Eda Sorokoff News

Musical Mondays continued at Le Cirque Cafe last night with the Diane Marino Quartet featuring Harry Allen. M&M Records Recording Artist Diane Marino has recorded, performed, and shared the stage with jazz legends Houston Person, Joe Henderson, Wycliffe Gordon, Harry Allen, Pete Escovedo, Tania Maria, Kirk Whalum, pop music icon Felix Cavaliere and more.

Broadway songstress Sally Wilfert returned to 54 Below with a brand spanking new evening of music- featuring classic melodies and newer works, all seamlessly blended into the perfect, tuneful Wilfert casserole. One of New York's most dynamic voices, audiences have embraced Sally in everything from Broadway's Assassins to her acclaimed off-Broadway appearances in Make Me a Song and See Rock City, among others. In January, Sally knocked the socks off of 54 Below audiences with her breathtaking appearance in The Sound of Their Music: Rodgers & Hammerstein at 54 Below.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were established hit makers when they teamed up to make a musical about cowboys and farmers. What follows was a miracle-Oklahoma!, then Carousel and South Pacific; the list of extraordinary hits goes on. On April 5, 6 and 7 get to know these legends even better at Getting to Know You: Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lyrics & Lyricists first look at the two songwriters as a team. Guest artistic director, writer and host Ted Chapin, head of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, shares an insider's perspective on the pair, gleaned from his years with the Rodgers and Hammerstein families; joined by vocalists Brandon Victor Dixon, Mandy Gonzalez, Jonathan Groff, Rebecca Luker, and Phillipa Soo. BroadwayWorld was there for the first performance- check below for photos from the night!

Kander & Ebb's THE ACT, featuring Anna Chlumsky, Tony winners Randy Graff and Cady Huffman, and more, will play 54 Below in a concert version, continuing tonight April 4 (8 and 11 p.m.). The songs of the show-which originally played Broadway in 1977 with Liza Minnelli as the lead-take place in a nightclub, so it's only fitting this one-night-only event will take place in the swankiest nightclub in town!

Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, held their 28th Annual MAC Awards celebration last evening at BB King's Blues club in Times Square. Winners in twenty-five categories were announced. The show was hosted by the vivacious singer, band leader, multiple MAC Award winner and 2014 Nominee, Terese Genecco. The gala was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President. Don Rebic served as Musical Director. Presenters included Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal and designer Bob Mackie. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners.

The popular Musical Mondays series continues at Le Cirque with Jazz & Cabaret performer Sabrina Wender. A singer-songwriter, dancer and actress, Sabrina Wender has a true passion for the arts. She has recorded a CD of pop music in Italy and also has an in-depth knowledge of American Jazz and Swing music of the 30s and 40s. As a teenager, Sabrina attended summer courses at the High School of Performing Arts in New York and has continued to further her musical studies both in Europe and the U.S. She has composed original ballad songs and soundtracks for documentaries about Italy which she produced and edited herself. As a dancer, Sabrina studied ballet at the Royal Academy of Dance and jazz at the California Club in Milan and currently attends The Steps School in New York. She has performed in music videos for Sting and Zucchero in collaboration with choreographers Momix and David Parsons. Sabrina has appeared on various television programs, including the Italian TV Network RAI where she was the female lead performer on the Saturday evening variety program "Rido." She also studied acting at Thomas G. Waites Acting Studio in New York.In her performances, Sabrina loves to sing Italian "La Dolce Vita" music, American Jazz Standards and Bossanova, all accented by her dancing and passion for the rhythm.

Steven Reineke, Music Director and conductor of the New York Pops greeted concert goers at a party at The Red Eye Grill after the 'On Broadway' concert at Carnegie Hall. On Broadway is an evening which celebrated some of Broadway's most unforgettable hits from the past and present. The sold out concert featured Stephanie J. Block and Andrew Rannells with The New York Pops Orchestra. Check below for photos as BroadwayWorld takes you inside the party!

John Pizzarelli once again expertly switches (musical) hats at Cafe Carlyle with his new concert of bossa nova music. The evening is titled "Strictly Bossa Nova" and it features Daniel Jobim, grandson of the seminal Antonio Carlos Jobim and an ensemble of Brazilian musicians.

