Donald Smith News

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.  

Twelve years after his last full show and a full 36 since he performed at the venerable Laurie Beechman Theatre, entertainer (and Don't Tell Mama booker) Sidney Myer commanded the stage as if he'd been there yesterday. I attended the second of three sold-out presentations marked as fundraisers for The Mabel Mercer Foundation, likely the only organization for which Sidney would take on such a project. The concerts are a 'thank you' to the art's standard bearer and its creator Donald Smith, who gave Sidney wide exposure and exceptional latitude at every Cabaret Convention from the third on, a tradition maintained today.

Almost 200 years later, political comedian John Fugelsang hits the road in a cobalt blue Ford to retrace the Frenchman's journey in Dream On, airing Today, October 7 at 10 p.m. ET on PBS

Almost 200 years later, political comedian John Fugelsang hits the road in a cobalt blue Ford to retrace the Frenchman's journey in Dream On, airing Friday, October 7 at 10 p.m. ET on PBS

Some years ago when Tony Award-winning actress (for For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf (Ntozake Shange) and playwright Trezanna Beverley's voice coach suggested she listen to Mabel Mercer, the artist had not heard of the nightclub and cabaret singing icon. A trip to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Harlem) began a protracted period of research into Mercer's life and work. Beverley found she not only respected and admired her subject, but felt a kinship both in spirit and color. Inspired, she decided to write her own theatrical script about Mercer's life and art with the goal of playing her in a one-woman show. Her dream has been realized with Mabel Madness, a play with music that opened this week at Urban Stages and runs until March 20.

The brainchild of Metropolitan Room managing partner Bernie Furshpan, his General Manager Joseph Macchia, and Cabaret Scenes Magazine Publisher Peter Leavy, New York's first International Cabaret Festival (February 17-21) debuted Wednesday night at the Met Room with performances and inductions into the newly established Cabaret Hall of Fame (an actual location for Hall and its memorabilia to be determined at a later date). Clubs hosting this year's festival include The Metropolitan Room, Don't Tell Mama, The Duplex, Feinstein's/54 Below, Iridium, Joe's Pub, and Stage 72 (formerly The Triad).

For the third night of this year's Cabaret Convention at Town Hall, the uber-enthusiastic Karen Mason hosted Life Is a Cabaret (Directed by Barry Kleinbort) in celebration of long time collaborators, composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb. Introduced to each other by their mutual music publisher in 1962, the team's first Broadway show was 1965's Flora the Red Menace in which Liza Minnelli made her Broadway debut and with which the three began a long association. Their last together (Kander is alive and hopefully writing), was 2015's The Visit starring Chita Rivera, a production Ebb (who died in 2004) unfortunately didn't live to see. Kander and Ebb's best known musicals are Cabaret and Chicago, both of which seem to run forever on popular appeal, but they wrote many others, a wide selection of which were represented at Thursday night's show.

On the second night of this year's 26th Annual Cabaret Convention, Jeff Harnar and Andrea Marcovicci hosted A Sentimental Journey: World War II Songs, inspired by Marcovicci's memorable Oak Room at The Algonquin show, I'll Be Seeing You--Love Songs of World War II. (The CD is highly recommended.) As always with this pair's Convention contribution, the show was a treat in part because of its singular glamour. Much of our audience was exceptionally familiar with and nostalgic about these songs. A few had to be politely quieted for singing along, more than a few took each other's hands. It seems I've heard that song before . . . the co-hosts begin, warming the room.

In October 1989, four years after he founded The Mable Mercer Foundation, cabaret publicist and promoter Donald Smith launched the first Cabaret Convention at New York's Town Hall. The now four-day event eventually moved to Lincoln Center's Rose Hall, but due to renovations this year at the more uptown revue, this year's 26th Annual Convention was back at its old West 43rd Street stomping grounds. Since Donald Smith died in March 2012, the Mercer Foundation's Artistic Director and de-facto Convention Producer has been cabaret star KT Sullivan, and for Monday night's opening show she greeted the audience, in measured tempo, with the infectious enthusiasm of Cole Porter (“Another Opening, Another Show”) and Irving Berlin (“There's No Business Like Show Business”). Sullivan provided an effective, entertaining onramp to an evening that featured experienced American and European artists from cabaret and theater and relative cabaret newbies who've recently made a mark on the scene.

Jeff Harnar & Andrea Marcovicci hosted the second day of the Mabel Mercer Foundation's New York Cabaret Convention.  The Donald Smith Award was presented to Jeff by managing director Rick Meadows and Debbi Bush Whiting presented Celia Berk with The Margaret Whiting Award. Performing in the evenings concert were: Karen Akers, Danny Bacher, Julie Budd, Carole J. Bufford, Eric Comstock, Natalie Douglas, barbara Fasano, Jeff Harnar, Nicolas King, Karen Kohler, Andrea Mardovicci, Marissa Mulder, Todd Murray, Josephine Sanges, Jennifer Sheehan and Iris Williams.?

