The Colony Hotel Extends Royal Room Cabaret Lineup

The Colony Hotel - which The Palm Beach Post has hailed as "probably the best place for cabaret on the planet" - is doing something completely different this year. For the first time in the 15-year history of the Royal Room, the world famous cabaret will not close at the end of "season" but will continue offering extraordinary entertainers straight-through the summer months with dinner shows every Friday and Saturday night.

April 8-9 & 15-16

AVERY SOMMERS

Back By Popular Demand

Fresh off her highly acclaimed performance as blues legend Bessie Smith at ArtGarage, local favorite Avery Sommers is returning to The Colony Hotel for her seventh engagement since making her Royal Room debut in August 2008. She starred on Broadway in the long running, critically acclaimed musicals Ain't Misbehavin' (where she replaced Nell Carter) and Showboat, and in two national tours: Chicago with Joel Grey and Chita Rivera and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with Ann-Margret. A frequent co-star of Burt Reynolds (B.L. Stryker, The Man from Left Field), she also starred in Menopause, the Musical and as Bloody Mary in South Pacific. In addition, she produced and co-starred in the film Hiding Victoria with Anita Gillette. At the Monaco International Film Festival in 2010, Sommers received the Best Supporting Actress Award at the Angel Film Awards.

Reviews of Avery Sommers:

+ The Palm Beach Post: "Big-voiced, large-framed Sommers threatens to overpower the intimate Royal Room, but for every booming showstopper, she knows how to counterbalance with an understated ballad... She may tend toward the blues in her song choices, but (her) buoyant, upbeat personality beams through.... Success in cabaret is at least as dependent on charisma as vocal ability and Sommers excels at both."

+ Boca Raton News: Avery Sommers is "hard to miss: an imposing and voluptuous African-American woman with mesmerizing green eyes and a raise-the-rafters voice... (She is) truly loved."

The Cost to Attend Avery Sommers:

$115 per person for prix fixe dinner and show; $50 for show only.

April 22-23 & 29-30

KAREN OBERLIN

Back By Popular Demand

Karen Oberlin is thrilled to be returning to the Royal Room as part of the Cabaret Greats in Residence season. She is a recipient of the Mabel Mercer Foundation's prestigious Donald F. Smith Award for Excellence in Cabaret, along with multiple MAC, Bistro and Nightlife Awards and an Honorary Doctorate in Music. She has been named by the New York Times and the UK's Classical Source as one of the "saviors of the American Songbook." Among the many legendary New York boîtes in which she has had major engagements are the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room, Feinstein's at the Regency, the Café Carlyle and Birdland, along with performances at prestigious concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Town Hall, Merkin Hall and Caramoor. She has a steady touring schedule across the country and in Europe, including annual engagements in Paris and London, where she'll be heading again in July. She has four acclaimed recordings on the Miranda Music label. The legendary Tex Arnold will serve as musical director. www.karenoberlin.com

Reviews of Karen Oberlin:

+ Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News: "How much duller Palm Beach would be these days without Karen Oberlin's sparkling interpretations! This is a singer who obviously believes every word counts. A woman in the audience could be distinctly heard saying 'Beautiful.' It would be hard to argue with that assessment."

+ Stephen Holden, The New York Times: "Karen Oberlin is a singer who radiates a subdued glamour... Beyond having a pretty voice, poise and interpretive insight, Ms. Oberlin (has) impeccable pop style and musical intelligence... (Her show was) beautifully executed."

+ Rex Reed, New York Observer: "Thrilling... Karen Oberlin is as lovely to look at as she is to hear - subtle, elegant and musically spot on, (her singing) rings true and funny and flawless."

+ Elizabeth Ahlfors, Cabaret Scenes: "Her voice warms like melted butter to infuse her love songs with emotion and passion."

The Cost to Attend Karen Oberlin:

$115 per person for prix fixe dinner and show; $50 for show only.

May 6-7 & 13-14

NICOLAS KING

Back By Popular Demand

The modern day "King of Swing" and the youngest performer ever to debut in the Royal Room (he was 19 at the time), Nicolas King has been singing since he was 4. The young protégé of Liza Minnelli was first seen 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, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and more than a dozen nation TV commercials. King went on the road as Liza's opening act during her 2006 tour, and he received the prestigious Julie Wilson Award from the Mabel Mercer Foundation at the 2010 Cabaret Convention.

Reviews of Nicolas King:

+ Stephen Holden in in The New York Times: Nicolas King is "a polished crooner ... a promising pop-jazz crooner."

+ Liza Minnelli: "Look out Showbiz, here comes Nicolas King."

+ Carol Burnett: "This kid is amazing."

+ Joe Franklin on Bloomberg Radio: "Riveting performances ... Nicolas King is my candidate for super-stardom this decade."

The Cost to Attend Nicolas King:

$115 per person for prix fixe dinner and show; $50 for show only.

May 20-21 & 27-28

JEFF HARNAR

Back By Popular Demand

Jeff Harnar, who Michael Feinstein has called, "One of the premiere interpreters of the Great American Songbook," is the winner of both the 2014BroadwayWorld.com Best Male Vocalist Award and the 2012 Noel Coward Foundation Cabaret Award. New York City engagements include The Algonquin Hotel, Feinstein's at The Regency, Birdland, The Metropolitan Room, and Off-Broadway at 59e59 Theaters. Carnegie Hall appearances include both the Cole Porter and Noel Coward Centennial Galas. Jeff was artistic director and host of the three seasons of "The American Songbook in London" at The Jermyn Street Theatre and Pizza on The Park. Television credits include "The 1959 Broadway Songbook" (PBS). Jeff tours nationally with Shauna Hicks in their symphony "Pops" concert "I Got Rhythm: Mickey & Judy's Hollywood." Jeff has released four solo CD's and is the winner of three MAC Awards and three Back Stage Bistro Awards.

Reviews of Jeff Harnar:

+ The New York Times: "The most important male cabaret singer to emerge since Michael Feinstein."

+ The Times London: "Harnar is out to have fun. And we do too."

+ Jazz Times: "Sincerely sophisticated showmanship."

+ The New York Post: "Gold from a 14-karat voice"

+ Liza Minnelli: "Jeff Harnar performs with a joy that can only be called true style"

+ Michael Feinstein: "I discover something new in a lyric every time I hear Jeff Harnar sing."

The Cost to Attend Jeff Harnar:

$115 per person for prix fixe dinner and show; $50 for show only.

Music Weekends in Polo At The Colony:

Sporting colorful polo-themed murals by legendary photographer Harry Benson and floor-to-ceiling pillars painted to resemble sophisticated bar drinks, The Colony's popular Polo Steaks & Seafood is the ultimate playground for Palm Beachers seeking good conversation, perfect martinis and great every weekend, including:

+ Motown Fridays with Memory Lane performing everyone's favorite Soul City/Top 40 hits from the 60s through today - Every Friday, 9:30 pm to 12:30 am.

+ Jill & Rich Switzer, the popular morning hosts on Legends 100.3 FM - Every Saturday, 9:30 pm to 12:30 am.