Barbara Cook News

New York's renowned musical organization, The Mabel Mercer Foundation, announced today that it will return to the Midwest this spring for the first time since 2006 to present its fourth 'Chicago Cabaret Convention.'

The nightclub singer Marta Sanders follows her memorable Cabaret Convention appearance (she closed the Stephen Sondheim tribute with a soul-bearing 'I'm Still Here') with an encore of her latest show, 'Follow Me,' in February. The four-week major engagement performs at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, today February 2; Saturday February 11; Today February 16, and Saturday February 25, all at 7pm.

New Dramatists, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premier playwright development laboratory, will honor 10-time Tony Award-winning producer Daryl Roth and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel with their 2017 Distinguished Achievement Awards at its 68th Annual Spring Luncheon tribute.

BroadwayWorld has teamed up with renowned caricature artist Ken Fallin, a life-long theater enthusiast, who has drawn many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Below, check out his latest illustration, featuring composer Andrew Lippa.

Broadway's Matthew Scott headlines a one-night-only show at THE BLACK BOX, downtown Franklin's theater, music and event venue. The January 21 concert highlights a full month of music series entertainment to kick off the New Year.  A suburban hub for great music, THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 West Central Street.

BroadwayWorld has teamed up with renowned caricature artist Ken Fallin, a life-long theater enthusiast, who has drawn many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Below, check out his latest illustration, featuring Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh in THE PRESENT.

As previously announced, Fran Drescher - the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress and noted Barbra Streisand fan - will serve as celebrity host when Maestro Luke Frazier and The American Pops Orchestra present Don't Rain on My Parade: 75 Years of Barbra Streisand tonight, January 13, 2017 at 8:00 PM.

Known for her powerful and riveting vocals, Broadway's Darling N'Kenge (Motown: The Musical and Sondheim and Sondheim) will grace the stage in a Broadway Diva's collaboration with Naples Philharmonic, under the direction of conductor, Jack Everly for six concerts. Performances at the Francis Pew Hayes Hall in Artis-Naples will be Today January 10-13th at 8:00PM and January 14th at 2:00PM and 8:00PM located at 5833 Pelican Bay Boulevard Naples, FL 34108.

Broadway's Matthew Scott performs a one-night-only show at THE BLACK BOX, downtown Franklin's theater, music and event venue, on Saturday, January 21. Beginning at 8 p.m., the event is the second in THE BLACK BOX Broadway Series, sponsored by Childs Engineering. The series, new this season, kicked off in November with Tony Award winner Beth Leavel.  

Celebrated nightclub singer Marta Sanders returns to The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, in "Follow Me," her new show that was seen in a short run last year.  With Mark Nadler directing, the upcoming four-week major engagement of "Follow Me" performs on Thursday February 2; Saturday February 11; Thursday February 16, and Saturday February 25, all at 7pm.

Known for her powerful and riveting vocals, Broadway's Darling N'Kenge (Motown: The Musical and Sondheim and Sondheim) will grace the stage in a Broadway Diva's collaboration with Naples Philharmonic, under the direction of conductor, Jack Everly for six concerts. Performances at the Francis Pew Hayes Hall in Artis-Naples will be Tuesday January 10-13th at 8:00PM and January 14th at 2:00PM and 8:00PM located at 5833 Pelican Bay Boulevard Naples, FL 34108.

BroadwayWorld has teamed up with renowned caricature artist Ken Fallin, a life-long theater enthusiast, who has drawn many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Below, check out his latest illustration, featuring Nathan Lane, John Goodman, Robert Morse, John Slattery, and Holland Taylor in THE FRONT PAGE.

The LEXington Theatre Company has announced that Laura Bell Bundy (TONY Nominee - Legally Blonde, Hairspray, Television's Fuller House, Anger Management), Leslie Kritzer (Something Rotten, A Catered Affair, Legally Blonde, Hairspray), Krysta Rodriguez (Spring Awakening, The Addams Family, First Date, Television's Smash) and Matthew Scott (An American in Paris, Jersey Boys, A Catered Affair, Sondheim on Sondheim) will be joining this year's line-up of Broadway Vets for "Concert With The Stars," on Sunday, January 8 at 3:00pm, at The Lexington Opera House (Lexington, KY.)

