Mabel Mercer News

Margaret Whiting was one of America's favorite and most venerated singers for more than sixty years. She delivered stellar performances on record, radio, television, and the musical comedy, concert, and cabaret stages. She received twelve Gold Records. She offered a repertoire that ranged from Jerome Kern to Leon Russell, and from Rodgers & Hart to Michel Legrand and Alan & Marilyn Bergman.

Talent America's 2001 "Performer of the Year" Brian De Lorenzo presents a tribute to two of the greatest singers of the American Songbook, Frank Sinatra & Tony Bennett in "Sinatra, Tony & Me", Sunday, April 27 and Sunday May 4 at 12 noon, at The Metropolitan Room, 24 W. 22nd Street, New York. Taking the stage with the Bill Zeffiro Trio, De Lorenzo appears in this encore performance following his appearance at Boston's top jazz venue, Scullers Jazz Club.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Corinna Sowers-Adler in "By Request - New York Moments" on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 9:30pm. In her 54 BELOW debut, Corinna continues the "By Request" series with a very special show including songs and the memories and special moments behind why that song has been inspirational or life changing, all containing the theme of New York City.

Nick Ziobro, the 17 year-old pop/jazz vocal sensation, will release his debut album A Lot of Livin' to Do on Tuesday, May 20. The new disc, produced by Michael Feinstein - the two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award-nominated vocalist, pianist and musicologist - and available through Titanium Entertainment, will be available in stores and digital outlets such as iTunes and Amazon.com. The album's debut single 'This Guy's In Love with You' is now available on iTunes.

Award-winning theater and cabaret performers Eric Michael Gillett (Sweet Smell of Success, The Frogs, Kiss Me, Kate), Carolyn Montgomery-Forant (MAC/Bistro/Nightlife Awards), Sidney Myer (MAC/Bistro/Mabel Mercer Award-winner,Grandma Sylvia's Funeral) & Drama Desk nominee Jay Rogers (Whoop-Dee-Doo, When Pigs Fly) joined forces to present an evening of sly songs with titillating tunes & lascivious lyrics from the present to days of yore. Sondheim, Flanders & Swann, Coward & Porter mixed with just a dash of Tom Lehrer & even Pete Townshend, Dirty Little Songs was performed with a wink & a nudge by four of cabaret's funniest & most prolific performers. Check out photos from the special performance below!

'A man's reach should exceed his grasp. Or what's a heaven for?' once wrote the poet Robert Browning. The line is about setting goals, striving, and ambition, all of which can be commendable desires. But sometimes in the world of cabaret, the desire to achieve the next level or to raise one's personal bar can be an overreach and overly ambitious. Such was the case with two shows staged this past week by two accomplished singers-Shana Farr and Jillian Laurain--who over the past couple of years have garnered mucho kudos for their vocal prowess and solid shows. Nobody could fault these lovely ladies for pushing their performance envelopes, but in both cases they fell short of their goals.

Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) will celebrate its annual Gala tonight, March 27, 2014 at BB King's Blues Club in Times Square, hosted by the vivacious singer, band leader, and multiple MAC Award winner, Terese Genecco. The gala will be produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President.

Award-winning performer Shana Farr will begin a four performance engagement of her new solo show In The Still Of The Night -- a musical and poetic journey through the words and music of two of the 20th century's greatest and most prolific songwriters and poets, Noel Coward and Cole Porter - tonight, March 26, at 7:30 PM. Additional performances will take place at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, April 2, Thursday, April 17 and Saturday, May 31.

This spring the L.A.-based Joanne Tatham gives New York another whirl as she returns to the Metropolitan Room with her critically acclaimed cabaret concert 'Soundtrack New York.' Tatham's fast-paced guided tour of songs from films shot on the streets of Manhattan plays four nights -- Tuesday May 13 at 7pm, Saturday May 17 at 4pm, Sunday May 18 at 9:30pm and Sunday June 1 at 7pm.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Award-winning performer Shana Farr will begin a four performance engagement of her new solo show In The Still Of The Night -- a musical and poetic journey through the words and music of two of the 20th century's greatest and most prolific songwriters and poets, Noel Coward and Cole Porter - on Wednesday, March 26, at 7:30 PM. Additional performances will take place at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, April 2, Thursday, April 17 and Saturday, May 31.

Award-winning theater and cabaret performers Eric Michael Gillett (Sweet Smell of Success, The Frogs, Kiss Me, Kate), Carolyn Montgomery-Forant(MAC/Bistro/Nightlife Awards), Sidney Myer (MAC/Bistro/Mabel Mercer Award-winner,Grandma Sylvia's Funeral) & Drama Desk nominee Jay Rogers (Whoop-Dee-Doo, When Pigs Fly) join forces to present an evening of sly songs with titillating tunes & lascivious lyrics from the present to days of yore. Sondheim, Flanders & Swann, Coward & Porter mixed with just a dash of Tom Lehrer & even Pete Townshend, performed with a wink & a nudge by four of cabaret's funniest & most prolific performers.

NiCori Studios and Productions in association with Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, 'Music at the Mansion', on Sunday, March 23, at 3pm. Performers include Fran Leonardis, Christian Fabian and Lauren Fox & Ritt Henn. The featured performer in the 'Young Musician Moment' will be Elizabeth Nucci.

Broadway's Mandy Gonzalez (Wicked, In the Heights, Dance of the Vampires, Lennon) has joined the cast of The Amanda McBroom Project, set for 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 tonight, March 14, 15, and 17 at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42 Street (Between 9 and 10 Avenues).

Beginning March 17th, Bar Nana will host 'Cabaret on the Rocks.' Each Monday night at 9PM (doors at 8PM), top Broadway performers will bring live music and entertainment to the intimate scene of Bar Nana. Below is a list of performers and their scheduled dates.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Broadway's Mandy Gonzalez (Wicked, In the Heights, Dance of the Vampires, Lennon) has joined the cast of The Amanda McBroom Project, set for March 14, 15, and 17 at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42 Street (Between 9 and 10 Avenues.) For Reservations: 212.695.6909Music charge $20. Food/drink minimum $15

The combination of fine dining and wonderful music continues at the world famous Le Cirque's Musical Mondays. This week it was Australian Jazz Pianist Matt Baker and his trio along with New York's own award winning vocalist Marissa Mulder. Matt Baker tied 5th place in the 2003 Montreux International Solo Jazz Piano competition and was a semi-finalist in 2004 and 2005. The Montreux Jazz Festival also engaged The Matt Baker Trio as their exclusive in-house band 2 years straight. Marissa Mulder has recently received the Julie Wilson Award at the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention and is a favorite of New York audiences.

This past Tuesday evening Maude Maggart, a celebrated young veteran of the cabaret scene, started her debut run at the Cafe Carlyle (which ends tonight with shows at 8:45 pm and 10:45 pm) and her new show certainly didn't disappoint, at least not in the singing department. Throughout a 16-song set, this attractive and willowy brunette from a performing family that now spans three generations was a delightfully dreamy enchantress conveying retro-romantic songs she delivered with the ethereal mezzo soprano style of an early Disney movie heroine of pre-Little Mermaid vintage, only one more worldly wise and seductive.