KT Sullivan News

In 1962, Ray Charles made history when he brought soul music and country music together in the same album: Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music. Now, more than 50 years later, just in time for the late legend's 84th birthday, Joe's Pub and the Album of the Month Club expand the palette by adding jazz, cabaret, Broadway, folk music, and bluegrass into Brother Ray's classic mix. On Monday, September 23 at 9:30 pm, Joe's Pub will present the first in a ongoing series of shows celebrating great pop and jazz albums, during which classic songs will be explored and re-examined by a rotating cast of singers and musicians in styles covering jazz, pop, Broadway, cabaret, and blues.

For four magical nights in October, the Mabel Mercer Foundation will present a sparkling array of America's leading cabaret stars. Among the 60 outstanding artists who will take the stage at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center from October 7th through 10th are multiple Grammy Award winner Jack Jones, Marilyn Maye, Steve Ross, Karen Akers, Nellie McKay, and Barbara Carroll.

On September 21, Macchia--who works full-time as a florist by day and part-time as a manager at the Metropolitan Room by night--will celebrate his 'Fierce and Fabulous' 40th birthday with the launch of Season Eight of Cabaret Cares. Over the first seven years of the variety series, now staged at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, Macchia has raised more than $80,000 to help children from infants to teenagers suffering from HIV and AIDS. During the first year, funds raised through the Cabaret Cares benefit shows helped 22 children. Now Macchia's Help Is On The Way charity-which is run out of Joseph's home and has no salaried staff--services around 650 kids, supplying everything from school backpacks to weeks at a summer camp.

Corinna Sowers-Adler, Bloomfield resident and Wilkes University Graduate, is set to make her Lincoln Center debut in the 24th Annual New York Cabaret Convention on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 6pm in Lincoln Center's 1,300 seat Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Created in 1985 as a not-for-profit arts organization, The Mabel Mercer Foundation serves to both perpetuate the memory and spirit of its legendary namesake and to stimulate and promote public interest world of cabaret. Currently in its third decade, the Foundation and its efforts have been perhaps best summarized and recognized by a recent commendation from The Oakland Tribune: "Cabaret may not be thriving, but it is alive and well, thanks mainly to The Mabel Mercer Foundation and its support of wonderfully diverse talents."

The Crazy Coqs October schedule begins with Steven Brinberg, who returns following his sell-out show earlier this year with Simply Barbra (October 1- 5), followed by Les Miserables actress and singer Frances Ruffelle and her show Paris Original (October 8 - 12). New York singer-pianist Billy Stritch performs his show I've Got Your Number - The Jazz of Cy Coleman (October 15- 19). As part of the London Festival of Cabaret, Karen Kohler and KT Sullivan will duet together in their show Vienna to Weimar (October 22- 26) followed by KT Sullivan with Rhyme, Women and Song (October 29 - November 2).

London will celebrate CABARET in the inaugural LONDON FESTIVAL OF CABARET, celebrating The Great American and European Songbooks, and will see this extraordinary Cabaret genre playing in venues across the Capital from SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER to SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2013 - a Festival filled with unique opportunities to see world class cabaret acts, newcomers and artists who have never ventured into the world of cabaret….

The actress Lauren Stanford pulled off a dramatic win last night, as she became the 2013 MetroStar at the Metropolitan Room in New York. A Kansas City native with musical theatre credits, Stanford edged out her four co-finalists in tight scoring that belied how strong and evenly matched this year's MetroStar Talent Challenge Top 5 had become.

In cabaret, there are variety shows and there are VARIETY shows. Going on close to three years as a reviewer and attending a myriad of these affairs that can range in feel from Ed Sullivan to the Gong Show, I no longer have much patience for the lower case version. But every once in a while there's a multi-performer extravaganza that screams capital letters. It turns out that MAC-Award winning singer Lauren Fox has acquired the knack for staging 'Big V' variety shows because they are all about the themes, the stories, and the music, and not about the performers. And wouldn't you know it? With the egos being upstaged by everyone's joy and passion for the project, everybody wins . . . especially the audience. That was the case last night at 54 Below with the Fox produced 'One Night of Peace & Music: A Tribute to Woodstock.'