City College Center for the Arts and Clark Center NYC join together in celebration of The Clark Center for the Performing Arts with a presentation of the acclaimed dance/narrative series From the Horse's Mouth on Thursday, October 1 and Friday October 2 at Aaron Davis Hall. The From the Horse's Mouth production will serve as the culmination of Clark Center NYC's weeklong residency at City College Center for the Arts, made possible, in part, by funding from the CUNY Dance Initiative. Performances of From the Horse's Mouth begin at 7pm. A reception will follow the October 1 performance.

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.

t's a New Year's tradition that doesn't get old. For the fourth year in-a-row Marilyn Maye rings out 2014 with back-to-back shows on New Year's Eve. Then after New Year's Eve, the merry-making continues for seven nights between January 2 and 10, as Maye launches into a run of her hard-partying "By Request" shows. Joining the preternaturally young Maye on her 15th Metropolitan Room engagement are her nimble trio consisting of pianist/conductor Billy Stritch, bassist Tom Hubbard, and drummer Ray Marchica.

t may not be like getting a gift on each of the 12 Days of Christmas, but for cabaret and musical theater lovers, the 6th Annual Urban Stages Winter Rhythms series--presented over a dozen nights at the not-for-profit Off-Broadway theatre on 259 West 30th Street--could be the closest thing to opening a daily present by the tree. From December 2-14 (no shows on Dec. 9), more than 100 singers, musicians, and songwriters will perform in an eclectic mix of 20 shows including one-night-only group shows, excerpts from new musicals, solo shows, open mics, late night spotlights, and family matinees, with all the proceeds from ticket sales dedicated to the Urban Stages On Tour Outreach Program that brings more than 200 free multicultural theater and music programs to elementary and middle school age children and their families in libraries and schools throughout NYC five boroughs.

The 25th New York Cabaret Convention continues and BroadwayWorld was once again there! The 3rd segment featured hosted by Andrea Marcovicci and Jeff Harnar featured performances by Andrea Marcovicci, Jeff Harnar, Gabrielli, Anthony Nunziata, Rita Gardner, Brent Barrett, Anna Bergman, Richard Holbrook, Jeffifer Sheehan, Carole J. Bufford, Christine Andreas, Billy Stritch, Jim Caruso, Sally Mayes, Iris Williams, Eric Comstock, Barbara Fasano, Karen Akers, and Natalie Douglas.

Exhibitions & Displays National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Danie Mellor's Primordial: SuperNaturalBayiMinyjirral 1 August – 23 November 2014 Grand Gallery, Level 1 Free Inspired by objects from National Museums Scotland's World Cultures Collection, acclaimed contemporary Australian artist Danie Mellor presents sculpture and work on paper that explores his own indigenous and European heritage. With works focusing on fauna, Aboriginal life and landscape, and science and exploration, alongside technical references to European art, Mellor's work is uniquely relevant to the breadth of National Museums Scotland's collections. Presented by National Museums Scotland and the Edinburgh International Festival. With the support of Michael Reid, Sydney, Australia.

Please find below National Museums Scotland listings to 7 December 2014. Follow us on Twitter…. http://twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot Follow us on Facebook… http://www.facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland

National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Ming: The Golden Empire 27 June – 19 October 2014 Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Cost: Adults £10/£8; Child (age 12-15) £6.50; Under 12s free; National Museums Scotland Members free; National Art Pass holders 50% discount A collection of original artefacts from the Nanjing Museum, including Chinese National Treasures, introduce key aspects of the Ming dynasty, focusing on the remarkable cultural, technological and economic achievements of the period. Exquisite luxury items and rare objects reveal the wealth and opulence of the Ming imperial court, including the iconic blue and white porcelain with which the period is synonymous, sumptuous silk textiles, gold and jades, and rare examples of elaborately enamelled cloisonné. This will be the only UK showing of this internationally significant exhibition, which has been produced by Nomad Exhibitions in association with Nanjing Museum. Sponsored by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers.

Broadway performer and BackStage Bistro Award-winning recording artist Rebecca Spencer will celebrate her Los Angeles concert debut with a performance of FAIR WARNING at Upstairs at Vitello's tonight, August 15 at 8:00pm.

Broadway performer and BackStage Bistro Award-winning recording artist Rebecca Spencer will celebrate her Los Angeles concert debut with a performance of FAIR WARNING at Upstairs at Vitello's on Friday, August 15 at 8:00pm.