Mabel Mercer News

Dave Lawrence, President & CEO of the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County today announced that the 15th season of the popular series CULTURE & COCKTAILS continues next month with another fascinating conversation at The Colony Hotel Coral Ballroom, located at 155 Hammon Avenue in Palm Beach.

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.)

After making his critically acclaimed Carnegie Hall debut earlier this year with the Mabel Mercer Foundation's All The Things You Are & invited to be among the vocal artists at the final night of the 30th Anniversary Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention at Jazz at Lincoln Center in October, Tim Connell returned to the NY cabaret stage in an intimate evening of song and musing on romance.

When Connecticut-born and Cape Cod-raised Julie Reyburn launched her cabaret performing career in 2000 with the show Fate Is Kind, it began a meteoric rise in the New York nightclub scene. Over the next dozen years, Julie would win seven major solo cabaret awards (including three MACs, two Bistros, the first ever 'Nightlife Award' in 2003, and the prestigious Julie Wilson Award from the Mabel Mercer Foundation in 2007). While during the subsequent eight years, Julie often performed one-off solo shows, in group variety shows, and was a founding member of the MAC Award-Winning vocal group Marquee Five, she tabled creating a solo show run to concentrate on raising her two children.

Last night New York's consummate cabaret and musical theater Powerhouse- Marta Sanders teamed up with larger than life comedic Chanteuse Leanne Borghesi in 'SHOWBROADS' a bawdy new nightclub act at Birdland Jazz Club. Sanders and Borghesi's dynamic vocals, comedic chops and brassy belts are reminiscent of the historic Vaudeville/Burlesque circuit. Two brassy belters and one hot band these 'SHOWBROADS' are doin' it the Broad's way for one night only in a raucous 75- minute nightclub duet... where tempers will flare and feathers will fly! Directed by Nicolas Minas, Dramaturgy by Nathan Cann, Musical Direction by Dana P. Rowe with Don Kelly on drums, Jim Piela on sax/clarinet/flute, Jamie Mohamdien on bass.

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

Birdland's December 2019 schedule will feature The Joe Lovano Nonet, Stacey Kent, Monty Alexander, A Swinging Birdland Christmas, Freddy Cole Quartet, Gunhild Carling, Julius Rodriguez, Veronica Swift Holiday Show, 'Season's Swingin' Greetings!a??, Marta Sanchez Quintet, Darius de Haas, Marilyn Maye New Years Eve Extravaganza, The Lineup with Susie Mosher, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and MORE!

Lynn University and Jan McArt, producer and director of theatre arts program development, today announced that the popular Mabel Mercer Foundation's Cabaret at Lincoln Center Comes to Live at Lynn series will return in 2020 on five Wednesdays from January through May. This year, Lynn also celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center, where cabaret artists will present intimate evenings of song, story and joie de vivre.

ScoBar Entertainmentpresents PIANO BAR LIVE! for an open-ended run at Brandy's Piano Bar on the Upper East Side. Joining Piano Bar Maestro, MICHAEL McASSEY at the keys, will be a veritable Who's Who of Cabaret and Broadway! PIANO BAR LIVE! is an interactive, live-streaming Piano Bar experience. THERE IS NO COVER CHARGE for PIANO BAR LIVE! but there is a two drink minimum.

Dave Lawrence, President & CEO of the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County today announced that the 15th season of the popular series CULTURE & COCKTAILS had a sold-out kick-off on November 4 with 180 friends and supporters attending the first of five fascinating conversations at The Colony Hotel Coral Ballroom in Palm Beach.

Remember that song lyric “with Barons and Earls”……..Sophisticated, well heeled and well dressed New Yorkers came to the most elegant spot in New York City, The Pierre on Fifth Avenue last night as KT Sullivan brought Broadway and Cabaret to the iconic hotel's Two E Lounge. It was truly a royal audience in every way (check out the photos). They came to the 90 year hotel which was home to Elizabeth Taylor, hosted Rex Harrison and wife renewing their vows, and was where Yves St Laurent debuted his first US Collection, to hear arguably one of the finest artists in the world of Cabaret, KT Sullivan.

Cabaret lovers will have many memories from the Mabel Mercer Foundation's 2019 New York Cabaret Convention. Attendees to all four of the presentations at Rose Theater will no doubt have their favorite music moments from the performances of the more than 75 cabaret artists. However, perhaps the most enduring remembrance will be the remarkable organizational abilities and intelligence of the foundations artistic director, it's face (and hat) of the convention… KT Sullivan. Just imagine how difficult it must be to satisfy the requirements of 75 singers, make their moment in the spotlight as successful as it can be, and cope with the egos that are a necessary part of every performers DNA. All the while fulfilling the sophisticated and knowledgeable audience's expectations of a great show. There were many highs and “almost highs” during the 12 hours of music, and that's what makes it so exciting. Every artist brings their own unique talent to the stage.

There was so much heart, love and entertainment on the stage of The Rose Theater last night, as The Cabaret Convention celebrated the legacy and the music of the legendary Judy Garland

The third night of the Mabel Mercer Foundation's New York Cabaret Convention hosted by Judy Garland expert John Fricke and actor, singer, humorist Klea Blackhurst had many noteworthy performances during it's three hours last night at Rose Theater. However, the most touching and dramatic Judy Garland minute was not musical. It happened when Sidney Myer a New York City Cabaret superstar related a story from his youth. It seems that Sidney survived the stress of the 50's and 60's of being “different” in the all boy New Jersey Prep School he attended (which Sidney recalled was populated by boys who specialized in terrorism) by focusing on his love of music and his worship of Judy Garland. He described to a spellbound Convention audience of being brought to a Judy Garland concert by his parents, he had his sign “ We Love Judy” in hand and with thousands cheering her as she walked down the aisle in a twist of fate he accidentally came face to face with her. Judy shook his hand and he managed to get out a “thank you” even though he had rehearsed a speech for years if this kind of moment ever happened. . There wasn't a dry eye in the house after his story. The evening had many humorous and emotional moments as Emmy Award winning host John Fricke, who is considered the preeminent Judy Garland and Wizard of Oz authority related many stories about Garland. Klea Blackhurst is probably one of the most effective and beloved Convention hosts and she used her wit and music to make it as always one of the most enjoyable of Convention nights.

Day one of the 2019 Cabaret Convention presented by the Mabel Mercer Foundation featured Deborah Grace Winder hosting, 'The Sunny Side of the Street: Celebrating Dorothy Fields & Great Women Songwriters' starring Christine Andreas, Karrin Allyson, and more!

Christmas at Birdland featuring Billy Stritch, Jim Caruso and Klea Blackhurst made a strong debut on the Billboard Jazz chart. The project currently claims the #7 spot on the chart, after having reached the #2 spot on the iTunes Jazz chart on its first weekend out.

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.

ScoBar Entertainment has announced another evening of PIANO BAR LIVE! at Brandy's Piano Bar on the Upper East Side, Monday, October 28 at 7pm.

Bagels and Broadway a?" the radio show and podcast hosted by 5x Billboard Award winning media personality, Valerie Smaldone a?" brings entertainment notables, from Tony winners to hot newbies to audiences all over the planet, via radio or the world-wide web every Saturday at 9:05am. Valerie has another stellar lineup planned for Saturday, Oct. 19th. Audiences can tune in on radio at AM970, or by logging on to: http://www.am970TheAnswer.com.