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.
The 6th Season of The Concerts for City Greens, free outdoor concert series, commences on Wednesday, May 29th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, May 30th at 6:30pm.) at Tudor City Greens, with 'I Feel So Much Spring,'and will feature professional performers from Broadway and the New York City cabaret, jazz, classical and opera scene. All performers donate their time and talent to benefit MUSIC AND ART FOR GREEN. The concert will be hosted by Tudor City resident, Broadway and cabaret veteran Raissa Katona Bennett.
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.
The Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, hosts "A Giant, Wild Party," a musical tribute to the celebrated composer/lyricist/librettist Michael John LaChiusa, on Wednesday October 3 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens. (Rain date: Thursday October 4 at 6:30pm.) Feting the 2-time Emmy winner and 5-time Tony nominee, whose new musical "Giant," opens at the Public Theater this fall, will be the Broadway veterans D.C. Anderson ("Queen of the Mist," "Rebecca," "Phantom") and Leah Hocking ("Wild Party," "Billy Elliott," "Mama Mia," "Hairspray"); the cabaret legend and Broadway star KT Sullivan"; and the singer/songwriter and actress Katie Thompson (who is featured in LaChiusa's "Giant"). "A Giant, Wild Party" brings to a close The Concerts for City Greens' fifth annual season of free outdoor summer concerts.
The Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor concert series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, dedicates the fourth concert of this year's summer series to the singer-songwriter and actress Ann Hampton Callaway, on Wednesday September 12 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens.
The 2010 MAC Award-Winning Vocal Group MARQUEE FIVE - returns with their critically-acclaimed show '8-Track Throwback' in a CD Release Party and Concert for one night only on Monday, November 7, 2011 at 7pm.
The 2010 MAC Award-Winning Vocal Group MARQUEE FIVE - returns with their critically-acclaimed show '8-Track Throwback' in a CD Release Party and Concert for one night only on Monday, November 7, 2011 at 7pm.
2010 MAC Award-Winning Vocal Group MARQUEE FIVE (Julie Reyburn, Sierra Rein, Adam West Hemming, Mick Bleyer, and Vanessa Parvin) returns with their critically-acclaimed show '8-Track Throwback' for one night only.
2010 MAC Award-Winning Vocal Group MARQUEE FIVE (Julie Reyburn, Sierra Rein, Adam West Hemming, Mick Bleyer, and Vanessa Parvin) returns with their critically-acclaimed show '8-Track Throwback' for one night only.
Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and what's coming up in the world of cabaret (and sometimes beyond!) This week's column features Nicolas King at The Metropolitan Room, Carly Ozard at Don't Tell Mama, Ann Hampton Callaway at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola and Sarah Louise Young, also at Don't Tell Mama!
2010 MAC Award-Winning Vocal Group MARQUEE FIVE (Julie Reyburn, Sierra Rein, Adam West Hemming, Mick Bleyer, and Vanessa Parvin) returns with their critically-acclaimed show '8-Track Throwback' for one night only.
2010 MAC Award-Winning Vocal Group MARQUEE FIVE (Julie Reyburn, Sierra Rein, Adam West Hemming, Mick Bleyer, and Vanessa Parvin) returns with their critically-acclaimed show '8-Track Throwback' for one night only.
Following a MAC Award-winning run of their debut act, 'We Can Make It: The Songs Of Kander & Ebb', Marquee Five brings a brand new show to the Don't Tell Mama stage for five performances!
Following a MAC Award-winning run of their debut act, 'We Can Make It: The Songs Of Kander & Ebb', Marquee Five brings a brand new show to the Don't Tell Mama stage for five performances!
