Raissa Katona Bennett News

There's a new Open Mic Night in town, and it's quite the place to be! Kenneth Gartman hosts the monthly Open Mic Night on the 3rd Saturday of every month at Unity Center in Norwalk, CT. The next concert is set for Saturday, December 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. $10 cover. The Unity Center is located at 3 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Norwalk, Conn.

If you're wondering whether or not 2013 was a fantastic year for the cabaret art form in New York, all you have to do is scan the amazing list of nominees for this year's BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards and you'll know it was one of the best ever. So now it's time for all you cabaret performers and fans to vote for the best singers, musicians, songs, and shows of the year. Voting will continue until Sunday night January 5 and the winners will be announced later that week. We hope that all the winners will be able to perform in the Award show on Sunday night February 23 at Joe's Pub.

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.

Bob O'Hare made his cabaret debut in May of 2009 with 'Home: A Musical Journey.' It was a wonderful way to kick off his summer. It was well-received, with Sandi Durell lauding its 'carefully chosen songs cleverly intertwined' and 'truly realized' performances.

For four magical nights in October, the Mabel Mercer Foundation present a sparkling array of America's leading cabaret stars. Among the 60 outstanding artists who will take the stage at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Last night was Before The Parade Passes By, hosted by KLea Blackhurst and starring Corinna SowersAdler, Raissa Katona Bennett, William Blake, Kevin Dozier, Liam Forde, John Forster, Gregory Generet,Tanya Holt,Eva Kantor, Stearns Matthews, Sally Mayes, Colleen McHugh, Marissa Mulder, Sidney Myer, Mark Nadler, Georga Osborne, and Nick Ziobro.

Last night was Falling In Love With Love: The songs of Rodgers & Hart, hosted by Andrea Marcovicci andJeff Harnar; performances by the cohosts plus, Karen Akers, Christine Andreas, Joyce Breach, Anna Bergman, Liz Callaway, Lauren Fox, Eric Michael Gillett, Clint Holmes, Todd Murray, Steve Ross, and Iris Williams. Check out photos below!

Bob O'Hare made his cabaret debut in May of 2009 with 'Home: A Musical Journey.' It was a wonderful way to kick off his summer. It was well-received, with Sandi Durell lauding its 'carefully chosen songs cleverly intertwined' and 'truly realized' performances.

For four magical nights in October, the Mabel Mercer Foundation present a sparkling array of America's leading cabaret stars. Among the 60 outstanding artists who will take the stage at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center from October 7th through 10th are multiple Grammy Award winner Jack Jones, Marilyn Maye, Steve Ross, Karen Akers, Nellie McKay, and Barbara Carroll. Jones was just honoerd during the festivities and you can check out photos below!

For four magical nights this week, the Mabel Mercer Foundation will present a sparkling array of America's leading cabaret stars. Among the 60 outstanding artists who will take the stage at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center from today, October 7th through 10th are multiple Grammy Award winner Jack Jones, Marilyn Maye, Steve Ross, Karen Akers, Nellie McKay, and Barbara Carroll.

For four magical nights in October, the Mabel Mercer Foundation will present a sparkling array of America's leading cabaret stars. Among the 60 outstanding artists who will take the stage at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center from October 7th through 10th are multiple Grammy Award winner Jack Jones, Marilyn Maye, Steve Ross, Karen Akers, Nellie McKay, and Barbara Carroll.

The 6th Season of The Concerts for City Greens, free outdoor concert series, concludes tonight, September 11th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, September 12th at 6:30pm.) at Tudor City Greens, with a very special tribute concert: 'I HEAR AMERICA SINGING - Songs of Hope, Joy & Inspiration,' and will feature professional performers from Broadway and the New York City cabaret, and jazz scene.

The 6th Season of The Concerts for City Greens, free outdoor concert series, concludes on Wednesday, September 11th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, September 12th at 6:30pm.) at Tudor City Greens, with a very special tribute concert: 'I HEAR AMERICA SINGING - Songs of Hope, Joy & Inspiration,' and will feature professional performers from Broadway and the New York City cabaret, and jazz scene.

The 6th Season of The Concerts for City Greens, free outdoor concert series, continues tonight, August 7th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, August 8th at 6:30pm.) at Tudor City Greens, with 'AND THE WINNER IS...Featuring Songs from the Songwriting Contest Winner - LARRY KERCHNER', and will feature professional performers from Broadway and the New York City cabaret, jazz, classical and comedy 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 6th Season of The Concerts for City Greens, free outdoor concert series, continues on Wednesday, August 7th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, August 8th at 6:30pm.) at Tudor City Greens, with 'AND THE WINNER IS...Featuring Songs from the Songwriting Contest Winner - LARRY KERCHNER', and will feature professional performers from Broadway and the New York City cabaret, jazz, classical and comedy 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 6th Season of The Concerts for City Greens, free outdoor concert series, continues on Wednesday, June 26th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, June 27th at 6:30pm.) at Tudor City Greens, with 'Summer Sambas, Showmen & Sirens ,' and will feature professional performers from Broadway and the New York City cabaret, jazz, and classical 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 Group Theatre Too, along with choreographer, Justin Boccitto and director, Kimberly Vaughn presents the 2013 Broadway Performance Project (BPP), an evening of young, aspiring Broadway bound talent performing tonight, June 11th and Thursday, June 13th, 7:00pm at cabaret hub, The Laurie Beechman Theater.

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 Group Theatre Too, along with choreographer, Justin Boccitto and director, Kimberly Vaughn presents the 2013 Broadway Performance Project (BPP), an evening of young, aspiring Broadway bound talent performing on Tuesday, June 11th and Thursday, June 13th, 7:00pm at cabaret hub, The Laurie Beechman Theater. BPP selected twelve participants from among those who auditioned, including: Caitlin Catanella, Melissa Coffey, Isaac Dayley, Kristin Feeney, Anelena Frollini, Billy Hannon, Erica Kimble, Amelia Rose Ortman, Kelly Reader, Daniel Schultz, Alan Simon and Micki Weiner. In preparation for their Beechman performances these artists will have coached with Justin and Kimberly, along with musical director Andrea Grody, and workshopped their songs in an 'in studio' performance class with a panel of industry professionals who include talent manager Naomi Kolstein and casting director Dale Brown. The project also had a successful benefit show last December where they unveiled "The Nicole Fosse Scholarship" and saw performances from Richard Kline, Phillip Boykin, Anita Gillette, Kurt Peterson, Wayne Alan Wilcox, Colleen Zenk, Kevin Spirtas, Raissa Katona Bennett and Sheri Sanders.

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.