Raissa Katona Bennett News

It was January 25 2011 and Raissa Katona Bennett brought her new show, exploring the music of Jerome Kern to Feinstein's at The Regency Hotel. It got rave reviews from the critics at that time. Amazingly looking and sounding even better, Raissa returned to the cabaret stage last night at The Laurie Beechman Theatre's West Bank Cafe' and Broadwayworld was there. Check out the photos.

Broadway actress-singer, MAC and Bistro Award winner, Raissa Katona Bennett, returns to the cabaret stage in April celebrating the release of her third recording, CAN'T HELP SINGING - THE MUSIC OF JEROME KERN. This romantic celebration of Kern's greatest hits, including 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,' 'All the Things You Are' and 'The Way You Look Tonight,' will play April 26th & May 3rd at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Pianist, Jon Weber, joins Katona Bennett as Musical Director for this engagement. The Laurie Beechman Theatre is in the rear and downstairs at the West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC 10036. For tickets/reservations call 212.695.6909 or visit: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/986039.

Kristi Roosmaa, Nicole Corris with Corris Line Productions, and Maija Anttila with Soulgaze Films presented a sold out concert performance of Kalevala the Musical, composed by Johanna Telander at the Scandinavia House in New York.

Broadway actress-singer, MAC and Bistro Award winner, Raissa Katona Bennett, returns to the cabaret stage in April celebrating the release of her third recording, CAN'T HELP SINGING - THE MUSIC OF JEROME KERN. This romantic celebration of Kern's greatest hits, including "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "All the Things You Are" and "The Way You Look Tonight," will play April 26th & May 3rd at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Pianist, Jon Weber, joins Katona Bennett as Musical Director for this engagement.

Maija Anttila, Nicole Corris and Kristi Roosmaa, a powerful, all female driven team, are producing a concert performance featuring samples from an upcoming production of KALEVALA the musical, composed by Johanna Telander. The concert will take place March 5th, 2018 at 7pm at the SCANDINAVIA HOUSE. 58 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10016.

KALEVALA The Musical is a story of ancient legends told by the spirits of the haunted forest of Kalevala. The musical is adapted from materials of the national epic poem of Finland. Among others, the author of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit, J.R.R.Tolkien has acknowledged the direct influence of Kalevala in his works. The story has been set to an ethereal yet powerful pop, folk, and world music score written by Johanna Telander. The concert will feature performances from composer Johanna Telander, Raissa Katona Bennett (The Phantom of the Opera), Omer Shaish (Radio City Christmas Spectacular), and acclaimed Finnish actress Reeta Vestman, along with Mary Baron, Nicole Corris, Kelly Delaveris, Jennifer Hiemstra, Natsuko Hirano, Markus Kaitila, John Koski, Kristi Roosmaa, Catrina Teruel, and Amanda Yachechak. The band includes David Fletcher, Carol Ma, Arei Sekiguchi, and Christopher Telander, with musical direction by Sean Ferguson.

Maija Anttila with Soulgaze Films presents a concert performance featuring samples from an upcoming production of KALEVALA the Musical, composed by Johanna Telander. The concert, which will take place January 6th, 2018 at 7pm at St. Peter's Episcopal Church (346 W 20th St. New York, NY 10011), is an introduction to the music from KALEVALA the Musical. An official staged reading will follow in the spring of 2018.

Maija Anttila with Soulgaze Films presents a concert performance featuring samples from an upcoming production of KALEVALA the Musical, composed by Johanna Telander. The concert, which will take place January 6th, 2018 at 7pm at St. Peter's Episcopal Church (346 W 20th St. New York, NY 10011), is an introduction to the music from KALEVALA the Musical. An official staged reading will follow in the spring of 2018.

David Friedman, one of America's most inspiring songwriters (and a Norwalk resident) has written hit songs for everyone from Disney to Diana Ross. On Today, October 7th at 7:30 P.M, David will present a one-night-only concert of his songs of love, inspiration and laughter, sung by a cast of Connecticut's finest singers, and will share the stories behind the songs in 'BROADWAY AND CABARET SING DAVID FRIEDMAN.'

David Friedman, one of America's most inspiring songwriters (and a Norwalk resident) has written hit songs for everyone from Disney to Diana Ross. On Saturday, October 7th at 7:30 P.M, David will present a one-night-only concert of his songs of love, inspiration and laughter, sung by a cast of Connecticut's finest singers, and will share the stories behind the songs in 'BROADWAY AND CABARET SING DAVID FRIEDMAN.'

Photographs of America's most treasured composers are on the walls of the Friars Club. By some oversight David Friedman's is not.  After an evening of David and friends performing his music he will take his rightful  place among the music greats who have had their music echo through the hallowed rooms of the club.

Milford Arts Council and Pantochino Productions present A Nite Spot Nights concert with RAISSA KATONA BENNETT & KENNETH GARTMAN in 'WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD' on Saturday, May 13th at 8 pm at the Milford Center for the Arts, 40 Railroad Avenue, Milford, CT.

The 2017 MAC Award winners were revealed last night at the 31st MAC Awards on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, New York City. Take a look at the full list of winners below!

Stephen Hanks, the BroadwayWorld Award-Nominated producer of the recurring monthly variety show series at the Metropolitan Room, New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits, has announced that he is bringing the third installment of his newest variety series to the venerable cabaret room Don't Tell Mama (343 W 46th St, New York, NY) on January 26 at 7 pm. Stephen's Vixens will star Meg Flather, Rosemary Loar, Laurie Krauz, Barbara Porteus, Charlotte Patton, and Raissa Katona Bennett, with Daryl Kojak as Musical Director.

Hold your hats and hallelujah. After an electrifying opening night, the Mabel Mercer Foundation's 27th Annual Cabaret Convention continued Wednesday night in a packed Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Hosted by Jeff Harnar and Andrea Marcovicci, the cabaret community gathered to salute the music of Stephen Sondheim, the EGOT-winning composer/lyricist whose oeuvre has been simultaneously catapulting and tripping up artists for decades. Despite 30 performances on the evening, you'd be hard-pressed to find a weak spot in Wednesday night's lineup, hosting what is arguably the best rotation of the four nights, featuring cabaret giants, up-and-comers, expert arrangers (plus the talents of Jered Egan on bass and Dan Gross on drums), and Sondheim role originators.

The second night of the 27th New York Cabaret Convention at Rose Hall was hosted by long time cabaret artist favorites, Jeff Harnar & Andrea Marcovicci. The evening including performances by: Sally Mayes, Aaron Morishito, Julie Reyburn, Maureen Taylor, Raissa Katona Bennett, Will Nunziata, Anthony Nunziata, Jennifer Sheehan, Kevin Dozier, Sarah Rice, Donna McKechnie, Jon Weber, Marissa Mulder, Eric Michael Gillett, Celia Berk, Josephine Sanges, Steve Ross, Karen Akers, Sidney Meyer, Iris Williams, and Marta Sanders. Tonights evening will be hosted by Rex Reed and the Conventions closing night honoring Charles Strouse will be hosted by Klea Blackhurst

MUSIC AND ART FOR CITY GREENS concludes their 9th Season of Concerts to benefit Tudor City Greens, on September 14th (rain date the very next day, 9/15) at Tudor City Greens at 6:30 pm.

the 2016 Cabaret Convention returns to the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall, from Tuesday, October 18th through Friday, October 21st  to present four different music programs. More than seventy singers are scheduled to appear, and the productions include specific tributes to the songs of Stephen Sondheim, the lyrics of Sheldon Harnick, the melodies of Charles Strouse, and the repertoire of legendary jazz artist Sylvia Syms.

Broadway and cabaret performers come together for a good cause on Saturday, June 4 at 7 pm at Unity Center in Norwalk, Connecticut. The 'cause' for this concert will be announced as a part of the event itself, so just come enjoy a stellar show with two for one drinks after the event at BJ Ryan's BANC House (around the corner from Unity Center).

Award-winning Pantochino Productions Inc. has announced its bold 2016/17 season which includes three original musicals for family audiences, a Teen Theatre production and a second season of it's Nite Spot Nights series produced in conjunction with the Milford Arts Council.