Since I attended more than 50 shows over the past eight months (a few more than once)--the large majority of which were reviewed on these web pages—I felt I had more than enough cabaret show inventory to present my second-annual “Mid-Year Cabaret Review” citing the “20 Best Cabaret Shows and Performances” for the first half of 2014. Since the eligibility period for 2014 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Award consideration begins with shows staged since last November (late October if it was the first of a run), I've included a few of those late 2013 shows in this group. And with the announcement of the BWW Award nominees just four months away, I've offered some projections on the Award categories for which these shows very well might receive consideration.
On Monday, June 16, 2014 at 7:00 PM, Randie Levine-Miller will present and host Showstopper Divas --'The Broadway Songbook' at Stage 72/Triad (158 West 72nd Street) to benefit The National Multiple Sclerosis Society*. Critically acclaimed theater and cabaret 'divas', Deborah Grausman, Corinna Sowers-Adler, Christianne Tisdale and Deborah Tranelli will star.
54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Corinna Sowers-Adler in "By Request - New York Moments" on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 9:30pm. In her 54 BELOW debut, Corinna continues the "By Request" series with a very special show including songs and the memories and special moments behind why that song has been inspirational or life changing, all containing the theme of New York City.
Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:
54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Corinna Sowers-Adler in "By Request - New York Moments" on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 9:30pm. In her 54 BELOW debut, Corinna continues the "By Request" series with a very special show including songs and the memories and special moments behind why that song has been inspirational or life changing, all containing the theme of New York City.
This April, May and June at 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.
54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Corinna Sowers-Adler in 'By Request - New York Moments' on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 9:30pm. In her 54 BELOW debut, Corinna continues the 'By Request' series with a very special show including songs and the memories and special moments behind why that song has been inspirational or life changing, all containing the theme of New York City.
NiCori Studios and Productions in association with Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, 'Music at the Mansion', on Sunday, March 23, at 3pm. Performers include Fran Leonardis, Christian Fabian and Lauren Fox & Ritt Henn. The featured performer in the 'Young Musician Moment' will be Elizabeth Nucci.
This March, April and May at 54 BELOW presents a lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.
NiCori Studios and Productions in association with Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, 'Music at the Mansion', on Sunday, February 23, at 3pm. Performers include Jeff Macauley, The Ted and Lo Show and Rosemary Loar. The featured performer in the 'Young Musician Moment' will be Julia Maskin.
With her most recent show at Stage 72, 'Let Me Sing and I'm Happy,' the New York cabaret community should realize that talented singer Corinna Sowers-Adler has indeed “catapulted” herself into the elite group of young performers and landed very comfortably in the mix.
NiCori Studios and Productions in association with Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, 'Music at the Mansion', on Sunday, August 25, at 3pm. Performers include Bloomfield native Mark Szep, members of 4th Wall Theatre Company, and Marissa Mulder. The featured performer in the 'Young Musician Moment' will be Jarred Lee.
The Major League Baseball All-Star break (the game is on Tuesday night) has always been considered the midpoint of the season and as a lifelong fan I've always enjoyed reading those analyses from writers that assess the best performances of the first half. Since July is also the middle of the calendar year, I thought it might be fun to present a cabaret equivalent of a baseball midseason report. So . . . (drum roll) . . . presenting the Best (and My Favorite) 20 New York Cabaret Shows and Performances of (the first half) of 2013.
NiCori Studios and Productions in association with Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, 'Music at the Mansion', today, May 19, at 3pm. Performers include Jennie Litt & David Alpher, Ilene Angel and 4th Wall Theatre. The featured performer in the 'Young Musician Moment' will be Kevin Bergen.
NiCori Studios and Productions in association with Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, 'Music at the Mansion', on Sunday, May 19, at 3pm. Performers include Jennie Litt & David Alpher, Ilene Angel and 4th Wall Theatre. The featured performer in the 'Young Musician Moment' will be Kevin Bergen.
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.'
When Dana Lorge's run as a Variety Show hosted ended at the Iguana Restaurant last July-and after winning two 2012 MAC Awards for 'Best Variety Show' and 'Best Variety Show Host'-who knew she'd be reduced to being a cabaret audience member searching for a new showcase? But a Metropolitan Room Mentch has come to the rescue in the form of Bernie Furshpan (the Met Room's General Partner and Manager), who has provided Dana with a monthly forum for her unique brand of cabaret shtick beginning Friday, April 5 at 7-8:15 pm. While the new show won't be the two-hour plus extravaganza of yore featuring more than a dozen performers, Dana's new 'Variety Show' promises to feature a solid group of experienced and well-known cabaret and musical theater pros. For the April 5 opener, the Lorge Lineup features Richard Skipper, her former Award-winning Co-host from the Iguana days; film and stage actor Jim Brochu (of Zero Mostel One-Man Show fame), singers LaTanya Hall (from the CBS show 'Blue Bloods) and Peggy Herman Klat, Rick Crom (Creator of Newsical the Musical), and Mr. Furshpan, who will show off his stand-up comedy chops. But the real star of the show will always be the hilarious, unpredictable, darling Dana, who will both crack you up with her infectious humor and surprise you with her engaging singing performances.
If you haven't had the chance to catch up on your theater news, look no further than today's recap of all things theater - exclusive features, interviews, reviews and more! - around the Broadway World for the week of March 18!
By the last August, I had fallen so far behind on writing reviews of cabaret shows from the spring and early summer (I guess it's a positive when there are more performers and shows in New York than days in the week) that I decided to play catch up by combining a bunch of critiques into one big column. I hadn't planned on doing that again, but this fall there were so many shows that once again I couldn't keep up. but at least I've beaten my self-imposed deadline New Year's Eve deadline of posting these reviews of 12 shows, all staged between September-December by lovely, attractive women (okay, so one is a gender-bender) of varying talents and levels on the cabaret depth chart, from established stars to MAC and Bistro Award-winners to comeback 'kids' to interesting beginners and occasional performers who are in the game to follow their bliss. Whether their performances were rave-worthy, earning of qualified praise, or not quite up to snuff, they all deserve kudos for taking the plunge.
Singer Corinna Sowers-Adler returned to the Metropolitan Room for an encore engagement of her show 'By Request'. BroadwayWorld brings you coverage of the event below!
