Lennie Watts News

Unless the host is particularly warm, funny, and charismatic (think Dana Lorge and her new monthly vehicle at the Metropolitan Room) or the show is a way to champion a good cause (like Joseph Macchia's Cabaret Cares events), for the most part cabaret variety shows are clunky affairs which can be too long, too rambling, give too much time to average talent or not enough of a showcase to outstanding talent. I ran into one of the rare exceptions last month (April 23) in the form of the The Concerts for City Greens' First Annual Gala & 2012 Songwriting Contest Finale, a variety show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre that served as a fund raiser for the launch of a new non-profit called Music and Art for Green which will incorporate Concerts for City Greens within its umbrella.

Step lively! For four nights in May, Billie Roe, the 2012 MetroStar Talent Challenge winner, takes us back to a New York many of us remember with a mixture of fear and affection. The world premiere of “1978 NYC Underground,” with direction by Lennie Watts, uses the music of Tom Waits to journey back to an urban twilight when artists and eccentrics of all stripes colluded to make art, news, and headlines. Music director Tracy Stark on piano leads a 5-person combo that includes Peter Calo on guitar, Saadi Zain on bass, David Silliman on drums and Roxy Coss on sax.

The Concerts for City Greens may be a Spring and Summer music extravaganza held in the lovely early evening air of Manhattan's East Side, but Broadway actress and cabaret headliner Raissa Katona Bennett, who is the concert series' founder and producer, is launching the 2013 season indoors-with a gala benefit concert featuring a star-studded lineup of performers, including quadruple-platinum songwriter and Today Show regular David Friedman as a special guest performer (with Bennett in photo, left). A celebratory retrospective of the program's first five seasons will be staged at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, tonight April 23 at 7pm.

The Concerts for City Greens may be a Spring and Summer music extravaganza held in the lovely early evening air of Manhattan's East Side, but Broadway actress and cabaret headliner Raissa Katona Bennett, who is the concert series' founder and producer, is launching the 2013 season indoors-with a gala benefit concert featuring a star-studded lineup of performers, including quadruple-platinum songwriter and Today Show regular David Friedman as a special guest performer (with Bennett in photo, left). A celebratory retrospective of the program's first five seasons will be staged at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, on Tuesday April 23 at 7pm.

Help is on the Way Today, a 501c3 non-profit which assists children and youth living with HIV/AIDS, is announcing their annual Gala on May 19th at the Laurie Beechman Theater.In addition, founder Joseph Macchia is announcing a name change to the charity's Lifetime Achievement Award."It is with a bittersweet pleasure that we've renamed the Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of the late Ruth Kurtzman," says Macchia. "Ruth was a true lady and a kind and caring person who was a tireless supporter of the Cabaret Cares series, as well Help Is On The Way Today, MAC and Broadway Cares. She is someone I will never forget and her kind heart will live on in everyone she touched. I'm very happy to announce the 2013 Cabaret Cares Ruth Kurtzman Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Peter Leavy. Like Ruth, Peter is a true champion of the community, the publisher of Cabaret Scenes magazine - the world's only magazine dedicated to the art form - and a generous supporter of Cabaret Cares and its mission."

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs just announced the winners of the 2013 MAC Awards yesterday, which were presented on March 21st at the 27th Annual MAC Awards Show. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners, and check out photos from the festivities below!

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs has just announced the winners of the 2013 MAC Awards, which were presented last night at the 27th Annual MAC Awards Show. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners and check out photos from the festivities below!

