Matthew Martin Ward News

Urban Stages, in association with producer/director/lyricist and Director of Musical Programming Peter Napolitano, is proud to announce that cabaret legend Marilyn Maye will kick off the Holiday Season for WINTER RHYTHMS 2014 on Thursday, December 4 at 7PM only with a special appearance in Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: The Songs of Hugh Martin, a centennial celebration of the Hollywood and Broadway songwriter best known for Meet Me in St. Louis and Best Foot Forward. Marilyn Maye joins Eric Comstock, Barbara Fasano, Minda Larsen, Marissa Mulder, Sigali, Melissa Ritz, Molly Ryan, Dan Levinson, Deborah Silver, Gabrielle Stravelli and the vocal group Duchess in an evening conceived and hosted by Wall Street Journal columnist Will Friedwald. Musical Director for the evening will be Tedd Firth.

Cole Mining: The Songs of Stephen Cole will be presented as part of Urban Stages' Winter Rhythms tomorrow, December 3, 2014 at 7pm at Urban Stages 259 W. 30th Street.

t may not be like getting a gift on each of the 12 Days of Christmas, but for cabaret and musical theater lovers, the 6th Annual Urban Stages Winter Rhythms series--presented over a dozen nights at the not-for-profit Off-Broadway theatre on 259 West 30th Street--could be the closest thing to opening a daily present by the tree. From December 2-14 (no shows on Dec. 9), more than 100 singers, musicians, and songwriters will perform in an eclectic mix of 20 shows including one-night-only group shows, excerpts from new musicals, solo shows, open mics, late night spotlights, and family matinees, with all the proceeds from ticket sales dedicated to the Urban Stages On Tour Outreach Program that brings more than 200 free multicultural theater and music programs to elementary and middle school age children and their families in libraries and schools throughout NYC five boroughs.

Urban Stages, in association with producer/director/lyricist and Director of Musical Programming Peter Napolitano, today announced that Tony Award Nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo will join the line-up for their sixth series of musical evenings entitled WINTER RHYTHMS 2014, beginning Tuesday, December 2nd and continuing through Sunday, December 14th at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director), in association with producer/director/lyricist and Director of Musical Programming Peter Napolitano, today announced the line-up for their sixth series of musical evenings entitled WINTER RHYTHMS 2014, beginning Tuesday, December 2nd and continuing through Sunday, December 14th at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

Birdland Jazz Club is pleased to announce their amazing line-up of talent for October 6 - October 12, including Chita Rivera, Miss Coco Peru, Barbara Carroll, and more. Details below!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its October 2014 schedule, featuring Chita Rivera, Dave Leibman Big Band, Miss Coco Peru, Benny Green Trio, Kenny Baron and Dave Holland, Barbara Carroll, Ron Carter Nonet, Jane Monheit's Jazz Party, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced the Season lineup for Broadway at Birdland, featuring Chita Rivera, Jessie Mueller, Rosie O'Donnell, James Snyder, Andrew Lippa, Jim Caruso, Trevor McQueen and more!

Starring SARAH RICE (original Johanna, SWEENEY TODD, 2011 MAC Award, 2010 Bistro Award) Special Guests: RICH FLANDERS (SHENANDOAH, ANNIE 2, Will Rogers Cowboy Award, Best Song) CELIA BERKJOANNA MORTON GARY ANNE TARPEY-FLANDERSDAVID VERNON

Sarah Rice (Broadway's original Johanna in Sweeney Todd) and Craig Pomranz (MAC Best Male Vocalist 2012), along with Matthew Martin Ward on piano, will host Broadway Sings at The West End open mic nights every Thursday starting May 1. Sarah and Craig bring the ultimate New York experience to the Upper West Side with all kinds of talent singing all genres of music - Broadway, Pop, Jazz, Classical, all are welcomed.

You don't have to travel all the way to NYC in order to hear songs from theatre, jazz, Great American and International Song Books and classical stages performed by award-winning singers & instrumentalists. At Classic Quiche in Teaneck, NJ on the last Today of each month, through November, Broadway Concerts Direct presents top performers in a cozy, intimate salon type setting, with an eclectic mix of musical styles and delicious food. -- All in one evening! We are hoping to turn this into an ongoing Salon series of musical treasures.

You don't have to travel all the way to NYC in order to hear songs from theatre, jazz, Great American and International Song Books and classical stages performed by award-winning singers & instrumentalists. At Classic Quiche in Teaneck, NJ on the last Friday of each month, through November, Broadway Concerts Direct presents top performers in a cozy, intimate salon type setting, with an eclectic mix of musical styles and delicious food. -- All in one evening! We are hoping to turn this into an ongoing Salon series of musical treasures.

Urban Stages, in association with producer/director/lyricist Peter Napolitano have announced additions to WINTER RHYTHMS 2013 performer line-up now running throughSunday, December 15, 2013 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street). Tickets are $30 per show (unless otherwise noted).Tickets may be purchased on www.smarttix.com or 212 868-4444.

It may not be like getting a gift on every one of the 12 Days of Christmas, but for cabaret and musical theater lovers, the 5th Annual Urban Stages Winter Rhythms series--presented over a dozen nights at the not-for-profit Off-Broadway theatre on 259 West 30th Street--could be the closest thing to opening a daily present by the tree. From December 3-15, dozens of singers and musicians will perform in an eclectic mix of a dozen shows plus late night and matinee 'extras,' with all the proceeds from ticket sales dedicated to the Urban Stages 'On Tour Outreach Program that brings more than 200 free multicultural theater and music programs to elementary and middle school age children and their families in libraries and schools throughout NYC five boroughs. Three years ago, Urban Stages Artistic Director Frances Hill brought in MAC and Bistro award-winning director, lyricist and producer Peter Napolitano to produce the Winter Rhythms program and broaden its scope.BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Columnist Stephen Hanks recently caught up with the Sol Hurok of Urban Stages to learn how Napolitano has helped Winter Rhythms evolve and to get some insights into this year's program.

'Love Makes The World Go 'Round, A Benefit Concert for Zani's Furry Friends' is set for the Laurie Beechman Theatre tonight, November 30, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director), in association with producer/director/lyricist Peter Napolitano announces a series of musical evenings entitled WINTER RHYTHMS 2013, beginning on Tuesday, December 3 and running through Sunday, December 15, 2013 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street). Tickets are $30 per show (unless otherwise noted).Tickets may be purchased on www.smarttix.com or 212 868-4444.

Broadway Concerts Direct presents a NEW MUSIC SALON in Teaneck, NJ, SARAH RICE & FRIENDS, Music Salon, 2013 Dates: Friday, September 27 and The last FRIDAY of every month • 7:30PM (doors open at 6:45pm), Starring SARAH RICE (original Johanna, SWEENEY TODD, 2011 MAC Award, 2010 Bistro Award), DAVID VERNON (International Recording Artist), Special Guests: RICH FLANDERS (SHENANDOAH, ANNIE 2, Will Rogers Cowboy Award, Best Song), JOANNA MORTON GARY JANICE HALL, Other Special Surprise Guests: Matthew Martin Ward, Piano, Jim Russell, Recorder & Percussion, Eve Weiss, Classical Guitar, Sarah Rice, Theremin

Singer-comedienne Elizabeth Tryon will debut her first solo comedy and vocal music show in New York City, at the legendary Caroline's on Broadway comedy club in Times Square, NY on February 19, 2013 at 7:00PM, in a one night only performance. In her show, "There's A Phantom in my Opera," a contemporary Victor Borge-style show, written and performed by a singer rather than a pianist, Tryon unites several different styles of music with comedy.

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.