Sizzling, Song Filled Summer At The Colony Hotel Palm Beach
Fast-Rising Cabaret Stars Will Dazzle Royal Room Fans from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.
By: Beau Higgins May. 05, 2012
The Colony Hotel - Palm Beach Promises Another Sizzling, Song-Filled Summer
Fast-Rising Cabaret Stars Will Dazzle Royal Room Fans from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day: Carole J. Bufford, Nicolas King, Jennifer Sheehan, Wayne Hosford & Ariana Savalas
The Colony Hotel – which The Palm Beach Post has hailed as "probably the best place for cabaret on the planet" – plans another sizzling, song-filled summer with some really hot and fast-rising performers straight from Manhattan's leading cabarets – several of whom are making their Royal Room debut and other performers who are returning favorites for loyal fans of the Royal Room Supper Club.
The Colony Hotel's world famous Royal Room is widely celebrated for presenting "immaculately staged cabaret performances" by well known Grammy- and Tony-winning stars (Condé Nast Traveler, February 2011).
The Royal Room Summer Cabaret Series
For all cabaret performances in The Colony's plush Royal Room, doors open at 6 p.m. for cocktails with dinner seating from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. A memorable three-course prix fixe dinner is offered. There is no service during the cabaret performance that starts at 8:30 p.m. To make reservations, please call the hotel box-office at 561.659.8100.The Colony is located at 155 Hammon Avenue in Palm Beach.
June 22-23 & 29-30
Royal Room Debut
Carole J. Bufford made her entrance on the New York cabaret stage in the Metropolitan Room's MetroStar Talent Challenge. Immediately following, she was asked to perform at the 2009 Cabaret Convention at Jazz@Lincoln Center presented by the Mabel Mercer Foundation. In addition, Ms. Bufford has been featured in numerous Broadway By The Year concerts, both at The Town Hall and in California. She has also performed in All Singin', All Dancin' as well as the recent Tribute to Judy Garland and The Art of American Dance at The Town Hall where she shared the stage with Lorna Luft and Susan Stroman in an all-star cast. Ms. Bufford recently starred in Scott Siegel's 11 O'Clock Numbers at 11 O'Clock at Feinstein's at The Loew's Regency along with Christina Bianco and Scott Coulter. The show played every Thursday and enjoyed a nine-month run, one of the longest in Feinstein's history. As for Carole's solo cabarets, both Carole J. Bufford sings Randy Newman at Don't Tell Mama and intro at the Metropolitan Room received rave reviews and return engagements. Carole has also been seen at the 2010 Cabaret Convention, the National Arts Club's "Cabaret on Mondays" series, Upright Cabaret in L.A., Simply Streisand at The Laurie Beechman, and The Tudor City Greens Concerts.
Reviews of Carole J. Bufford:
+ Stephen Holden, The New York Times: "Nurturing young talent, of course, is essential to the genre's survival. Carole Bufford, a folk-blues singer who deliverEd Strong pop-slanted renditions of Johnny Cash and Bessie Smith songs, suggest[s] that the talent is there waiting to be harvested."
+ Cabaret Scenes:Carole J. Bufford is a versatile, theatrical interpreter who finds the sentimental, unexpected turns in her selections. With her expressive face, wide eyes and rich voice, she presents an innocent savvy with red-hot dash. Her rangy voice has compelling passion and subdued honesty."
+ The Village Voice:"Bufford is an instance of big gifts coming in small packages. When she shops, she undoubtedly heads for the petite division, but when she sings, she goes for the big time. She recently was named second runner-up in the Room's annual talent contest, but that underestimates her abilities. Watch her take any number of songs and turn them into unexpected emotional declarations. The blues rarely enjoy such a dynamic advocate."
Cost to Attend Carole J. Bufford:
$90 for dinner & show; $60 for show only.
July 6-7 & 13-14
Royal Room Debut
Nicolas King has been performing since age 4. He was seen first on Broadway in Beauty & The Beast, then in A Thousand Clowns opposite Tom Selleck, and in Hollywood Arms directed by Hal Prince, all before the age of 13.Other credits include eight consecutive annual performances on The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, ABC's The View, NBC's Today Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He went on the road with Liza Minelli to perform as the opening act to her 2006 tour, and he received the prestigious Julie Wilson Award from the Mabel Mercer Foundationat the 2010 Cabaret Convention.A veteran of more than a dozen national TV commercials, Nicolas King recently recorded a new album, the aptly named Nineteen.
Reviews of Nicolas King:
+ The New York Times:"A precociously polished crooner."
+ Liza Minelli:"Look out, Showbiz. Here comes Nicolas King."
+ Carol Burnett:"This kid is amazing!"
+ Joe Franklin, Bloomberg Radio: "Riveting performances… Nicolas King is my candidate for superstardom this decade."
+ John Hoglund, TheaterScene.net:"Making waves faster than a tsunami is a new singer in cabaret with a lot of talent named Nicolas King. He has style, a sense of fun and impeccable musical taste. He also has incredible chops… an old soul who likes jazz and likes to swing.. at ease and in perfect pitch… ultimately, he possesses old fashioned star power."
Cost to Attend Nicolas King:
$90 for dinner & show; $60 for show only.
July 20-21 & 27-28
Back by Popular Demand
The stunningly beautiful, versatile and award-winning vocalist Jennifer Sheehan returns to The Colony Hotel's Royal Room after her debut at the prestigious Feinstein's at Loews Regency, with a brand new show, I Know a Place: Spend a Night in the Sensational '60s. Ms. Sheehan traverses the vast spectrum of music that was the sensational soundtrack of the '60s – featuring the best of Bacharach, the Beatles, Bossa Nova, Barbra, Bebop and Broadway. And that's just the B's!
Ms. Sheehan headlined a sold-out run of her critically-acclaimed show celebrating 100 years of the Great American Songbook last year in New York. Since then, the show has been presented to enthusiastic audiences across the country and in the UK. Previously, she made her Carnegie Hall debut, performing as a special guest of Michael Feinstein and she made her Guild Hall debut in the Hamptons.
She is the first-ever recipient of the Johnny Mercer Foundation's Margaret Whiting Award and the Dorothy Loudon Foundation's Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in Cabaret. Previously, she won the first Noël Coward Foundation Competition and was honored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation with the Julie Wilson Award for outstanding interpretation of the Great American Songbook. For more information, please visit www.jennifersheehan.com.
Reviews of Jennifer Sheehan:
+ Stephen Holden in The New York Times: "The gifted young cabaret singer Jennifer Sheehan… presented a smart, far reaching show… Her strong, supple soprano is matched by an attunement to the dramatic arc of song lyrics… Young, good-looking and very astute, Ms. Sheehan gives you hope."
+ Cabaret Scenes:"Jennifer Sheehan definitely makes her audience love her. (The show) is a classy showcase for Sheehan's well-trained soprano clarity, her sense of fun, graceful movements, and movie-star glamour. This is someone cabaret aficionados should be proud to call their own. She has moved to the top run of charmers…. Jennifer Sheehan has got that Cole Porter 'certain thing' – special, sensational, smashing."
+ Woman Around Town: "Jennifer Sheehan has remarkable presence, flair, range, and talent. Engaging and genuine, she connects with her audience (another art too many singers don't understand)… With the gift of contagious joy, this accomplished young singer sends us out into the night with warm, satisfied smiles."
Cost to Attend Jennifer Sheehan:
$90 for dinner & show; $60 for show only.
August 3-4 & 10-11:
Wayne Hosford
Back By Popular Demand
Wayne Hosford is an award-winning and critically acclaimed cabaret and concert artist. Singing and playing piano, his debut appearance in the Royal Room combing music and comedy earned raves from the local press and audiences alike. Joined by Frank Derrick, principal percussionist and assistant conductor for the Palm Beach Pops, Hosford returns with a new show,The Gold Standard, in tribute to the Great American Songbook featuring his unique takes on "standard songs" defined as classic, whether vintage or more recently written. Wayne has performed internationally and throughout the U.S., including the celebrated Spoleto Festival USA. In New York City, Wayne appeared in the Cabaret Comes to Carnegie Series, and Lyrics and Lyricists at the 92nd Street Y, as well as Manhattan venues including The Beacon Theatre, Danny's Skylight Room (Back Stage Bistro Award; MAC Award nomination-Best Newcomer), Michael's Pub (MAC Award nomination-Best Singer/Instrumentalist), Symphony Space, The Town Hall, and NY landmark, The Village Gate. He has performed with Royal Room favorites Margaret Whiting, Steve Ross, Avery Sommers and Jay Leonhart. He has recorded a CD with Julie Wilson, Julie Wilson and Wayne Hosford Live at the Ballroom, and another with William Roy, entitled Endangers Elegance. Frank Derrick played with the Cab Callaway orchestra for 10 years and later played with Paul Schaffer's band of Late Night with David Letterman when it was on NBC.
Reviews of Wayne Hosford:
+ New York Post:"A one-in-a-million talent...possessing an energy and freshness that's dazzling...patently brilliant...Hosford's singing and playing put him near the top of his profession. "
+ Charleston Post & Courier: "Wayne Hosford performs with such compelling intensity and verve that he gives a new definition to the endangered genre of cabaret singer... Hosford is the consummate storyteller; an articulate, intelligent actor who happens to sing and accompany himself on the piano brilliantly...after the opener, he commanded the house… (Hosford) has an uncanny skill for presenting (Peter) Allen's emotional Odyssey… Allen and his recreator, Hosford, never met, but the old showman would have been surprised, as we were, at the fabulous result."