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs has just announced the winners of the 2013 MAC Awards, which were presented last night at the 27th Annual MAC Awards Show. The awards ceremony was held at B.B. King Blues Club, and the show was directed by Lennie Watts and produced by Julie Miller. Lifetime Achievement awards were presented to Tom Wopat and Penny Fuller. The Board of Directors Award was presented to 54 Below, and a special award was presented in memory of Ruth Kurtzman. The Hanson Award was presented to Elaine St. George. The show was hosted by KT Sullivan, with music direction by Tracy Stark, and stage management by Amy Wolk.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs previously announced the following presenters who are scheduled to appear at the 27th Annual MAC Awards tonight, March 21st, at BB King Blues Club & Grill. Presenters will include: Helen Baldassare, Jeff Blumenkrantz, John Bucchino, Len Cariou, Mary Foster Conklin, Baby Jane Dexter, Anita Gillette, The Glamazons, Kim Grogg, Sean Harkness, Jeff Harner, Tonya Holt, Thomas Honeck, Mark Janas, David Kenney, Barry Kleinbort, Brett Kristofferson, Julie Miller, Sidney Myer, Julie Reyburn, Ricky Ritzel, Jay Rogers, KT Sullivan, Lennie Watts, and Kristine Zbornik.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs has announced the following presenters who are scheduled to appear at the 27th Annual MAC Awards this Thursday, March 21st, at BB King Blues Club & Grill. Presenters will include: Helen Baldassare, Jeff Blumenkrantz, John Bucchino, Len Cariou, Mary Foster Conklin, Baby Jane Dexter, Anita Gillette, The Glamazons, Kim Grogg, Sean Harkness, Jeff Harner, Tonya Holt, Thomas Honeck, Mark Janas, David Kenney, Barry Kleinbort, Brett Kristofferson, Julie Miller, Sidney Myer, Julie Reyburn, Ricky Ritzel, Jay Rogers, KT Sullivan, Lennie Watts, and Kristine Zbornik.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs will present the 27th Annual MAC Awards on Thursday, March 21st, at B.B King Blues Club & Grill in New York City.

Jim Speake has scheduled another performance of his acclaimed show, 'Jim Speake Sings Til The Cows Come Home' for tonight, February 23rd 2013 at 5pm at Don't Tell Mama.

Composer/Lyricist Scott Evan Davis will present the first-ever staged revue of his music in March at The Duplex Cabaret Theater in Greenwich Village. There will be three shows: March 9th, 17th and 24th, 2013 at 7pm.

Jim Speake has scheduled another performance of his acclaimed show, 'Jim Speake Sings Til The Cows Come Home' for Saturday, February 23rd 2013 at 5pm at Don't Tell Mama.

With a long and prestigious 33-year history that has catered to the likes of Liza Minnelli, Brooke Sheilds and Mandy Patinkin, non-profit vocal academy Singers Forum moves into the 21st Century with an expanded mission, a new look, and exciting new classes.

With a long and prestigious 33-year history that has catered to the likes of Liza Minnelli, Brooke Sheilds and Mandy Patinkin, non-profit vocal academy Singers Forum moves into the 21st Century with an expanded mission, a new look, and exciting new classes.

Voting is now underway for the Inaugural Cabaret Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January.

By the last August, I had fallen so far behind on writing reviews of cabaret shows from the spring and early summer (I guess it's a positive when there are more performers and shows in New York than days in the week) that I decided to play catch up by combining a bunch of critiques into one big column. I hadn't planned on doing that again, but this fall there were so many shows that once again I couldn't keep up. but at least I've beaten my self-imposed deadline New Year's Eve deadline of posting these reviews of 12 shows, all staged between September-December by lovely, attractive women (okay, so one is a gender-bender) of varying talents and levels on the cabaret depth chart, from established stars to MAC and Bistro Award-winners to comeback 'kids' to interesting beginners and occasional performers who are in the game to follow their bliss. Whether their performances were rave-worthy, earning of qualified praise, or not quite up to snuff, they all deserve kudos for taking the plunge.

2012 was indeed a very good year for the art of Cabaret in New York City. Here, BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Reviewer and Columnist Stephen Hanks offers up his exclusive 'Best New York Cabaret Performers of the Year' for 2012, plus some surprising honorable mentions. Let the debates begin!

Voting is now underway for the Inaugural Cabaret Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January.