Alexis Cole News

On Thanksgiving Day, BroadwayWorld announced the nominees in 14 categories for the 2015 BWW New York Cabaret Awards. BroadwayWorld's cabaret editors and reviewers congratulate all the deserving nominees and everyone who performs in the great art of cabaret in New York. But today, as you munch on the leftovers from last night's dinner, it's time to actually vote for that one performer who you think is the absolute best in each category. Voting ends on December 31 and after a review of the ballots, winners will be announced officially early the week of January 4, 2016. (Note: There will not be a BWW Awards Show this year.)

Happy Thanksgiving Day, Cabaret Fans! Here's some breaking news you can discuss and debate in between courses at tonight's dinner: It's the final nominees for the 2015 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards. This year, the cabaret editors and writers at BWW have cited 116 nominees (including duos and variety show/recurring series producers) in 14 categories. In addition, this year six performers or musicians have been cited for special “Editor's Choice Awards,” led by veteran New York cabaret stars Karen Mason and Mark Nadler who have been named “Performers of the Year.”

The Milton Berle Room heard the sounds of past Friars, Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, and Louis Prima last night as Danny Bacher brought his show Swing That Music to the club.  BroadwayWorld was there for the fun.  The club has been home to many of the music world's past legends and Danny Bacher's music added to that storied tradition. Joining Danny for the evenings music and comedy were comedian Marla Schultz and jazz vocalist Alexis Cole along with Danny's 7 piece band.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director, Peter Napolitano, Producer/Director of Musical Programming) today announced the line-up for this year's Award-Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre. WINTER RHYTHMS 2015 marks the seventh year that Urban Stages has brought noted musical artists to its stage during the holiday period. The mission of Winter Rhythms is to bring the talents of known and unknown singers, musicians, lyricists and composers to the attention of the New York theater community while performing at Urban Stages Theater. Winner of the 2015 Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Series MAC Award, WINTER RHYTHMS benefits Urban Stages' acclaimed Outreach Program, which brings more than 200 free "arts in education" presentations to libraries and schools throughout the five boroughs. This year's event features 20 shows and more than 100 artists.

Urban Stages announces the line-up for this year's Award Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30thStreet, just East of 8th Avenue). Tickets are $25 per show and may be purchased by visiting urbanstages.org or by calling (866) 811-4111. For complete schedule information, visit urbanstages.org.

The final night of this year's estimable Cabaret Convention, What I Did for Love/Taking a Chance on Love, hosted by Klea Blackhurst, saluted composer/songwriter Vernon Duke in Act I and composer/conductor Marvin Hamlisch during Act II. It was a curious pairing, indeed.

The final night of The Mabel Mercer Foundation's New York Cabaret Convention was hosted by Klea Blackhurst. It featured the music of Marvin Hamlisch and Vernon Duke. Terri Blair the widow of Marvin was in the audience and was obviously touched by some thrilling performances of her husbands music. Check out photos from the event below!

On Monday, October 2 from 7 pm to 12:30 am at The Players Club, Patrick Solari's Prohibition Productions Series, THE SALON, will present an exclusive 'Antique Cocktail Party' celebrating the Playboy Clubs of the 1960s. The event will feature live music, DJs, classic burlesque, antique cocktails (made from unopened vintage bottles of 1960s spirits), and of course BUNNIES, all in honor of the book release of 'PLAYBOY SWINGS: How Hugh Hefner and Playboy Changed the Face of Music' written by Patty Farmer and Will Friedwald. Serving as the iconic 'Playboy Mansion' will be the beautiful & historic olde-world private club, The Players on 16 Gramercy Park South (between Park Ave and Irving Place on 20th Street). Like each Playboy Club of the era, guests receive a key upon arrival and have three rooms to frolic, dance and imbibe--THE PLAYPEN, THE LIVING ROOM, and THE LIBRARY-during what promises to be a sophisticated and titillating soiree.

On Monday, October 2 from 7 pm to 12:30 am at The Players Club, Patrick Solari's Prohibition Productions Series, THE SALON, will present an exclusive 'Antique Cocktail Party' celebrating the Playboy Clubs of the 1960s. The event will feature live music, DJs, classic burlesque, antique cocktails (made from unopened vintage bottles of 1960s spirits), and of course BUNNIES, all in honor of the book release of 'PLAYBOY SWINGS: How Hugh Hefner and Playboy Changed the Face of Music' written by Patty Farmer and Will Friedwald. Serving as the iconic 'Playboy Mansion' will be the beautiful & historic olde-world private club, The Players on 16 Gramercy Park South (between Park Ave and Irving Place on 20th Street). Like each Playboy Club of the era, guests receive a key upon arrival and have three rooms to frolic, dance and imbibe--THE PLAYPEN, THE LIVING ROOM, and THE LIBRARY-during what promises to be a sophisticated and titillating soiree.

