Stephen Sorokoff News

Last night in the heart of the Theatre District, Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, hosted its annual New York City Benefit, BSC/NYC to celebrate its 25th Anniversary Season. The annual event raised $110K for Barrington Stage's Julianne Boyd New Works Fund. The one-night only cabaret took place at the The Green Room 42.

You never know what's just around the corner and that's the fascinating thing about discovering cabaret artists who are new to your milieu. Last night it was at the corner of 71st Street and 2nd Avenue at the Beach Cafe. Friend Ron Abel, one of the music industry's preeminent pianists/ arranger/music directors in his heads up to me about this artist said …“Sometimes you get lucky. You get to work with a smart actress whose ability to understand a lyric translates to her being able to take the song to a place that people haven't heard before. And then, she has the vocal range and ability to take it that one step further.” That folks is Lianne Marie Dobbs who while new to me is well known by cabaret enthusiasts.

I've been tracking this Storm for quite a while now and the intensity and power of her performance keeps escalating to the point where there is literally no category in the music world that describes her adequately. She is a performer who excites you on ever level and presses all your buttons. After Storm Large sweeps through an audience you are part of you'll be talking about her to all your friends and encouraging them to see her to experience the awesome talent and personality of one of the most unique entertainers on the planet. In addition to her own poignant songs she deconstructs and reconstructs Cole Porter like you've never heard before.

John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey started their set with Stephen Sondheim's “The Little Things You Do Together” from COMPANY but their performance is more about the big, intricate and intelligent things they do together musically. In this show (their annual fall engagement at Cafe Carlyle) they celebrate the collaboration of Stephen Sondheim and Hal Prince.

Remember that song lyric “with Barons and Earls”……..Sophisticated, well heeled and well dressed New Yorkers came to the most elegant spot in New York City, The Pierre on Fifth Avenue last night as KT Sullivan brought Broadway and Cabaret to the iconic hotel's Two E Lounge. It was truly a royal audience in every way (check out the photos). They came to the 90 year hotel which was home to Elizabeth Taylor, hosted Rex Harrison and wife renewing their vows, and was where Yves St Laurent debuted his first US Collection, to hear arguably one of the finest artists in the world of Cabaret, KT Sullivan.

Iconic singer, songwriter, author and activist Judy Collins, the 2019 recipient of the Joe's Pub Vanguard Award & Residency, continues her takeover with an eight-night run, November 18-27, celebrating her latest album Winter Stories. A collaboration with critically acclaimed Norwegian folk artist Jonas Fjeld, and masterful bluegrass band Chatham County Line, Winter Stories is a collection of songs that capture the sounds and feeling of the winter season.

George Gershwin loved going to nightclubs. One evening when he was “on the town' with his pal Fred Astaire as they were in a club enjoying a group of entertainers George turned to Fred and said…”Where do all these new young talented people come from”?

Don't let Carole J. Bufford perform a concert in Central Park during a dry summer season. She might set the trees on fire. Most cabaret shows have their moments. When Carole is on stage it seems that every moment just leads to another moment of vocal excitement. Last night had many highs during the celebration of Carole's newest album, “Come Together” which features the music of the 60s and 70's. Yes, there were many high notes in this show, however one of the best lowest notes between Palm Beach and New York City happened when Carole asked her friend Sandy Fisher to join her on stage. Sandy, Producer, Legends Radio Host (Legends Ladder), and champion of Cabaret and the Great American Songbook was the party planner for this great night.

Regular folks use business cards, websites, and advertisements to let you know about their services and products. Cabaret artists have by far the most effective and entertaining way of telling you who they are. An autobiographical musical show!

Goodspeed Musicals has announced this year's cast of A Connecticut Christmas Carol - the musical treat infused with Connecticut flavor by LJ Fecho and Michael O'Flaherty. Perfect for the holidays, A Connecticut Christmas Carol, the family-friendly take on the Dickens classic, will return to The Terris Theatre December 4 - 28, 2019. This production is supported in part by the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Masonicare at Chester Village and GKN Aerospace Services Structures Corporation.

Cabaret lovers will have many memories from the Mabel Mercer Foundation's 2019 New York Cabaret Convention. Attendees to all four of the presentations at Rose Theater will no doubt have their favorite music moments from the performances of the more than 75 cabaret artists. However, perhaps the most enduring remembrance will be the remarkable organizational abilities and intelligence of the foundations artistic director, it's face (and hat) of the convention… KT Sullivan. Just imagine how difficult it must be to satisfy the requirements of 75 singers, make their moment in the spotlight as successful as it can be, and cope with the egos that are a necessary part of every performers DNA. All the while fulfilling the sophisticated and knowledgeable audience's expectations of a great show. There were many highs and “almost highs” during the 12 hours of music, and that's what makes it so exciting. Every artist brings their own unique talent to the stage.

