Arlene Lazare News

Clint Holmes has had a long and storied career.  He continues to be one of the most electrifying performers on the planet.  As crowed many times before, Clint’s voice, phrasing, physicality, and apple watch like jazz time are extraordinary.  When these unique skills are applied to his current show titled “Between The Moon And New York City”, the songbook and life of Peter Allen are given an original and inspired new take.

Imagine  a night club gig starring  Mel Torme, with Anita O’Day or Ella Fitzgerald as his guest vocalist, and the Oscar Peterson Trio backing them up.  That’s the way it sounded in the Wick Theater’s Cabaret last night as the award winning singer Nicolas King had guest vocalist Veronica Swift and pianist Mike Renzi and trio on the stage with him.  It was a musically sophisticated audience at the dinner tables for this show.. Everyone in the elegant room had reserved well in advance.  

Michael Feinstein, through his performance and music history archiving is the country's foremost guide of The Great American Songbook. He had a songwriter/composer as his guest on the Kravis Center stage last night who has contributed a very important page of that book….Jimmy Webb.

I've been tracking this Storm for quite a while now and the intensity and power of her performance keeps escalating to the point where there is literally no category in the music world that describes her adequately. She is a performer who excites you on ever level and presses all your buttons. After Storm Large sweeps through an audience you are part of you'll be talking about her to all your friends and encouraging them to see her to experience the awesome talent and personality of one of the most unique entertainers on the planet. In addition to her own poignant songs she deconstructs and reconstructs Cole Porter like you've never heard before.

You can go to the Museum of the City of New York to relive our town's exciting history or you can walk into Patsy's Italian Restaurant on 56th street and sit at the same table that Frank Sinatra and his pals dined at.  Dean Martin also had his spaghetti at Patsy's. Last night his daughter Deana Martin enjoyed some Pasta (although she doesn't look like she ever touched the carbs) topped with Patsy's great sauce (also on your grocers shelves) during the establishment's 75th Anniversary  invited guests only celebration.  You can also sit at the tables where present celebrities such as Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Madonna, George Clooney, Sean “Diddy” Combs, David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey, Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Lopez, Barbara Streisand, Tony Bennett, Robert DeNiro, Michael Buble, Don Rickles, Josh Groban, Jacklyn Smith, Phyllis George, Calvin Klein, Jerry Seinfeld, James Gandolfini, Christie Brinkley, Jon Bon Jovi, Liza Minelli, Chris Noth, Tony Danza, Farrah Fawcett, Kate Hudson, Chevy Chase, Cheryl Ladd, and Patty LaBelle,  regularly enjoy arguably some of the finest Italian cuisine in the world.  Geno Vento, Owner of the Philadelphia Original Geno's Cheesesteak even flew in for the event to get tips on how to successfully serve food for 75 years.  Who knows, maybe they served Italian baby food in 1944 when “Patsy” Scognamillo opened the place and my parents took me along with them.

No one was detained or questioned last night for a bad performance at the Gerald W.Lynch Theater as Tony Danza lead the Police Athletic League's (PAL) 3rd Annual one-night-only showcase performance, 'Tony Danza & the Stars of Tomorrow,' It benefits PAL”S Teen Acting Program. The performance starred Tony with the talented young artists in the PAL program, and also had Tony doing some fantastic soft shoe with famed member of the Manhattan Rhythm Kings Hal Shane. Tony's friend singer/songwriter/pianist Peter Cincotti also took the stage and sang an original composition.

Do you want to have the winner of the People's Choice Award for favorite male entertainer come into your living room and become your good friend and delight you for an evening? Head over to Cafe Carlyle and spend an evening with Tony Danza and hang with him as he brings you back to the time when a night club performer did it all.

Entertainment royalty came out to see show biz royalty last night at Feinstein's/54 Below. Lorna Luft thoroughly enthralled a celebrity filled audience as she shared the music that was a part of her early years. The Beatles were very present in her song list and we learned that Lorna had a major crush on George Harrison. As Lorna related, “coming from a show biz family has it's perks”. She was able to meet them back stage after a concert she attended with her friend Leslie Bogart and her mother Lauren Bacall. Ms. Bacall warned the two youngsters that daughters of celebrities are not supposed to jump up and down and scream, consequently Lorna and Leslie were the only girls in the stadium quietly sitting with a stern look on their faces during The Beatle Concert!

The weekend started with Marilyn Maye and The Kravis Center Pops Orchestra Big Band conducted by Tedd Firth in a memorable concert by one of the most beloved singers of our generation. Marilyn Maye, arguably one of the finest vocalists ever to sing in a night club, concert hall, TV Studio or on a Broadway stage gave The Kravis Center Audience an evening of her artistry that will stay in their musical memory forever.

Jamie deRoy's Friar Membership and her long running Jamie deRoy & friends Variety Show are about the same age.  Jamie became a member in 1988 along with Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers and Brooke Shields.  Jamie brought this edition of the show to the Friars Club last night and the Frank Sinatra Dining Room was filled with Friars and Jamie's friends as they dined and were entertained by some of the best in the business. 

Beloved stage and screen star Tony Danza (TV's 'Taxi' & 'Who's The Boss'; Broadway's Honeymoon In Vegas) and his band made their first of 6 performances at Feinstein's/54 Below last night and BroadwayWorld was there. Tony Danza: Standards & Stories will play six performances only: July 26, 27, August 9, September 8 & 9 at 7pm and August 10 at 9:30pm.

The New York Pops Silent Auction Item listed catering and piano music for an elegant party of 20. The winning bidder got more than she bargained for as Music Director/Conductor of The Pops, Steven Reineke, and famed pianist Billy Stritch showed up and shared the piano bench with pianist Stephen Sorokoff.

The Broadway at Birdland Concert Series welcomed Jamie deRoy & friends for a star-studded cabaret show last night and BroadwayWorld was there.

After a sold-out Feinstein's/54 Below debut, Lorna Luft returned to the club, and BroadwayWorld attended her final performance of the run. Below, look at photos from the performance!

Erich Bergen returned to Birdland last night for a two-night engagement in the Broadway at Birdland Series and BroadwayWorld was there.  Check out the photos below! 

For her annual Thanksgiving week show at 54 Below, Callaway crafted an exciting world premiere night of music centered on the songs of women songwriters who have inspired her. BroadwayWorld was there along with Michael Feinstein, Ginny Mancinni, Arlene Dahl, Clint Holmes, Marc Cherry and others. Billie Holiday's 'God Bless the Child,' Carole King's 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow?', and Dorothy Field's 'The Way You Look Tonight' are among the gems carefully chosen by he Platinum-selling composer and lyricist. Classics by Peggy Lee, Joni Mitchell, and Cynthia Weil, as well as songs by friends Michelle Brourman and Amanda McBroom reflect the unique female perspective on love, life, and the pursuit of happiness.

Haley Swindal brought her new show 'Pay to Win' to Feinstein's/54 Below last night - and BroadwyWorld was onhand to capture the evening!