Ann Hampton Callaway News

LIVE FROM GRAMERCY PARK at The Players with LANCE HORNE -- the new concert series dedicated to presenting the best music and theater stars along with dynamic rising talent -- will take place tonight, May 14 at 9:00 PM.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has announced the third season for the 2014-2015 TRUST Cabaret Series. Enjoy the rare opportunity to experience the finest cabaret artists at the intimate Cabaret at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, in downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District. The 2014-2015 TRUST Cabaret Series will showcase performers Linda Eder, Brian D'Arcy James, Norm Lewis, Ann Hampton Callaway & Broadway Showstoppers.

Nancy Rhodes, artistic director of Encompass New Opera Theatre, announced today that Klea Blackburst, actress, singer and comedienne best known for her award-winning tribute to Ethel Merman, Everything The Traffic Will Allow, will be the featured performer at the Encompass Jazz Cabaret Gala in Manhattan on June 25th, 2014. The benefit will take place at 7:00 PM in a spacious penthouse with panoramic views at 66 Leonard Street.

I was just a little more than a year into my new side career as a cabaret show reviewer when I first saw a Karen Oberlin show. It was Valentine's Day night 2012 and Oberlin—with guitarist Sean Harkness and guest violinist Aaron Weinstein—would be performing her romance-laced set, Stringing Along With Love, at the Metropolitan Room. At the time, all I knew about Oberlin was that she was considered among New York's best female cabaret singers, and I hadn't researched her performing history pre-show. About a third of the way into her set I leaned over to my wife (it was Valentine's Day after all) and whispered, “You know, she has a real Doris Day quality in her voice and in the way she delivers some lyrics.” This immediately ratcheted up my appreciation for Oberlin since there are four passions I inherited from my Dad—baseball, reading the morning papers, sports writing and Doris Day (well, also Sophia Loren, but that's for another column). Since Dad had grown up during the prime of the Big Band Era of the 1940s, I heard the sultry sounds of a young Doris Day singing songs like “Sentimental Journey” on the family stereo more than a few times. Once I saw Day's strikingly adorable blondness on a record cover and her rocking body in one of her films, I knew what Dad was talking about. As popular, famous, and near iconic as Doris Day became, in my book, as a singer and screen beauty she's always been vastly underrated. Little did I know that Karen Oberlin had been doing a Doris Day tribute show so since 2001 at places like Firebird, Iridium, and the late Danny's Skylight Room, and produced a CD, Secret Love: The Music of Doris Day, in 2002. Karen Oberlin had instantly become my secret love.

It's that time of year again. Not only is everybody talking about awards season here in New York, but this is when the buzz starts about the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in Australia. It's one of the greatest gigs for an American performer (or any performer) to get, and has been getting stronger and stronger every year.

LIVE FROM GRAMERCY PARK at The Players with LANCE HORNE -- the new concert series dedicated to presenting the best music and theater stars along with dynamic rising talent -- will take place on Wednesday, May 14 at 9:00 PM.

The Tony winner talks about her Brooklyn upbringing, her Broadway triumphs and her brand-new cabaret show.

Will Friedwald's 'Clip Joint: A Video Music Mixtape' will premiere on Tuesday, April 29 at 7 PM at Stage 72 / The Triad (Green Room.

From Mick Jagger's Angie to Mel Torme's Lulu, Craig will take you on an exploration of women in song! Some of the most beloved songs are a tribute to a particular woman and a particular story. From serious to deliriously silly, and from start to finish, this is a party you won't Craig Pomranz, reminiscent of Johnny Mathis, Chet Baker and Little Jimmy Scott, one of the dreamiest voices in the music industry joins the new club Sophie's New York! with his new show "Here's To The Ladies…"

Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway returned to 54 Below with SIBLING RIVERLRY last weekend and set up a surprise proposal during the show on April 19. David Robeano proposed to his partner Sean Thomas-Breitfeld. The couple has been together for seven years. Watch the video below!

