From the wilds of Palm Beach, Cabaret starved creatures journeyed to their favorite watering hole in West Palm last night. Cafe Centro was the place to be for an evening of roaring music and fun with head Safari guide Rob Russell who managed to tame the assembled with his soothing voice.. There were some beautiful and exotic species at this gathering and my stealthy telephoto lens managed to bag a few shots as everybody in the room were acting like they were let out of a cage. New York City may have Cafe Society but Palm Beach now has Cafe Safari.
An exclusive November benefit concert by Tony® and Grammy award-winning performer John Lloyd Young raised more than $225,000 for the not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre.
Most performers have a career/performance arc. Oftentimes fans compare early Sinatra crooning to the Chairman of the Board's later rugged vocal swagger. As the years ascend it's not unusual for vocalists to descend a key on the melodic scale. Marilyn Maye connoisseurs marvel at her early recordings but are also completely captivated by the current version of the super singer.
Don't let Carole J. Bufford perform a concert in Central Park during a dry summer season. She might set the trees on fire. Most cabaret shows have their moments. When Carole is on stage it seems that every moment just leads to another moment of vocal excitement. Last night had many highs during the celebration of Carole's newest album, “Come Together” which features the music of the 60s and 70's. Yes, there were many high notes in this show, however one of the best lowest notes between Palm Beach and New York City happened when Carole asked her friend Sandy Fisher to join her on stage. Sandy, Producer, Legends Radio Host (Legends Ladder), and champion of Cabaret and the Great American Songbook was the party planner for this great night.
Avery Sommer (Broadway's Ain't Misbehavin', Show Boat, Chicago) and Angela Bacari singer and vocal coach to the stars (Liza Minnelli, Marisa Berenson) joined entertainer Rob Russell for the semi official opening of Cafe Centro's Cabaret season last night and it seemed that everyone present got into the act. Rob, whose engaging Baritone voice can also be heard on Legends Radio spinning records (pressing digital buttons) of other Great American Songbook singers got the crowd going with his Marilyn Maye infused song list.
You can physically build a welcoming and attractive Cabaret Room (in this case Mr. Finn's at Barrington Stage). You can have a name on the door that represents important musical theater (William Finn). However it really doesn't have any greatness unless the music and artists that appear on it's stage are of the highest order.
Donna McKechnie, the Tony Award Winning Actress for A Chorus Line was in a different line last night. The super star was in The Lineup hosted by Susie Mosher at the Birdland Theater. Wether you're upstairs, downstairs, or on the line waiting to get into the club, there are celebs all over the place at Birdland and last night was no different. Tony Award winner Chita Rivera was in the house cheering a performance by her daughter Lisa Mordente who sang in Susie's wild variety show. It also wasn't to shabby that TV ( Madam Secretary) Film (Jersey Boys) and Broadway star Erich Bergen was in last night's Lineup too.
The Broadway at Birdland concert series presented singer/pianist Steve Ross in “Songs I Love” last night. Steve looked back at his long career and revisited songs from his first recording (1979) and his more recent efforts celebrating Alan Jay Lerner, Noel Coward and Stephen Sondheim. KT Sullivan who is currently appearing with Steve at the Irish Repertory Theatre in LOVE, NOEL: The Songs and Letters of Noel Coward (written and devised by Barry Day) joined Steve for a few songs.
An exclusive November benefit concert by Tony Award-winning singer and actress Rachel Bay Jones raised more than $160,000 for the not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre.
World-renowned opera singer and recitalist Stephanie Blythe will premiere her new cabaret act, 'The Tender Trap,' as a special benefit for The Mabel Mercer Foundation today evening, June 14th at Feinstein's / 54 Below. Ms. Blythe, acclaimed by The New York Times as 'a force of nature,' will celebrate 'love, obsession, and the stuff in between,' in a repertoire selected from the Great Popular Songbook of the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s - a golden age for the melodies and lyrics of Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and (eventually) Hollywood.
World-renowned opera singer and recitalist Stephanie Blythe will premiere her new cabaret act, 'The Tender Trap,' as a special benefit for The Mabel Mercer Foundation on Thursday evening, June 14th at Feinstein's / 54 Below. Ms. Blythe, acclaimed by The New York Times as 'a force of nature,' will celebrate 'love, obsession, and the stuff in between,' in a repertoire selected from the Great Popular Songbook of the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s - a golden age for the melodies and lyrics of Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and (eventually) Hollywood.
Ann Hampton Callaway & Amanda McBroom, two of the most celebrated song-writing Divas, brought their show Devalicious to Barrington Stage Company last night and Broadwayworld was there. The Divas are taking the show to London and the Pittsfield audience was treated to an exciting evening of original and Great American Songbook tunes. Ann and Amanda are also known for their wit and humor as well as their beautiful music and the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage had it all last night.
