Sidney Myer News

There may have been 40 cabaret performers strutting their stuff this past week at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center, but the true star of the three-night extravaganza (October 17-19) was the late Donald Smith, the cabaret impresario and guru to the genre's luminaries, who died this past March at 79. Sponsored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, which Smith founded in 1985, this year's Convention featured numerous homages to Smith from the performers, many of whom had their career's supported and advanced with the help of the colorful and beloved cabaret producer and promoter. Early in Wednesday's Gala Opening Night show, the 'first lady of the American keyboard' Barbara Carroll called her friend Donald Smith 'the quintessential New Yorker,' and when Mark Nadler closed night one with George and Ira Gershwin's 'Our Love Is Here to Stay,' he said, 'Everybody who cares about the myths of these songs are in this room tonight.' Well, it was clear that anyone who cared about Donald Smith was at the Rose Theater for at least one of the three shows.

This year, the 23rd Cabaret Convention, October 17-19 at Jazz at Lincoln Center/Frederick P. Rose Hall, continued the extraordinary levels of entertainment provided by Smith and his compatriots, as well as provided happy, personal memories of the Mercer/Smith coalescence upon which the Foundation plans to thrive in the future. Check out photos from closing night below!

On November 5th at 7 pm, the Theatre at Saint Peters (Home of the York Theatre) Lexington Avenue at 54th Street will resound with the songs of Larry Kerchner ("Somewhere in Time") sung by some of today's most formidable singers: Headliner: Ann Hampton Callaway, Hilary Kole, Laurel Masse, Kevin Spirtas, Stacy Sullivan, Jeff Harnar, Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano, Karen Oberlin, La Tanya Hall, Sidney Myer, Raissa Katona Bennett, Jill O'Hara and a host of others. Musical Director is Tex Arnold. The event is produced by Sandi Durell.

Singer-actress- cabaret performer Shana Farr will receive the 2012 Julie Wilson Award, presented annually by the Mabel Mercer Foundation 'to a cabaret singer who is a rising star,' at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater, Jazz At Lincoln Center, today, October 17, at 6 PM, the Opening Night of the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention, hosted by KT Sullivan, Artistic Director of the Mabel Mercer Foundation.

Chunky Move presents the World Premiere of An Act of Now at the Melbourne Festival this month, the highly anticipated debut work under new Artistic Director Anouk van Dijk. Casting a fresh eye over her new hometown, van Dijk presents An Act of Now in the iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl, reimagined in an audacious new light.

Singer-actress- cabaret performer Shana Farr will receive the 2012 Julie Wilson Award, presented annually by the Mabel Mercer Foundation 'to a cabaret singer who is a rising star,' at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater, Jazz At Lincoln Center, on Wednesday, October 17, at 6 PM, the Opening Night of the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention, hosted by KT Sullivan, Artistic Director of the Mabel Mercer Foundation.

The new stage musical KING KONG - one of the greatest love stories ever told - officially launched today by announcing its all-Australian lead cast and the line-up of international artists who will contribute to the score. One of the most ambitious shows to be staged in Australia, KING KONG premieres 15 June 2013 for an exclusive, Melbourne only, season at the Regent Theatre.

From Thursday 11 - Saturday 27 October, the Melbourne Festival will take up residence at Arts Centre Melbourne, which becomes a hub of activity with over 10 events being staged across its venues.

Chunky Move presents the World Premiere of An Act of Now at the Melbourne Festival this October, the highly anticipated debut work under new Artistic Director Anouk van Dijk. Casting a fresh eye over her new hometown, van Dijk presents An Act of Now in the iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl, reimagined in an audacious new light.

Close to 50,000 Victorians flocked to Arts Centre Melbourne over the weekend to explore and enjoy the reopening of Hamer Hall after a two-year $135.8 million redevelopment.

Close to 50,000 Victorians flocked to Arts Centre Melbourne over the weekend to explore and enjoy the reopening of Hamer Hall after a two-year $135.8 million redevelopment.

On July 9, friends and family of Bradshaw Smith (Founder & Executive Producer of "Broadway Beat" and Applause Video), gathered at the New Signature Theatre space to honor the former cabaret star and beloved videographer at an intimate memorial celebration.

For over twenty-five years, the late Bradshaw Smith (Founder & Executive Producer of "Broadway Beat" and Applause Video) was the theater world's preeminent videographer, capturing over 1,000 performances on Broadway, off-Broadway, in cabaret halls and beyond that now, because of him, live on today. Bradshaw Smith died on January 16, 2012, at age 57, following a sudden and severe stroke. To conclude the intimate memorial, Bradshaw's longtime friend and editor, Jonathan Frank, compiled the best of Bradshaw's work as a video artist. For a look back at your favorite performances nearly three decades long, all captured through Bradshaw's lens, click below!

Yesterday, July 9, friends and family of Bradshaw Smith (Founder & Executive Producer of "Broadway Beat" and Applause Video), gathered at the New Signature Theatre space to honor the former cabaret star and beloved videographer at an intimate memorial celebration. Performers and speakers who came out to show their respects included Jared Bortz, Mario Cantone, Dan Daly, Jamie deRoy, Julie Halston, Jeff Harnar, Linda Harris, Karen Mason, Susie Mosher, Sidney Myer, Lee Roy Reams, Richard Ridge, Steven Skeels and Todd Stockman. As part of the celebration, Bradshaw's longtime friend and editor, Jonathan Frank, compiled the best of Bradshaw's cabaret past, and below, BroadwayWorld is thrilled to bring you the highlights from Bradshaw's career as a perfomer and cabaret fixture.

A memorial celebration to honor the life and career of Bradshaw Smith (Founder & Executive Producer of "Broadway Beat" and Applause Video) has been scheduled for Monday, July 9 at 4PM. Some of the performers and speakers taking part will include: Jared Bortz, Mario Cantone, Dan Daly, Jamie deRoy, Julie Halston, Jeff Harnar, Linda Harris, Karen Mason, Susie Mosher, Sidney Myer, Lee Roy Reams, Richard Ridge, Steven Skeels and Todd Stockman. The memorial will take place at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues). A reception will follow in the Signature Theatre's Cafe and Bar.

Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor concert series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, will add flashes of comedy as several quick-silvered wits join the musical mix on Wednesday June 20 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens.

On May 20th Joseph Macchia presented the annual Cabaret Cares Gala to benefit Help Is On The Way Today. Cabaret Cares is the monthly benefit series that brings together the best of The Broadway and Cabaret community of New York. Created by cabaret producer Joseph Macchia who is also the founder and the president of Help Is On The Way Today a grass roots non for profit organization that helps and assists children and teens living with HIV and AIDS in New York City.

Artists in Partnership (AIP), a non-profit cultural arts organization, will host its 10th Annual Cabaret Festival today, May 16 through May 20 at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. All performances are free to the public. The festival will be a celebration of the cabaret genre honoring the Great American Songbook with performances by renowned local and New York City-based artists.

Artists in Partnership (AIP), a non-profit cultural arts organization, will host its 10th Annual Cabaret Festival May 16-20 at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. All performances are free to the public. The festival will be a celebration of the cabaret genre honoring the Great American Songbook with performances by renowned local and New York City-based artists.

Recent MAC Award-winner Alison Nusbaum had audiences laughing in the narrow aisles of Don't Tell Mama with her hilarious show that paid tribute to everything Mel Brooks. Here's a review from the 2,000-Year-Old Man.