Lou Monte

D. Scott Eads brought his holiday show to Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal entitled Christmastime in the Key of Bing Sunday December 1 to a packed house of loving fans. The show came in at about 100 minutes and is ideally suited to a theatre stage. Not only were we treated to a fine carol selection and to a bevy of guest stars, but Eads featured story readings that in a larger space could be staged with more creative flair. But, as is, it was more than a fulfilling evening of holiday mirth.

Poison brings two people together in a cemetery to discuss the desecration and movement of their son's grave, as part of the cemetery's plan to expand. In a style that is incredibly that of Waiting for Godot, this divorced couple comes together and must wait for the person who will come speak to them about their son's grave; of course he doesn't show up. Not having seen or heard from one another in ten long years, they awkwardly await the man that is to save them from their discomfort of being reunited; when he never arrives, they begin to talk about the past.

VIVIAN REED, the two-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway star and concert artist called 'remarkable and ferocious' by The New York Times, returned to New York on Saturday April 2 at 9:30 PM, with the opening night of her new show 'Standards and More' at The Metropolitan Room. BroadwayWorld brings you an exclusive look below!

For the third installment of his New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits--a wonderful new monthly series at the Metropolitan Room celebrating award winning and critically acclaimed cabaret shows of the past--Producer Stephen Hanks (and his Cabaret Life Productions) wisely chose Maxine Linehan's What Would Petula Do? A Tribute to Petula Clark. Although this show won no awards, nor received critical acclaim in 2009 (when I first saw it at the Laurie Beechman Theatre), Linehan's revival this past Monday night of one of her first cabaret shows could certainly be considered one the best of this or any year. 

Actor/vocalist Kristoffer Lowe has recently racked up an impressive array of awards, including the Metropolitan Room's 2014 MetroStar, the 2015 Bistro Award for Special Achievement, and the 2015 Male Debut MAC Award for his 2014 show, Waiting For the Light to Shine. Even after such kudos, however, he's been flying somewhat under the radar. His new show, You're Getting to Be a Habit With Me, which opened at the Metropolitan Room Tuesday night (a four-show run was his reward for winning the MetroStar), spotlighted the songs of composer Harry Warren, who was often called "the invisible man." With his stellar performance, Lowe should by all rights achieve his own well-deserved notoriety. The beautifully put together show displays versatile interpretive gifts, emotional translucence, and well-calibrated vocals.

I first saw Julie Reyburn in her 2011 cabaret show Winter Songs, where she wonderfully explored in music the beauty of winter from its cool, autumnal evenings to the somber tranquility of a snow fallen night. It was a terrific act. So I was excited when Reyburn announced she would reprise her 2000 cabaret debut show, Fate Is Kind, which pretty much put her on the New York cabaret map and earned her MAC and Bistro Awards in 2001 for "Best Female Cabaret Debut." On September 14, Reyburn's show was the second in Stephen Hanks' monthly New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits Series (produced by his own Cabaret Life Productions) at The Metropolitan Room. The big questions with a series like this are: Do these shows and performances withstand the test of time? Are they really worth bringing back? In Reyburn's case, 15 years after debuting the show the answer is a resounding-YES!

For any cabaret performer, delivering an original song can be a nice touch in any show, but finding the right one can drive a singer crazy. The upside is that as well as highlighting the songwriter (which in some cases can be the singer's musical director) it gives the performer an opportunity to show what they can do with unfamiliar material. The combination of the two can be effective and memorable. Such was the case recently with singer Gary Crawford who along with musical director, arranger and songwriter Barry Levitt delivered a very compelling evening of songs on September 2 at the Metropolitan Room. Crawford is a lovable singer who highlighted the somewhat under-the-radar talent of one of cabaret's most respected musicians. After producing a MAC Award-winning show (for "Best Debut") in 2013-In Love With Love-and recording a subsequent CD, it was inevitable that Crawford and Levitt team up again, this time for Secret Dreams: Gary Crawford Sings The Barry Levitt Songbook.