Last night, August 13th at 8 & 10pm, ScoBar Entertainment presented A TRIBUTE TO Julie Wilson at Iridium NYC. Performers included Eric Comstock, Baby Jane Dexter, Natalie Douglas, Antonio Edwards, Eric Engelhardt, Barbara Fasano, Terese Genecco, Jeff Harnar, Mark Hartman, Tanya Holt, Sue Matsuki , Marissa Mulder, Christine Pedi, Colm Reilly, Julie Reyburn, Ricky Ritzel, KT Sullivan, Stacy Sullivan, Grace Wall, Lennie Watts & Carol Woods. Accompanying the performers was The Barry Levitt Trio, Barry Levitt on piano, Dick Sarpola on bass & Ray Marchica on drums. Check ot photos from the special event below!

After a highly competitive semi-final round of the 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' at The Metropolitan Room last night, five finalists were picked to move forward in the 7-week singers' competition. The five finalists, who will go head to head next Monday, August 19, are Stephen Mitchell Brown, Venessa Diaz, Jason Morris, Tony Ponella and Lauren Stanford.

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. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular 'Backstage' with Susie Mosher is 15:54, and more:

On Tuesday, August 13th at 8 & 10pm, ScoBar Entertainment will present A TRIBUTE TO JULIE WILSON at Iridium NYC. Performers confirmed thus far are Eric Comstock, Baby Jane Dexter, Natalie Douglas, Antonio Edwards, Eric Engelhardt, Barbara Fasano, Terese Genecco, Jeff Harnar, Mark Hartman, Tanya Holt, Sue Matsuki , Marissa Mulder, Christine Pedi, Colm Reilly, Julie Reyburn, Ricky Ritzel, KT Sullivan, Stacy Sullivan, Grace Wall, Lennie Watts & Carol Woods.Accompanying the performers is The Barry Levitt Trio, Barry Levitt on piano, Dick Sarpola on bass & Ray Marchica on drums,

More talent is on display this coming Wednesday, Aug 7th, for Broadway Ballyhoo at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. This ever-changing musical revue will feature, this week, some of the greatest performers of our contemporary nightclub world. Scott will welcome to the Ballyhoo, the new leader of the Mabel Mercer Foundation and one of cabaret's most award-winning stars, KT SULLIVAN, plus the irrepressible MARK NADLER who has been called, 'arguably the greatest entertainer in the world,' and the multiple-award winning vocalist JULIE REYBURN. All three of the above are Nightlife Award-winning performers. They will be joined by the musical theater and TV Star who famously understudied Hugh Jackman inThe Boy From Oz, KEVIN SPIRTAS, as well as Broadway Rising star NIKKI GUEVARA.

While Woodstock 1969 will probably forever be known as the ultimate rock n roll festival of all time, NYC cabaret hot spot 54 Below is lining up an impossibly impressive assortment of stars for a one night only Woodstock tribute in August, led by two-time Tony Award-winner Norbert Leo Butz and Broadway/Hollywood notable Raul Esparza.

Beginning tonight, 75 solo singers are competing in the sixth annual MetroStar Talent Challenge at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street. Hosted by the comic actor-singer Jay Rogers, the seven-week, jury-and audience-voted competition kicks off with three weeks of trials (July 8, 15, 22), after which the Top 18 contestants will advance to the next round.

Drama Desk and Helen Hayes Award winner Jim Brochu ('Zero Hour,' 'The Big Voice: God or Merman?') just debuted his new solo show 'Character Man' at the Metropolitan Room. Check out photos from the concert below!

ScoBar Entertainment will present A Cabaret Full of Cahn Artists, a tribute to the great Sammy Cahn on his 100th birthday. Produced by writer Rob Lester, the evening, which consists of two different shows (8 & 10 pm) will benefit Cabaret Scenes Magazine, with all proceeds donated to Cabaret Scenes Magazine, the only print publication of its kind, its website, www.cabaretscenes.org and the non-profit Cabaret Foundation. Associate producer is Stevie Phillips. According to producer Rob Lester, this Centennial 'Cahn-cert' includes special 'Cahn-versations' about Sammy and a 'Cahn-Test' with prizes and a raffle.

ScoBar Entertainment will present A Cabaret Full of Cahn Artists, a tribute to the great Sammy Cahn on his 100th birthday. Produced by writer Rob Lester, the evening, which consists of two different shows (8 & 10 pm) will benefit Cabaret Scenes Magazine, with all proceeds donated to Cabaret Scenes Magazine, the only print publication of its kind, its website, www.cabaretscenes.org and the non-profit Cabaret Foundation. Associate producer is Stevie Phillips. According to producer Rob Lester, this Centennial 'Cahn-cert' includes special 'Cahn-versations' about Sammy and a 'Cahn-Test' with prizes and a raffle.