After a critically acclaimed one-year run at Feinstein's at Loew's Regency, ending only because the Regency closed for renovations, Scott Siegel's BROADWAY BALLYHOO re-launches at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, downstairs at the West Bank Cafe on Wednesday, July 24th at 10:30 PM (doors open at 10 PM).
As a big fan of cabaret shows that incorporate horn sections (as does Terese Genecco's monthly 'Little Big Band' efforts at Iridium or Carole J. Bufford's 2012 show, speakeasy., which featured Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks), I was more than a little jazzed to hear that compelling Streisand sound-alike Marieann Meringolo would be doing a package of her 'greatest cabaret hits' from past shows, but supported by a 7-piece band (including three horns--Richie Vitale on trumpet, Jonathan Kantor on tenor sax, and Danny Hall on trombone) for a gig spanning three weekend nights (May 31-June 2) that she and her director Eric Michael Gillett called 'Orchestrated.' In this case, 'orchestrated' unfortunately came across more like 'engineered' or 'manufactured.'
When you're a cabaret reviewer on the evening show prowl between Monday night and Saturday evening (although not every night, thank goodness), you'd like to think that the God of Cabaret would make Sunday a day of rest. No such luck, since the weekend allows clubs to book shows as early as brunch time. I learned this again early this month when I felt compelled to attend three shows starring charming female singers-Corinna Sowers-Adler at Stage 72 (the Triad), Eva Kantor at the Laurie Beechman, and Lianne Marie Dobbs at the Metropolitan Room. I didn't break my personal Sunday record of four shows in one day set in late January (yes, I should be committed), but there was a two-hour break in this mix so it still turned out to be an 8-hour cabaret extravaganza. (Thank you, oh God of Cabaret, for press comps!) While it would have been sweet for the musical marathon to have been a clean sweep of excellent shows, as Meat Loaf might croon, 'Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad.'
On Monday, April 8, the Broadway at Birdland concert series presented an encore performance of 'Eleven O'Clock Numbers,' a musical review that ran at Feinstein's at the Regency Hotel for eight months. Scroll down for photos from the show!
If the Broadway revival of a few years back demonstrated the deadly results that can occur when overthinking and underplaying a quality farce, the new Paper Mill mounting is a fast a furious example of Ken Ludwig's madcap Lend Me A Tenor done right. Director Don Stephenson doesn't throw any fancy curveballs with the material, but he and his perfectly cast company of Broadway vets nail every door slam and verbal ping-pong volley with hilarious aplomb.
"Carole J. Bufford: Body and Soul" is adding dates to its Metropolitan Room run, which was originally scheduled to end on Wednesday. Now running through March 15, "Body and Soul," plays three more times -- Wednesday February 27 at 7pm, Monday March 4 at 7pm, and Friday March 15 at 9:30pm.
The first-ever BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards show was held at the Metropolitan Room on Thursday, February 21. The evening featured a star-studded lineup, including Marilyn Maye, Ben Vereen, Jim Caruso, composer Jason Robert Brown and cabaret stars Billy Stritch, KT Sullivan, Karen Kohler, Colleen McHugh, Jane Monheit and more. Watch BroadwayWorld's exclusive highlights from the awards show below!
Performing legends Ben Vereen and Marilyn Maye, celebrated composer Jason Robert Brown, as well as cabaret stars Billy Stritch, KT Sullivan, Karen Kohler, Jim Caruso, and Colleen McHugh are among the winners of the first-ever BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards, and who will appear in a star-studded show at the Metropolitan Room today, February 21 (6:30-9 pm). These entertainers and many others became award-winners after almost two months of voting and the casting of an astounding 10,000 votes over 20 categories on the Cabaret section of the BroadwayWorld.com website. The 2012 BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards Show will be hosted by BroadwayWorld.com's lead Cabaret Reviewer/Columnist Stephen Hanks, while the show's Musical Director will be MAC Award-winning MD and composer Bill Zeffiro.
The Town Hall just presented the first of four concerts of their acclaimed series BROADWAY BY THE YEAR last night, February 11th. The season begins with 1937, a year that witnessed the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge, the sudden death of George Gershwin, the Hindenburg disaster and a world on the brink of war. BroadwayWorld was there for the concert and you can check out full coverage below!
The Town Hall presents the first of four concerts of their acclaimed series BROADWAY BY THE YEAR tonight, February 11th. The season begins with 1937, a year that witnessed the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge, the sudden death of George Gershwin, the Hindenburg disaster and a world on the brink of war.
