Hannah Jane News

There was so much heart, love and entertainment on the stage of The Rose Theater last night, as The Cabaret Convention celebrated the legacy and the music of the legendary Judy Garland

The third night of the Mabel Mercer Foundation's New York Cabaret Convention hosted by Judy Garland expert John Fricke and actor, singer, humorist Klea Blackhurst had many noteworthy performances during it's three hours last night at Rose Theater. However, the most touching and dramatic Judy Garland minute was not musical. It happened when Sidney Myer a New York City Cabaret superstar related a story from his youth. It seems that Sidney survived the stress of the 50's and 60's of being “different” in the all boy New Jersey Prep School he attended (which Sidney recalled was populated by boys who specialized in terrorism) by focusing on his love of music and his worship of Judy Garland. He described to a spellbound Convention audience of being brought to a Judy Garland concert by his parents, he had his sign “ We Love Judy” in hand and with thousands cheering her as she walked down the aisle in a twist of fate he accidentally came face to face with her. Judy shook his hand and he managed to get out a “thank you” even though he had rehearsed a speech for years if this kind of moment ever happened. . There wasn't a dry eye in the house after his story. The evening had many humorous and emotional moments as Emmy Award winning host John Fricke, who is considered the preeminent Judy Garland and Wizard of Oz authority related many stories about Garland. Klea Blackhurst is probably one of the most effective and beloved Convention hosts and she used her wit and music to make it as always one of the most enjoyable of Convention nights.

It was a spectacular start to the four night 2019 Cabaret Convention at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater Last night.

In a combined triumph for the Classic Popular Songbook, its purveyors and adherents, and the professionalism and perseverance of THE MABEL MERCER FOUNDATION, that unique organization presents its 30th Annual New York Cabaret Convention at The Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, beginning Monday, October 28th and running through Thursday, October 31st. The four individual concerts will be offered at 6:00 PM each evening, and more than seventy-five vocalists and musicians are scheduled to perform. Tickets are on sale at the Jazz at Lincoln Center box office and www.jazz.org starting today, Monday, September 9.

In a combined triumph for the Classic Popular Songbook, its purveyors and adherents, and the professionalism and perseverance of The Mabel Mercer Foundation, that unique organization presents its THIRTIETH annual New York Cabaret Convention at The Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, beginning Monday, October 28th and running through Thursday, October 31th. The four individual concerts will be offered at 6 o'clock each evening, and more than seventy-five vocalists and musicians are scheduled to perform.

When Chris Thorpe performed his one-man show Status at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe, he claimed, provocatively, it wasn't about Brexit. Now, as the withdrawal date fluctuates, the Fringe First-winning, globe-spanning show about how we acquire our national identity, and what happens when we try to escape it, confronts head on the guilt, alienation and identity crisis experienced in response to the biggest political upheaval of the Century.

SISTER ACT returned to New York City last week at Riverside Theater for a sold out run! SISTER ACT was produced by Broadway Workshop and Project Broadway as their 2019 Main Stage production. Scroll down for photos of the cast in action.

Artists in Partnership (AIP), a non-profit cultural arts organization, will host its 17th Annual Cabaret Festival May 14-19 at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. The festival will be a celebration of the cabaret genre honoring the Great American Songbook with performances by award-winning artists (MAC, Bistro, Broadway World, Nightlife awards, among others) and participants in the Adela and Larry Elow American Songbook High School Competition (who are noted by *). All performances are FREE to the public.

Norfolk & Norwich Festival has today announced the full programme for its 2019 Festival (10 - 26 May). The vast and wide-ranging programme showcases artists from around the world and the region presenting a huge variety of work and events throughout the city and around the county, which spans performance, theatre, music, visual arts, literature, circus, outdoor and family events, includes world and UK premieres, one-off spectaculars, and a host of free events across the Festival.  

Chris Thorpe and Rachel Bagshaw's Fringe First award-winning show about a love affair seen through the eyes of someone with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome returns for UK tour

When Chris Thorpe performed his one-man show Status at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe, he claimed, provocatively, it wasn't about Brexit. Now, as the withdrawal date draws ever nearer, the Fringe First-winning, globe-spanning show about how we acquire our national identity, and what happens when we try to escape it, confronts head on the guilt, alienation and identity crisis experienced in response to the biggest political upheaval of the Century.

A Class Act NY, the award-winning acting studio, will produce a concert presentation of PSYKIDZ: A New Musical by award-winning composer and lyricist Bobby Cronin on Sunday, January 20th at the historic Triad Theatre in Manhattan. The creative team includes producers Jessica R. Grosman and Jonathan Grosman, director Lauren Cohn, and music director Sean Mayes.

THOUSAND OAKS STRONG: A BENEFIT FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE BORDERLINE SHOOTING & CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES will be held at Feinstein's/54 Below on Saturday, January 12th, at 11:30pm, in a concert directed and produced by Robert W. Schneider.

A Class Act NY, the award-winning acting studio, will produce a concert presentation of PSYKIDZ: A New Musical by award-winning composer and lyricist Bobby Cronin on Sunday, January 20th at the historic Triad Theatre in Manhattan. The creative team includes producers Jessica R. Grosman and Jonathan Grosman, director Lauren Cohn, and music director Sean Mayes.

Cabaret newcomer Hannah Jane Peterson will perform her solo act ON MY WAY on December 15 at Don't Tell Mama. We sat down with Peterson to get more info about this upcoming show!

The Bitches (Hannah Jane Ginsberg and Alexander Price) return to The PIT for the fifth sold-out month in a row!

The Bitches (Hannah Jane Ginsberg and Alexander Price) return to The PIT for the fifth sold-out month in a row!

Casting is now complete for the Missouri Professional Premiere of the fast-paced, over-the-top farce A Comedy of Tenors, playing from September 1 - September 9. A Comedy of Tenors will be directed by HARRY BOUVY (The Lyceum's 1776 and A Christmas Carol, 2016).

Casting is now complete for the Missouri Professional Premiere of the fast-paced, over-the-top farce A Comedy of Tenors, playing from September 1 - September 9. A Comedy of Tenors will be directed by HARRY BOUVY (The Lyceum's 1776 and A Christmas Carol, 2016).

Everybody has a nationality: most are inherited, and some are given to us. In the midst of a cultural and political climate dominated by Brexit, the Windrush scandal and debates about who has the right to belong, Chris Thorpe questions how we acquire these narratives and the internal and political conflicts that arise when people choose not to accept their nationality.