Donald Smith News

Lyric Music Theater has mounted a dazzling new hit to brighten the waning days of winter. Under the direction of Raymond Marc Dumont, the venerable South Portland community theatre has put together an energetic, sophisticated, and compelling production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods that is, quite simply, one of the season's best efforts on any stage!

It's a New Year's tradition that doesn't get old. For the third year in a row Marilyn Maye brings back her exciting 'By Request' format for a week of raucous revelry after ringing out 2013 with back-to-back shows on New Year's Eve. Maye's remarkable performances will be accompanied by pianist/conductor Billy Stritch, bassist Tom Hubbard, and drummer Ray Marchica. The party doesn't stop until Sunday January 12. Check out more photos from the concert below!

It's a New Year's tradition that doesn't get old. For the third year in a row Marilyn Maye brings back her exciting 'By Request' format for a week of raucous revelry after ringing out 2013 with back-to-back shows on New Year's Eve. Maye's remarkable performances will be accompanied by pianist/conductor Billy Stritch, bassist Tom Hubbard, and drummer Ray Marchica. The party doesn't stop until Sunday January 12. Check out photos from the concert below!

It's a New Year's tradition that doesn't get old. For the third year in a row Marilyn Maye brings back her exciting "By Request" format for a week of raucous revelry after ringing out 2013 with back-to-back shows on New Year's Eve. Maye's remarkable performances will be accompanied by pianist/conductor Billy Stritch, bassist Tom Hubbard, and drummer Ray Marchica. The party doesn't stop until Sunday January 12.

It may not be like getting a gift on every one of the 12 Days of Christmas, but for cabaret and musical theater lovers, the 5th 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 3-15, dozens of singers and musicians will perform in an eclectic mix of a dozen shows plus late night and matinee 'extras,' 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. Three years ago, Urban Stages Artistic Director Frances Hill brought in MAC and Bistro award-winning director, lyricist and producer Peter Napolitano to produce the Winter Rhythms program and broaden its scope.BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Columnist Stephen Hanks recently caught up with the Sol Hurok of Urban Stages to learn how Napolitano has helped Winter Rhythms evolve and to get some insights into this year's program.

National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Mary, Queen of Scots 28 June – 17 November 2013 Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Cost: Adult £9, Concession £7.50, Child (12-15) £6, Under 12s free, National Museums Scotland Members free, National Art Pass holders receive 50% discount. Arguably one of the most enigmatic figures in Scottish history, the story of Mary, Queen of Scots can still arouse strong emotions: was she betrayed by those she trusted, condemned to die a Catholic martyr, or a murdering adulteress with her husband's blood on her hands? This major exhibition, only showing in Edinburgh, provides a unique opportunity to re-evaluate much that has been written and speculated about this charismatic monarch, drawing together surviving relics intimately connected with Mary and wider Renaissance material, such as documents, portraits, jewellery, furniture and textiles.

National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

For four magical nights this week, the Mabel Mercer Foundation will present a sparkling array of America's leading cabaret stars. Among the 60 outstanding artists who will take the stage at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center from today, October 7th through 10th are multiple Grammy Award winner Jack Jones, Marilyn Maye, Steve Ross, Karen Akers, Nellie McKay, and Barbara Carroll.

For four magical nights in October, the Mabel Mercer Foundation will present a sparkling array of America's leading cabaret stars. Among the 60 outstanding artists who will take the stage at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center from October 7th through 10th are multiple Grammy Award winner Jack Jones, Marilyn Maye, Steve Ross, Karen Akers, Nellie McKay, and Barbara Carroll.

On Sunday, August 4, 2013, in Freeport, Maine, the Freeport Players delivered a lively, riotously funny and highly inventive performance of the suspense comedy, The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow from the John Buchan novel and Alfred Hitchcock film. Using four actors in multiple roles, a minimalist set, and a vintage radio era sound design, the production directed by Portland Stage's dramaturg, Daniel Burson, romped through the script with delightful insouciance.

With the grit of a sheriff facing down an outlaw, the silky-toned Marissa Mulder takes on the bard of bad Tom Waits, in the premiere of "Tom… in His Words", which began on March 27 and runs through tonight, March 30, 2013, at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos from the concert!

It may not be like getting a gift on every one of the 12 Days of Christmas, but for cabaret and musical theater lovers, the 4th Annual Urban Stages 'Winter Rhythms' series-presented over a dozen straight nights at the not-for-profit's Off-Broadway theatre on 259 West 39th Street-could be the closest thing to opening a daily present by the tree. From December 4-15, more than 80 singers and actors will perform in an eclectic mix of 22 shows (including three on Saturday and Sunday, 12/8 and 12/9), with all the proceeds from ticket sales dedicated to the Urban Stages 'On Tour Outreach Program.' Two years ago, Urban Stages Artistic Director Frances Hill brought in MAC and Bistro award-winning director, lyricist and producer Peter Napolitano to produce the Winter Rhythms program and broaden the scope of it's musical offerings. BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Columnist Stephen Hanks recently caught up with the new Sol Hurok of Urban Stages to learn how he had helped Winter Rhythms evolve and get some insights into this year's program.

Noted composer/lyricist/arranger and two-time Grammy Award nominee Larry Kerchner will be celebrated on Monday, November 5, 2012, at 7 PM at a special benefit performance of his musical works, titled Hidden Treasures: The Songs of Larry Kerchner, at The York Theatre (at St. Peter's), Lexington Avenue at 54th Street, in New York City. Produced by Sandi Durell, the musical evening will benefit The Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative and The Mabel Mercer Foundation.

There may have been 40 cabaret performers strutting their stuff this past week at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center, but the true star of the three-night extravaganza (October 17-19) was the late Donald Smith, the cabaret impresario and guru to the genre's luminaries, who died this past March at 79. Sponsored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, which Smith founded in 1985, this year's Convention featured numerous homages to Smith from the performers, many of whom had their career's supported and advanced with the help of the colorful and beloved cabaret producer and promoter. Early in Wednesday's Gala Opening Night show, the 'first lady of the American keyboard' Barbara Carroll called her friend Donald Smith 'the quintessential New Yorker,' and when Mark Nadler closed night one with George and Ira Gershwin's 'Our Love Is Here to Stay,' he said, 'Everybody who cares about the myths of these songs are in this room tonight.' Well, it was clear that anyone who cared about Donald Smith was at the Rose Theater for at least one of the three shows.

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.

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.

Just in time for election season, New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' opens its 22nd season of alternative, adult musical theatre with the St. Louis premiere of the outrageous rock musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, now running through Oct. 20, 2012. An outrageous, audacious, hard-rocking mix of historical fact and fiction redefines America's controversial seventh President, through a time-bending funhouse mirror that reveals the jacked-up political landscape of America in 2012. Get a first look at highlights from the production below.

Caroline Sorokoff Associate Director of the Great Neck Arts Center has announced that KT Sullivan, United States Congressman Gary Ackerman, author Nelson DeMille and and a local arts philanthropist will be honored at this years Gala which will be held Oct. 24th at the Gold Coast estate Oheka Castle on Long Island, which was commissioned by Otto Kahn.

On Monday, October 1, the Friars Club presented 'Remembering the Oak Room: A musical tribute by its headliners.' This 90-minute program was held in memory of the legendary cabaret venue, featuring nearly a dozen A-list performers whose careers were closely associated with the nightclub in the Algonquin Hotel.

Just in time for election season, New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' opens its 22nd season of alternative, adult musical theatre with the St. Louis premiere of the outrageous rock musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, running Sept. 27-Oct. 20, 2012. An outrageous, audacious, hard-rocking mix of historical fact and fiction redefines America's controversial seventh President, through a time-bending funhouse mirror that reveals the jacked-up political landscape of America in 2012. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below!