Dinah Shore News

Back in January, BroadwayWorld's lead cabaret reviewer Stephen Hanks announced he was giving up critiquing shows to start his own company, Cabaret Life Productions, through which he would publicize, promote, and help book cabaret performers, and also produce cabaret shows. Hanks' first major production out of the box is a monthly series at the Metropolitan Room called New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits, that features talented artists recreating award-winning or highly-praised shows we wish we'd seen--a really good idea. Hanks' series launched Wednesday night with Mark Nadler's award-winning 2003 show Tschaikowsky (And Other Russians). The Metropolitan Room was filled to the gills and abuzz with anticipation, as most of the audience was only familiar with the show's second-hand praise and/or the CD version of Nadler's performance.

For diehard cabaret fans and lovers of live music, there's nothing like experiencing a classic show once again or seeing an award winning 'blast from the past' for the first time. That's how cabaret show producer and publicist Stephen Hanks felt and so through his new company, Cabaret Life Productions, he's launching a new monthly series at New York's Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) titled New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits. Hanks wanted the cream of the New York cabaret crop to open the series and tapped veteran cabaret star Mark Nadler, who the New York Times critic Stephen Holden has called 'Mr. Show Business' and 'an immensely talented latter-day Al Jolson.' On August 26 (7-8:30 pm), Nadler will perform his critically acclaimed show Tschaikowsky (And Other Russians), which won a 2003 Bistro Award for 'Raising Standards of Cabaret Performance,' and received MAC and Nightlife Award Nominations for 'Outstanding Performance in a Major Engagement.'

For the first time in 15 years, cabaret star Julie Reyburn brings back her award-winning show, Fate Is Kind, to a New York nightclub stage when she performs the classic at the Metropolitan Room on Monday, September 14 at 7 pm as part of the new monthly series, New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits, produced by Stephen Hanks' Cabaret Life Productions with cabaret supporter Fr. Jeffrey Hamblin, MD as Associate Producer. [Reyburn's show will follow the Series launch on August 26 at 7 pm with Mark Nadler's critically acclaimed Tschaikowsky (And Other Russians), which won a 2003 Bistro Award.] Reyburn and her celebrated Musical Director Mark Janas (Producer of the Award-Winning Open-Mic show Salon) introduced Fate Is Kind in February 2000 at The Singer's Forum as a benefit cabaret for their scholarship program. It then moved to Judy's Chelsea in March 2000 for its official cabaret debut, and the show ran off and on there for most of the year. Fate Is Kind world earn Reyburn MAC and Bistro Awards in 2001 for "Outstanding Female Cabaret Debut."

For diehard cabaret fans and lovers of live music, there's nothing like experiencing a classic show once again or seeing an award winning 'blast from the past' for the first time. That's how cabaret show producer and publicist Stephen Hanks felt and so through his new company, Cabaret Life Productions, he's launching a new monthly series at New York's Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) titled New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits. Hanks wanted the cream of the New York cabaret crop to open the series and tapped veteran cabaret star Mark Nadler, who the New York Times critic Stephen Holden has called 'Mr. Show Business' and 'an immensely talented latter-day Al Jolson.' On August 26 (7-8:30 pm), Nadler will perform his critically acclaimed show Tschaikowsky (And Other Russians), which won a 2003 Bistro Award for 'Raising Standards of Cabaret Performance,' and received MAC and Nightlife Award Nominations for 'Outstanding Performance in a Major Engagement.'

IN THE MOOD, a rhythmic, jazzy, brassy, sentimental, and patriotic 1940s musical revue, featuring a company of 19 on stage, including a thirteen-piece Big Band and six singers and swing dancing, jitterbugs into the Citi Performing Arts Center Emerson Colonial Theatre for two weeks only, running tonight, May 12 through Sunday, May 24, 2015.

Fast-rising powerhouse female dance/pop duo STASH has partnered with DanceOn Network  and three top network influencers to roll out a series of videos choreographed to music by STASH. 

