Matt Wigton News

For, make no bones about it: The First Church of Mary, The Repentant Prostitute's Fifth Annual Benefit Concert, Revival and Pot Luck Dinner (or “Prostitute's Picnic,” as it was called by director Martha Wilkinson in her pre-show welcome to the congregants gathered at BLDG Nashville for opening night) deserves bigger audiences, more vociferous acclaim and a life far beyond the walls of the intimate venue in which it was first introduced to the public-at large.

Eric Millegan will perform tonight, July 13th at 8pm at the Wildish Theater, 630 Main St, Springfield, Oregon. Featuring world renowned musicians Tracy Stark, David Sillman, and Matt Wigton; guest starring local Eugene actress Peg Major and Oregon born TV/Film actor Josh Daugherty with a special cameo by Bill Furtick.

Eric Millegan will perform on Saturday, July 13th at 8pm at the Wildish Theater, 630 Main St, Springfield, Oregon. Featuring world renowned musicians Tracy Stark, David Sillman, and Matt Wigton; guest starring local Eugene actress Peg Major and Oregon born TV/Film actor Josh Daugherty with a special cameo by Bill Furtick.

"Carole J. Bufford: Body and Soul" is adding dates to its Metropolitan Room run, which was originally scheduled to end on Wednesday. Now running through March 15, "Body and Soul," plays three more times -- Wednesday February 27 at 7pm, Monday March 4 at 7pm, and Friday March 15 at 9:30pm.

St. Ann's Warehouse welcomes back Cynthia Hopkins-having commissioned and presented the artist's work since 2004-for the world premiere of her new song cycle extravaganza, This Clement World. Featuring original avant-folk songs performed by a seven-piece band and a choir, documentary footage Hopkins shot on an Arctic expedition with Cape Farewell, and the artist inhabiting three fictional characters on-stage, This Clement World offers a poetic but urgent perspective on global climate change.

There is no truth to the rumor that at tonight's closing performance of Evita, Ann Harada played Peron's Mistress and sang 'Why Would A Fellow Want A Girl Like Her?'

St. Ann's Warehouse (Artistic Director, Susan Feldman; Executive Director, Andrew D. Hamingson) will welcome back Cynthia Hopkins-having commissioned and presented the artist's work since 2004-for the world premiere of her new song cycle extravaganza, This Clement World. Featuring original avant-folk songs performed by a seven-piece band and a choir, documentary footage Hopkins shot on an Arctic expedition with Cape Farewell, and the artist inhabiting three fictional characters on-stage, This Clement World offers a poetic but urgent perspective on global climate change.

I don't know about other cabaret journalists, but I have to believe that a reviewer feels the biggest buzz (aside from when composing a really well-crafted show analysis) when he or she has been fortunate enough to observe a young performer's ascent into stardom. That's the way I felt last Wednesday night at the Metropolitan Room as I was watching Carole J. Bufford's new show, Body & Soul.

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.

St. Ann's Warehouse welcomes back Cynthia Hopkins-having commissioned and presented the artist's work since 2004-for the world premiere of her new song cycle extravaganza, This Clement World. Featuring original avant-folk songs performed by a seven-piece band and a choir, documentary footage Hopkins shot on an Arctic expedition with Cape Farewell, and the artist inhabiting three fictional characters on-stage, This Clement World offers a poetic but urgent perspective on global climate change.

Match.com ain't got nuthin' on New York's cabaret scene, where composers, lyricists and performers are constantly on the lookout for perfect mates; whether for a lifetime commitment or just a brief, but mutually satisfying, fling.

Lorinda Lisitza may be one of the best-kept secrets in the New York musical theater community, but with her standout cabaret show, Triumphant Baby (running for six shows this month at the Metropolitan Room), this terrific actor, singer, comedian--and inveterate poker--player may finally be dealt a winning hand.

Cynthia Hopkins returns to St. Ann's Warehouse and bids farewell to the institution's current home at 38 Water Street with Songs for This Clement World. Featuring a 15-member ensemble of musicians and vocalists, the concert will include the first performance of new songs from This Clement World, a new work that 'poetically but urgently addresses global climate change.'

The 2012 MAC Award winner for Outstanding Major Artist (Male) for his solo show Cast of Thousands, last week launched a new effort, cheekily titled I Won't Sing a Sondheim Song . . . Or Will I?, and everyone's first thought (at least those who didn't see him perform some of it at last season's Cabaret Cares benefits) was that Eric Michael Gillett's show would feature an eclectic mix of songs with a smattering of Sondheim. Instead, the show at the Laurie Beechman (sort of the home-away-from-home for anything Sondheim) turned out to be a diverse collection of the master's songs, minus the "Send in the Clowns" of the world.

Tanya Holt reprised her show, 'Forever Home,' at the Metropolitan Room for two nights only, March 6 and 14, which she debuted at Urban Stages in December. Check out photos from her Metropolitan room engagement below!

For two nights only - Tuesday March 6 and Wednesday March 7, both at 7pm - Tanya Holt will reprise the critically acclaimed show she debuted at Urban Stages Winter Rhythms Festival in December. Her first nightclub act in five years, the newly titled "Forever Home," features music director Tracy Stark on piano, and Matt Wigton on bass. Lennie Watts, the Metropolitan Room's original talent booker and Holt's predecessor, directs.

For two nights only - Tuesday March 6 and Wednesday March 7, both at 7pm - Tanya Holt will reprise the critically acclaimed show she debuted at Urban Stages Winter Rhythms Festival in December. Her first nightclub act in five years, the newly titled "Forever Home," features music director Tracy Stark on piano, and Matt Wigton on bass. Lennie Watts, the Metropolitan Room's original talent booker and Holt's predecessor, directs.

The Metropolitan Room announces March performances.

For two nights only - Tuesday March 6 and Wednesday March 7, both at 7pm - Tanya Holt will reprise the critically acclaimed show she debuted at Urban Stages Winter Rhythms Festival in December. Her first nightclub act in five years, the newly titled "Forever Home," features music director Tracy Stark on piano, and Matt Wigton on bass. Lennie Watts, the Metropolitan Room's original talent booker and Holt's predecessor, directs.