Bistro Award winning and MAC Award nominated singer-songwriter Nathan Chang returns to the cabaret scene with a brand new show, NAILING IT! (SONGS AND STORIES OF NAILS AND FAILS) which will premiere at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on June 16th at 7pm. Tickets are $20 ($15 for MAC Members) and can be purchased at www.westbankcafe.com.
NiCori Studios and Productions in association with the Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, Music at the Mansion, on Sunday, February 22, at 3pm. Performers include Nathan Chang, Tracy Stark and Richard Holbrook. Kevin W. Bergen will be the Young Musician Moment.
If you've been a regular reader of this particular reviewer's musings, you know that every year there are long stretches of time where I just haven't been able to critique all the shows I've seen that deserve commentary. So I end up playing what they call in sports, 'Catch-up ball,' and post a mash up of belated reviews from past shows. It's kind of like a critic's version of the song 'Six Months Out of Every Year,' from Damn Yankees. Give or take a month or two, that's usually the time period during which I store unpublished reviews in my fevered brain and then unload them all in one seemingly endless column-like this one is going to be. If my cabaret-show reviewing days will be over (as chronicled here), I might as well go out with a bang-and relieve my procrastination guilt during holiday season. Now I can scratch one New Year's resolution off the list.
KT Sullivan has always managed in many ways to turn the world of Cabaret upside down. With her enormous gifts of wit, intelligence, voice, musicianship, creativity, and business sense she was the perfect choice to be the artistic director of the Mabel Mercer Foundation. The second evening of the Cabaret Convention and Happy Birthday to Julie Wilson was a entertainment tour de force. The sold out Rose Hall saw performances by:
Beijing Academy of Performing Arts kids theatre camp presented AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS on August 9, 2014. Thirty student actors, ages 6-14, performed the show. They did all their own acting, singing and dancing. They even made all the sets and costumes. Scroll down for a look at them in action!
After more than two decades of exciting contribution to the New York musical scene, The Mabel Mercer Foundation hits a new high this autumn by producing its 25th annual New York Cabaret Convention for four evenings, October 20th-23rd. All performances begin at 6 o'clock at the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Frederick P. Rose Hall at Broadway and 60th Street.
Nathan Chang's critically acclaimed show "Steppin' off the Sidewalk" is being extended for three more summertime performances. This show, which garnered him a 2014 Bistro Award and a 2014 MAC Nomination, opened in February of 2013 and is continuing its run this summer on July 3rd at 7pm, July 19th at 8pm and August 6th at 7pm at Don't Tell Mama NYC. Reservations are highly encouraged and can be made by calling (212) 757-0788 after 4pm or by visiting www.donttellmamanyc.com. Tickets are $10 ($5 for MAC/AEA/SAG-AFTRA members).
Shana Farr, the multi-talented singer and award-winning cabaret artist, has announced her upcoming schedule of summer performances which will begin today, May 28, at 6:30 PM, with an appearance at the Opening Concert For City Greens, hosted by Raissa Katonah Bennett, in Tudor City Greens Park (41st St between 1st and 2nd Aves).
The 7th Season of The Parks Concert Series, (formerly The Concert for City Greens), a free outdoor concert series, commences tonight, May 28th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, May 29th at 6:30pm.) at Tudor City Greens, and will feature professional performers from Broadway and the New York City cabaret, jazz, classical and opera scene.
Shana Farr, the multi-talented singer and award-winning cabaret artist, has announced her upcoming schedule of summer performances which will begin on Wednesday, May 28, at 6:30 PM, with an appearance at the Opening Concert For City Greens, hosted by Raissa Katonah Bennett, in Tudor City Greens Park (41st St between 1st and 2nd Aves).
The 7th Season of The Parks Concert Series, (formerly The Concert for City Greens), a free outdoor concert series, commences on Wednesday, May 28th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, May 29th at 6:30pm.) at Tudor City Greens, 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 for these concerts. The concert will be hosted by Tudor City resident, Broadway and cabaret veteran Raissa Katona Bennett.
The 7th Season of The Parks Concert Series, (formerly The Concert for City Greens), a free outdoor concert series, commences on Wednesday, May 28 at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, May 29 at 6:30pm.) at Tudor City Greens, 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 for these concerts, which are hosted by Tudor City resident and Broadway and cabaret veteran Raissa Katona Bennett.
The 29th Annual Bistro Awards gala, set to take place tonight, March 4, has announced two new presenters. Stephen Schwartz, the Oscar, Tony, Grammy, and Golden Globe-winning composer/lyricist, who wrote the scores to such musicals as Pippin, Wicked, Godspell, and The Magic Show, will present Ben Vereen, the Tony Award-winning actor-singer-dancer, with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, has announced the nominees for the 2014 MAC Awards. Winners in twenty-five categories will be voted by the MAC membership by anonymous ballot and announced at the MAC Awards Gala on March 27th at BB King's Blue Club in Times Square at: 237 W. 42 St between 7th and 8th Avenues. Tickets start at $50.00. For additional information on MAC, to become a member, or to order tickets to the event, visit: http://macnyc.com.
The 29th Annual Bistro Awards gala, set to take place on Tuesday, March 4, has announced two new presenters. Stephen Schwartz, the Oscar, Tony, Grammy, and Golden Globe-winning composer/lyricist, who wrote the scores to such musicals as Pippin, Wicked, Godspell, and The Magic Show, will present Ben Vereen, the Tony Award-winning actor-singer-dancer, with the Lifetime Achievement Award. And Dee Dee Bridgewater, who recently starred as Billie Holiday in the acclaimed Off-Broadway play 'Lady Day' and who can be listened to twice weekly in her own programs on the all-jazz nonprofit radio station WBGO, will present Amy Niles, acting president and CEO of the Newark-based station, with its award.
'Grind', the independent musical short film starring Anthony Rapp (RENT), Claire Coffee (NBC's Grimm) and Pasha Pellosie (The Carrie Diaries, Law and Order: SVU), just released its first trailer. Check it out below!
The Tony Award-winning actor-singer-dancer Ben Vereen, who has appeared in numerous shows on Broadway and in his own one-man shows around the country, will be honored, along with 17 others, at the 29th Annual Bistro Awards gala, which recognizes outstanding achievement in New York cabaret, jazz, and comedy. The celebration will take place on Tuesday, March 4 at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd St. (between 7th & 8th avenues).
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's names have become synonymous with musical theatre. Even if you've never seen a musical on stage or don't care for the art form it's almost a definite that you have at least heard of their works: Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, and Phantom of the Opera. JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT is yet another highlight of the pair's resume, and having been performed all over the world for nearly 30 years, it has become a beloved favorite of theatre goers. The Ogunquit Playhouse's new production of JOSEPH… will leave no doubt in your mind as to why this musical is so loved.
The producers of 'Grind' have announced Pasha Pellosie has joined the project as their final lead, Thane. A relative newcomer, Pasha has been on The Carrie Diaries and Law and Order: SVU. He joins previously announced Anthony Rapp (RENT) and Claire Coffee (NBC's Grimm) in this independent musical short film.