Ray Evans News

Be sure to catch this amazing singer next time she is in town.

Alex Leonard is a classy performer. His relaxed, minimalist style and adherence to vocals as written take one back to an agreeable past. Jazz riffs weave around rather than obscure melody. Lyric meaning is gracefully maintained. Aided and abetted by expert veterans Jay Leonhart on bass and Al Gafa on guitar, Leonard saluted the great Nat King Cole at Pangea on January 18 with a bit of history, a couple of illuminating anecdotes, and signature songs.

Urban Stages has confirmed the line-up for this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2016, which will begin tomorrow, Thursday, December 1, and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through Sunday, December 11, 2016 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

New York Festival of Song brings back its beloved program "A Goyishe Christmas to You!" on Monday, December 12, 2016 at 10:00 p.m. at HENRY's Restaurantas part of NYFOS's 'After Hours' series.

Urban Stages has announced the line-up for this year's Award Winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2016, which will begin Thursday, December 1 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through Sunday, December 11, 2016 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

I don't know when Ann Hampton Callaway started this chapter of her life, but she's emphatically in a new one. The artist savors every note, propelled headlong into her songs with uncommon exuberance. Signature authority extends not only to stellar scat but to enacting selected material. Accompanied by The Ted Rosenthal Trio (Ted Rosenthal, piano; Martin Wind, bass; Tim Horner, drums), Callaway shines luminous at Birdland (where I saw her latest show Wednesday night and which continues for two more shows Friday and Saturday night at 8:30 and 11 pm).

Jeff Macauley loves Dinah Shore. That's usually the case when a cabaret performer devotes an entire show to a star's body of work. But there's affection and admiration, and then there's all-encompassing passion and adoration that informs the performer's every note, lyric, and anecdote, and thereby imparts that love to us (whether or not we were previously fans). By that standard, MWAH! The Dinah Shore Show, Macauley's 1998 Backstage Bistro Award Winner for 'Outstanding Theme Show' (revived last Saturday night as part of Stephen Hanks' monthly New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits series at the Metropolitan Room--is one of the most successful shows of its kind I've seen.

On Saturday December 19 at 3 pm and 8 pm and on Sunday December 20 at 3 pm, the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) presented its annual Holiday Spectacular at the Alex Theatre, Glendale, this year entitled Brassy, Classy & Sassy! There's always diversity in the shows - it's what I like most - and this year, Acts One and Two of Brassy, Classy & Sassy!were as different as night and day. The chorus is under the executive direction of Chris Verdugo and artistic direction of conductor Dr. Joseph P, Nadeau. Chris wore a silly blue Christmas suit covered with snowflakes ,which almost blinded me and Nadeau a sweater, well, we'll talk about that one later on...

New York Festival of Song brings back its much-anticipated program 'A Goyishe Christmas to You!' on Monday, December 14, 2015 at 10:00 p.m. at HENRY's Restaurant as part of NYFOS's 'After Hours' cabaret series.

After two years performing his highly praised show, It Was Me, honoring the songbook of famed lyricist Norman Gimbel at New York's Don't Tell Mama, Bistro Award-winning vocalist and BroadwayWorld.com 'Best Male Vocalist' nominee Jeff Macauley presented a new show this past spring at New York's Metropolitan Room. In Mr. Lucky: The Songs of Henry Mancini, Macauley celebrates the music of the iconic composer. Macauley's orchestra for Mr. Lucky is Award-winning Musical Director/pianist and arranger Tex Arnold, with Jon Burr on bass. Now Macauley is bringing Mr. Lucky to Don't Tell Mama on November 21 at 7 pm.

After two years performing his highly praised show, It Was Me, honoring the songbook of famed lyricist Norman Gimbel at New York's Don't Tell Mama, Bistro Award-winning vocalist and BroadwayWorld.com 'Best Male Vocalist' nominee Jeff Macauley presented a new show this past spring at New York's Metropolitan Room. In Mr. Lucky: The Songs of Henry Mancini, Macauley celebrates the music of the iconic composer. Macauley's orchestra for Mr. Lucky is Award-winning Musical Director/pianist and arranger Tex Arnold, with Jon Burr on bass. Now Macauley is bringing Mr. Lucky to Don't Tell Mama on November 21 at 7 pm.

