For any cabaret performer, delivering an original song can be a nice touch in any show, but finding the right one can drive a singer crazy. The upside is that as well as highlighting the songwriter (which in some cases can be the singer's musical director) it gives the performer an opportunity to show what they can do with unfamiliar material. The combination of the two can be effective and memorable. Such was the case recently with singer Gary Crawford who along with musical director, arranger and songwriter Barry Levitt delivered a very compelling evening of songs on September 2 at the Metropolitan Room. Crawford is a lovable singer who highlighted the somewhat under-the-radar talent of one of cabaret's most respected musicians. After producing a MAC Award-winning show (for "Best Debut") in 2013-In Love With Love-and recording a subsequent CD, it was inevitable that Crawford and Levitt team up again, this time for Secret Dreams: Gary Crawford Sings The Barry Levitt Songbook.
Vocalist Gary Crawford burst onto the New York cabaret scene like a "thunderbolt" in October 2014 with his debut show 'In Love With Love' at the Metropolitan Room. With the veteran Music Director and Arranger Maestro Barry Levitt at the piano, Crawford produced a captivating show that earned him rave reviews from BroadwayWorld.com and Cabaret Scenes Magazine and ultimately a 2014 Manhattan Association of Cabaret & Clubs Award (MAC) for "Best Male Vocal Debut." (Crawford had already performed a "CD Release" show of 'In Love With Love' at the Metropolitan Room that April). After spending the past year and a half performing as a guest singer in variety shows throughout city at venues such as Iridium, Birdland, Don't Tell Mama, and Urban Stages, Crawford has again teamed up with Levitt for a new show, this one featuring songs composed by Levitt himself. Crawford will star in Secret Dreams: Gary Crawford Sings The Barry Levitt Songbook at the Metropolitan Room on September 2 at 7 pm. The show will feature the Barry Levitt Quartet, including Jon Burr on bass, Ray Marchica on drums, and Jack Cavari on guitar, as well as special guest vocalists.
With new Sunday evening Jazz Party host Carole J. Bufford performing elsewhere last night, the Birdland Jazz Club recruited drummer Ray Marchica and his vocalist wife Nina Hennessy (right), who rounded up some of their talented friends for an evening of vocal and instrumental jazz, new compositions, and golden standards. Marchica's band featured Sean Harkness on guitar, Tom Hubbard on bass, and Bob Quaranta on piano. Special guests included vocalist Marissa Mulder and composer/pianist Ian Herman.
One of the New York nightclub and cabaret scene's most talented couple--Vocalist/Actress Nina Hennessey and Drummer Ray Marchica--have been booked by Birdland, New York's premier jazz club, for a special show on August 2 at 6 pm (doors open at 5 pm). The married musical team has put together a stellar band for this set of jazzy standards, including Sean Harkness on guitar, Tom Hubbard on bass, and Bob Quaranta on piano. The show will also feature Award-Winning vocalist Marissa Mulder as a special guest. To purchase tickets, go to: www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/919343
Vocalist Gary Crawford burst onto the New York cabaret scene like a “thunderbolt” in October 2014 with his debut show 'In Love With Love' at the Metropolitan Room. With the veteran Music Director and Arranger Maestro Barry Levitt at the piano, Crawford produced a captivating show that earned him rave reviews from BroadwayWorld.com and Cabaret Scenes Magazine and ultimately a 2014 Manhattan Association of Cabaret & Clubs Award (MAC) for “Best Male Vocal Debut.” (Crawford had already performed a “CD Release” show of 'In Love With Love' at the Metropolitan Room that April). After spending the past year and a half performing as a guest singer in variety shows throughout city at venues such as Iridium, Birdland, Don't Tell Mama, and Urban Stages, Crawford has again teamed up with Levitt for a new show, this one featuring songs composed by Levitt himself. Crawford will star in Secret Dreams: Gary Crawford Sings The Barry Levitt Songbook at the Metropolitan Room on September 2 at 7 pm. The show will feature the Barry Levitt Quartet, including Jon Burr on bass, Ray Marchica on drums, and Jack Cavari on guitar, as well as special guest vocalists.
On July 5, Carole J. Bufford erupted onto the stage at Birdland for her first Sunday evening as hostess of the club's weekly Jazz Party (which had been helmed most recently by Natalie Douglas and Jane Monheit). The formidable vocalist, glamorous in clingy red, was aided and abetted by a top-notch (also well dressed—Bravo!) quartet featuring Joel Frahm on sax, Ray Marchia on drums, Tom Hubbard on bass, and Musical Director Ian Herman on piano. Special guests for Bufford's inaugural session were Janelle Velasquez and Lianne Marie Dobbs. With Bufford's audacious performance, smart choices, and attention to detail, Sundays promise to be a great deal more fun in midtown Manhattan.
The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present singer Nicolas King in concert on Sunday, June 14. Nicolas performed 'Shakin' the Blues Away!' - a collection of 'feel good' songs from the worlds of Jazz, Pop and Broadway. The show was under the baton of musical director Mike Renzi and his trio, Ray Marchica on drums and Tom Hubbard on bass. BroadwayWorld has photos from the concert below!