It took Lucie Arnaz her entire professional life to get booked for a solo nightclub/cabaret show at the Cafe Carlyle. It turned out to be worth the wait-for herself and her audiences-and her weeklong run at the stylish club (that began on April 13 and ends with shows tonight at 8:45 and 10:45) would no doubt have made her famous parents--Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz--beam with pride. Lucy might have erupted into a joyful crying jag, while Desi would have kvelled in his signature rapid-fired Spanish because when it comes to her performance on a cabaret stage, Lucie Arnaz doesn't 'got some 'splaining to do.'

Ann Hampton Callawayand Liz Callaway return to 54 Below with SIBLING RIVERLRY, continuing through April 19. The show is a loosely-based musical autobiography outlining their lives from their childhood in Chicago, to their move to New York City, to the ever-continuing adventures of their luminous careers.

After sold-out performances in New York City and her hometown of San Francisco, cabaret singer Carly Ozard will debut her latest show Midler on the Roof at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 25, 2014 at cabaret institution The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street at 7th Avenue in New York City. Tickets are $10 (plus a 2-drink minimum) and advance reservations are highly recommended by contacting (212) 255-5438 or www.theduplex.com.

Special guest Cheyenne Jackson has joined the evening, in addition to previously announced Ricki Lake, Ashley Fink ('Glee'), Shane Jenek (Courtney Act from 'RuPaul's Drag Race'), Adam Kantor (The Last Five Years) and Julie Garnye (Les Miserables at the Hollywood Bowl) with special surprise stars. They

LANCE HORNE - the Emmy Award winning composer, musician, vocalist and producer - will headline a special concert evening at Rockwood Table & Stage in Los Angeles tonight, April 15 at 8:00 PM with guest artists Ricki Lake, Julie Garnye and Lisa Ann Walter, with special surprise stars. They will perform songs from his acclaimed CD First Things Last in addition to a special preview of The Night Before My Wedding, Horne's upcoming collaboration with Neil Gaiman.

Popular concert performers, Broadway headliners and recording artists Liz Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway reteam for a reprise of their celebrated sister act SIBLING REVELRY at 54 Below tonight through April 19.

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:

Cabaret and Broadway legends, Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway are set to bring their acclaimed cabaret show, Sibling Revelry to Sydney and Melbourne this June. The dynamic sisters first performed Sibling Revelry at New York's Rainbow and Stars in 1995 and have been performing it ever since. 2014 sees Sibling Revelry spread to Sydney on June 23 at The Basement and to Melbourne Recital Centre on June 25 after their appearance at The Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

The beloved Bay Area cabaret singer Wesla Whitfield, joined by her husband, pianist and arranger Mike Greensill and John Wiitala on bass, will debut their new show, Who Cares (What Banks Fail in Yonkers!), at Feinstein's at the Nikko for two-performances only - Thursday, May 8 (8 p.m.) and Friday, May 9 (8 p.m.). The challenges of the world can make it tough to keep a smile in place. Let Wesla and Mike's new show take you on a delightful journey through the Great American Songbook that will re-unite you with your hopes and dreams. Tickets for Wesla Whitfield range in price from $30 - $45 and are on-sale now and available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

LANCE HORNE - the Emmy Award winning composer, musician, vocalist and producer - will headline a special concert evening at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 15 at 8:00 PM. Special guests Ashley Fink ('Glee'), Shane Jenek (Courtney Act from 'RuPaul's Drag Race') and Adam Kantor (The Last Five Years) have joined the evening, in adition to previously announced Ricki Lake, Julie Garnye (Les Miserables at the Hollywood Bowl) and Lisa Ann Walter (The Parent Trap) with special surprise stars. They will perform songs from his acclaimed CD First Things Last in addition to a special preview of The Night Before My Wedding, Horne's upcoming collaboration with Neil Gaiman. Lance's March 31 evening at Birdland Jazz Club in New York featred Alan Cumming, Rachel Dratch, Stephen Wallem, Alice Ripley and more. He recently contributed a movement to Tyler's Suite, a choral song-cycle dedicated to Tyler Clementi, the 18-year-old Rutgers University student that took his life three years ago. The piece, which also includes contributions from Stephen Schwartz, Ann Hampton Callaway and Craig Carnelia, was premiered by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus in March. Rockwell Table & Stage is located at 1714 Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, CA.. Tickets are $20 with a two drink minimum. Visit Rockwell-LA.com for more information.