Two-Time Tony Nominee, Martin Vidnovic (Oklahoma, Baby, etc.) will join Ali Stroker, who first rose to fame in The Glee Project on TV, and then upped the ante when she graduated into Glee. Also joining the cast are Glee Project Star Dani Shay, famous folk singer/songwriter Christine Lavin, Broadway Rising Star Dominque Solano, and visiting Australian star Catherine Alcorn. They will all appear in the next Broadway Ballyhoo on Wednesday, Sept. 11th at 10:30 PM at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.
One of the biggest downers perpetrated by American culture is the characterization of Labor Day weekend as the 'unofficial end of summer.' But given what has passed for cabaret entertainment-at least the shows I was able to attend--since the 'unofficial start of summer' on Memorial Day weekend, the end of summer can't come soon enough. But my dismay over the hours lost watching average shows this season was tempered a bit by the pride and joy I felt watching the June performances of three strikingly attractive and talented 30ish brunettes with powerhouse voices-- Jackie Kristel, Karen Gross and Jodi Beck, who all staged entertaining shows as spring was turning to summer.
The 3 Tenors, Bill Brooks, Edd Clark, and Stephen Tharp are back, and expanding the boundaries of the American Songbook. For one night only, the tenors are celebrating the songs of American composers from Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil to Ned Rorem, from Christine Lavin to Samuel Barber and Ernest Gold, current composers, Paul Stephan and David Cisco, and throwing in just a little dash of Charles Ives.
Scott Siegel's Broadway Ballyhoo jumps into high gear this Wednesday, July 31 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. In just its second week, this ever-changing musical revue will feature a wildly eclectic, star-studded cast. If you want variety in your variety show, you'll find it this Wednesday night with performances by nightlife legend STEVE ROSS, country comic singer/composer CHRISTINE LAVIN, Broadway star KELLI RABKE (Narrator in the Broadway revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), up & coming musical comedy star Alex Goley (Standby at NYMF), plus a special appearance by four high-flying members of the hit musical STORYVILLE (York Theatre), among them NATASHA YVETTE WILLIAMS (Sophia in The Color Purple, DAMEKA HAYES (2x Audelco Award winner), MICHAEL JAMES LEONARD, and KYLE ROBERT CARTER!
Symphony Space, New York's home for innovative and diverse cultural programming on the Upper West Side, celebrates its 35th season of Music programs in 2013-14 with a stellar array of artists in imaginative, thought-provoking presentations. Curated by Artistic Director Laura Kaminsky, the offerings range from marathon celebrations to intimate recitals, encompassing a rich variety of musical styles. Highlights include a visit from Krzysztof Penderecki, October 25; the fifth THE MUSIC OF NOW MARATHON, with the dream-inspired theme of 'REM: Rapid Ear Movement,' February 1; and appearances by Dar Williams, Tom Paxton, Christine Lavin, and other icons of folk/acoustic music. Capping the season is SLEEPING AROUND, a multidisciplinary festival celebrating the culture, history, art, scene, and scandal of New York's most famous hotels, highlighted by WALL TO WALL SLEEPING AROUND on May 3.
The event should have been titled '520 Mondays.' On Monday, July 1, Birdland celebrated the tenth anniversary of 'Jim Caruso's Cast Party,' the unique and very extreme weekly open mic. Gianni Valenti, the owner of the historic music room, honored host Caruso with a Seth Walters portrait on the wall, usually reserved for jazz icons. (Caruso quipped, 'Somewhere, Charlie Parker is very uncomfortable.')
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).
Catch the new episode of Dave's Gone By (#425 - Schlocks & Bonds) - LIVE, this Saturday, 6/1, 10am-1pm(MT) streaming on UNC Radio (www.uncradio.com). Featuring: Rabbi Sol Solomon chats with veteran rocker Gary U.S. Bonds. Plus: Inside Broadway, Saturday Segue (Jersey), Bob Dylan - Sooner & Later (Bonds), and more!
The cast and creators of the Tony nominated musical Hands On A Hardbody were cheered and celebrated when they performed at Birdland on Monday night during the weekly Jim Caruso's Cast Party open mic extravaganza. Co-writer Amanda Green (Tony-nominated for her Hardbody work, as well as Bring It On), Tony nominee Keala Settle, as well as Kathleen Monteleone, Jim Newman, and Jay Armstrong Johnson all sang from the show, guaranteeing some future record sales just from the few hundred folks enjoying Cast Party. BroadwayWorld has photos from the concert below!
Catch the new episode of Dave's Gone By (#422 -Watch on the Rein) - LIVE, tomorrow, Saturday, May 11, 10am-1pm (MT) streaming on UNC Radio (www.uncradio.com). The episode will feature Rabbi Sol Solomon chatting with comedy legend Carl Reiner.
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.'
It was one of the most love-filled, musically-thrilling birthday parties ever, when the folks at Jim Caruso's Cast Party celebrated the 85th Birthday of the most energetic, vocally dazzling, swinging nightclub divas on Earth, Marvelous Marilyn Maye. Scroll below for photos from the concert!
Catch the new episode of Dave's Gone By (#407 -Circle Gets the Square) - LIVE, today, January 12, 10am-1pm (MT) streaming on UNC Radio (www.uncradio.com).
Catch the newest episode of Dave's Gone By, which aired on Saturday, November 10, on UNC Radio (www.uncradio.com). Today's (November 24th) guests include actor Rick Lenz.
Kirkland Performance Center's popular Old-Time Holiday Show returns with four performances December 14 through 16 for families seeking traditional holiday entertainment; remaining performances in the post-Thanksgiving KPC line-up fall in the very UN-traditional category. Shows featuring jazz, soul, indie, folk, comedy and even ninja acrobatics keep holiday audiences entertained from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
BROADWAY BALLYHOO has announced its cast for this Thursday, September 20th at 11 p.m. at Feinstein's at Loews Regency. This week's show stars Christine Lavin (famous songwriter/singer), Richard Rubin (Beauty & the Geek), Anna Bergman (concert and nightclub star), Tyler Maynard (Altar Boys, The Little Mermaid), Jennie Harney (Broadway Rising Star) and Dominique Solano (Discovery Star).