Stars of New York's Cabaret and theatre worlds will perform the songs of renowned composer/arranger Larry Kerchner in the fourth edition of 'Hidden Treasures: Songs of Larry Kerchner.'
Last night Julie Budd gave her first performance as the latest Artist In Residence at The Metropolitan Room and broadwayworld was there. While enjoying a multi-faceted musical career, Julie's credits range from television to film, the New York stage, and symphonies all over the country, along with the most lavish casinos and showrooms everywhere. She began her professional career at the tender age of twelve, after meeting record producer/orchestrator Herb Bernstein. He immediately took Julie under his wing and introduced her to Merv Griffin at a recording session in New York City. After hearing Julie sing, she was invited to appear on more than 100 of Merv's Shows.
At a ceremony held last night in New York, the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs announced the winners of the 2015 MAC Awards. The show was hosted by Karen Mason, with musical direction by Barry Levitt, and was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts.
It was all in the family and all for the family at The Friars Club last night. La Famiglia, Mishpucha, La Familia, CeMbR, Rat Pack, Broadway and Cabaret, were assembled by producers Laura Slutsky and Jamie at the Friars for a spectacular Jamie deRoy & friends show last night. You had to be in the family or know someone in the family to get into the sold out event. Probably no family gathering had so much fun, good food, and great performances as this one did.
There will be a very special show at the Friars tonight, March 11th. Jamie deRoy will be hosting a an evening of entertainment called 'Family Ties'. Usually Jamie's shows are all about the talented and interesting friends she knows, but for this one, the main requirement will be that these wonderfully entertaining friends have to be related to each other or to a Friar.
There will be a very special show at the Friars on Wednesday March 11th. Jamie deRoy will be hosting a an evening of entertainment called 'Family Ties'. Usually Jamie's shows are all about the talented and interesting friends she knows, but for this one, the main requirement will be that these wonderfully entertaining friends have to be related to each other or to a Friar.
The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs will present the 29th Annual MAC Awards on Thursday, March 26st, at 7:30pm, at B.B King Blues Club & Grill in New York City.
In just three years since the inception of the BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards, the ceremony has evolved into one of the community's most-anticipated events. And this year's festivities, the second one at Joe's Pub, proved to be the most glittering and energetic assemblage to date. In fact, there couldn't have been a more promising start to the annual cabaret awards season, which continues with the Bistro Awards at Gotham Comedy Club on March 4, and culminates with the MAC Awards (Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs) at BB King's on March 26. The 3rd Annual BWW Awards Show was just the right spark to get this season's prizes off to a veritable fireworks display.
It was an emotional and touching night for lovers of Pastrami, Corned Beef, Lox, White Fish, Blintzes, Pickles, Cole Slaw and Mustard at the Friars last night. Cohen Media Group had the screening of The Movie Deliman in the Milton Berle Room. This film by Erik Greenberg Anjou celebrates 160 years of tradition and great stories by the Jewish Deli owners, operators and fanatics who are keeping the lox sliced thin and the Pastrami hot in the Jewish delicatessens that are still thriving around the world. Besides the food, Ziggy Gruber, operator of Kenny and Ziggy's in Houston, Texas is the star of this funny and heartwarming documentary. The film reflects the heart of a vital ethnic history. It's also a love story, not just about the food, but about the preservation of family, laughter and community that remains a fundamental part of a trip to a Jewish Delicatessen. What better place to see the wonderful film than the Friars Club were those traditions are celebrated every day. After the talk back with Ziggy Gruber, Fyvesh Finkel and Erik Greenberg Anjou, maitre d' Giuseppe Tarillo welcomed everyone into the Frank Sinatra Dinning Room. I guess that's what you call Jewish Fusion. It's great "having what the Friars were having".
Marilyn Maye always gets standing ovations but few more exciting than when Tommy Tune is in the audience to rise out of his seat for the marvelous Marilyn. Tune, the New York City designated Living Landmark, had recently finished getting his own standing ovations at Encores! production of "Lady, Be Good". He was among the other celebs at Birdland last night to witness another episode in the saga of the artistry of a Marilyn Maye and Billy Stritch performance.
The 2014 BWW New York Cabaret Awards will celebrate the best cabaret performers and shows of last year as voted on by 7,500 fans in December after a one-month preliminary ballot process. Produced, directed, and hosted for the third straight year by BWW Cabaret Editor Stephen Hanks, the BWW Awards show will feature performances by many of the winners, many of whom are among the cream of the crop in the art of cabaret. Joining a star-studded cast (see below) will be two-time 2014 BWW Cabaret Award nominee and Broadway Musical star Len Cariou, who will perform a special tribute to the late songwriter Ervin Drake.
Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include coverage of closing night of SIDE SHOW, new additions to the cast of WICKED, a first look at Vineyard Theatre's BROOKLYNITE, and more!
BroadwayWorld has called Ann Hampton Callaway the current “Queen of Cabaret” and apparently much of the cabaret audience agrees. The votes for the 2014 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards are official and Callaway is the “Performer of the Year,” having garnered 2,194 votes (the most of any nominee) out of the 66,179 votes cast by approximately 7,500 voters for 148 nominees in 17 categories. Here are your 2014 BWW New York Cabaret Award Winners.
