Dana Lorge News

ScoBar Entertainment and Iridium NYC have announced that they will present a one-night-only Tribute to Ervin Drake on Tuesday, September 17th at 8pm. The evening will celebrate the life and music of legendary 94-year-old American songwriter whose works include Great American Songbook standards such as "It Was A Very Good Year," which was popularized by Frank Sinatra.

ScoBar Entertainment will present A TRIBUTE TO ERVIN DRAKE, one night only, Tuesday, September 17th at 8pm. The evening will celebrate the music & life of legendary American songwriter Ervin Drake, whose works include "I Believe," "Good Morning Heartache," "It Was A Very Good Year," "Tico-Tico," "Perdido," "Now I Have Everything," "A Room without Windows," "AL DI LA," & "Quando Quando," to name a few.

Hosted by Good Day New York's Rosanna Scotto, Top Comediennes performed at The Friars Club in NYC to Benefit Women Survivors of the Rwandan Genocide. The SHOP-SHMOOZE-LAUGH event benefited the fair-trade jewelry initiative of SAME SKY (founder Francine LeFrak), an organization that offers employment to women living with HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Last night, August 13th at 8 & 10pm, ScoBar Entertainment presented A TRIBUTE TO Julie Wilson at Iridium NYC. Performers included Eric Comstock, Baby Jane Dexter, Natalie Douglas, Antonio Edwards, Eric Engelhardt, Barbara Fasano, Terese Genecco, Jeff Harnar, Mark Hartman, Tanya Holt, Sue Matsuki , Marissa Mulder, Christine Pedi, Colm Reilly, Julie Reyburn, Ricky Ritzel, KT Sullivan, Stacy Sullivan, Grace Wall, Lennie Watts & Carol Woods. Accompanying the performers was The Barry Levitt Trio, Barry Levitt on piano, Dick Sarpola on bass & Ray Marchica on drums. Check ot photos from the special event below!

Unless the host is particularly warm, funny, and charismatic (think Dana Lorge and her new monthly vehicle at the Metropolitan Room) or the show is a way to champion a good cause (like Joseph Macchia's Cabaret Cares events), for the most part cabaret variety shows are clunky affairs which can be too long, too rambling, give too much time to average talent or not enough of a showcase to outstanding talent. I ran into one of the rare exceptions last month (April 23) in the form of the The Concerts for City Greens' First Annual Gala & 2012 Songwriting Contest Finale, a variety show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre that served as a fund raiser for the launch of a new non-profit called Music and Art for Green which will incorporate Concerts for City Greens within its umbrella.

Help is on the Way Today, a 501c3 non-profit which assists children and youth living with HIV/AIDS, is announcing their annual Gala on May 19th at the Laurie Beechman Theater.In addition, founder Joseph Macchia is announcing a name change to the charity's Lifetime Achievement Award."It is with a bittersweet pleasure that we've renamed the Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of the late Ruth Kurtzman," says Macchia. "Ruth was a true lady and a kind and caring person who was a tireless supporter of the Cabaret Cares series, as well Help Is On The Way Today, MAC and Broadway Cares. She is someone I will never forget and her kind heart will live on in everyone she touched. I'm very happy to announce the 2013 Cabaret Cares Ruth Kurtzman Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Peter Leavy. Like Ruth, Peter is a true champion of the community, the publisher of Cabaret Scenes magazine - the world's only magazine dedicated to the art form - and a generous supporter of Cabaret Cares and its mission."

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.

NiCori Studios and Productions presents Shows Ta Go Ya! & Other Songs of Bobbie Horowitz at Stage 72 at the Triad today, March 3 at 3pm.

NiCori Studios and Productions presents Shows Ta Go Ya! & Other Songs of Bobbie Horowitz at Stage 72 at the Triad on Sunday, March 3 at 3pm.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs will present the 27th Annual MAC Awards on Thursday, March 21st, at B.B King Blues Club & Grill in New York City.

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!

2012 was indeed a very good year for the art of Cabaret in New York City. Here, BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Reviewer and Columnist Stephen Hanks offers up his exclusive 'Best New York Cabaret Performers of the Year' for 2012, plus some surprising honorable mentions. Let the debates begin!

The Actors Temple's third annual "Best of Broadway & Cabaret Salute The Actors' Temple" fundraiser took place at the shul on last night, November 26 at 6:45pm. BroadwayWorld brings you photo coverage from the big event below!

The Best of Broadway & Cabaret will come out in support of the Actors' Temple, (est. 1917) tonight, November 26, 2012 at 6:45 PM. The Third Annual Concert will take place at the Temple, 339 West 47th Street. This theater district historic landmark has been struggling to survive in recent years.

'Sandy Jordan's World of Jazz and Cabaret' is a kind of companion film to 'The Zen of Bennett,' a documentary about Tony Bennett by Unjoo Moon. Sandy Jordan -- a star of New York night clubs and cabaret for over three decades -- has focused her incredible experience and energy on a star-studded hour-long documentary film called 'Sandy Jordan's World of Jazz and Cabaret.' The world premiere is today, November 18 at 8 PM at Tribeca Cinemas. It is directed by David Capurso.

The Best of Broadway & Cabaret will come out in support of the Actors' Temple, (est. 1917) on Monday, November 26, 2012 at 6:45 PM. The Third Annual Concert will take place at the Temple, 339 West 47th Street. This theater district historic landmark has been struggling to survive in recent years.

The Best of Broadway & Cabaret will come out in support of the Actors' Temple, (est. 1917) on Monday, November 26, 2012 at 6:45 PM. The Third Annual Concert will take place at the Temple, 339 West 47th Street. This theater district historic landmark has been struggling to survive in recent years.

'Sandy Jordan's World of Jazz and Cabaret' is a kind of companion film to 'The Zen of Bennett,' a documentary about Tony Bennett by Unjoo Moon. Sandy Jordan -- a star of New York night clubs and cabaret for over three decades -- has focused her incredible experience and energy on a star-studded hour-long documentary film called 'Sandy Jordan's World of Jazz and Cabaret.' The world premiere is November 18 at 8 PM at Tribeca Cinemas. It is directed by David Capurso.

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.

If you're looking for some cool cabaret/nightclub shows over the next month, try these on for size: Darren Williams (July 26) and Lauren Robert (August 7) are ready to rock Iridium, while two lovely ladies of cabaret will be featured at Feinstein's: Karen Oberlin (July 24-28) and Raissa Katona Bennett (August 21-25).