Lauren Stanford News

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Lauren Stanford in "More Than You Know" on Friday, March 20th, 2015 at 9:30pm

2013 MetroStar winner and Kansas native, Lauren Stanford, made her solo cabaret debut last summer with I'm a Stranger Here Myself. For one special encore performance, I'm a Stranger Here Myself will be presented on February 1st at 1:00pm at The Metropolitan Room. The show explores New York City's enduring lure through songs made popular by small town women such as Helen Morgan, Mary Martin, Julie Wilson, Peggy Lee and more. Directed by Eric Michael Gillett with Music Direction by Mike Pettry.

If you've been a regular reader of this particular reviewer's musings, you know that every year there are long stretches of time where I just haven't been able to critique all the shows I've seen that deserve commentary. So I end up playing what they call in sports, 'Catch-up ball,' and post a mash up of belated reviews from past shows. It's kind of like a critic's version of the song 'Six Months Out of Every Year,' from Damn Yankees. Give or take a month or two, that's usually the time period during which I store unpublished reviews in my fevered brain and then unload them all in one seemingly endless column-like this one is going to be. If my cabaret-show reviewing days will be over (as chronicled here), I might as well go out with a bang-and relieve my procrastination guilt during holiday season. Now I can scratch one New Year's resolution off the list.

2013 MetroStar Winner Lauren Stanford will bring Helen Morgan, to life in 'More Than You Know.' Directed by Eric Michael Gillett with Music Direction by Mike Pettry, the play contains songs the chanteuse made famous, including Jerome Kern's 'Bill' and 'Why Was I Born.' Stanford wrote the piece, described as a dramatic recreation of Helen Morgan's 1932 cabaret act.

Jason Morris performed his unique show - Musically Yogic - Saturday, night 8/30, at Metropolitan Room, with a repertoire that included Broadway and Pop, from Pink (Glitter in the Air) and Leonard Cohen (Hallelujah) to Rodgers and Hammerstein (Climb Every Mountain).

Performer/producer, Jason Morris, the 2013 MetroStar 1st Runner Up, returns to the Metropolitan Room with encore performances of his acclaimed new show, MUSICALLY YOGIC, at 7pm tonight, August 30th and September 22nd.

Last night were the finals of the MetroStar Talent Challenge and BroadwayWorld was there. One by one the nervous five entered the dark room and the process started. The judges were identified and their qualifications noted by host Tom Gamblin.

On Monday, in one of the most competitive MetroStar competitions to date, five finalists were selected to move on to the two-week finals of the 7th annual MetroStar Talent Challenge. The five finalists, who will go head-to-head the next two Mondays, August 18 and 25, are Joanna Morton Gary, Lindsey Holloway, Leah Jennings, David LaMarr and Kristoffer Lowe. The Top 5, narrowed down from a group of nine semifinalists, are the last singers singing from an initial pool of 48 when the 8-week competition began on July 7.

Performer/producer, Jason Morris, the 2013 MetroStar 1st Runner Up, returns to the Metropolitan Room with encore performances of his acclaimed new show, MUSICALLY YOGIC, at 7pm on August 30th and September 22nd.

New York's Metropolitan Room is extending its deadline for applications for this year's 2014 "MetroStar Talent Challenge" to July 4.

Lauren Stanford, winner of the 2013 MetroStar Talent Challenge, headlines the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, in a special prime time engagement beginning tonight, June 3.

The 'MetroStar Talent Challenge,' a singers contest which has launched the careers of several standouts in cabaret, pop and jazz,' turns 7 this year. The 2014 'MetroStar' runs for eight consecutive Mondays, from July 7 through August 25 at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street. Applications are now being accepted through July 1.

Lauren Stanford, winner of the 2013 MetroStar Talent Challenge, headlines the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, in a special prime time engagement beginning June 3. The world premiere of "I'm a Stranger Here Myself," Stanford's solo cabaret debut, plays a four-show engagement through August 1. Opening for Stanford will be her MetroStar co-finalists Jason Morris (first runner-up) and Stephen Mitchell Brown, who will perform short sets on alternating nights.

The Amanda McBroom Project, conceived and directed by Eric Michael Gillett and Arthur Masella, with musical direction by Jeff Cubeta is playing at The Laurie Beechman Theatre for 3 nights only, March 14th, 15th & 17th. Starring in the production are, Karen Akers, Aisha de Haas, Terese Genecco, Mandy Gonzalez, Carolyn Montgomery-Forant and Kt Sullivan. Also appearing are Alison Grace Bradbury, Leah Jennings, Eva Kantor, Lauren Stanford, Erin Wegner Brooks and Melanie Vaughan. BroadwayWorld was there at the opening, check below to see photos from the performance!

The Amanda McBroom Project...continuing the journey will play tonight, March 14, 15, and 17 at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42 Street (Between 9 and 10 Avenues).

The Amanda McBroom Project...continuing the journey will play March 14, 15, and 17 at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42 Street (Between 9 and 10 Avenues). Reservations: 212.695.6909. Music charge $20; Food/drink minimum $15.

A treasure trove of amazing movie themes and songs that didn't reach the winners' circle on Oscar Night! 'Lost Movie Themes' is a celebration of the songwriters for whom it was an honor just to be nominated, interpreted by some of Broadway's most exciting talent. An evening of the unforgettable, the forgotten and the egregiously overlooked, filled with stories about the songs and the making of the movies themselves.

2013 MetroStar Winner Lauren Stanford will bring singer Helen Morgan to life on October 14th in 'More Than You Know: A Helen Morgan Cabaret.' The production is part of The Emerging Artists Theatre New Works Series. Stanford wrote the piece, described as a dramatic recreation of Morgan's

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.

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.