John Pizzarelli News

Michael Feinstein, Melissa Errico, Liz Callaway, The Skivvies, Michael McElroy, Lauren Worsham, Cyrille Aimee, Rachel York, Adam Kantor, Randy Graff, Kim David Smith, Danielle Grabianowski, Jonah Verdon, Julie Hill, Molly Pope, Josh Sharp, Aaron Jackson and Brendan Maclean headline the fifth annual 'Night Of A Thousand Judys' - presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - tonight, June 1.

Brendan Maclean - the acclaimed Australian singer/songwriter - will join Michael Feinstein, Melissa Errico, Liz Callaway, The Skivvies, Michael McElroy, Lauren Worsham, Cyrille Aimee, Rachel York, Adam Kantor, Randy Graff, Kim David Smith, Danielle Grabianowski, Jonah Verdon, Julie Hill, Molly Pope, Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson to headline the fifth annual 'Night Of A Thousand Judys' - presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - on Monday, June 1.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents an evening with Jessica Molaskey, singing your favorites of Joni Mitchell. Tonight, May 30, 2015 8:00 PM at Victoria Theater. Get your tickets now at NJPAC.org or 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722) Hear Molaskey's exciting interpretations of all your Joni Mitchell favorites, from 'Blue' to 'Big Yellow Taxi,' accompanied by world-class musicians and special guest vocalists Madeleine Pizzarelli and Julia Gargano.

Michael Feinstein, Molly Pope, John Early and Jonah Verdon will join the previously announced headliners Melissa Errico, Liz Callaway, The Skivvies, Michael McElroy, Lauren Worsham, Cyrille Aimee, Rachel  York, Adam Kantor, Randy Graff, Kim David Smith, Danielle Grabianowski, Julie Hill, Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson to headline the fifth annual "Night Of A Thousand Judys" - presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - on Monday, June 1. The Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center will take place at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center (129 West 67th Street in Manhattan). Called "a rambunctious, uproarious, unpredictable all-star concert" by The Wall Street Journal, "Night Of A Thousand Judys" will honor the iconic Judy Garland with special skits, tributes and songs from her legendary career as movie star, recording artist and stage performer. There will be a pre-show VIP reception at 6:30 PM and the performance at 8:00 PM.

Billy Stritch and Jim Caruso return to Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel on Sunday, June 7 with their evening of swinging standards, and run every Sunday in June, from 9pm - 12 midnight.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College is pleased to announce its 2015-16 music series. This year's lineup includes 61st Season opener Michael Feinstein, a children's favorite Black Violin, a reimagining of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by Art of Time Ensemble, a holiday concert by Vienna Boys Choir, Robert Glasper Trio, a jazz violin virtuoso Regina Carter, and a tribute to Nat King Cole featuring Ramsey Lewis and John Pizzarelli. These musical events reflect the artistic excellence and cultural diversity to which Brooklyn Center is dedicated.

Generations around the world have grown up with Fiddler on the Roof and such unforgettable, iconic songs as "If I Were a Rich Man" and "Sunrise, Sunset." But getting to the "final Fiddler" was a fascinating process, and on May 30, 31 and June 1-closing the 2015 Lyrics & Lyricists season-lyricist Sheldon Harnick takes us inside the creation and history of this cultural landmark.

The Skivvies, Cyrille Aimee, Adam Kantor, Julie Hill, Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson will join the previously announced headliners Melissa Errico, Liz Callaway, Michael McElroy, Lauren Worsham, Rachel  York, Randy Graff, Kim David Smith and Danielle Grabianowski for the fifth annual "Night Of A Thousand Judys" - presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - on Monday, June 1. The Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center will take place at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center (129 West 67th Street in Manhattan). Called "a rambunctious, uproarious, unpredictable all-star concert" by The Wall Street Journal, "Night Of A Thousand Judys" will honor the iconic Judy Garland with special skits, tributes and songs from her legendary career as movie star, recording artist and stage performer. There will be a pre-show VIP reception at 6:30 PM and the performance at 8:00 PM.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents an evening with Jessica Molaskey, singing your favorites of Joni Mitchell. Saturday, May 30, 2015 8:00 PM at Victoria Theater. Get your tickets now at NJPAC.org or 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722) Hear Molaskey's exciting interpretations of all your Joni Mitchell favorites, from 'Blue' to 'Big Yellow Taxi,' accompanied by world-class musicians and special guest vocalists Madeleine Pizzarelli and Julia Gargano.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a star-studded 2015-16 season of music, dance, theater, comedy, film and more. Among the many highlights are performances by BalletBoyz, Margaret Cho, Joan Collins, Alan Cumming, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Ana Gasteyer, The Hot Sardines, Jane Lynch, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and The TEN Tenors, all of whom will be making their Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts debuts, alongside returning favorites such as Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt, Arturo Sandoval and Poncho Sanchez, Martin Short, and Tommy Tune.

