Collette Black News

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.

A few weeks before BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Reviewer and Columnist Stephen Hanks was about to stage the opening night of his debut solo cabaret show on May 31, a number of cabaret performers asked him if he was going to write about the experience in some way, with some even encouraging him to keep a diary. 'It might be really interesting to read how your perspective about cabaret performers and performing might have changed and how it might impact your reviews now that you're doing it yourself,' commented one singer. 'It was a fascinating notion and one that I had already thought about,' Hanks admits, 'but between a full time job, attending shows, writing reviews, taking vocal lessons, rehearsing, etc., finding the time and the energy to keep even a weekly diary was not in the cards.' Hanks certainly didn't think he'd forget even the little things that have gone into making his journey what he calls 'an amazing, fantasy-fulfilling, almost surreal experience.' On the eve of his last performance of his three-show run (over three weeks) at the Metropolitan Room of Beyond American Pie: The Don McLean Songbook, BroadwayWorld.com sat down with our lead cabaret reviewer to get his insights and perspective on what's it been like to be on the performer end of things.

A long, long time ago, Stephen Hanks heard Don McLean's second studio album "American Pie" (which was released in late 1971 and hit number one on the Billboard album chart), and became a life-long fan. Now a cabaret show reviewer/columnist for BroadwayWorld.com and Cabaret Scenes Magazine, Stephen has decided to experience how the other half lives and will take the performing leap with his debut solo cabaret show, Beyond American Pie: The Don McLean Songbook. On May 31, Hanks brought his debut show to the Metropolitan Room and you can check out photo coverage below!

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.

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.

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.

It's finally official! After almost two months of voting and the casting of more than 10,000 votes, we know the winners of the 20 categories in the first-ever BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards. The biggest of the winners are Ann Hampton Callaway, Jim Caruso and Colleen McHugh, each taking two awards. Other notable winners include: Marilyn Maye, Michael Feinstein, Betty Buckley, Ben Vereen, Jason Robert Brown, Jane Monheit, and Billy Stritch. Many of these fantastic entertainers will be performing at the BroadwayWorld.com 2012 Cabaret Awards Show, which will be held at the Metropolitan Room on February 21, 2013 from 6:30-9PM.

Voting is now underway for the Inaugural Cabaret Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January.

Wow, talk about a thumbs up! BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Reviewer/Columnist Stephen Hanks received such a positive reaction to his '2012 Best of New York Cabaret' piece posted yesterday that we thought it would be fun for him to add to his original 13 "honorable mentions" list. So, here for your holiday week reading pleasure is Part 2 of his "Best" and "Most" Honorable Mentions in Cabaret for 2012 with 21 new listings (because an even 20 would be trite). Enjoy!

Voting is now underway for the Inaugural Cabaret Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January.

Voting is now underway for the Inaugural Cabaret Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

Nobody's Business Trio will warm up the Metropolitan Room tonight, December 15, 2012, at 9:30 pm as they invite you "Home for the Holidays."

Voting is now underway for the Inaugural Cabaret Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

Voting is now underway for the Inaugural Cabaret Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the latest standings below.

Voting is now underway for the Inaugural Cabaret Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below!

Voting is now underway for the Inaugural Cabaret Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the standings here!

Nobody's Business Trio will warm up the Metropolitan Room on December 15, 2012, at 9:30 pm as they invite you "Home for the Holidays." Cold wintry weather can wait out by the curb while hearts inside alternately melt and dance. Vocalists Alecia Evans, Cadden Jones and Linda Sue Moshier comprise an entrancing unique ensemble that electrifies audiences with its astonishing range of harmonization. The group's unparalleled sound derives from an uncommon blend of an opera singer, a pop singer and a jazz singer.

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.

Nobody's Business Trio returns to Broadway's Iridium with two holiday shows on December 5, 2012 at 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm.