Bobby Short News

Legendary jazz singer and lyricist Jon Hendricks, dubbed 'The Poet Laureate of Jazz,' celebrated jazz vocalist and actress Annie Ross, and acclaimed jazz singer Janis Siegel are among the artists who will be honored at the 31st Annual Bistro Awards gala tonight, March 8 at 6:30 pm at the Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd St. As is the Bistro Awards tradition, the evening will feature performances by the winners.

Some years ago when Tony Award-winning actress (for For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf (Ntozake Shange) and playwright Trezanna Beverley's voice coach suggested she listen to Mabel Mercer, the artist had not heard of the nightclub and cabaret singing icon. A trip to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Harlem) began a protracted period of research into Mercer's life and work. Beverley found she not only respected and admired her subject, but felt a kinship both in spirit and color. Inspired, she decided to write her own theatrical script about Mercer's life and art with the goal of playing her in a one-woman show. Her dream has been realized with Mabel Madness, a play with music that opened this week at Urban Stages and runs until March 20.

The brainchild of Metropolitan Room managing partner Bernie Furshpan, his General Manager Joseph Macchia, and Cabaret Scenes Magazine Publisher Peter Leavy, New York's first International Cabaret Festival (February 17-21) debuted Wednesday night at the Met Room with performances and inductions into the newly established Cabaret Hall of Fame (an actual location for Hall and its memorabilia to be determined at a later date). Clubs hosting this year's festival include The Metropolitan Room, Don't Tell Mama, The Duplex, Feinstein's/54 Below, Iridium, Joe's Pub, and Stage 72 (formerly The Triad).

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present Broadway and television actress Linda Lavin for two very special concerts on the historic stage this past week. The show, wryly entitled 'My First Farewell Concert,' is Lavin's personal story told in songs she loves. She performed favorites from the Great American/Brazilian/Yiddish Songbooks, with Billy Stritch at the piano, Steve Bakunas on drums, Ron Affif on guitar, Tom Hubbard on bass, and special guest Aaron Weinstein on violin. Songs included were 'You've Got Possibilities,' 'No More Blues,' and a medley of songs recorded by the late, great Bobby Short. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

Legendary jazz singer and lyricist Jon Hendricks, dubbed 'The Poet Laureate of Jazz,' celebrated jazz vocalist and actress Annie Ross, and acclaimed jazz singer Janis Siegel are among the artists who will be honored at the 31st Annual Bistro Awards gala on Tuesday, March 8 at 6:30 pm at the Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd St. As is the Bistro Awards tradition, the evening will feature performances by the winners; for the full list, see below!

Linda Lavin, currently starring in OUR MOTHER'S BRIEF AFFAIR on Broadway, just brought a new solo show to Birdland- 'My First Farewell Concert'. BroadwayWorld was on hand fo rthe special night and you can check out photos below!

Steve Tyrell is in the midst of his eighth engagement in the The Colony Hotel's Royal Room in Palm Beach Florida in his show which celebrates the music of Frank Sinatra, and BroadwayWorld was there last night. Check out the photos below.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Brian Gallagher & Friends; Ben Vereen at 54 Below; New Musicals at 54: An Americain Boy by Amanda Green & Richard Thomas; Elizabeth A. Davis at 54 Below; and Linda Lavin in 'My First Farewell Concert.'

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its upcoming performances for February 1-7, 2016, featuring the Monterey Jazz All-Stars, Linda Lavin, Barbara Carroll, and more. Scroll down for details!

Musician, actress and producer Rita Wilson makes her return to Cafe Carlyle in a two-week engagement, February 23-March 5, 2016.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its February 2016 lineup, featuring Jane Monheit, Monterey Jazz Allstars, Nicolas King, The Birdland Big Band, Showbiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, John Pizzarelli Quartet, Birdland Jazz Party, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more. Scroll down for details!

Following a sold-out engagement in April 2015, Feinstein's at the Nikko welcomes back Grammy Award-winning vocalist, Steve Tyrell.

Following a sold-out engagement in April 2015, Feinstein's at the Nikko welcomes back Grammy Award-winning vocalist, Steve Tyrell, for four performances only: Thursday, March 10 (8 p.m.); Friday, March 11 (8 p.m.); Saturday, March 12 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, March 13 (3 p.m.).

The number-one male jazz singer in the home of the Alamo will return to the Big Apple the first week of the New Year for his fourth headline appearance at the popular Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd Street.

Birdland Jazz Club has just announced its January 2016 schedule, featuring Stacey Kent, Jeff Lorber Fusion, The Birdland Big Band, Musette Explosion, Showbiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, Mack Avenue Superband, Birdland Jazz Party, Jim Caruso's Cast Party and more. Scroll down for details!

New Musicals at 54 is a series presented by Feinstein's/ 54 Below Programming Director Jennifer Ashley Tepper. Some of the 10 new and diverse musicals by a selection of today's most talented writers have had out-of-town productions, some have had workshops... now's your chance to be first to see them in NYC! Join us at New Musicals at 54 for one-night-only concerts celebrating each new show with songs, behind-the-scenes stories, and all-star casts!

The number-one male jazz singer in the home of the Alamo will return to the Big Apple the first week of the New Year for his fourth headline appearance at the popular Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd Street.

Birdland Jazz Club has just announced its January 2016 schedule, featuring Stacey Kent, Jeff Lorber Fusion, The Birdland Big Band, Musette Explosion, Showbiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, Mack Avenue Superband, Birdland Jazz Party, Jim Caruso's Cast Party and more. Scroll down for details!

Last night Cafe Carlyle welcomed back GRAMMY Award-winner Steve Tyrell for a four-week engagement and BroadwayWorld was there for opening night. The renowned singer returns with a new show, One More For The Road, featuring a full set of Sinatra favorites in celebration of Ol' Blue Eyes' 100th birthday. It's a fitting tribute since it was actually a Sinatra song, 'The Way You Look Tonight,' that Tyrell sang in the 1991 movie, Father of the Bride, which launched his career as a singer. Years later, the Sinatra family handpicked Tyrell to perform 'Fly Me To The Moon' at the Hollywood Bowl, with Quincy Jones conducting the orchestra, when the Chairman was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2005. Tyrell's ties to the Sinatra family remain tight as he was once again asked to host a three-hour celebration on Siriusly Sinatra on Frank's actual birthday, December 12. He will be live from Patsy's for Sirius XM radio, just as he did in 2014.

Cafe Carlyle is pleased to welcome back acclaimed husband-and-wife duo John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey for a four-week engagement, tonight, November 3, through November 28.