Back in January, BroadwayWorld's lead cabaret reviewer Stephen Hanks announced he was giving up critiquing shows to start his own company, Cabaret Life Productions, through which he would publicize, promote, and help book cabaret performers, and also produce cabaret shows. Hanks' first major production out of the box is a monthly series at the Metropolitan Room called New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits, that features talented artists recreating award-winning or highly-praised shows we wish we'd seen--a really good idea. Hanks' series launched Wednesday night with Mark Nadler's award-winning 2003 show Tschaikowsky (And Other Russians). The Metropolitan Room was filled to the gills and abuzz with anticipation, as most of the audience was only familiar with the show's second-hand praise and/or the CD version of Nadler's performance.

Award-winning Pantochino Productions Inc., a professional non profit theatre company for family audiences, will open it's exciting new musical panto 'Cinderella Italiano!' tonight, April 24th at the Center for the Arts in Downtown Milford. It will play weekend performances through May 9th.

Award-winning Pantochino Productions Inc., a professional non profit theatre company for family audiences, will open it's exciting new musical panto "Cinderella Italiano!" on Friday, April 24th at the Center for the Arts in Downtown Milford. It will play weekend performances through May 9th.

B.B. King Blues Club & Grill is located at 237 West 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues) New York, NY 10036

Concerts for the week of February 21st include George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars, TWIZTID with Blaze and Kung Fu Vampire, Godfrey Townsend Band's George Harrison tribute HERE COMES THE SUN, DJ Tour Launch Party, Zep Fest V with Kashmir, Tainted Love, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Michael Patrick's Ring of Fire Band's Birthday Tribute to Johnny Cash.

Concerts for the week of February 21st include George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars, TWIZTID with Blaze and Kung Fu Vampire, Godfrey Townsend Band's George Harrison tribute HERE COMES THE SUN, DJ Tour Launch Party, Zep Fest V with Kashmir, Tainted Love, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Michael Patrick's Ring of Fire Band's Birthday Tribute to Johnny Cash.

Concerts for the week of February 21st include George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars, TWIZTID with Blaze and Kung Fu Vampire, Godfrey Townsend Band's George Harrison tribute HERE COMES THE SUN, DJ Tour Launch Party, Zep Fest V with Kashmir, Tainted Love, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Michael Patrick's Ring of Fire Band's Birthday Tribute to Johnny Cash.

Concerts for the week of February 21st include George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars, TWIZTID with Blaze and Kung Fu Vampire, Godfrey Townsend Band's George Harrison tribute HERE COMES THE SUN, DJ Tour Launch Party, Zep Fest V with Kashmir, Tainted Love, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Michael Patrick's Ring of Fire Band's Birthday Tribute to Johnny Cash.

Concerts for the week of February 21st include George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars, TWIZTID with Blaze and Kung Fu Vampire, Godfrey Townsend Band's George Harrison tribute HERE COMES THE SUN, DJ Tour Launch Party, Zep Fest V with Kashmir, Tainted Love, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Michael Patrick's Ring of Fire Band's Birthday Tribute to Johnny Cash.

Concerts for the week of February 21st include George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars, TWIZTID with Blaze and Kung Fu Vampire, Godfrey Townsend Band's George Harrison tribute HERE COMES THE SUN, DJ Tour Launch Party, Zep Fest V with Kashmir, Tainted Love, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Michael Patrick's Ring of Fire Band's Birthday Tribute to Johnny Cash.

Listings for upcoming shows at B.B. King Blues Club.

Join us at the Theatre for a night of unforgettable comedy, starring Dennis Malloy, Steve Trevelise, Jimmy 'Roundboy' Graham and Uncle Floyd. Their jokes are guaranteed to have you rolling in the aisles with laughter! The show takes place February 27 at 8PM.

Our Fightin' Phils have made it to the World Series for a second year in a row! Game 3 is scheduled for this Saturday, October 31 at 7:57 pm.