Alex Rybeck News

Summer 2015 kicks off with star-power in Provincetown this Memorial Day Weekend. Leading off for Producing Artistic Director Mark Cortale's inaugural Broadway @ Town Hall season is comedian-actress Rosie O'Donnell with Sirius XM radio star Seth Rudetsky as pianist and host, for one show only on Sunday, May 24 at 9:00 PM, and featuring opening guest, indie rocker Melissa Ferrick. Rosie's stage credits include the Broadway productions of "Grease," "Seussical," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Love, Loss and What I Wore," and the Encores! production of "No, No, Nanette." In addition to her acclaimed stand-up comedy and film careers, she is perhaps best known on television as the host and Executive Producer of the Emmy Award winning talk/variety series "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," and more recently for her return to daytime television as co-host of ABC's "The View." Memorial Day weekend also includes the one-two punch of Indie Rock star Melissa Ferrick back for her fifth consecutive season with two shows on May 23 at 6:30 PM & 9:00 PM, and the hysterical brand new drag comedy "Designing Women Meets The Golden Gals" starring Varla Jean Merman, Ryan Landry, Olive Another and Liza Lott will open for a summer-long run on May 23 and 24 at 7:30 PM (running through September 5). For Tickets visit www.ptownarthouse.com  or call 800-838-3006.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

After a 20-year absence from Manhattan cabaret, Roslyn Kind resurfaced last year with a sold out run at 54 Below. The show was a hit and audiences so adored her, she probably could have extended a month. At the time, she was fresh off a world tour that that began at Brooklyn's Barclays Center and famously included her nephew Jason Gould, acclaimed jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, and half sister Barbra Streisand with whom she sang some duets. The Brooklyn native returned to 54 Below for the first three days in May and again her show was a hit under the masterful direction of Broadway's Richard Jay-Alexander

There's one last night to see Roslyn Kind the 'hometown girl' who grew up on the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge, began a return engagement at 54 Below. The house was packed on Friday and Saturday and the audience gave her a lot of love. Enjoy these exclusive (and beautiful) backstage photos!

Last night, in the heart of Manhattan, Roslyn Kind the 'hometown girl' who grew up on the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge, began a return engagement at 54 Below. The house was packed and the audience gave her a lot of love. Enjoy these exclusive (and beautiful) photos! 

It was hard to believe that it had been 20 years since Roslyn Kind has appeared in a nightclub in New York City before Kind made her sold out, first appearance at 54 Below last year. Well, great news world -- she's back this weekend, and we're told that the show will feature even more songs for the return engagement! Check out highlights from last year's appearance below.

This May and June, 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street.

Mark Cortale, Producing Artistic Director of The Art House in Provincetown, MA was thrilled to announce today that Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker will join his inaugural Broadway @ Town Hall series featuring Sirius XM radio's Seth Rudetsky as pianist and host for one night only on August 17th.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was thrilled that Los Angeles singer Todd Murray brought his acclaimed show 'CROON: When A Whisper Became A Song' to the historic music room this past Monday. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

“Lover, when I'm near you . . .” sings the debonair Todd Murray this past Monday night at Birdland, mere feet away from rapt eyes into which he pours himself. He's performing the waltzy song acoustically, voice full out in opposition to lyric mood. The back of the house undoubtedly finds sound muted. “This is how you would've heard a band singer in 1925, before a new technique called 'crooning',” he tells us. “From the time I started working, they always called me a crooner.”

Mark Cortale, Producing Artistic Director of The Art House in Provincetown, MA, continues to raise the bar on already superb programming in this idyllic seaside Cape Cod town.

It's not exactly a secret that cabaret has for decades been a world dominated by female entertainers. Sylvia Syms, Julie Wilson, Margaret Whiting, Karen Akers, KT Sullivan, Karen Mason and myriad others have assumed the top notches of the art form. But, perhaps, men might be taking their place among the front lines and a perfect example this past week were the shows from cabaret veterans Kevin Dozier and Frank Torren.

Todd Murray celebrates the release of his new CD CROON with a special performance of his acclaimed CROON: When A Whisper Became A Song at the legendary Birdland, 315 West 44th St.,New York, on Monday, April 13th, at 7pm. There is a $30.00 cover charge (there is a $10 food/beverage minimum). Due to the high demand for this special event, reservations are highly recommended by calling 212-581-06-0440. You can also visit BirdlandJazz.com or ToddMurray.com for further information.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for April 13-19, featuring James Carter Organ Trio, Todd Murray in "Croon: When A Whisper Became A Song," Barbara Carroll, Jazz Party with Natalie Douglas, and more!

Barbara Cook's Spotlight Series at The Kennedy Center has served as an incredible showcase for some of Broadway's greatest talent to take a smaller stage. The first one I attended was 5 years ago when Laura Benanti took the stage. Since then, dozens of other brilliant performers have taken to the Terrace stage to share a different, more casual side.

The Metropolitan Room became one of those Art Deco Night Clubs in a1940 Black & White Movie last night. Harking back to the days when the girl singers had that luscious, sensual, understated, but spectacular voices and musicianship that made every person in the room fall in love with them. Although I have ears that sometimes show signs of wear and tear from a lifetime of hearing a lot of stuff, Celia's ability to annunciate and melodically roll out lyrics had me hearing vowels and consonants I usually miss in a crowded noisy cabaret. Come to think of it, the Metropolitan Room had the quietness of a recording studio as the very musically sophisticated audience was held in rapt attention by Celia's artistry. I would be enamored with any song she wrapped her voice around, but her unique song selection made the evening especially compelling. How fitting it was the Stacy Sullivan and Joanne Tatham were in the audience. Two singers that represent that same kind of sexy, restrained and understated musical excellence that Celia Berk possesses. It was also ironic that the title song of the show ( You Can't Rush Spring) was written by another of my favorite ladies - Ann Hampton Callaway.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its April 2015 schedule, featuring Sheila Jordan with the Steve Kuhn Trio, Ms. Lisa Fischer, Eliane Elias, James Carter Organ Trio, Barbara Carroll, The Beegie Adair Trio with Monica Ramey, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

In just three years since the inception of the BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards, the ceremony has evolved into one of the community's most-anticipated events. And this year's festivities, the second one at Joe's Pub, proved to be the most glittering and energetic assemblage to date. In fact, there couldn't have been a more promising start to the annual cabaret awards season, which continues with the Bistro Awards at Gotham Comedy Club on March 4, and culminates with the MAC Awards (Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs) at BB King's on March 26. The 3rd Annual BWW Awards Show was just the right spark to get this season's prizes off to a veritable fireworks display.

THE METROPOLITAN ROOM presents Kevin Dozier in 'A NEW YORK ROMANCE' on March 17, 2015, April 8 2015, and May 13, 2015.