Lennie Watts News

Stephen Mosher looks back at the cabaret scene, as captured by his camera in 2019

In the final moments of her one-woman musical play OUTBOUND PLANE, Meg Flather compares the process of recovering from pain and failure and loss to being trapped in mud. The analogy immediately conjures images of the saying about the Lotus -- that is when one realizes that Meg Flather is the living, breathing, walking, talking embodiment of that philosophy. All the parts of Meg Flather make up the ideology of the Lotus and the Mud. She is the earth, and she is the water; together she makes the mud. And out of the mud has bloomed the blossom. Meg Flather has, herself, created that which makes her bloom so bright, so fresh, so replete of color, of fragrance, of peace and of tranquility. Meg Flather is everything that she, herself, needs to shine brightly in a world rife with the dingy and the dank.

Two organizations in the heart of New York City help cabaret performers build their careers through a meticulous curriculum of classes with new sessions beginning in 2020.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director and Tom Toce , Musical Director) announces the line-up for this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2019, which will begin Wednesday, December 11 featuring some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th St., East of 8th Ave.)

New York: Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director and Tom Toce , Musical Director) announces the line-up for this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2019, which will begin Wednesday, December 11 featuring some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th St., East of 8th Ave.)

THOSE GIRLS Sing The Boys (Vol. 1) pays tribute to the men who write and sing the songs, but it also pays tribute to the girl groups and to the strength of women working together.

Two more chances to see the pop/jazz vocal group THOSE GIRLS in 'Those Girls Sing the Boys (vol.1)', their newest show, on November 22nd & December 2nd at 7pm. This time around, the Girls bring their mix of harmony and humor to celebrate music from five decades of male artists (with their own spin on them, of course, and a killer band.) From Elvis to The Rat Pack to Bruno Mars and then some! Performances will be at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, downstairs at the West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd St. NYC - doors open 6:30pm. For tickets: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/956296 Directed by Lennie Watts, Musical Direction by Steven Ray Watkins. www.thosegirlssing.com

Two award winning cabaret besties are having a grand time playing HOMETOWN HEROES at The Laurie Beechman Theatre

Multiple Award winners Kim Grogg and Lennie Watts join forces to honor their HOMETOWN HEROES! Grogg, from Indiana, and Watts, from Missouri pay tribute to songwriters and artists that hail from their home states. Featuring artists from Cole Porter to Burt Bacharach and Hoagy Carmichael to Michael McDonald, Grogg and Watts explore their musical roots, with a nod to artists from New York, where they have resided for over 30 years. Steven Ray Watkins Musical Directs with Matt Scharfglass on bass.

After three sold-out shows in the spring singer, Liora Michelle, returns to Don't Tell Mama on Friday, November 8th and Saturday, December 7th with her NYC cabaret debut show, 'The Greedy Soprano' directed by Lennie Watts with Musical Director Bill Zeffiro.

Day two of the 2019 Mabel Mercer Foundation's 2019 New York Cabaret Convention filled Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center with a lot of Heart and Soul and the music of Frank Loesser last night. The Convention audience was immersed with the music of one of the greatest Broadway songwriters as one by one 23 renowned Cabaret artists performed Frank Loesser hits. The one and only Marilyn Maye brought the evening to a stunning conclusion with her rendition of Joey, Joey and her exciting 3/4 time version of Luck Be A Lady Tonight all arranged and played by the remarkable pianist Tedd Firth.

It was a spectacular start to the four night 2019 Cabaret Convention at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater Last night.

It was a grand night for singing or for dressing as your favorite song, at SINGNASIUM'S Fall Fun(d) Raiser! Singnasium Artistic Director and CEO, Lennie Watts and Board President Kim Grogg started the festivities, and music flowed like hot apple cider. There were no tricks, but A LOT of treats with performances by Rachel Hanser, Jim Speake, Heather Villaescusa, Carmen Cancel, Brad Simmons, Kristine Zbornik, KT Sullivan. Cissy Walken joined in as our glamorous auctioneer.

Lynda Rodolitz brings a?oeAnimal Magnetism,a?? back to Don't Tell Mama in November.

Lynda Rodolitz, the 2018 winner of Mama's Next BIG Act, will reprise her show Animal Magnetismat Don't Tell Mama on Wednesday, November 6at 7 PM and Sunday, November 10 at 4 PM.

NYC singer/comedian John Burns will return to historic Duplex Cabaret Theatre with an encore performance of his popular show John Burns is a Sexy Beast, first presented for three sold-out dates during WorldPride & Stonewall 50 this past June. Directed by 15-time MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs) award-winner Lennie Watts, the special 'Tea Dance' performance will be held on Sunday, October 13, at 4pm.

NYC singer/comedian John Burns will return to historic Duplex Cabaret Theatre with an encore performance of his popular show John Burns is a Sexy Beast, first presented for three sold-out dates during WorldPride & Stonewall 50 this past June. Directed by 15-time MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs) award-winner Lennie Watts, the special 'Tea Dance' performance will be held on Sunday, October 13, at 4pm.

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.

Venerated songwriter and singer Meg Flather brings immaculate marriages of her music and her singing sisters of cabaret to Don't Tell Mama in this show celebrating her work, her friends and sisterhood.

Nicci Nicholas brings her new show, Nothin' Can Be Done, to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, on Sunday, September 15th; Friday, October 11th; Wednesday, October 23rd and Tuesday, November 19th, all at 7:00 pm.