Andrew Sotomayor News

Clad in all black and wearing a Dia de los Muertos mask, the pianist takes his seat. The cellist follows. From the back of the theater, the Grim Reaper wearing his black cape, white mask, and carrying his trademark scythe, seems to float through the audience, reminiscent of the way a priest enters a cathedral to celebrate a mass. Accompanied by Elton John's requiem-like instrumental, 'Funeral For a Friend' (from the 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road), the beginning of Thomas Honeck's show at the Duplex, Dancing with Death, starts as a macabre ritual.

Based on the promotion of their new duo show, Revolution (a four-show run that ends at the Duplex tonight at 6:30), you might have gotten the impression that Dawn Derow and Kathleen France would be engaging in a zany bit of fluff poking fun at American military politics in a Bob Hope USO Show kinda way. But while there is definitely some frivolity and even some biting satire along the way, the women also convey a serious sense of patriotism and reverence for those who have fought and died in America's many wars. In fact, a portion of the audience cover charge is being donated to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriourproject.org).

MAC Award nominees and besties, KATHLEEN FRANCE and DAWN DEROW, team up for a special evening.

If you are even a semi-regular reader of this column of reviews, you know that about every three or four months, I post a compilation of observations of shows from the previous quarter of the year. This cabaret critiquing mash up happens for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I admittedly see too many cabaret shows for the amount of time I have to promptly review them (and then, of course, the usual writer's procrastination sets in). So I have to prioritize the timeliness of the reviews based on the prestige of the performer, the length of a show run, the strength (or lack thereof) of the performance, etc. The quality of the shows in these compilations—which can range from a half dozen to a dozen reviews in one shot—are usually a mixed bag of outright raves, qualified positives, and constructive pans (I'm not a fan of the word “negative” in the reviewer lexicon). With that in mind here are a collection of cabaret show reviews going back to the start of a very harsh winter.

Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, held their 28th Annual MAC Awards celebration last evening at BB King's Blues club in Times Square. Winners in twenty-five categories were announced. The show was hosted by the vivacious singer, band leader, multiple MAC Award winner and 2014 Nominee, Terese Genecco. The gala was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President. Don Rebic served as Musical Director. Presenters included Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal and designer Bob Mackie.

Nightlife, Bistro and MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs) Award winning artist, Gretchen Reinhagen brings her new show, 'Listen to the Music: The Songs of My 70s' to the Duplex next month. Following a successful sneak preview in December at Urban Stages, the Duplex plays host to the official 4-night opening run tonight, March 13th; Saturday, March 15th; Tuesday, March 18th (all at 7:00PM); and Sunday March 23rd at 4:30PM.

Nightlife, Bistro and MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs) Award winning artist, Gretchen Reinhagen brings her new show, 'Listen to the Music: The Songs of My 70s' to the Duplex next month. Following a successful sneak preview in December at Urban Stages, the Duplex plays host to the official 4-night opening run on Thursday, March 13th; Saturday, March 15th; Tuesday, March 18th (all at 7:00PM); and Sunday March 23rd at 4:30PM.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs is proud to announce the performers and award recipients for the 2nd Annual "MAC presents THEY WRITE THE SONGS," to be held this Sunday, November 17th at 4pm at the Engelman Recital Hall at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (Lexington Avenue at 25th Street).

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs is proud to announce the 2nd Annual "MAC presents THEY WRITE THE SONGS." The show will be held Sunday, November 17th at 4pm at the Engelman Recital Hall at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (Lexington Avenue at 25th Street).

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular 'Backstage' with Susie Mosher is the '54 Piano Bar,' a new vocal competition - 'The Callback,' and more:

Julie Benko reprises her cabaret act Wandering Star: Tales of the Road at New York City's legendary Don't Tell Mama (343 West 46th Street, Manhattan) on Friday, May 24th at 7:30 PM.

Actress and songstress Julie Benko makes her cabaret debut at New York City's legendary Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street, Manhattan) tonight, February 27th at 9:30 PM in her act Wandering Star: Tales of the Road.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs will present the 27th Annual MAC Awards on Thursday, March 21st, at B.B King Blues Club & Grill in New York City.

Actress and songstress Julie Benko makes her cabaret debut at New York City's legendary Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street, Manhattan) on Wednesday, February 27th at 9:30 PM in her act Wandering Star: Tales of the Road.

Medicine Show Theatre Ensemble, one of New York's longest-running experimental theatres, opens its production of FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMAN next month, with music and lyrics by the great Cole Porter and book by Herbert Fields. The production officially opens tonight, Oct. 27 and closes on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012.

Medicine Show Theatre Ensemble opens its production of FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMAN next month, with music and lyrics by the great Cole Porter and book by Herbert Fields. Previews are set for Wednesday, Oct. 24 and Friday, Oct. 26, 2012. The production officially opens on Saturday, Oct. 27 and closes on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced a special 'Pasadena Day' offer to all persons who either reside or work in Pasadena. Any available tickets to the Thursday, October 13, 8:00 p.m. performance of SOUTH STREET - A New Musical Comedy will be offered for $15.00 each.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced a special 'Pasadena Day' offer to all persons who either reside or work in Pasadena. Any available tickets to the Thursday, October 13, 8:00 p.m. performance of SOUTH STREET - A New Musical Comedy will be offered for $15.00 each.