The stylish decor of the theatre in the Polo Club was replaced with the brick wall backdrop that is so often the setting for improvisational comedy by Jim Belushi last night in Boca Raton, Florida. Jim brought members of The Board of Comedy, Joshua Funk, Megan Grano, and Trey Stone with him.
If you were trying to find a stage that presented some of the most treasured American popular music, performed by probably the best vocalists born to sing it, you were at The Kravis Center in Palm Beach last night. The Kravis Center Pops Orchestra under the baton of Michael Feinstein, one of the most beloved entertainers of our generation honored another legend......Jack Jones. Jack Jones, the vocalist who created a sound track of love ballads and swinging hit songs for most of the Kravis audience's ( and the worlds) musical life walked out on it's stage and there was no doubt that the look, sound, and magnetism of Mr. Jones was in full force and undiminished at this juncture in his career. Palm Beach gave him a standing ovation after his thrilling rendition of Man of La Mancha, one of Jack's signature songs.
There were many places around the world where the music of The Great American Songbook was being performed last night, but none more significant than the concert celebrating the 5th Anniversary of Dick Robinson's Legends Radio 100.3FM, the most successful privately owned radio station in the United States.
Pop up Cabaret Rooms keep popping up across the country. New York City's Beach Cafe may have some cold weather now, but the Pelican Cafe in Palm Beach County is hot on all levels. Sunday's featured entertainer Rob Russell is not just another 'pretty voice' singing a bunch of great tunes. Mr. Russell creates a party and he makes sure everyone in the audience gets an invite. Likewise, Mark Frangione, owner and executive chef does not just create the wonderful dishes. He sounds like a museum director explaining the masterpieces in the building (and they are) as he takes you on a tour of the menu.
Dick Robinson, a legend of the airways, hero of The Great American Songbook, and a broadcaster who in his distinguished career has interviewed anybody who is anybody in the world of music had The New York Pops music director and conductor Steven Reineke on the Legends Radio network last night. The 30 minute segment will be heard on FM Stations in South Florida, the Northeast, and worldwide on the web. 'The Old Jock' (as he is reverently and affectionately referred to) discussed the exciting world of Carnegie Hall, The New York Pops and Maestro Reineke's fascinating and creative life which includes conducting and programming 4 major orchestras.
Music and Art joined forces last night to honor valued members of the Palm Beach community who do so much to make sure the world hears our uniquely American popular music.
Lynn University was host to the 2012 final presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney and tickets were of course very difficult to obtain for the 'entertaining' evening and the wait list was long. For last night's performance by songstress Deborah Silver tickets were also difficult to obtain with a long wait list, however there was no debate about the display of talents by the Florida based entertainer.
The audience at Cafe Centro got a little confused last night and thought New Years Eve was still being celebrated during the Rob & Michael music night at the popular South Florida restaurant/cabaret. In addition to the suave Mr. Russell and pianist/entertainer Masci the Broadway/Cabaret star Avery Sommers and famed Concert and Cabaret artist Anthony Nunziata happened to be in the audience and wound up 'singing for their dinner'
The weekend started with Marilyn Maye and The Kravis Center Pops Orchestra Big Band conducted by Tedd Firth in a memorable concert by one of the most beloved singers of our generation. Marilyn Maye, arguably one of the finest vocalists ever to sing in a night club, concert hall, TV Studio or on a Broadway stage gave The Kravis Center Audience an evening of her artistry that will stay in their musical memory forever.
The love and spirit of many cultures was the perfect theme to start off the New Year, and the famed Internationally acclaimed entertainers Lilian & Maycol provided the perfect harmony to begin 2019 at one of the most famous destinations in the world...Palm Beach.
Billy Stritch recently sailed from his usual NYC docks at The Carlyle and Birdland and was welcomed by hundreds of music connoisseurs on the Shores of Velencia and Frenchman's Creek Beach Club in Florida. The show at Velencia Shores was headlined,'Billy Stritch & Friends' and the super singer friends that Billy brought along were Deborah Silver, Emmanuelle Adda and Josh Young. Jim Caruso, Billy's special good friend and partner in all things musical fun also joined him for the special Florida entertainment event.