Cast Party host Jim Caruso turned one year older this past week, so the Monday night 'extreme' open mic was awash in birthday balloons and party hats. The cast of the Broadway production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roofshowed up to celebrate their success, and their very own 'Brick,' Benjamin Walker, performed a very blue/bluesy 'New York State Of Mind.' Cast member Emily Bergl showed why she's one of the most popular ladies in cabaret when she sang her heart out, too. Scroll below for photos from the concert!
Acclaimed jazz recording star Jane Monheit is the latest 2012 BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Award winner to join a star-studded performing lineup featuring fellow winners Ben Vereen and Marilyn Maye, composer Jason Robert Brown, as well as cabaret stars Billy Stritch, KT Sullivan, Karen Kohler, Jim Caruso, and Colleen McHugh. All of these great entertainers and many other Award-winners will appear at the first-ever BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards show at the Metropolitan Room on Thursday, February 21 (6:30-9 pm). These entertainers and many others became award-winners after almost two months of voting and the casting of an astounding 10,000 votes over 20 categories on the Cabaret section of the BroadwayWorld.com website. The 2012 BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards Show will be hosted by BroadwayWorld.com's lead Cabaret Reviewer/Columnist Stephen Hanks, while the show's Musical Director will be MAC Award-winning MD and composer Bill Zeffiro.
There is no truth to the rumor that at tonight's closing performance of Evita, Ann Harada played Peron's Mistress and sang 'Why Would A Fellow Want A Girl Like Her?'
I don't know about other cabaret journalists, but I have to believe that a reviewer feels the biggest buzz (aside from when composing a really well-crafted show analysis) when he or she has been fortunate enough to observe a young performer's ascent into stardom. That's the way I felt last Wednesday night at the Metropolitan Room as I was watching Carole J. Bufford's new show, Body & Soul.
The Town Hall will present the first of four concerts of their acclaimed series BROADWAY BY THE YEAR on Monday, February 11th. The season begins with 1937, a year that witnessed the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge, the sudden death of George Gershwin, the Hindenburg disaster and a world on the brink of war.
Performing legends Ben Vereen and Marilyn Maye, celebrated composer Jason Robert Brown, as well as cabaret stars Billy Stritch, KT Sullivan, Karen Kohler, Jim Caruso, and Colleen McHugh are among the winners of the first-ever BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards, and who will appear in a star-studded show at the Metropolitan Room on Thursday, February 21 (6:30-9 pm). These entertainers and many others became award-winners after almost two months of voting and the casting of an astounding 10,000 votes over 20 categories on the Cabaret section of the BroadwayWorld.com website. The 2012 BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards Show will be hosted by BroadwayWorld.com's lead Cabaret Reviewer/Columnist Stephen Hanks, while the show's Musical Director will be MAC Award-winning MD and composer Bill Zeffiro.
When it comes to the number of award shows staged in a given season, the film, TV and recording industry no longer leave New York Cabaret in the stardust. Kicking off a 10-week period during which the Big Apple cabaret scene will now feature four award ceremonies (including the first-ever BroadwayWorld.com Awards on February 21, the 28th annual Bistro Awards on March 4, and the 27th annual MAC Awards on March 21), the 11th annual Nightlife Awards (voted on by a select group of cabaret and nightlife writers and critics) was staged at The Town Hall on January 14 and, for the most part, was a pleasantly entertaining event. Co-produced by Max Weintraub and nightlife impresario Scott Siegel (Broadway by the Year, 11 O'Clock Numbers at 11 O'Clock, Broadway Ballyhoo, et al), this year's show featured the usual mix of nightclub singing legends, budding cabaret stars, solid veterans of musical theater, outstanding jazz vocalists, stellar instrumentalists, and quirky comedians, almost all delivering the goods under the smooth direction of Scott Coulter.
Scott Siegel, in collaboration with Carole J. Bufford and musical director Ian Herman, presents Bufford in BODY AND SOUL at the Metropolitan Room, tonight, Jan 16-Feb 27, 2013.
Bill Charlap, Julie Halston, Jim Caruso, Mark Nadler, Lauren Fox, Marilyn Maye, Faith Prince, James Barbour, Rupert Holmes, Jane Monheit, Emily Bergl, Jessica Kirson, Kate McGarry, Jason Graae and Carole J. Bufford, all took part in the Nightlife Awards hosted by Multiple Emmy Award Winner Bruce Vilanch.
Scott Siegel, in collaboration with Carole J. Bufford and musical director Ian Herman, presents Bufford in BODY AND SOUL at the Metropolitan Room, Jan 16-Feb 27, 2013.
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