+ Back Stage: "I've never been so excited by a new talent in my life."
+ Palm Beach Daily News: "Hosford, cabaret singer and pianist extraordinaire… had the audience enthralled… is nothing if not versatile… a warm, inventive, charming and talented performer… a stirring performance… the evening was a delight."
Cost to Attend Wayne Hosford:
$90 for dinner & show; $60 for show only.
August 17-18, 24-25 & 31-September 1:
Back By Popular Demand
Growing up in Los Angeles, singer/ songwriter/ actor/ dancer Ariana Savalas was constantly entertained by the fascinating stories about her famous father, legendary film, television actor and Academy Award nominated Telly Savalas (for "Birdman of Alcatraz"). Now at 22 years of age, Ariana is a seasoned recording artist and live performer specializing in songs, songwriters and artists from the 1930s-1950s.Following a successful tour of Europe, Ms. Savalas landed the title role of the feature film Miriam, for which she received much critical acclaim. She continues to juggle her time between film, the recording studio and live performance. This is her second appearance in the Royal Room following a smash run last summer.
Reviews of Ariana Savalas:
+ Variety: "Ariana displayed her talent -- and showbiz savvy --with a program ranging from Night and Day to an Edith Piaf signature to a Bing Crosby favorite, Swinging on a Star and Smile. As Telly would have said, 'Who loves ya, baby?' They all did."
+ All Music Guide: "Infusing her wonderfully intuitive old soul sensibility with a fresh and vibrant energy befitting of her youth, Ariana created a rich emotional journey from cynicism and heartbreak back to optimism."
+ DMX Music: "Ariana is sensual, assured, and takes total command of the stage…she's seasoned beyond her years."
+ Radio Express:"A sparkling young songbird who evokes the golden era of jazz...with a modern twist. Ariana is at home on the stage, and she proves it with her graceful and shining performance."
Cost to Attend Ariana Savalas:
$90 for dinner & show; $60 for show only.
Please note that all performers and booking dates are subject to change.
In addition to its world-class cabaret in the Royal Room, The Colony also presents live music Tuesdays through Saturdays in its popular restaurant and lounge, Polo Steaks & Seafood:
Polo Presents Motown Friday Nights with Memory Lane
Friday nights have become Motown nights at The Colony with the soul-stirring sounds of Memory Lane in Polo from 9 p.m. to closing. It is music from The Temptations, The Supremes, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye -- all the Motown favorites from the 60s to the 80s -- and it is bringing the house down every week. People are dancing, singing, rocking away -- right at The Colony in Palm Beach.
Polo Presents the Dynamic Mel Urban Trio with Charmaine on Saturdays
Offering a bouncy, upbeat mixture of good times and great music by long-time Palm Beach favorites, the Mel Urban Trio with Charmaine, who gets people movin' and groovin' every Saturday night. Even more exciting, the big name cabaret stars appearing in the Royal Room will frequently stop by.
About The Colony Hotel - Palm Beach
Host to Presidents Bush and Clinton, the Windsor's and other royalty, The Colony has been the center of Palm Beach society for more than 60 years, An intimate, friendly boutique hotel with British Colonial flair, it is just steps away from shopping on world famous Worth Avenue, and about 100 yards from a beautiful Atlantic Ocean beach. This landmark hotel recently completed an extensive $15-million renovation and offers guests the choice of charming hotel rooms, luxurious suites, spectacular penthouses and spacious two bedroom villas - plus beautiful grounds and Frette linens.
The Colony's popular restaurants include:
+ Polo, which is now Palm Beach's number one steakhouse, offering dining al fresco in the hotel's newly remodeled Palm Court by the pool
+ Royal Room, which is widely considered to be one of the nation's premier cabarets
+ Café 155, which is a petit New York-style deli serving delicious breakfasts and lunches prepared in the hotel's award-winning kitchen.
Over the last several years The Colony Hotel has won numerous prestigious awards, including:
+ The Providencia Award from the Palm Beach County Convention & Visitors Bureau. South Florida's most impressive annual honor recognizing excellence within the local hospitality and tourism industry, this is the only time in the 24-year history of the Award that it was given to a smaller, boutique hotel (2009).
+ The Quintessentially Palm Beach Award from the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce as part of the town's Centennial Celebration (2011).
+ The Bernays Award for Best Branding Campaign from the Gold Coast PR Council
FALL IN LOVE TODAY! ADOPT A PET FROM YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER
Videos