The silent auction item at The New York Pops annual gala/concert held at Carnegie Hall and the Mandarin Hotel in April, offered a pianist to play at your private party complete with catering by Trattoria del Arte. The Pops Concert and Gala's proceeds help finance The Pops/Ed Programs. For the third year, the winning bidder got much more than she bargained for. Not only did the advertised pianist (Stephen Sorokoff) appear, but also a slew of New York's must celebrated keyboard artists and entertainers joined the festivities.
Over the past hundred years the theater community has celebrated some of the most notable events in Broadway's history at the Friars Club. Last night the Barrington Stage Co. the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, Ma. under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd held their New York City Benefit in the legendary building where so many legends of the theater community have socialized and entertained each other. John Rando the famed director was celebrated for his extraordinary talent and his contributions to BSC. John has directed two of the most popular musicals in BSC history, The Pirates of Penzance and On the Town, which transferred to Broadway and received four Tony Award nominations, including Best Director. At BSC John also directed The Royal Family of Broadway and Guys and Dolls and on Broadway, he won a Tony Award for his direction of Urinetown, The Musical.
Do you want to have the best birthday party ever? First…. be talented and admired entertainers who have lots of talented friends. Then, have many adoring fans and a large loving family. Next, have Sunny Sessa and Craig Neier create and produce your celebration at the Friars Club. The Friars Club which is the ground zero gathering place for show business folks and one of a kind events (most recent the Billy Crystal Icon Award Gala) hosted Will & Anthony Nunziata's Birthday Bash last night and here is a look inside the celebration.
Deborah Grace Winer was certainly on the right track last night as she hosted her latest creative musical adventure 'New York: Big City Songbook' at the new Birdland Theater. Deborah is well known to New Yorkers for the imaginative and quality presentations she produced for the Lyrics & Lyricists Series at the 92Y, which she led for 9 seasons. It's difficult to construct a show for New Yorkers about New York, we've seen it all…haven't we? but this smart show with vocalists Klea Blackhurst, La Tanya Hall and Nicolas King (real New Yorkers because as Deborah pointed out they come from everywhere) offered a kaleidoscopic vision of life in the city.
If you were in The Cutting Room for the Stephen Schwartz Concert for the Benefit of the Orphaned Starfish Foundation it is a night you will probably cherish forever. The music of Stephen Schwartz performed by an incredible array of Broadway and stage talent was one of the most inspiring and remarkable events to be a part of.
Fresh from her Birdland Theater concert on Saturday night when Kristen Chenoweth and Desmond Child 'dropped in' to her show, country music star Victoria Shaw dropped by The Carlyle for the Sunday night Stritch/Caruso musical fun.
Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, will host its annual New York City Benefit, BSC/NYC, on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, to honor director and BSC Associate Artist John Rando with the William Finn Award for Innovation and Excellence in Musical Theatre. This one-night only cabaret will take place at the Friars Club (57 East 55th Street).
When you enter the Friars Club on 55th street the world immediately becomes a better place. The first space you encounter is the Billy Crystal Room where you hear the laughter and the animated conversations as Friars share stories with one another. Last night in only the 8th time in the Club's 114-year history The Icon Award was presented by Robert De Niro to Billy Crystal at the Ziegfeld Ballroom to a capacity filled New York/Hollywood audience. The Icon Award honors individuals whose extraordinary accomplishment raise the standard of entertainment and positively redefines our culture. Billy is following in the footsteps of entertainment icons Douglas Fairbanks, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Martin Scorsese, and Robert De Niro.
Jan McArt, producer and director of Lynn University's theatre arts program development welcomed an old friend and former protege Richard H. Blake to Libby Dodson's Live at Lynn Theatre Series last night and Broadwayworld was there for his exciting show.
