Colleen McHugh News

After receiving more than 3,000 nominations once BroadwayWorld.com announced it's first-ever New York Cabaret Awards in early October, BWW is now pleased to announce it's final nominations ballot in 20 categories. Now it's time for all you cabaret performers and fans to vote for the best singers, musicians and shows of the year. Voting will continue until December 31 and winners will be announced in early January.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs has announced a new annual show to be held each fall, called "MAC presents THEY WRITE THE SONGS." The inaugural show will be held Sunday, November 18th at 4pm at Baruch College's Engelman Recital Hall (Lexington Avenue at 25th Street).

On November 5, the Theatre at Saint Peters (Home of the York Theatre) Lexington Avenue at 54th Street presented the songs of Larry Kerchner ("Somewhere in Time") sung by some of today's most formidable singers: Hilary Kole, Laurel Masse, Kevin Spirtas, Stacy Sullivan, Jeff Harnar, Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano, Karen Oberlin, Sidney Myer, Raissa Katona Bennett, Jill O'Hara and a host of others. Check out photos from the event below!

Noted composer/lyricist/arranger and two-time Grammy Award nominee Larry Kerchner will be celebrated on Monday, November 5, 2012, at 7 PM at a special benefit performance of his musical works, titled Hidden Treasures: The Songs of Larry Kerchner, at The York Theatre (at St. Peter's), Lexington Avenue at 54th Street, in New York City. Produced by Sandi Durell, the musical evening will benefit The Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative and The Mabel Mercer Foundation.

There may have been 40 cabaret performers strutting their stuff this past week at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center, but the true star of the three-night extravaganza (October 17-19) was the late Donald Smith, the cabaret impresario and guru to the genre's luminaries, who died this past March at 79. Sponsored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, which Smith founded in 1985, this year's Convention featured numerous homages to Smith from the performers, many of whom had their career's supported and advanced with the help of the colorful and beloved cabaret producer and promoter. Early in Wednesday's Gala Opening Night show, the 'first lady of the American keyboard' Barbara Carroll called her friend Donald Smith 'the quintessential New Yorker,' and when Mark Nadler closed night one with George and Ira Gershwin's 'Our Love Is Here to Stay,' he said, 'Everybody who cares about the myths of these songs are in this room tonight.' Well, it was clear that anyone who cared about Donald Smith was at the Rose Theater for at least one of the three shows.

The annual New York City Cabaret Convention -- conceived, launched, and brilliantly sustained for the past 23 seasons by The Mabel Mercer Foundation --has honored many specific people and events across the past two decades. Legendary performers, composers, lyricists, and their anniversaries have all had their day and their due as the Convention grew in visibility, stature, and acclaim.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the acclaimed gay comedy/variety show will continue their fourth season tonight, October 18, 2012 at The Duplex in New York's West Village.

Singer-actress- cabaret performer Shana Farr will receive the 2012 Julie Wilson Award, presented annually by the Mabel Mercer Foundation 'to a cabaret singer who is a rising star,' at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater, Jazz At Lincoln Center, today, October 17, at 6 PM, the Opening Night of the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention, hosted by KT Sullivan, Artistic Director of the Mabel Mercer Foundation.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the acclaimed gay comedy/variety show will continue their fourth season on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at The Duplex in New York's West Village.

Singer-actress- cabaret performer Shana Farr will receive the 2012 Julie Wilson Award, presented annually by the Mabel Mercer Foundation 'to a cabaret singer who is a rising star,' at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater, Jazz At Lincoln Center, on Wednesday, October 17, at 6 PM, the Opening Night of the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention, hosted by KT Sullivan, Artistic Director of the Mabel Mercer Foundation.

Philip Seymour Hoffman, currently starring in 'The Master,' kicks off October's independent films on Reel 13 with his 2003 'Owning Mahowny,' also starring Minnie Driver and John Hurt.

Philip Seymour Hoffman, currently starring in 'The Master,' kicks off October's independent films on Reel 13 with his 2003 'Owning Mahowny,' also starring Minnie Driver and John Hurt.

Monday night's episode of Jim Caruso's Cast Party was like a modern-day "Ed Sullivan Show," thanks to a wide array of wonderful talent. From 11-year-old jazz trumpet player Geoff Gallante, who played and crooned "Bare Necessities," to "Beauty And The Geek" star Richard Rubin, the 'extreme open mic' entertained the packed house into the wee hours.

On Monday, August 27, cabaret star Jeff Harnar took to the Broadway at Birdland stage with a new show, "Does This Song Make Me Look Fat?" The packed house included theater and cabaret stars like Elaine Stritch, Lilliane Montevecchi, Julie Wilson, Holt McCallany, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Klea Blackhurst, Billy Stritch, Clint Holmes, Natalie Douglas, Colleen McHugh, Faith Prince, Mark Waldrop, fashion icon Carmen Dell'Orefice, writer Gay Talese and Best Little Whorehouse songwriter Carol Hall.

So many cabaret shows, so little time . . . to write reviews that is. During his almost two years as a cabaret reviewer, BroadwayWorld.com critic Stephen Hanks managed to do a pretty good job of writing critiques during a show's run or soon after the run ended. But this summer he just couldn't keep up. Finally, here are observations on 10 performances over the past two months.

Virginia's Signature Theatre is heating up once again this summer with their annual Sizzlin' Summer Cabaret, a series featuring a number of red hot acts from some of our favorite DC and Broadway performers from tonight, July 11th through July 28th.

Virginia's Signature Theatre is heating up once again this summer with their annual Sizzlin' Summer Cabaret, a series featuring a number of red hot acts from some of our favorite DC and Broadway performers from July 11th through July 28th.