The Aviva Players will begin its 40th season tonight, October 16 with 'Songs, Piano Rags & Chamber Music by Women Composers, including the Piano Trio by Fanny Mendelssohn,' the first installment of a three-part concert series at Opera America, 330 Seventh Ave.  The concert will include piano rags by May Frances Aufderheide, Irene Giblin and Adeline Shepard; songs by Mira J. Spektor, and 'Vocal Duets' and 'The Piano Trio' by Fanny Mendelssohn.  The evening is presented in conjunction with Downtown Music Productions.

The Aviva Players will begin its 40th season on October 16 with 'Songs, Piano Rags & Chamber Music by Women Composers, including the Piano Trio by Fanny Mendelssohn,' the first installment of a three-part concert series at Opera America, 330 Seventh Ave.  The concert will include piano rags by May Frances Aufderheide, Irene Giblin and Adeline Shepard; songs by Mira J. Spektor, and 'Vocal Duets' and 'The Piano Trio' by Fanny Mendelssohn.  The evening is presented in conjunction with Downtown Music Productions.

After two years performing his highly praised show, It Was Me, honoring the songbook of famed lyricist Norman Gimbel at New York's Don't Tell Mama, Bistro Award-winning vocalist and BroadwayWorld.com 'Best Male Vocalist' nominee Jeff Macauley presents a new show this spring at New York's Metropolitan Room. In Mr. Lucky, Macauley will celebrate the music of the iconic composer Henry Mancini. Macauley's orchestra for Mr. Lucky will be Award-winning Musical Director/pianist and arranger Tex Arnold with Jon Burr on bass. Opening night of the three-show run is April 15, 2015, with additional shows on May 6 and June 17. All shows are today nights at 9:30 pm. The Metropolitan Room is at 34 West 22nd Street, NY, NY 10010, 212-206-0440.

After two years performing his highly praised show, It Was Me, honoring the songbook of famed lyricist Norman Gimbel at New York's Don't Tell Mama, Bistro Award-winning vocalist and BroadwayWorld.com 'Best Male Vocalist' nominee Jeff Macauley presents a new show this spring at New York's Metropolitan Room. In Mr. Lucky, Macauley will celebrate the music of the iconic composer Henry Mancini. Macauley's orchestra for Mr. Lucky will be Award-winning Musical Director/pianist and arranger Tex Arnold with Jon Burr on bass. Opening night of the three-show run is April 15, 2015, with additional shows on May 6 and June 17. All shows are on Wednesday nights at 9:30 pm. The Metropolitan Room is at 34 West 22nd Street, NY, NY 10010, 212-206-0440.

The ensemble of the smash-hit musical Les Miserables has got to be one of the hardest working ensembles on Broadway. Last night this talented group impressed audiences by casting the wigs, dirt, and grime aside and singing the music that makes them tick at 54 BELOW.

Randy James' all male dance company, 10 Hairy Legs, returns to Crossroads Theatre, New Brunswick for its third consecutive appearance on Sunday, March 29 at 3:00 pm. Continuing to showcase the company's expanded repertory that explores the range of the male dancer, the performance will be followed by a Panel Discussion on the stage with Artistic Director Randy James, New Jersey choreographer Cleo Mack and Company Member Kyle Marshall. Tickets are $25 for Premium Seating Center Section and $22.50 for Seniors, $20 Adult Side Seating and $15 for students and children.

This year, ASCAP brings its 100th birthday celebration into the holiday season by unwrapping the top 30 ASCAP holiday songs of all time. Topping the list is 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,' written by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie.

The New York Festival of Song's annual tradition, "A Goyishe Christmas to You!" returns Monday, December 15, 2014 at 10:00 p.m. at HENRY's Restaurant as part of the 2014-15 NYFOS After Hours cabaret series.

Randy James' all male dance company, 10 Hairy Legs, appears at New York Live Arts tonight, June 26-28 at 7:30 pm and June 29 at 2:00 pm. Continuing the company's aggressive repertory expansion that explores the range of the male dancer, the four performances feature two programs with works by Julie Bour, David Dorfman and Dan Froot, Doug Elkins, Tiffany Mills, David Parker, Claire Porter and Randy James. Tickets are $20 for General Seating, $15 for students, seniors, artists, and New York Live Arts Members.