Lennie Watts News

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and who she's seen in the world of cabaret in the past week. The past week's shows include Broadway Jukebox at Birdland, the Cabaret Hotline 'March Is Cabaret Month' gala, and John Bucchino & Friends at Birdland.

The first 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' winner Anne Steele, who just headlined at The Metropolitan Room from February 18 to 22 in the premiere of 'Strings Attached,' has been invited to extend her highly acclaimed new show. 'Strings Attached,' in which Steele cross-fertilizes an array of pop tunes and standards using inventive string arrangements, will encore on Tuesday March 17 at 7pm. The show's additional dates, totaling five, include Thursday March 19 at 9:45pm, Sunday March 22 at 9:30pm, Monday March 23 at 7pm and Tuesday March 24 at 7pm.

Back Stage Magazine has announced the winners of its Back Stage Bistro Awards which honor excellence in the world of cabaret. The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday, April 28 at the Gotham Comedy Club.

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and who she's seen in the world of cabaret in the past week. The past week's shows include Tony DeSare, Metro Star winner Anne Steele, and Julian Yeo & his retro-jazz band.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Monday, February 23, 2009.

As the denizens who frequent Manhattan's halls where two-drink minimums reign are well aware, the lass or laddie serving your cocktail is often an artist of greater experience and show-stopping talent than the perfectly fine entertainer who is on stage putting his or her own personal spin on 'This Is The Moment.' Being a serious, full-time cabaret singer usually means being the president, CEO, investor and product of your own unintentionally non-profit corporation in a world where hobbyists with deep pockets and lots of friends who don't need to think twic

The singer Anne Steele, who won last summer's first 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' at the Metropolitan Room, will headline at the club from February 18 to 22 in 'Strings Attached,' a new show. Steele, a two-time MAC nominee, two-time Nightlife Award finalist, and Bistro Award winner, prevailed over an initial pool of 70 contestants in the 7-week jury and audience-voted elimination-round competition. Opening for Steele during the run will be her co-finalists Nesha Ward and Stearns Matthews, who will perform short sets on alternating nights. 'Strings Attached,' with music direction by Kenny Davidsen and stage direction by Lennie Watts, daringly re-imagines an array of pop songs, using lush string orchestrations to coax out latent meanings. In 'Strings Attached' Steele -- backed by piano, violin, cello, bass and guitar -- also threads in a number of standards that she freshens with her own contemporary vocal sound. The resulting intersection of pop and traditional sensibilities features songs by Britney Spears, Pink, Queen, Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan and Stephen Sondheim among others. In addition to her fully produced, prime-time engagement, Steele's MetroStar prize package includes a multi-track 'Live at The Metropolitan Room' recording of her new show, which will be available in the spring. Among the professionals and artists who have collaborated with Steele are the former E! Entertainment host Leon Hall (Fashion Emergency), the hair and make-up artist Colin Lively and the photographer Brian Friedman.

The singer Anne Steele, who won last summer's first 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' at the Metropolitan Room, will headline at the club from February 18 to 22 in 'Strings Attached,' a new show. Steele, a two-time MAC nominee, two-time Nightlife Award finalist, and Bistro Award winner, prevailed over an initial pool of 70 contestants in the 7-week jury and audience-voted elimination-round competition. Opening for Steele during the run will be her co-finalists Nesha Ward and Stearns Matthews, who will perform short sets on alternating nights. 'Strings Attached,' with music direction by Kenny Davidsen and stage direction by Lennie Watts, daringly re-imagines an array of pop songs, using lush string orchestrations to coax out latent meanings. In 'Strings Attached' Steele -- backed by piano, violin, cello, bass and guitar -- also threads in a number of standards that she freshens with her own contemporary vocal sound. The resulting intersection of pop and traditional sensibilities features songs by Britney Spears, Pink, Queen, Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan and Stephen Sondheim among others. In addition to her fully produced, prime-time engagement, Steele's MetroStar prize package includes a multi-track 'Live at The Metropolitan Room' recording of her new show, which will be available in the spring. Among the professionals and artists who have collaborated with Steele are the former E! Entertainment host Leon Hall (Fashion Emergency), the hair and make-up artist Colin Lively and the photographer Brian Friedman.

Straight from a sold out run in New York, Dane Vannatter will bring his new cabaret and jazz show, 'Alone Together: A Tony Bennett Album' to the Gardenia Room (7066 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood) on Wednesday, November 12th (9PM) and make his West Coast cabaret debut.

A new outdoor concert series will be presented at the Tudor City Greens in New York City on Wednesday, October 22nd starting at 12 noon. The hour-long program of music and comedy - themed 'Witchcraft' - will feature performers from Broadway and the New York City cabaret scene.

Straight from a sold out run in New York, Dane Vannatter will bring his new cabaret and jazz show, 'Alone Together: A Tony Bennett Album' to the Gardenia Room (7066 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood) on Wednesday, November 12th (9PM) and make his West Coast cabaret debut.

A new outdoor concert series will be presented at the Tudor City Greens in New York City on Wednesday, October 22nd starting at 12 noon. The hour-long program of music and comedy - themed 'Witchcraft' - will feature performers from Broadway and the New York City cabaret scene.

The Third Eye Theatre Company's production of ''Notes on New York: The Musicalized Observations of Tim Di Pasqua'' will open Monday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd St., New York City. Directed by Andrew Glant-Linden, it will play Mondays throughout October.

The Third Eye Theatre Company's production of ''Notes on New York: The Musicalized Observations of Tim Di Pasqua'' will open Monday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd St., New York City. Directed by Andrew Glant-Linden, it will play Mondays throughout October.

Award-winning singer/composer/lyricist Tim Di Pasqua brings his thrilling new musical theater revue to New York's Metropolitan Room, every Monday in October.

Cabaret Cares the ongoing cabaret series that benefits both Broadway Cares and Help Is On The Way Today continues on September 29th. The evening is entitled DIVAPALOOZA 11 DIVAS GONE WILD.

Jonathan Whitton (2008 Bistro & MAC Award Winner) returns to the Laurie Beechman Theatre throughout October & November for four encore performances of his acclaimed cabaret evening: SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

Bistro Award-Winning Dane Vannatter will present a new cabaret and jazz show, 'Alone Together: A Tony Bennett Album' on four consecutive Saturday evenings in September, beginning September 6th (10PM) at the New York hotspot Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street ~between 5th & 6th Avenues).

Bistro Award-Winning Dane Vannatter will present a new cabaret and jazz show, 'Alone Together: A Tony Bennett Album' on four consecutive Saturday evenings in September, beginning September 6th (10PM) at the New York hotspot Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street ~between 5th & 6th Avenues).

Last night, in the exciting finale of the first annual 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' at The Metropolitan Room, Anne Steele was picked as the event's first grand prize winner.