Cruelty and compassion of humanity are presented against a backdrop of the propaganda and pointlessness of war in the Australian Premiere of Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Peter Duchan's moving musical adaptation of DOGFIGHT.

Revolution of the Eye: Modern Art and the Birth of American Television, the first exhibition to explore how avant-garde art influenced the look and content of network television in its formative years, will be on view at the Jewish Museum from today, May 1, 2015 through September 20, 2015.

She's back where she belongs! 'Hello Dolly' starring Andrea McArdle is at The Media Theatre tonight, April 22 to May 24. Andrea McArdle returns to the award-winning professional music theatre venue after winning accolades as 'Mame' two years ago.

THE BLACK BOX in downtown Franklin presents critically acclaimed jazz vocalist April Hall on Friday, April 24 at 8 p.m. The concert, rescheduled from February due to a Valentine's Day snowstorm, is featured as part of BLACK BOX Jazz, one of four dynamic music series launched this year at the new theater, music and event venue.

THE BLACK BOX, downtown Franklin's new theater, music, and event venue, presents a wide-ranging lineup of live music entertainment this April. Events are slated to feature singer-songwriter Ayla Brown, Opera for Kids, and jazz vocalist April Hall. THE BLACK BOX, the home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC), is located at 15 West Central Street.

She's back where she belongs! 'Hello Dolly' starring Andrea McArdle is at The Media Theatre April 22 to May 24. Andrea McArdle returns to the award-winning professional music theatre venue after winning accolades as 'Mame' two years ago.

IN THE MOOD, a rhythmic, jazzy, brassy, sentimental, and patriotic 1940s musical revue, featuring a company of 19 on stage, including a thirteen-piece Big Band and six singers and swing dancing, jitterbugs into the Citi Performing Arts Center Emerson Colonial Theatre for two weeks only, running Tuesday, May 12 through Sunday, May 24, 2015.

In its continuing mission to bring culture to people who wouldn't necessarily have access, to illuminate, educate, and entertain, public television stations WNET (New York) and WLIW (Long Island) decided the time was ripe to reacquaint people with the art of cabaret. In February, viewers in the New York metro area were able to view new one-hour cabaret shows featuring singers KT Sullivan and Jennifer Sheehan.

THE BLACK BOX, downtown Franklin's new theater, music, and event venue, presents two special evenings of live music, featuring the April Hall Quartet on Valentine's Day and Celtic singer-songwriter Robbie O'Connell on February 20.

The month of December has always been an emotional time of the year, especially for our military families; a period to deeply reflect on family and country. Over the past few months in New York cabaret, a few performers have offered up musical testimony on wars, patriotism, and US military veterans. Recently, two singers fairly new to the cabaret scene--Anna Marie Sell and Kim Sutton--staged shows saluting the brave men and women who serve our country now and in the past.

Marking 27 days until Christmas, today we pay tribute to an instantly recognizable Oscar-winning seasonal selection penned by Golden Age Broadway and Hollywood music master Frank Loesser, 'Baby, It's Cold Outside'.

Revolution of the Eye: Modern Art and the Birth of American Television, the first exhibition to explore how avant-garde art influenced the look and content of network television in its formative years, will be on view at the Jewish Museum from May 1, 2015 through September 20, 2015.

Music Theatre of Connecticut (MTC) will be celebrating the grand opening of The New MTC with a gala fundraiser tonight, September 27 at 7pm. The gala will take place at The New MTC, located at 509 Westport Avenue in Norwalk (behind Jones New York and Nine West Outlet). All proceeds will benefit MTC and its programming. Tickets are $125 and available in an extremely limited quantity. For reservations, call 203.454.3883 or visit www.musictheatreofct.com

Music Theatre of Connecticut (MTC) will be celebrating the grand opening of The New MTC with a gala fundraiser on Saturday, September 27 at 7pm. The gala will take place at The New MTC, located at 509 Westport Avenue in Norwalk (behind Jones New York and Nine West Outlet). All proceeds will benefit MTC and its programming. Tickets are $125 and available in an extremely limited quantity. For reservations, call 203.454.3883 or visit www.musictheatreofct.com