54 Below has presented the phenomenally entertaining Fyvush Finkel in a show that is a musical celebration of the 91 year old's long career. It is fitting that "broadway's nightclub" feature a masterful entertainer who 80 years ago was a star in the pre broadway Yiddish Theater. Check out a look back at his recent concert below!

Nearly six decades into her career, Academy Award-winning singer and actress Shirley Jones makes her Cafe Carlyle debut with a two-week run of An Evening with Shirley Jones, continuing through March 15. Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winner John McDaniel (Annie Get Your Gun, Patti Lupone: Live!, The Rosie O'Donnell Show) will serve as Music director and will accompany her on piano March 4-8; actor-composer Ron Abel (Happily Divorced, I Love Lucy's 50th Anniversary Special) will take his place for the performances March 11-15. She'll perform the songs of Rogers, Hammerstein and Hart. Check out photos from her first performance below!

The combination of fine dining and wonderful music continues at the world famous Le Cirque's Musical Mondays. This week it was Australian Jazz Pianist Matt Baker and his trio along with New York's own award winning vocalist Marissa Mulder. Matt Baker tied 5th place in the 2003 Montreux International Solo Jazz Piano competition and was a semi-finalist in 2004 and 2005. The Montreux Jazz Festival also engaged The Matt Baker Trio as their exclusive in-house band 2 years straight. Marissa Mulder has recently received the Julie Wilson Award at the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention and is a favorite of New York audiences.

This week at The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach Florida, Rob Russell entertainment director is presenting Amanda McBroom. Appearing with Amanda, is her long time collaborator and music director pianist/composer Michele Brourman.

Many show business greats have been honored by the Friars Club, and have performed before an audience of entertainment savvy members at the club house on 55th street. Nicole Henry was the latest addition to that list on Feb. 10. This great tradition was continued in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room with an event produced by Friar Historian Bruce Charet and co-produced by Friar Jeff Leibowitz. Singer/pianist Loston Harris was also on the bill. Rosario Dawson hosted the evening of great dining and great music.

Primary Stages, Daryl Roth, and Ted Snowdonin association with Jamie deRoy present The Tribute Artist, a new world premiere comedy written by and starring Tony-nominee Charles Busch (The Divine Sister, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Olive and the Bitter Herbs). Now playing through March 16 atPrimary Stages at 59E59 Theaters, the show opened last night, February 9. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the opening night after party below!

Hailed by The Wall Street Journal as being 'blessed with strong voices and leading man looks,' Will & Anthony Nunziata returned to 54 Below debut with an encore performance of 'Broadway, Our Way,' last night. The singers, actors and recording artists have won acclaim for their concert and symphony performances throughout the country and around the world putting their fresh take on pop standards, Broadway showstoppers, as well as contemporary and classic Italian music. Check out photos from the concert below!

RIDING THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS With BILLY HAYES, written and performed by Bill Hayes, directed by John Gould Rubin, opened last night at St. Luke's Theatre. FIRST he wrote the best-selling book. THEN came the OSCAR-winning movie. NOW Billy Hayes comes to the New York stage with his powerful one-man show, RIDING THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS with BILLY HAYES,directed by John Gould Rubin. Check out photos from opening night below!

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel just welcomed back Tony Award-Winner John Lloyd Young, running through February 15 (8:45PM) with Special Valentines Show on February 14. BroadwayWorld was there for his opening night and you can check out photos below!

Following her acclaimed concert 'Catch the Light,' 54 Below just featured a new show featuring the stunning Michele Lee making a rare appearance in New York. Ms. Lee's new concert boasted an eclectic songbook, with classics she popularized as well songs from those magical composers, lyricists, and artists with whom she has worked and shared stages in every medium. Check out photos from her concert below!

Following her acclaimed concert 'Catch the Light,' 54 Below will feature a new show featuring the stunning Michele Lee making a rare appearance in New York for three nights only, continuing through February 1. Ms. Lee's new concert boasts an eclectic songbook, with classics she popularized as well songs from those magical composers, lyricists, and artists with whom she has worked and shared stages in every medium. Check out photos from her concert below!

Frank Wildhorn with Jane Monheit & Clint Holmes continues 'At the Piano in Song and Story', featuring Wildhorn's pop, jazz, and theatre songbook at Cafe Carlyle, through February 1st, 2014. Check out phtos from the concert below!