The third night of the Mabel Mercer Foundation's New York Cabaret Convention hosted by Judy Garland expert John Fricke and actor, singer, humorist Klea Blackhurst had many noteworthy performances during it's three hours last night at Rose Theater. However, the most touching and dramatic Judy Garland minute was not musical. It happened when Sidney Myer a New York City Cabaret superstar related a story from his youth. It seems that Sidney survived the stress of the 50's and 60's of being “different” in the all boy New Jersey Prep School he attended (which Sidney recalled was populated by boys who specialized in terrorism) by focusing on his love of music and his worship of Judy Garland. He described to a spellbound Convention audience of being brought to a Judy Garland concert by his parents, he had his sign “ We Love Judy” in hand and with thousands cheering her as she walked down the aisle in a twist of fate he accidentally came face to face with her. Judy shook his hand and he managed to get out a “thank you” even though he had rehearsed a speech for years if this kind of moment ever happened. . There wasn't a dry eye in the house after his story. The evening had many humorous and emotional moments as Emmy Award winning host John Fricke, who is considered the preeminent Judy Garland and Wizard of Oz authority related many stories about Garland. Klea Blackhurst is probably one of the most effective and beloved Convention hosts and she used her wit and music to make it as always one of the most enjoyable of Convention nights.

Day two of the 2019 Mabel Mercer Foundation's 2019 New York Cabaret Convention filled Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center with a lot of Heart and Soul and the music of Frank Loesser last night. The Convention audience was immersed with the music of one of the greatest Broadway songwriters as one by one 23 renowned Cabaret artists performed Frank Loesser hits. The one and only Marilyn Maye brought the evening to a stunning conclusion with her rendition of Joey, Joey and her exciting 3/4 time version of Luck Be A Lady Tonight all arranged and played by the remarkable pianist Tedd Firth.

It was a spectacular start to the four night 2019 Cabaret Convention at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater Last night.

A musical coincidence occurred in Manhattan last night. Marilyn Maye was swinging on the West Side at Feinstein's/54 Below and Tom Wopat was doing the same on the East Side at the Beach Cafe. They are a bit similar in Night Club performance. I'm purposely using the word Night Club as opposed to Cabaret because both singers just sing their well chosen song list while exciting you musically with their great voices, jazz infused phrasing, and the secret sauce of being able to Swing. No theme or “theatrical” show here, it's just the extraordinary ability to interpret a song that keeps your eyes and ears focused on the performer from the opening to the closing notes.

Like a classic culinary creation, capable of continually and forever exciting the senses and defying the hazards of repetition, Marilyn Maye satisfied her audience's expectation for greatness last night with her performance at Feinstein's/54 Below. The perfect wine to compliment this musical feast was the artistry of Billy Stritch at the piano and some of his strategic vocal harmonies. Marilyn's song list is well known and loved by her fans and most folks in the packed house silently sing along, listen, and watch in total exhilaration as arguably the finest pop/jazz vocalist of our generation puts her special stamp on anything she sings.

Some of Broadway's leading women producers lunched at the Friars Club today followed by a panel discussion moderated by Friar and Broadway producer Jamie deRoy.  Ms. deRoy who happens to be the 8th woman inducted into the Friars (back in the day), guided the discussion of the distinguished Tony Award Winning group which included Susan Gallin (Other People's Money, Angels in America), Robyn Goodman (Avenue Q, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella), Mara Isaacs (Hadestown, McCarter Theater), Nelle Nugent (Latin History for Morons, For Colored Girls), and Daryl Roth (Kinky Boots, Indecent).

Among the many fans of Michele Brourman at her show Love Notes at the Birdland Theater last night were a host of singers, songwriters and theatrical folks. They came to hear one of our most gifted singer/songwriter and pianists probably best known for her collaboration and partnership with Amanda McBroom and for composing the song, “”My Favorite Year” It's been recorded by Michael Feinstein, Dame Cleo Laine and Margaret Whiting among others. Hearing an artist perform her own material is always an extra special treat and in Michele's case she also brings her artistry at the keyboard to the experience which enhances every nuance of her music. Michele's phrasing and harmonies are the perfect fit for her haunting, funny, and moving songs.

If a visitor from another planet landed here and asked the question “What is Cabaret?” an easy explanation would be to send him/her to attend a performance by KT Sullivan and Jeff Harnar, wether it be solo or jointly. They didn't invent the art form but KT and Jeff's artistry and show construction ranks as one of the finest examples of Cabaret.

Off Broadway enthusiasts are increasingly adding the tag South Broadway to denote the fact that first rate productions are being mounted by creative and savvy theater owners in their audience friendly state of the art venues in South Florida. The Wick Theatre In Boca Raton is one of the newest and most glamorous. I was recently there for the dress rehearsal of the season opener Hot Shoe Shuffle. The Wick audience is in for a fabulous evening of song and dance with an unbelievable display of talent on it's stage. