No one was detained or questioned last night for a bad performance at the Gerald W.Lynch Theater as Tony Danza lead the Police Athletic League's (PAL) 3rd Annual one-night-only showcase performance, 'Tony Danza & the Stars of Tomorrow,' It benefits PAL”S Teen Acting Program. The performance starred Tony with the talented young artists in the PAL program, and also had Tony doing some fantastic soft shoe with famed member of the Manhattan Rhythm Kings Hal Shane. Tony's friend singer/songwriter/pianist Peter Cincotti also took the stage and sang an original composition.
Do you want to have the winner of the People's Choice Award for favorite male entertainer come into your living room and become your good friend and delight you for an evening? Head over to Cafe Carlyle and spend an evening with Tony Danza and hang with him as he brings you back to the time when a night club performer did it all.
No, it wasn't an accident the first time around in July. Just as Broadway (Chicago) has recognized her abilities and consistency of excellence so have Haley Swindal's audience's. The only difference in her performance last night was that that black is the new red and Feinstein's/54 Below had another Stephen (Sondheim) in the audience. Here's my review of Haley's July show which was corroborated last night.
Last night, Sheldon Harnick received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Songbook Association! Performers included Kissy Simmons, Klea Blackhurst, Adam Heller, Danny Bacher, Samantha Massell, Melanie Moore, Alexandra Silber, Brad Oscar, Liz Callaway, Jeff Harnar & Alex Rybeck, Alan Schmuckler, Jeffrey Saver and Rhyn Mclemore Saver, Ed Dixon, Sidney Myer, Judy Kuhn, Robert Cuccioli, and Steven Skybell.
The Cast of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish may have been expelled from their Home in Anatevka but they were royally welcomed to Home (Plate) at Yankee Stadium yesterday!
We are all aware of those great music scores created by gifted composers for the movies but last night at Dizzy's Club, Christine Tamburr, a gifted composer and virtuoso vibraphonist led a world class group of musicians and jazz great Clint Holmes in a performance of his score “The Awakening “ Sounds For Sculpture”. Just as you can't imagine a movie without the underlying music, something tells me I won't be able to enjoy a “silent” Sculpture anymore after the experience of listening to Christian Tambour's breathtaking music inspired by the Sculpture of world renowned Seward Johnson.
Michael Feinstein's genius is not only exemplified by his voice, his piano, his wit, his encyclopedic knowledge of show business, and his remarkable ability to entertain an audience. He also has an astute talent for choosing the type of guest artist to have in his shows who will create a special magic when paired with his musical personality. Melissa Manchester the Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, actress was on stage with him last night and the combination of these two icons unleashed a chemistry that produced a spectacular event that had a celebrity filled Feinstein's/54 Below enthralled from start to finish. Al Roker, Deborah Roberts, Clive Davis, Brenda Vaccaro, and Michael Riedel among others were in the club for this exciting opening night.
Mario Lanza brought Opera to Hollywood and Sean Patrick Murtagh brought Mario Lanza to the Cabaret World at The Green Room 42 last night. Sean's lyric baritone effectively handled the repertoire usually sung by a tenor's voice and brought a distinctive vivacity to the songs usually associated with Mario Lanza and other celebrated tenors. Actually this show was about Mario and Richard (not Tucker). It was a heartfelt tribute to Sean's vocal teacher Richard who first exposed him to the Mario Lanza songbook. With his superior musical theater acting skills and charming personality Sean Patrick Murtagh is an exciting addition to the Cabaret World. Similar to the Metropolitan Opera, The Green Room 42 was full of Bravo's last night and I was thinking 3 Tenors plus 1 great Lyric Baritone would also make a great performance.
In the theater community Jamie deRoy is a well known Broadway producer but in the Friars community she is also acclaimed as an entertainer. Friar Jamie deRoy furthermore has the distinction of being the 8th woman to become a Friar subsequent to the men's only club changing it's rules in 1988. Jamie deRoy who is usually the earliest to spot an opportunity had to wait behind the likes of Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers Gloria Allred, and Brooke Shields who were also among the first to join the Friars Club.
