Seven outstanding vocalists, songwriters, and musicians born in 1915 were honored at Weill Recital Hall on Tuesday, June 9th, at 7:30 p.m., when The Mabel Mercer Foundation presented their annual concert, "It Was A Very Good Year." Cohosted by the Foundation's artistic director KT Sullivan and the distinguished critic Rex Reed, the one-night-only event celebrated the centennial birthdays of (alphabetically) Alice Faye, Billie Holiday, Bart Howard, Edith Piaf, Frank Sinatra, Billy Strayhorn, and Cy Walter.
Linda Lavin's most recent show at 54 Below (which had a three-night run between June 4-6), Starting Over--"Because that's what I've done all my life"--illuminates a succession of chapters in her career. The show bears more than a little resemblance to a 2012 appearance at the same venue. There are repeated numbers, excessive, though entertaining anecdotes, and a feel I now find formulaic.
An emotional and grateful Tommy Tune went to the top of his ladder and placed the Lifetime Achievement Award Tony above the other 9 he has been awarded. Here are photos of the momentous event. You can see it on video at http://t2conline.com/stephen-sorokoff-my-view-tommy-tune-brings-home-his-tony-award-a-video/.
Having garnered acclaim for his performances on stage and screen, Alan Cumming made his Cafe Carlyle debut this week for a two-week engagement, June 2-13 and Broadwayworld was of course on the scene to snap some pics. Check them out below!
Tony and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin takes the 54 Below stage this week, performing Broadway favorites, standards, jazz, and even some songs she learned from the great girl singers. Check out a look back at her first performance this week at 54 Below!
Scott Coulter brought the music of Studio 54 to Below 54 last night as the club celebrated it's 3rd year on that famous NYC street. In the legendary club's heyday the guest list was a who's who from the world of entertainment - Andy Warhol, Liza Minnelli, Halston, Elizabeth Taylor, Mick Jagger, Diana Ross, Brooke Shields, John Travolta, Michael Jackson - and the music played kept them dancing all through the night. It was dancing through the night at 54 Below yesterday and Max at the entry door was much more accommodating than those guards at the 1970 Studio 54. Happy Anniversary to 54 Below and also to Steven & Eda (Baruch)
Sally Kellerman, the legendary Oscar-nomInated 'Hot Lips' of the original 'M*A*S*H,' will bring her new show, 'A Little Jazz, a Little Blues, a Little Rock and Roll' to the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood tonight, June 3 at 8:30 PM.
Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano are in a really good mood. The infectious buoyancy of their new show at the Metropolitan Room, Shoulder Season (Don't ask me what the title means. Despite explanation, I haven't a clue.), will erase world news, ease arthritis, and make love seem possible again. Well, maybe not all that. Its warm, cheerful, sometimes exuberant musicality is nonetheless recommended for whatever ails you.
Eric & Barbara returned last night to Metropolitan Room for six nights this month with a swinging summer cocktail of lazy days, blue skies, & exotic lands in SHOULDER SEASON and BroadwayWorld was there.
Still trying to perfect your 2015 Tony Awards scorecard? Ate way too many Schmackary's cookies at Broadway Bakes this week and you are just coming out of a sugar coma? Well don't worry BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the biggest stories from this week from Broadway and beyond with BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures.'
Laura Osnes returned to 54 Below last night and Broadwayworld was there. You've seen Laura star on Broadway in Cinderella, Bonnie & Clyde, Anything Goes, South Pacific, & Grease. You've heard her albums If I Tell You: The Songs of Maury Yeston and Dream a Little Dream: Live at the Cafe Carlyle. In An Evening with Laura Osnes, Laura delighted the audience with an assortment of her favorite songs and stories from past shows, concerts, and cabarets.
Barry Kleinbort, director, composer, lyricist, and librettist shared his vast theatre knowledge with the 970am radio audience this past Sunday. Barry paid a visit to his longtime friend Jamie deRoy at Backstage with Peter LeDonne. This informative hour is available on Podcast at http://am970theanswer.com. Mr. Kleinbort is one of the select of creative people who are called upon to write special material for many cabaret and theatre performers.
Sheldon Harnick the Tony Award-winning lyricist of Fiddler on the Roof will be Hosting the 92Y's presentation of To Life! Celebrating 50 Years of Fiddler on the Roof. The production will run from May 30 to June 1 at the 92Y. Recently Mr. Harnick talked about, and performed (with the cast) a song cut before the show got to Broadway. The song titled 'Get Thee Out' will be included his 92Y presentation.
This Sunday's fascinating guests on Backstage with Peter LeDonne are author Andy Prospt and producer Ken Bloom. Mr. Probst has written the recent biography of Cy Coleman titled You Fascinate Me. Ken Bloom produced the companion CD of Cy's demos for the book. Jamie DeRoy and Peter LeDonne can be heard on 970 am Sundays and on podcast.
Stephen Hanks, Producer of Cabaret Life Productions, and Union Temple of Brooklyn (17 Eastern Parkway) are proud to announce that Musical Director/Pianist Jon Weber will perform his critically acclaimed show, From Joplin to Jarrett: 100 Years of Piano Jazz, at Union Temple on June 19 at 8 pm. The one-man concert will be in the 3rd Floor Social Hall at 8 pm after the 6:30 pm Shabbat Service and dinner. Admission to the concert is FREE.
Stacy Sullivan is a warm and amusing storyteller with an entertaining family history. The first six numbers of her new Metropolitan Room show on Thursday night, Since You Asked (after the Judy Collins song), are bridged by tales of her parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and her upbringing in Oklahoma. Unfortunately, five of these songs have only the most tenuous relationship to material that follows, diminishing reception with thoughts of--Where's the connection? What's she trying to say?
Sally Kellerman, the legendary Oscar-nomInated 'Hot Lips' of the original 'M*A*S*H,' will bring her new show, 'A Little Jazz, a Little Blues, a Little Rock and Roll' to the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood on Wednesday, June 3 at 8:30 PM.
Having garnered acclaim for performances on stage and screen, Megan Hilty makes her return to Cafe Carlyle in a two-week engagement, May 19-30. Hilty will perform selections from the Great American Songbook as well as fan favorites from NBC's hit musical drama, Smash. Of her previous engagement at the Cafe, Stephen Holden of The New York Times exclaimed, "Ms. Hilty projected the attitude of a frisky, fun-loving gal… she reveled in the pleasure of as big and loud a sound as she could muster." Hilty will be joined by Music Director Matt Cusson on piano, Brian Gallagher on guitar, Ryan Hoagland on percussion and Dennis Keefe on bass.
