Julie Wilson 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

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, the 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 now on sale at the Jazz at Lincoln Center box office and www.jazz.org.

Following their sold-out show last spring, Helane Blumfield, Lynda Rodolitz, Peggy Schwartz and Deborah Zecher bring their cabaret show FOUR WOMEN, FOUR STORIES' back to Don't Tell Mama on Wednesday, September 18 at 7 PM.

Actress/singer, Leslie Orofino brings her sensational new show SHINE- the music/lives of 4 fearless women ~ who when things got tough ~ they got stronger ~ and became the Stars that Shine even today ... Lady Gaga, Peggy Lee, Dorothy Fields and Alberta Hunter to N.Y. and Ct. It's Broadway, Blues, Jazz, Contemporary and a whole lot of fun! Musicians, Kenneth Gartman on piano and Boots Maleson on bass. Louis Pietig-Director. Limited seating ~ Reservations highly recommended.

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.

Michael Colby and Paul Katz, the creative team behind Tales of Tinseltown, have another Hollywood musical in the offing. On Saturday, November 2nd at 7 pm, The Green Room 42 presents Slay It With Music In Concert a?" to benefit International Rescue Committee. The original musical, acclaimed in both London and off-Broadway, is an ode to Grande Dame Guignol, the genre of 1960s horror movies in which stars like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford made screen comebacks, in the tradition of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Sunset Boulevard, and Psycho. It's a sharp way to cap off Halloween weekend, promising laughs, thrills and chills. The Green Room 42 is on the 4th Floor of YOTEL at 42nd Street and 10th Avenue. The concert version features an all-star cast, directed by Charles Repole with musical direction by Phil Reno. Tickets range between $22.50 and $62.50, and are available now online at: https://tinyurl.com/yyyo4vhn. There is no minimum required at GR42.

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota launches its 24th season with the return of acclaimed vocalist Jennifer Sheehan in a?oeI Know a Place,a?? her tribute to favorite hits of the '60s. Sheehan and her trio, which includes noted Broadway pianist James Followell, guitarist Stephen Benson and percussionist Dan Gross, offers a rich, and dare we say, groovy, assortment of tunes covering everything from Broadway, the Beatles and Bossa Nova, to Bacharach, Blossom Dearie, Simon and Garfunkel and so much more. Guests are also encouraged to don their favorite '60s attire.

Intimate, elegant, cheeky and mischievous as befits its over 21 audience, Circus Center Cabaret roars back to the stage with the 5th anniversary season of its critically acclaimed distillation of top-drawer circus and variety artists, an atmosphere of delightful indulgence, and live music performed by Cabaret Chanteuse Madame Leanne Borghesi and the Roger Glenn Trio. Under the visionary direction of legendary circus teacher and clown Steve Smith, the Circus Center Cabaret is presented in an intimate venue with a full bar at Circus Center's iconic home near Golden Gate Park (755 Frederick Street).  Tickets are $15 for standing room; $45 for main floor seating; $85 for VIP Seating.   Tickets may be purchased by phone at (866) 811-4111 or online at www.circuscenter.org/cabaret beginning Saturday, September 1.

Following their sold-out show last spring, Helane Blumfield, Lynda Rodolitz, Peggy Schwartz and Deborah Zecher bring their cabaret show FOUR WOMEN, FOUR STORIES' back to Don't Tell Mama on Wednesday, September 18 at 7 PM.

Salon is a weekly open mic night where artists can try out new material in a judgment-free zone. I recently did some undercover reporting. It wasn't dangerous or glamorous, like Hunter S. Thompson or Nellie Bly, though it was both alluring and scary at times. I infiltrated the cabaret community to see what it's like being a nightclub singer - and I had a really good time, but I don't want to do it again. I don't know how cabaret performers do it. It's exhausting and it's expensive. You spend all your time promoting yourself, you pay musicians, press reps, photographers and dry cleaners, and every day you run the risk of waking up with a cold and no voice, and an obligation to sing. It's nerve-wracking. Still, these artists continue to produce art for a willing audience: they do it for love of the art and of the audience. It begs the question, though, when a cabaret performer doesn't have a show to do, how do they keep their skills up? How do they continue to grow without spending precious earned cash on an expensive master class?

