Hoagy Carmichael News

It's April 1st. Do you know when your Spring is coming? During another longggggg New York winter, the good news is that there were a ton of warming cabaret shows. The bad news is that there were so many, even during this seemingly endless winter our intrepid reviewer Stephen Hanks didn't have enough time to review them all right after the performances. So in what is becoming a seasonal ritual, here he offers yet another compilation of 13 'catch-up' cabaret show reviews.

Berkeley Playhouse continues its fifth season with the Tony Award-winning GUYS AND DOLLS. Jon Tracy (Berkeley Playhouse, Aurora Theatre Company, Shotgun Players, San Francisco Playhouse, Magic Theatre) helms this musical from the Golden Age of Broadway, featuring a cast of 22, and choreography by Chris Black (Berkeley Playhouse, Aurora Theatre Company). GUYS AND DOLLS plays tonight, March 21 through April 28 (Press opening: March 23) at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.

The Omaha Community Playhouse presents the 1930s and 40s musical All Night Strut! A Jumpin' Jivin' Jam, opening tonight, March 1, 2013 in the Hawks Mainstage, directed by Susan Baer Collins.

Bay City Players will present 3 OF A KIND on Thursday, April 11 at 7:30 (with talkback session following), Friday & Saturday, April 12-13 at 7:30 p.m. (with wine and dessert reception - Afterglow, $15 ticket required) and Sunday, April 14 at 3 p.m. (with talkback).

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond, including two-time Tony nominee Tom Wopat, Broadway star Elizabeth Stanley, BACKSTAGE award-winning vocalist, director and Broadway actor Eric Michael Gillett, singer/songwriter Tony Desare, singing sensation Hilary Kole, and multiple award-winner Sarah Rice.

Today, February 23 and February 24 and 25 Lyrics & Lyricists tours Miss Peggy Lee's hip musical landscape with guest artistic director Billy Stritch and vocalists Barbara Fasano, La Tanya Hall and Gabrielle Stravelli. Cabaret legend Marilyn Maye, who frequently includes Peggy Lee classics in her shows, joins the show as a special guest.

Berkeley Playhouse continues its fifth season with the Tony Award-winning GUYS AND DOLLS. Jon Tracy (Berkeley Playhouse, Aurora Theatre Company, Shotgun Players, San Francisco Playhouse, Magic Theatre) helms this musical from the Golden Age of Broadway, featuring a cast of 22, and choreography by Chris Black (Berkeley Playhouse, Aurora Theatre Company). GUYS AND DOLLS plays March 21 through April 28 (Press opening: March 23) at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($17-60) and more information, the public may visit berkeleyplayhouse.org or call 510-845-8542x351.

San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon will celebrate 20 years of presenting musical theatre with IT'S DE-LOVELY, a gala fundraising evening with special guest star, two-time Tony winner Sutton Foster, 6pm, tonight, February 7 at the Palace Hotel, 2 Montgomery Street, San Francisco.

On February 23, 24 and 25 Lyrics & Lyricists tours Miss Peggy Lee's hip musical landscape with guest artistic director Billy Stritch and vocalists Barbara Fasano, La Tanya Hall and Gabrielle Stravelli. Cabaret legend Marilyn Maye, who frequently includes Peggy Lee classics in her shows, joins the show as a special guest.

When it comes to the number of award shows staged in a given season, the film, TV and recording industry no longer leave New York Cabaret in the stardust. Kicking off a 10-week period during which the Big Apple cabaret scene will now feature four award ceremonies (including the first-ever BroadwayWorld.com Awards on February 21, the 28th annual Bistro Awards on March 4, and the 27th annual MAC Awards on March 21), the 11th annual Nightlife Awards (voted on by a select group of cabaret and nightlife writers and critics) was staged at The Town Hall on January 14 and, for the most part, was a pleasantly entertaining event. Co-produced by Max Weintraub and nightlife impresario Scott Siegel (Broadway by the Year, 11 O'Clock Numbers at 11 O'Clock, Broadway Ballyhoo, et al), this year's show featured the usual mix of nightclub singing legends, budding cabaret stars, solid veterans of musical theater, outstanding jazz vocalists, stellar instrumentalists, and quirky comedians, almost all delivering the goods under the smooth direction of Scott Coulter.

San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon will celebrate 20 years of presenting musical theatre with IT'S DE-LOVELY, a gala fundraising evening with special guest star, two-time Tony winner Sutton Foster, 6pm, Thursday, February 7 at the Palace Hotel, 2 Montgomery Street, San Francisco.

Broadway Records and 54 BELOW announced in October that they joined in partnership to create a series of albums recorded live at the brand new venue, 54 BELOW, located just steps away from the heart of Times Square.

The Omaha Community Playhouse recently cast the 1930s and 40s musical All Night Strut! A Jumpin' Jivin' Jam opening March 1, 2013 in the Hawks Mainstage, directed by Susan Baer Collins.

Cheyenne Jackson will soon release the third single from his solo album, 'Don't Wanna Know,' which will be available for download starting December 18. Check out a preview of the music video below, which stars Broadway veterans Matt Cavenaugh, Nick Adams, Joshua Buscher, Peter Chursin, Adam Fleming, Lindsay Janisse, Nina Lafarga, Robb Sherman, Brooke Wendle, and Samantha Zak.

Cheyenne Jackson has announced on his official website that the third single from his solo album, 'Don't wanna Know,' will be available for download starting December 18. The full album will be released in 2013.

I first fell in love with Barbara Cook when I was a small child and was taken to see Plain and Fancy. What I remember to this day from that show is Barbara Cook coming onstage in a turquoise Lincoln Continental. The car had a black leather interior and she was dressed to match - turquoise sheath dress with black shoes, belt and hat. It was my ideal picture of what being a grown-up woman should be like (still is). Even though, I saw her many times after that and realized what a beautiful voice she possesses, that picture of her has never left my mind.

This morning, July 11, Broadway favorite Cheyenne Jackson visited Good Day New York to share a new tune from his upcoming album, due in August, entitled 'Before You.' His first single off the album, 'Drive' was released on May 10 and is currently available on iTunes. The music video for 'Before You' will be released tomorrow but in anticipation, click below to hear his live performance of the track on Good Day New York!

On Saturday June 30, Valley Performing Arts Center, Northridge played host to the exquisite Miss Barbara Cook, still radiant at 84, who is perhaps the greatest legendary singer to ever grace a stage. What can one say about this living legend that has not already been said to death? I can only add that being in her presence, as I sat in the vast auditorium, I felt like I had been invited into her living room and was sharing a gift that she was giving to me alone and then, of course, to everyone else lucky enough to be there. She made each and every one feel special.

Broadway favorite Cheyenne Jackson released 'Drive,' the 1st single from his upcoming July EP, last month, and according to his official website, the second single is coming soon. 'Before You' will be released on July 10, and will be available for download on iTunes and Amazon. Check out a sneak peek of the music video below!

Broadway favorite Cheyenne Jackson released 'Drive,' the 1st single from his upcoming July EP, last month, and according to his official website, the second single is coming soon. 'Before You' will be released on July 10, and will be available for download on iTunes and Amazon.