James Followell News

On Thursday evening, May 9, 2013, at 9:30PM, The Metropolitan Room will present multi-award winning entertainer, Dennis McNeil in his cabaret show, 'Me and My Big Mouth,' with Musical Director, James Followell.

Stephen Hawking and his fellow physicists may not have yet figured out the formula for traveling through the time-space continuum, but apparently the Metropolitan Room discovered the secret. Last Friday night (October 26), I walked through the curtain into the main performance space and entered a time tunnel that took me from the 21st century into the 1960s and '70s. Two lovely, rising young stars of cabaret, Lauren Fox and Jennifer Sheehan (photo left), had obviously hurtled though that same time warp because in two separate shows on the same evening, they performed songs that had been written and recorded 15 to 25 years before they were born. In the process they transported this particular Baby Boomer joyously back to his youth and to the days of cultural upheaval, generation gaps, peace, love, war, and some of the best pop/rock music ever written.

Jennifer Sheehan reprises her critically acclaimed '60s show, "I Know a Place," for three nights this month at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street.

There may have been 40 cabaret performers strutting their stuff this past week at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center, but the true star of the three-night extravaganza (October 17-19) was the late Donald Smith, the cabaret impresario and guru to the genre's luminaries, who died this past March at 79. Sponsored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, which Smith founded in 1985, this year's Convention featured numerous homages to Smith from the performers, many of whom had their career's supported and advanced with the help of the colorful and beloved cabaret producer and promoter. Early in Wednesday's Gala Opening Night show, the 'first lady of the American keyboard' Barbara Carroll called her friend Donald Smith 'the quintessential New Yorker,' and when Mark Nadler closed night one with George and Ira Gershwin's 'Our Love Is Here to Stay,' he said, 'Everybody who cares about the myths of these songs are in this room tonight.' Well, it was clear that anyone who cared about Donald Smith was at the Rose Theater for at least one of the three shows.

Jennifer Sheehan reprises her critically acclaimed '60s show, "I Know a Place," for three nights in October at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street.

Feinstein's at Loews Regency continues its Spring 2012 season with the debut of multi-award winning singer Jennifer Sheehan in her new show "I Know A Place." Sheehan and her trio traverse the vast spectrum of music that was the sensational soundtrack of the '60s. Plus, she shares how younger generations are falling in love with these classic songs just as their parents did. Brimming with songs and stories, "I Know A Place" features music by songwriters such as Burt Bacharach, The Beatles and Antonio Carlos Jobim and songs made famous by Barbra Streisand, Petula Clark, Carole King and more. The show opened last night, May 23 and runs from May 23 through June 2 at the Loews Regency Hotel. Check out photos of the concert below!

Uptown Express, the Bistro Award-winning and seven-time MAC Award-nominated male vocal pop quartet, delivers 'love songs both surprising and sweet, spanning the history of pop music, with their new show, Sh-Boom! From classics by artists like The Beach Boys and Paul McCartney to some of today's most talented entertainers including Bruno Mars, Michael Bublé and Jason Mraz, Uptown Express has a jam-packed curriculum.' The show will also feature a soon-to-be-announced guest star.

Uptown Express, the Bistro Award-winning and seven-time MAC Award-nominated male vocal pop quartet, delivers 'love songs both surprising and sweet, spanning the history of pop music, with their new show, Sh-Boom! From classics by artists like The Beach Boys and Paul McCartney to some of today's most talented entertainers including Bruno Mars, Michael Bublé and Jason Mraz, Uptown Express has a jam-packed curriculum.' The show will also feature a soon-to-be-announced guest star.

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and what's coming up in the world of cabaret (and sometimes beyond!) This week's column features Jennifer Sheehan at The Metropolitan Room, Steve Sieck at Don't Tell Mama, Alex Getlin at Feinstein's, and Jarrod Spector, also at Feinstein's!

Last night, May 10, the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs presented the 2011 MAC Awards. The awards ceremony and show was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts and was held at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill. The evening was hosted by Christine Pedi. Steven Ray Watkins was the musical director.

A few years ago a seemingly shy 'unknown' got up at Jim Caruso's Cast Party and sang the Susan Werner song 'Movie of My Life'. She immediately went on my List of singers to follow. As Johnny Carson used to say when introducing Marilyn Maye,'All you young singers out there, listen & learn.' For her show at the Metropolitan Room Jennifer had the perfect match up with her pianist/arranger James Followell and Jered Egan on bass. Her show is aptly titled (for me) You Made Me Love You.

The award-winning Jennifer Sheehan brings her much-lauded celebration of the Great American Songbook, 'You Made Me Love You,' to the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, for three weeks in March.

Jennifer Sheehan makes her Metropolitan Room debut in a four-show, three-week engagement the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, running from March 10 to 26.

The award-winning Jennifer Sheehan brings her much-lauded celebration of the Great American Songbook, 'You Made Me Love You,' to the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, for three weeks in March.

Uptown Express plays Friday, December 31 for Two Shows! 6:00 pm - Dinner seating 7:30 pm Performance - Show Tickets $40 9:30 pm - Dinner Seating 11pm - Performance - Show Tickets $50

Bob Egan's New Hope will celebrate the new year with two performances by Jersey-Boys inspired, New York-based vocal group, Uptown Express, December 31. The group will perform shows at 7:30 and 11 pm. Both shows are dinner shows with seating at 6 and 9:30 pm.

Uptown Express plays Friday, December 31 for Two Shows! 6:00 pm - Dinner seating 7:30 pm Performance - Show Tickets $40 9:30 pm - Dinner Seating 11pm - Performance - Show Tickets $50

Bob Egan's New Hope will celebrate the new year with two performances by Jersey-Boys inspired, New York-based vocal group, Uptown Express, December 31. The group will perform shows at 7:30 and 11 pm. Both shows are dinner shows with seating at 6 and 9:30 pm.

Spotlight Theatre Company presents "Showtune: Celebrating the Words & Music of Jerry Herman" August 28 - September 25 at the John Hand Theater, 7653 E. 1st Place in Denver.

Spotlight Theatre Company presents "Showtune: Celebrating the Words & Music of Jerry Herman" August 28 - September 25 at the John Hand Theater, 7653 E. 1st Place in Denver.