Garrison, NY -- SIMPLY STREISAND, New York's long-running hit revue, will make a special, one night only appearance in Putnam County tonight, September 26th at 7pm at the Philipstown Depot Theatre, located at 10 Garrison Landing in Garrison, NY. 

Garrison, NY -- SIMPLY STREISAND, New York's long-running hit revue, will make a special, one night only appearance in Putnam County on Saturday, September 26th at 7pm at the Philipstown Depot Theatre, located at 10 Garrison Landing in Garrison, NY. 

It's an undeniable, outstanding, and extraordinary musical milestone, to be sure: 2015 marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Mabel Mercer Foundation! Not only has the organization survived the ongoing and vastly fluctuating public tastes in music, lyrics, and performers, it has proliferated and burgeoned in its three decades of commitment to the classic, "Great Popular Songbook" -- both past and present.

Following a recent sold out debut at Bar Thalia, Symphony Space's newest home for Jazz, acclaimed NYC vocalist-songwriter MARCUS GOLDHABER is returning to launch 'MOSTLY MARCUS,' a Sunday night Jazz Duo summer residency, backed only by a top jazz guitarist and joined each week by a different guest artist. The rotating group of jazz guitarists includes Hendrik Helmer (Wyclef Jean, Carly Simon, Duncan Sheik), John Hart (Jimmy Smith, James Moody), Ron Affif (Al Martino, Roger Williams) and Sean Harkness (Eileen Ivers, Julie Budd).

This year is the centennial of entertainment legends such as vocalists Billie Holliday and Edith Piaf, singer-actors Frank Sinatra and Alice Faye, composers Billy Strayhorn and Bart Howard, and pianist Cy Walter. In its annual tribute concert, The Mabel Mercer Foundation celebrated all these artists in 1915: It Was a Very Good Year at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, presenting a great variety of musical talent, each with a personal take.

Seven outstanding vocalists, songwriters, and musicians born in 1915 were honored at Weill Recital Hall on Tuesday, June 9th, at 7:30 p.m., when The Mabel Mercer Foundation presented their  annual concert, "It Was A Very Good Year." Cohosted by the Foundation's artistic director KT Sullivan and the distinguished critic Rex Reed, the one-night-only event celebrated the centennial birthdays of (alphabetically) Alice Faye, Billie Holiday, Bart Howard, Edith Piaf, Frank Sinatra, Billy Strayhorn, and Cy Walter.

Seven outstanding vocalists, songwriters, and musicians born in 1915 will be honored at Weill Recital Hall tonight, June 9th, at 7:30 p.m., when The Mabel Mercer Foundation presents the annual concert, 'It Was A Very Good Year.' Cohosted by the Foundation's artistic director KT Sullivan and the distinguished critic Rex Reed, the one-night-only event celebrates the centennial birthdays of (alphabetically) Alice Faye, Billie Holiday, Bart Howard, Edith Piaf, Frank Sinatra, Billy Strayhorn, and Cy Walter.

Alexis Cole makes it look easy. Even up-tempo, the performer never appears to be less than relaxed and enjoying what she's doing. Somewhere in the middle of her first number Saturday night at Café Noctambulo (at Pangea Restaurant on 2nd Avenue between 11th and 12th streets) the room seems to exhale. This evening, with her familiar collaborators David Finck (bass) and Kenny Hassler (drums) communicating in musical shorthand, Cole (also on piano) offers jazz, swing, bossa nova, and pop, putting her own subtle stamp on each, never, thankfully, losing melodic path.

Stars of New York's Cabaret and theatre worlds will perform the songs of renowned composer/arranger Larry Kerchner in the fourth edition of 'Hidden Treasures: Songs of Larry Kerchner.'

The latest rendering, "Hidden Treasures IV," debuts at Birdland on SUNDAY, MAY 31st, 6 p.m. featuring the best of the best of Broadway and Cabaret performers, including Klea Blackhurst (host), Mark Nadler, Alexis Cole, Jim Brochu, Carol J. Bufford, Natalie Douglas, Eric Michael Gillett, Marissa Mulder, Stacy Sullivan, Shana Farr, Karen Oberlin and many more. Tex Arnold musical directs.

Seven outstanding vocalists, songwriters, and musicians born in 1915 will be honored at Weill Recital Hall on Tuesday, June 9th, at 7:30 p.m., when The Mabel Mercer Foundation presents the annual concert, "It Was A Very Good Year." Cohosted by the Foundation's artistic director KT Sullivan and the distinguished critic Rex Reed, the one-night-only event celebrates the centennial birthdays of (alphabetically) Alice Faye, Billie Holiday, Bart Howard, Edith Piaf, Frank Sinatra, Billy Strayhorn, and Cy Walter.