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with the following acts:

The Infinite Joy Cabaret Benefit features Carole Demas (original Sandy in Grease) and Sarah Rice (original Johanna in Sweeney Todd) alongside a talent-packed cast on Monday, July 15 at 7pm at Don't Tell Mama to help raise funds for The Joyful Heart Foundation to help stop domestic violence and sexual assault. The show is musically directed by multiple MAC and Bistro Award winning Tracy Stark.

Birdland Jazz Club announces July 2019 Schedule featuring Veronica Swift with the Emmet Cohen Trio, Freddy Cole Quartet, Steve Smith's Groove Blue Organ Trio, John Pizzarelli: Two-week engagement, Nancy Kelly, Konrad Paszkudzki and Pasquale Grasso, Lew Tabackin Trio, Michael Wolff Trio, Laura Osnes, Alyssa Allgood Quartet, Ladybugs, The Lineup with Susie Mosher, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Marissa Mulder in I'll Follow The Sun, the songbooks of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Ms. Mulder puts her unique vocal style and interpretation into the incredibly gorgeous catalogue of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, focusing on the enduring and often tumultuous friendships and musical partnership of two of the most important songwriters of our time. The evening will feature iconic songs such as "Ticket To Ride", "Blackbird", "Across The Universe", "Don't Let Me Down," and more!

Austin Pendleton and Barbara Bleier return to Pangea on May 7, 14 and 21, at 7 PM, with How About Love?, a brand new show about everything you always wanted to know about falling in (and out of) love, but were afraid to ask! Bleier and Pendleton, along with Barbara Maier Gustern and Paul Greenwood, will sing love songs (solos, duets, trios and quartets) by such composers as Richard Rodgers, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Kurt Weil, Jonathan Larson, Stephen Sondheim, Peter Larson, George and Ira Gershwin, Francesca Blumenthal and Tom Toce, among others. Paul Greenwood is the Musical Director, and Barbara Maier Gustern directs.

For those unenlightened, Jazz/Pop vocalist Nicolas King might seem like an overnight sensation. If you are new to the scene you've only recently discovered one of the most skillful and exciting male singers around. As they say in the trade, 'He's Hot'. Truth be told, Nicolas has been working and honing his amazing talent for 18 of his 27 years, and coincidently collecting many industry awards along the way. Last night at The Beach Cafe on New York's fashionable East Side, Nicolas thrilled an intimate group of sophisticated and musically astute New Yorkers who had gathered in a location that harks back to the golden age of New York City night life. Proprietor Dave Goodside has recreated the ambience of those fashionable Manhattan night spots that enticed you with good food, drink and entertainment. It may not be the 1950's El Morocco or La Martinique (and surely doesn't cost as much), but this special eventing at The Beach Cafe definitely left the Saturday late night audience feeling they were sharing that same nostalgic supper club experience listening to the romantic and Jazz infused vocals of Nicolas King.

After a raucous New York debut, Leanne Borghesi's MOOD SWINGS is back! Join this 2019 MAC Award Nominee for an Encore Performance, Wednesday Night, May 29th at .The Laurie Beechman Theatre in the heart of New York's Theater District. From sold out houses at The Triad & Feinstein's at the Nikko get seduced into 'Borghesi's Hideaway' for a one of a kind 75-minute spree of sultry jazz, bawdy comedy, and over-the-top bling! Borghesi's robust vocals and comedic chops are accompanied by a sizzlin' 4 piece jazz combo under the musical direction of Brandon Adams & Directed by Nick Minas.

Austin Pendleton and Barbara Bleier return to downtown's hideaway, Pangea, in May, with a brand new show. HOW ABOUT LOVE?  tells you everything you always wanted to know about falling in (and out of) love, but were afraid to ask! Bleier and Pendleton, along with Barbara Maier Gustern and Paul Greenwood, will sing love songs (solos, duets, trios and quartets) by such composers as Richard Rogers, Rogers and Hart, Rogers and Hammerstein, Kurt Weil, Jonathan Larson, Stephen Sondheim, Peter Larson, George and Ira Gershwin, Francesca Blumenthal, and Tom Toce, among others. There are three performances scheduled: May 7, 14, and 21st.

Deborah Grace Winer continues her monthly love affair with New York when her acclaimed musical revue 'NEW YORK: BIG CITY SONGBOOK' returns to Birdland Theatre on Sunday, April 14 at 7:30 pm featuring Klea Blackhurst, LaTanya Hall and Nick Ziobro with Joe Davidian on piano and Jay Leonhart on bass and vocals. Mark Waldrop directs with musical arrangements by John Oddo.