You can physically build a welcoming and attractive Cabaret Room (in this case Mr. Finn's at Barrington Stage). You can have a name on the door that represents important musical theater (William Finn). However it really doesn't have any greatness unless the music and artists that appear on it's stage are of the highest order.
Entertainment royalty came out to see show biz royalty last night at Feinstein's/54 Below. Lorna Luft thoroughly enthralled a celebrity filled audience as she shared the music that was a part of her early years. The Beatles were very present in her song list and we learned that Lorna had a major crush on George Harrison. As Lorna related, “coming from a show biz family has it's perks”. She was able to meet them back stage after a concert she attended with her friend Leslie Bogart and her mother Lauren Bacall. Ms. Bacall warned the two youngsters that daughters of celebrities are not supposed to jump up and down and scream, consequently Lorna and Leslie were the only girls in the stadium quietly sitting with a stern look on their faces during The Beatle Concert!
Donna McKechnie, the Tony Award Winning Actress for A Chorus Line was in a different line last night. The super star was in The Lineup hosted by Susie Mosher at the Birdland Theater. Wether you're upstairs, downstairs, or on the line waiting to get into the club, there are celebs all over the place at Birdland and last night was no different. Tony Award winner Chita Rivera was in the house cheering a performance by her daughter Lisa Mordente who sang in Susie's wild variety show. It also wasn't to shabby that TV ( Madam Secretary) Film (Jersey Boys) and Broadway star Erich Bergen was in last night's Lineup too.
The Broadway at Birdland concert series presented singer/pianist Steve Ross in “Songs I Love” last night. Steve looked back at his long career and revisited songs from his first recording (1979) and his more recent efforts celebrating Alan Jay Lerner, Noel Coward and Stephen Sondheim. KT Sullivan who is currently appearing with Steve at the Irish Repertory Theatre in LOVE, NOEL: The Songs and Letters of Noel Coward (written and devised by Barry Day) joined Steve for a few songs.
The man who has a supreme dexterity with words, who possess an ability to weave them together and create harmonious and engrossing ideas came to see the man ( and woman) who do the same with music notes last night at Birdland. Stephen Holden the esteemed music and theatre critic of the New York Times, now retired came to hear John Pizzarelli and his special but not surprising guest (wife) Jessica Molaskey.
Mr. Finn's Cabaret at Barrington Stage Company has become one of the countries leading presenters of the art form of cabaret. The road going from Birdland and Feinstein's/54 Below to Pittsfield Ma. now also comes from Las Vegas. Clint Holmes, one of the main attractions on the strip and in nightclubs around the country came to Barrington Stage Company last night and made the Berkshires and Mr. Finn's officially become part of the nightclub circuit.
Alan Cumming said it best: 'I've known Frances for almost 30 years but she never ceases to surprise and amaze me with the ways she reinvents herself, finding new levels of expression and excellence, always with total commitment and her signature sensual passion. I cannot wait to see what she does next.'
Last night at The Green Room 42 (570 10th Avenue), Broadway star and recording artist Luba Mason (Chicago, Jekyll & Hyde, How to Succeed, recently earned a Lucille Lortel nomination for her role in the acclaimed Public Theater production of Girl From The North Country) premiered a new Broadway-centric concert, Luba Mason - 5' 10' with the pianist & music director to so many Broadway stars and legendary singers, Billy Stritch!
Barrington Stage Co. presented award-winning composer, lyricist, arranger, orchestrator, director, virtuoso pianist, humorist and humanitarian Jason Robert Brown, on its stage for a concert last night, July 9.
Caruso's Cast Party with Billy Stritch, which is a New York City institution and sought after attraction at important cabaret venues nationwide wowed the audience at Mr. Finn's Cabaret at Barrington Stage Co. last night. Mr. (William) Finn himself was present for the always funny and sophisticated show biz banter that is the hallmark of any Cast Party when Caruso and Stritch bring their music and comedy to what is arguably the most famous 'Open Mic' in the entertainment world.
Joanna Gleason gave a memorable performance in her superbly crafted, written and directed show last night at Feinstein's54 Below. Jeffrey Klitz, her music director and pianist, created some of the most haunting and extraordinary arrangements for a group of musicians consisting of guitar, banjo, autoharp, cello, percussion and 3 back-up vocalists called the Moontones.
