

Mark Nadler

Mark Nadler

Mark Nadler

Laurie Beechman Theatre