Eda Sorokoff News

Husband-and-wife duo John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey made their annual fall pilgrimage to Cafe Carlyle with an all-new show, The Arc of a Love Affair  last night and BroadwayWorld was there. The show runs November 22-December 1.

Joe Sirola, who has been seen or heard in over 10,000 commercials brought his one man show "With A Little Bit Of Luck" to the Metropolitan Room yesterday. The audience didn't need much selling to realize why this fantastic actor has had such a successful career in Film, TV and on the stage.  Unlike his commercials which were replayed many times (much to his financial pleasure) it was a one time event at the world famous Cabaret on 22nd street in Manhattan.    

The 90th Macy's Day parade balloons will not pass by the Friars Club on 55th street but the celebrity guests at the club got to see some great photos of them yesterday at the club.  Sheldon and Margery Harnick hosted a Book Launch Party for Matt Harnick who has a wonderful new book © Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: A New York City Holiday Tradition, Rizzoli N.Y. 2016, which is filled with exclusive photography by Matt, along with archival images of the spectacular floating balloons.  The book offers a never-before-seen look at the planning and preparation of the parade.  Italy features text by Stephen M. Silverman, Foreword by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Afterword by Terry J. Lindgren, Chairman & CEO of Macy's Inc. in conjunction with this milestone anniversary.  The guests in the Milton Berle Room of the Friars Club were also treated to a performance by Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin and a conversation with Sheldon Harnick, Matt Harnick and Amy Kule, Executive Producer of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  It was a great afternoon and it was nice and warm watching the parade go by inside the club.

The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, in association with Staci Levine and What's Cookin' LLC, presented the New York premiere of the saucy new musical A Taste of Things to Come, with book, music and lyrics by Debra Barsha (Radiant Baby) and Hollye Levin (Funny Business) last night and BroadwayWorld was there for the opening night.

The hip-hop continued with Othello: The Remix and it's opening night audience with DJ SuperNova playing hits for the celebrants at Stage 48 and BroadwayWorld was there.

It was appropriate that two-time Tony Award winner William Finn was present at The First Annual Berkshire Theatre Award ceremony held in Pittsfield MA. on  Sunday November 13th. Mr. Finn won a Tony for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee which was home grown up in The Berkshires at Barrington Stage Company. Although he didn't have any work in contention for the prestigious award, Finn did accept a few 'Berkies' for some artists who could not receive their awards in person.

After a thrilling concert which featured the The Soldiers' Chorus of The US Army Field Band, Maestro Steven Reineke and The New York  Pops hosted an after party across the street from Carnegie Hall.  

Legendary singer-songwriter Judy Collins returned to Cafe Carlyle with with special guest, Ari Hest, last night and BroadwayWorld was there.  Judy Collins' unique artistry has captivated audiences for over fifty years and landed her a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Judy will performed her revered solo material as well as duets with Ari Hest. Judy and Ari released a stunning, collaborative album Silver Skies Blueearlier this year.

2014 Tony Nominee Jarrod Spector premiered a brand new show, Jukebox Life at Feinstein's/54 Below last night following his celebrated A Little Help From My Friends concert tour and CD.

Tony Danza performed, and Olympia Dukakis was the guest of honor last night at the 27th annual charity event 'Doodle for Hunger' for the benefit of St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters.  The evening was hosted by Fox News Anchor Ernie Anattos, and the celebrity auctioneer was Tony Lo Bianco. 

Gianni Valenti has guided the 'Jazz Corner of the World' for the past 32 years.  Birdland, the most well known jazz music venue on the planet has been successfully chaperoned by his masterly artistic, restaurant, and business skills for over three decades. That is exactly double the amount of time the original Birdland on 52nd street existed.  Entertainment and menu trends have metamorphosed many times over the last 32 years, but Birdland has consistently been the destination point for New Yorkers and world travelers seeking great music, performed by exceptional artists.  For the past decade, the club has integrated the stars of  the adjacent Broadway Theatre into it's performance schedule under the guidance of Jim Caruso. 

International jazz stylist Sabrina Wender and her Trio were the music treat for the folks at Le Cirque last night and BroadwayWorld was there for the jazz tricks & treats. 

Birdland was a 'scary' place last night as Orfeh and Andy Karl rocked on Halloween night in the Broadway at Birdland concert series!  In their show titled 'Songs from the Crypt' the audience was invited to celebrate the Karls' favorite holiday with some favorite songs. Costumes were encouraged, and there were candy prizes delivered by Andy Karl himself! Their rockin' band included Steven Jamail(Music Director/Pianist), Britt Bonney (Keyboard), Tim Kodres (vocals), Jeremy Yaddaw (Drums), and Micah Burgess (Guitar).

Singer/entertainer Jenene Caramielo brought her thrilling voice to Feinstein's/54 Below last night and BroadwayWorld was there. Jenene graduated from Shenandoah Conservatory, in Virginia, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater. She studied private voice, dance and acting as well as piano and improvisation. After college she started working in different regional theaters in Virginia and Florida. With a thirst to travel she continued her career as the headliner on different cruise lines such as Holland America, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and most recently she performed as a guest entertainer on a 2013 world tour with Princess Cruises where she sang her way through Australia to the middle east and Italy.

Actress/singer Ana Gasteyer made her Cafe Carlyle debut last night and BroadwayWorld was there. Her engagement runs through November 5th.

A few feet away from the stage of the Winter Garden where Lainie Kazan played a Ziegfeld showgirl and understudied Barbra Streisand in 'Funny Girl', a celebrity filled audience and devoted fans got to see Lainie appear on the legendary Iridium nightclub's  stage.   

There's no 'Tomorrow' for this years four day 27th New York Cabaret Convention but there certainly was a thrilling performance of that song by host Kela Blackhurst and the Broadway by the Year Chorus.  The composer and lyricist were in attendance as their songs were performed by a wonderful group of cabaret artists. The convention even produced a 12 year old to recreate the emotions of seeing 'Annie' as Zoe Gelman sang Maybe & NYC to the Rose Theater audience. Luckily there will be a 'tomorrow' for the Mabel Mercer Foundations Cabaret Convention and mark your calendars for the 28th New York Cabaret Convention in 2017.

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.  

Still witty, smart and funny at 95 years of age, the legendary comic Marty Allen was hosted (not roasted) at a Friars Club lunch.  Emmy Award winning Friar Bill Boggs interviewed Marty about his long career in show business.  Marty worked as an opening act for stars such as Sarah Vaughan, Eydie Gorme and Nat King Cole gained enormous fame when he teamed up with singer Steve Rossi and made 44 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.  In 1961 and 1962 Allen appeared on Broadway in Let It Ride! at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre and then went on to perform in the pre-Broadway tour and Broadway performances of I Had A Ball.

The Friars Club hosted a one night only event last night that will be remembered for many years by Ben Vereen.  Chita Rivera brought him to the club for what Ben thought was a small dinner in his honor.  When Ben walked out of the elevator the huge mahogany  doors of the Milton Berle Room and Barbra Streisand Room swung open to a capacity crowd of Friars shouting "SURPRISE" and singing Happy Birthday.   It was an emotional happy celebration as Ben's many friends toasted the legendary performer and humanitarian.  Friar Board Member and Chairman of the Friars Admission Committee Bill Boggs officially made Ben Vereen an Honorary Friar.  As Bill pointed out to Ben in his presentation,  " I have the power to bestow this title on you….. being an Honorary Member entitles you to walk into the club at any time, enjoy a great meal in the Frank Sinatra dinning room…..and pay for it! "