SPARKLE & CIRCULATE with JUSTIN SAYRE - the official monthly podcast of the International Order of Sodomites - has posted the seventh episode, which features an in-depth conversation with Carl Siciliano, founder of the Ali Forney Center, which provides shelter and services for homeless LGBT youth. The show is available on iTunes here.  Every June, Sayre's event Night of a Thousand Judys honors Judy Garland for Pride and raises money for the organization. Carl explains how the center was formed, who Ali Forney was and the challenges they face with fundraising. The first six episodes of the show - featuring interviews with Randy Harrison, Michael Musto, Frank DeCaro, Kim David Smith, Jeffery Self and R&B legend Sarah Dash - are also available. SPARKLE & CIRCULATE is produced by Dan Fortune and Tyrus Emory.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater on Sunday, May 17 at 9:30 PM to conclude the Spring 2015 Season. The Meeting* has been called 'delicious and delightfully droll' by The New York Post and 'hilarious and sardonic' by The Village Voice. A story for Slate.com called the evening 'so deliciously icy that it left me shivering with fear and delight.' The Fall 2014 shows sold out after a New York Times 'Arts & Leisure' piece ran last September. The May show will be a celebration of The Scissor Sisters with special guests Amber Martin, Edgar Oliver, Tammy Faye Starlight, Michael Cavadias, Bridget Barkan, Jamie Wright, Angela DiCarlo, Philip Taratula and Brendan Michael. David Nagler serves as the show's Music Director.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College announces its 2015-16 Season of music, dance, theater, and family programming, reflecting the multicultural diversity of Brooklyn. Hailing from Austria, Russia, China, Canada, and across the United States, the awards-winning artists include both Brooklyn Center premieres and returning favorites.

We're reaching for the moon, putting all our eggs in one basket, dancing cheek to cheek and pouring our hearts into a song, because it's time to face the music and dance! All Dancing! All Singing! is the first Lyrics & Lyricists dance revue, celebrating Irving Berlin's contributions to Hollywood musicals. Artistic director/choreographer Randy Skinner directs a cast of hand-picked young vocalists/dancers -- Darien Crago, Danny Gardner, Drew Humphrey, Kristie Kerwin, Con O'Shea-Creal and Kristen Beth Williams -- who are joined by veterans Sandy Duncan and Don Correia as special guests. Performances are May 2, 3 and 4.

The South Orange Performing Arts Center will host its annual benefit Gala in celebration of the successful completion of its ninth season and receiving the Discover Jersey Arts People's Choice Award for Favorite Small Performing Arts Center in New Jersey on Saturday, May 30, 2015. The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held at the Center, One SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ 07079.  The theme of this year's SOPAC Gala is "Arts and Education," which will highlight three honorees for their extraordinary contributions to cultural and educational endeavors in the local community.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will make its SAN FRANCISO debut to OASIS (298 Eleventh Street, San Francisco CA) tonight, April 25 at 7:30 PM. The Meeting* has been called 'delicious and delightfully droll' by The New York Post and 'hilarious and sardonic' by The Village Voice. A story for Slate.com called the evening 'so deliciously icy that it left me shivering with fear and delight.' The New York run of The Meeting* - currently running monthly at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater - has been sold out since the New York Times 'Arts & Leisure' piece ran last September. Special musical guests for the Oasis performance will include Veronica Klaus, Connie Champagne, and D'Arcy Drollinger. Tickets are $20 and are available at SFOasis.com.

You've probably heard a variation of this joke at a cabaret performance.  The performer will say something like "if you know the words, please don't sing along." Ann Hampton Callaway teasingly cajoles her audience to join in while she's singing a musically complex scat arrangement during her act.  When John Pizzarelli asked the The Carlyle audience to sing along as he and Daniel Jobim sang the nights closing number (Antonio Carlos Jobim's Aqua De beber), it wasn't funny.  The many Brazilians filling the seats in the Cafe  expertly chanted in Portuguese. Sometimes I find it difficult to handle the syncopated rhythms which accent the second beat of a measure in Bossa Nova, but this crowd didn't. 

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will make its SAN FRANCISO debut to OASIS (298 Eleventh Street, San Francisco CA) on Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 PM. The Meeting* has been called "delicious and delightfully droll" by The New York Post and "hilarious and sardonic" by The Village Voice. A story for Slate.com called the evening "so deliciously icy that it left me shivering with fear and delight." The New York run of The Meeting* - currently running monthly at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater - has been sold out since the New York Times "Arts & Leisure" piece ran last September. Special musical guests for the Oasis performance will include Veronica Klaus, Connie Champagne, and D'Arcy Drollinger. Tickets are $20 and are available at SFOasis.com.

Cafe Carlyle is pleased to welcome back guitarist John Pizzarelli, who just performed a sold-out, critically lauded show with wife Jessica Molaskey which TIME placed on their list of 2014's Ten Best Plays & Musicals. He will premiere Strictly Bossa Nova II, a new concert of bossa nova music featuring the Brazilian singer-songwriter and pianist Daniel Jobim, grandson of the seminal Antonio Carlos Jobim, tonight, April 21-May 2, 2015.

We're reaching for the moon, putting all our eggs in one basket, dancing cheek to cheek and pouring our hearts into a song, because it's time to face the music and dance! All Dancing! All Singing! is the first Lyrics & Lyricists dance revue, celebrating Irving Berlin's contributions to Hollywood musicals. Artistic director/choreographer Randy Skinner directs a cast of hand-picked young vocalists/dancers -- Darien Crago, Danny Gardner, Drew Humphrey, Kristie Kerwin, Con O'Shea-Creal and Kristen Beth Williams -- who are joined by veterans Sandy Duncan and Don Correia as special guests. Performances are May 2, 3 and 4.