Karen Akers News

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, will present the Bay Area debut of "Jim Caruso's Cast Party" on Tuesday, November 6 at 8:00 PM. "Jim Caruso's Cast Party" is a wildly popular weekly event that has been bringing a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland in New York City every Monday night for the past nine years. The hilariously impromptu evening has also been celebrating local talent across the country, in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Cleveland, Austin, Orlando, Pittsburgh, and on the high seas.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the acclaimed gay comedy/variety show will continue their fourth season tonight, October 18, 2012 at The Duplex in New York's West Village.

The York Theatre Company has announced the first Off-Broadway revival of the of Closer Than Ever, with lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by David Shire, will end its extended run with its 150th performance on Sunday evening, November 4, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue) where performances began June 5, 2012.

The York Theatre Company in association with Edward Negley, Neil Berg and Adam Friedson, welcomes Marya Grandy (Les Miserables, Damn Yankees) to the cast of Closer Than Ever with Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Music by David Shire, filling in for Jacquelyn Piro Donovan from October 13 - November 4, due to a prior commitment.

The Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street), New York's landmark theatre and concert venue, has announced the Eighth Annual Broadway Cabaret Festival, which takes place over three consecutive weeks in October. The Broadway Cabaret Festival begins tonight, October 13th at 8pm with Linda Eder: A New Life, and continues on Sunday, October 21st at 3pm with Broadway Originals!. The Festival concludes on Friday, October 26th at 8pm with The Best of Broadway by the Year. The Broadway Cabaret Festival is created, written and hosted by Scott Siegel for The Town Hall.

Lauren Fox, whose highly praised Joni Mitchell-Leonard Cohen show was considered one of the most artistically ambitious cabaret debuts in years, continues to explore the music of the '60s and '70s in a new show, 'Canyon Folkies,' playing at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street. In a major engagement consisting of four shows through November 2, Fox reunites with music director Jon Weber on piano, Peter Calo on guitar and Ritt Henn on bass. 'Canyon Folkies: Over the Hills and Under the Covers' performs Friday October 12 at 7pm; Friday October 26 at 9:30pm, and Friday November 2 at 7pm. Check out photos from the concert below!

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the acclaimed gay comedy/variety show will continue their fourth season on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at The Duplex in New York's West Village.

Tasti D-Lite has named a new flavor, "MISS BYRD'S RED VELVET D-LITE," to honor one of the best reviewed Off-Broadway shows of the year, Closer Than Ever with lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by David Shire. Current cast members of The York Theatre Company production, Jacquelyn Piro Donovan, Anika Larsen, James Moye, and Sal Viviano, will be on hand on Thursday, October 4th at 5:00 p.m. at the Times Square Tasti D-Lite (1588 Broadway between 47th & 48th St) to introduce the world to the deliciously decadent new treat. There will also be an in-store raffle to win two tickets to Closer Than Ever and a $25 Tasti Treat Card.

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel welcomes one of the finest and most noted cabaret stars, Andrea Marcovicci, in her long-awaited Cafe Carlyle debut. Ms. Marcovicci's four week engagement at the Carlyle's iconic venue runs through October 27th. Check out photos from the concert below!

On Monday, October 1, the Friars Club presented 'Remembering the Oak Room: A musical tribute by its headliners.' This 90-minute program was held in memory of the legendary cabaret venue, featuring nearly a dozen A-list performers whose careers were closely associated with the nightclub in the Algonquin Hotel.

FRIARS CLUB: A Musical Tribute to The Oak Room from Performers Who Starred There will play tonight, October 1, 2012. The evening will be co-hosted by Bill Boggs and Will Friedwald. Scheduled to appear are Karen Akers, Emily Bergl, Barbara Carroll, Eric Comstock, Barbara Fasano, Mark Nadler and K.T. Sullivan.

Continuing their "Celebration of Off-Broadway,' The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), will present a staged concert production - similar in style to their acclaimed Musicals in Mufti Series - of the 1966 musical Man with a Load of Mischief, with music by John Clifton, lyrics by Clifton and Ben Tarver, and book by Tarver. Directed by Jenn Thompson with music direction by Bryan Wade, Man with a Load of Mischief will play three performances only, today, October 1 at 3:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, October 2 at 3:00 p.m. at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's. Casting will be announced shortly

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), has announced full casting for a staged concert production - similar in style to their acclaimed Musicals in Mufti Series - of the 1966 musical Man with a Load of Mischief, with music by John Clifton, lyrics by Clifton and Ben Tarver, and book by Tarver. Directed by Jenn Thompson with music direction by Bryan L. Wade, the cast will feature P.J. Benjamin (Wicked), Naomi Brockwell, Stephen R. Buntrock (A Little Night Music), Rachel de Benedet (Catch Me If You Can), Nancy Johnston (Elf) and Robert Petkoff (Anything Goes).

The annual Broadway Cabaret Festival returns this October 13, 21 & 26, 2012. Experience an extravaganza of Broadway talent in three extraordinary cabaret concerts from classic favorites to contemporary Broadway, from the newest stars to venerated icons, this is the Festival New York theatre fans have been waiting for.

FRIARS CLUB: A Musical Tribute to The Oak Room from Performers Who Starred There will play Monday, October 1, 2012. The evening will be co-hosted by Bill Boggs and Will Friedwald. Scheduled to appear are Karen Akers, Emily Bergl, Barbara Carroll, Eric Comstock, Barbara Fasano, Mark Nadler and K.T. Sullivan.

The York Theatre Company in association with Edward Negley, Neil Berg and Adam Friedson, will welcome James Moye (Dogfight, Million Dollar Quartet) to the cast of Closer Than Ever with Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Music by David Shire, filling in for George Dvorsky from September 25 - October 7, due to a prior commitment.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the acclaimed gay comedy/variety show - will open its fourth season tonight, September 20, 2012 at The Duplex in New York's West Village. Each edition of The Meeting* honors a different gay icon; the September show will pay tribute to Disco chart-topper Sylvester with special guests Bridget Everett, Ben Rimalower and Xavier. Musical Director is Brandon James Gwinn.