Lyricist/librettist, Michael Colby, author of the memoir, 'The Algonquin Kid-Adventures Growing Up at New York's Legendary Hotel," celebrated his 65th Birthday on Sunday, Oct. 30th with a fundraiser/musical event for Child Find of America. 'Quel Fromage II' featured performers from Broadway and cabaret, including members of TADA! Youth Theater, who gave a 90 minute concert at TRIAD on the upper west side, singing songs from Colby's musicals. Scroll down for photos from the event!
On the penultimate night of the 2016 Cabaret Convention, presented by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, 11 fantastic cabaret artists---those who are celebrated in the form as well as those who are emerging alike---assembled to salute the late and legendary Sylvia Syms.
The evening, hosted by one of Syms' closest confidants, the critic Rex Reed, was brassy, delivered wonderful anecdotes, and was ultimately very moving musically, much like Syms herself. A black and white photograph of Syms, accurately capturing her maternal warmth, hung high inside the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center throughout the evening, which was formatted in two distinct segments. Act One was comprised of each performer taking to the stage alone to sing one of Syms' lesser known cabaret staples, or the songs which she "rescued" from obscurity such as those cut from golden age musicals. Act Two saw the performers again take on a Syms staple, but those which were more well-known hits and standards, displaying the full range of Syms' nightclub chops.
KT Sullivan made an astute call and turned over the creation of the third night of the Cabaret Convention to host Rex Reed. If there is anyone in the world who symbolizes music sophistication with a flawless comprehension of what good cabaret performance is about it is the elegant Mr. Reed. The Convention's final evening is yet to be heard (tonight), but last evening must have been one of the finest chapters in the long history of Donald Smith and the Mabel Mercer Foundation's twenty seven year old creation. The musicians, singers, and material, which honored the legendary cabaret performer Sylvia Syms truly represented the highest quality of cabaret performance. Rex also made an important artistic decision….he included himself as one of the vocalists. Rex Reed was a participating member of the golden age of New York life and his unique ability to verbally convey it's history honored Sylvia Syms, who as Rex pointed out at the start of the evening…..died the way she wanted, singing in a nightclub (Oak Room Algonquin) to a standing ovation. She collapsed into the arms of audience member Cy Coleman.
the 2016 Cabaret Convention returns to the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall, from Tuesday, October 18th through Friday, October 21st to present four different music programs. More than seventy singers are scheduled to appear, and the productions include specific tributes to the songs of Stephen Sondheim, the lyrics of Sheldon Harnick, the melodies of Charles Strouse, and the repertoire of legendary jazz artist Sylvia Syms.
The Triad will be the setting for librettist/lyricist Michael Colby's 65th Birthday bash on Sunday, October 30th at 7pm, presented by his colleague and pal, Sandi Durell, publisher and editor of entertainment site, TheaterPizzazz.com.
Urban Stages Founder and Artistic Director Frances Hill and Producer Peter Napolitano last night officially launched the 2015 'Winter Rhythms,' a 20-shows-in 11-days festival featuring more than 100 star cabaret performers and musicians. The opening night show was ANY WEDNESDAY SINGS AGAIN, an homage to the old cabaret series favorite, ANY WEDNESDAY, which was a popular CD release concert series from June 2005 (the first show featured Ann Hampton Callaway) to late 2011 and was staged at Tower Records and then Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Center.
Music at the Mansion Features Multi Award Winning Recording Artist, Sterns Mathews NiCori Studios and Productions in association with the Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, Music at the Mansion, on Sunday, November 29, at 3pm. Performers include Randie Levine-Miller, Frank Dain and Stearns Matthews.
Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director, Peter Napolitano, Producer/Director of Musical Programming) today announced the line-up for this year's Award-Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre. WINTER RHYTHMS 2015 marks the seventh year that Urban Stages has brought noted musical artists to its stage during the holiday period. The mission of Winter Rhythms is to bring the talents of known and unknown singers, musicians, lyricists and composers to the attention of the New York theater community while performing at Urban Stages Theater. Winner of the 2015 Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Series MAC Award, WINTER RHYTHMS benefits Urban Stages' acclaimed Outreach Program, which brings more than 200 free "arts in education" presentations to libraries and schools throughout the five boroughs. This year's event features 20 shows and more than 100 artists.
Urban Stages announces the line-up for this year's Award Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30thStreet, just East of 8th Avenue). Tickets are $25 per show and may be purchased by visiting urbanstages.org or by calling (866) 811-4111. For complete schedule information, visit urbanstages.org.
Hot House Magazine and the Metropolitan Room present 3rd Annual Fans Decision Jazz Awards Winners in which
Jazz Fans Voted For Their Favorite NYC Artists. Check out the winners below!
The 25th New York Cabaret Convention first night titled 'I Love A Piano' was held at Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center last night and BroadwayWorld was there backstage and out front!
After more than two decades of exciting contribution to the New York musical scene, The Mabel Mercer Foundation hits a new high this autumn by producing its 25th annual New York Cabaret Convention for four evenings, October 20th-23rd. All performances begin at 6 o'clock at the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Frederick P. Rose Hall at Broadway and 60th Street.
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.
Equally at home in the world of jazz and cabaret, singer/pianist Daryl Sherman is internationally acclaimed for a stellar 14-year run at the Waldorf-Astoria where she played Cole Porter's Steinway. Last June, she headlined the annual Cole Porter Festival in his hometown of Peru, IN. Sherman has performed at The Algonquin's Oak Room where the Village Voice touted her as 'someone who fits the room like Derek Jeter fits the Yankees.' She's also worked at Feinstein's, Rose Hall with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Dizzy's Coca Cola and 59E59 Theaters where she was lauded for her band singer role in a centennial tribute to Artie Shaw.
There was a unique gathering of friends last night at Feinsteins. The room was packed with FRIENDS of Jamie deRoy. FRIENDS of Jamie the Broadway Producer, FRIENDS of Jamie the singer/actor, FRIENDS of Jamie the TV host, and FRIENDS of Jamie from every segment of show business. They came to enjoy another addition (20th year) of her award winning show Jamie deRoy & Friends.
Join celebrated cabaret performer Jamie deRoy as she marks the culmination of the 20th Anniversary Season of her Multi MAC Award-winning variety show, Jamie deRoy & friends, with a very special evening on Sunday, April 17th (8:30PM) at the legendary cabaret hot-spot Feinstein's at Loews Regency (540 Park Avenue @ 61st Street).