I will end my Twelve Days of Christmas clips with this performance by one of our newest Broadway stars, Cynthia Erivo. Thanks to YouTube, I was blown away by her extraordinary gifts long before she made her Broadway debut in Color Purple. Her welcome addition to the local scene has been like a shot of adrenaline - the word "powerhouse" can only scratch the surface when describing Cynthia. We shared a memorable evening together in the audience of a Barbra Streisand concert, where her entrance caused almost as much happy chaos as did Ms. Streisand's! Cynthia Erivo is the real deal, and this clip shows you why. The miracle of her singing voice is only matched by her laser-beam focus, and this simple performance of one of the most reverent songs ever written seems to be a prayer for a world gone slightly mad. I wish you all a happy holiday. Whatever you celebrate, may it be joyous and filled with music, hope and laughter!

This choice will not surprise one person who has ever met me. Here's the history: I grew up an only child. I unsuccessfully begged my mother for a brother or sister until she was well into her 80's. I discovered the Osmond Brothers during their "One Bad Apple" phase, which led me into a few unfortunate years of bell-sleeved shirts and fringed vests. The Osmonds' obvious joy at singing together, to say nothing of their vast musical talents, would bring tears to my eyes as I watched them perform. I knew that Andy Williams had discovered the brothers, and gave them their debut on his TV show. However, I was unaware that Andy and his brothers were the original clean-cut singing siblings…that is until I saw this production number on an Andy Williams Christmas special! Boy, were my eyes…and ears…opened! This performance of "Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells" features the two bro-acts harmonizing their heads off. The irony is that Kay Thompson discovered the Williams Brothers (crooning background vocals at MGM), and Andy discovered the Osmond Brothers (singing barbershop quartet at Disneyland). Little did I know back then, that I would spend three years of my life performing as one-fourth of the Williams Brothers, along with Liza Minnelli as Kay Thompson, in what would become the Tony-winning "Liza's At The Palace." During that period, I enjoyed a phoner with Andy and cavorted with Dick Williams (whom I played), and am happy to call Donny Osmond a pal. In a funny kind of way, I found my long-awaited brothers.

After an impressive career, jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi was hired to score "A Charlie Brown Christmas," followed by seventeen other Peanuts television specials, until his untimely death in 1976. Can you even imagine those animated features with any other soundtrack? Guaraldi and his trio gave sophisticated heart and depth to what could have been just another forgettable cartoon score. At least one night every Christmas season, I walk the cold sidewalks of New York City, headphones on, and Guaraldi playing. I can be the star of my own movie…enjoying my own slightly melancholy, wistful scene while I reminisce about another year spent in the city I adore.

I'm pretty sure there's nothing Leslie Odom, Jr. can't do. This recording of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" perfectly shows off his good taste, style and that exemplary voice. The song is, of course, an American classic, with lyrics by Kim Gannon and a melody by Walter Kent. Gannon wrote it from the point of a World War II soldier stationed overseas, telling his family that he'll be home for the holidays, and to prepare the Christmas fun. Of course, the last lyric is one of the most melancholy ever written - "I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams." When the song was first pitched to folks in the music business, it was roundly refused, since it all seemed incredibly sad. But Bing Crosby smartly threw caution to the wind and recorded the tune, with immense success. Interestingly, after the lyricist's death, he left the royalty rights to the American Heart Association, which has benefitted greatly ever since.

Broadway's Matthew Scott headlines a one-night-only show at THE BLACK BOX, downtown Franklin's theater, music and event venue. The January 21 concert highlights a full month of music series entertainment to kick off the New Year.  A suburban hub for great music, THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 West Central Street.

Fran Drescher - the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress and noted Barbra Streisand fan - will serve as celebrity host when Maestro Luke Frazier and The American Pops Orchestra present Don't Rain on My Parade: 75 Years of Barbra Streisand on Friday, January 13, 2017 at 8:00 PM.

Love it or hate it, this souped-up arrangement of 'Jingle Bells?' has become an iconic recording by the one and only Barbra Streisand. Of course, it's from her first Christmas album, which came out in 1967, but I was introduced to it in 1970 when it was released on a special promo album for Maxwell House coffee, along with cuts by Doris Day and (yes) Jim Nabors. I thought it was funny then, and I think it's funny now. I especially love the Brooklyn-ese reading of the word 'upsot.' It was all very sophisticated and slightly oddball to the young Jimmy Caruso, and takes me right back to Wexford, Pennsylvania, where I'd listen over and over on my little record player. (Google that word, kids.)