In the coming weeks, 54 Below revisits some of our favorite Broadway productions with concert events celebrating beloved scores as well as reunions bringing together original company members.
As the days dwindled down to a precious few in 2014, a few cabaret goers and performers in what is affectionately but also self-mockingly called the “cabaret community” would sidle up and ask if I was planning my annual end-of-the year “Best Of” column, similar to the “Top 20 Bests and Favorites” piece over the first half of the year I posted back in early July. I would respond in the negative with very reasonable and believable excuses, but the truth is I didn't want to reveal my “Bests” of the year until the voting for the 2014 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards had ended. There's enough baggage and backstage whispering that comes with administering the BWW Awards, so I wasn't about to publish any opinions that might influence the vote while it was in process. I may be crazy but I'm not masochistic. But now all bets are off. You want lists? I'll give you lists.
Don't Tell Mama presents Scott Siegel's All-Star Fundraising Festival, January 13, 19, starringTom Wopat, Mary Testa, Christina Bianco, Barbara Walsh, Jason Gotay, Steve Ross, John Bucchino, Julie Gold, Sidney Myer, and more to be announced.
Don't Tell Mama presents Scott Siegel's All-Star Fundraising Festival, tonight, January 13 - 19, starring Karen Akers, Tom Wopat, Mary Testa, Christina Bianco, Barbara Walsh, Jason Gotay, Steve Ross, John Bucchino, Julie Gold, Sidney Myer, and more to be announced.
Don't Tell Mama presents Scott Siegel's All-Star Fundraising Festival, January 13, 19, starring Karen Akers, Tom Wopat, Mary Testa, Christina Bianco, Barbara Walsh, Jason Gotay, Steve Ross, John Bucchino, Julie Gold, Sidney Myer, and more to be announced.
Frances Albert (Frank) Sinatra (1915-1998) was arguably one of the most important vocalists of 20th century. The Hoboken, New Jersey native began as a boy singer with big band leaders Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, became a heartthrob to bobbysoxers, a headliner in nightclubs during their heyday, and was one of the best selling recording artists of all time. Sinatra's illusively relaxed phrasing was as unique as the quality of swing he made popular. This centennial year of his birth will be filled with tributes. 'You beat the rush,' Producer/Writer/Host Scott Siegel quipped from a podium last night during the variety tribute show The Sinatra Century at 54 Below.
If you've been a regular reader of this particular reviewer's musings, you know that every year there are long stretches of time where I just haven't been able to critique all the shows I've seen that deserve commentary. So I end up playing what they call in sports, 'Catch-up ball,' and post a mash up of belated reviews from past shows. It's kind of like a critic's version of the song 'Six Months Out of Every Year,' from Damn Yankees. Give or take a month or two, that's usually the time period during which I store unpublished reviews in my fevered brain and then unload them all in one seemingly endless column-like this one is going to be. If my cabaret-show reviewing days will be over (as chronicled here), I might as well go out with a bang-and relieve my procrastination guilt during holiday season. Now I can scratch one New Year's resolution off the list.
It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!
This January and February 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.
At The Laurie Beechman Theatre last Thursday night, the new dynamic duo of Carole J. Bufford and Eric Yves Garcia performed their fun holiday show, A Christmas Carole & New Year's Yves, to a full house of adoring family, friends, and fans. They were the very picture of the perfect holiday host and hostess.
Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!
Elton John. Carole King. Joni Mitchell. Carly Simon. Paul Simon. Stevie Wonder. They were six superstar singer/songwriters in a constellation of such stars during the early 1970s, who could be considered the composers of the 'New Great American Songbook. Tonight, December 13 at 7 pm, as part of its annual 12-day 'Winter Rhythms' Festival, Urban Stages will present a star-studded variety show celebrating these great talents of the Golden Age of the Pop Singer/Songwriter.
Five years ago, Michael Feinstein approached ubiquitous producer Scott Siegel about 'coming up with a club act' for Feinstein's at the Loews Regency. The title 11 O'Clock Numbers at 11 O'Clock was Siegel's eureka moment. 'Broadway shows used to start at 8:30,' Siegel reminded us. 'The 11 o'clock number was meant to shake an audience awake in time to enjoy the end of a show.' Every Thursday night until its host venue sadly shuttered in January 2013, the series packed'm in for soaring voices and musical bonhomie. Since then, this particular collaboration of vocalists--Scott Coulter, Christina Bianco, and Carole J. Bufford--have twice appeared in the Broadway at Birdland series, but now the 11 O'Clock numbers are featured at 7 O'Clock. Not only does the concept hold up, but also its artists having matured, may even be better.
On Monday, December 8, the Broadway at Birdland concert series presented the return of 11 O'Clock Numbers at 7 O'Clock. The critically acclaimed musical revue that ran at Feinstein's at the Regency for an unprecedented 8 months, then performed two sold-out shows at Birdland, returns to Birdland with its original cast Christina Bianco, whose videos have been seen by more than 10 million people and who has become an international phenomenon.
oming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.
Elton John. Carole King. Joni Mitchell. Carly Simon. Paul Simon. Stevie Wonder. They were six superstar singer/songwriters in a constellation of such stars during the early 1970s, who could be considered the composers of the 'New Great American Songbook. On Saturday, December 13 at 7 pm, as part of its annual 12-day 'Winter Rhythms' Festival, Urban Stages will present a star-studded variety show celebrating these great talents of the Golden Age of the Pop Singer/Songwriter.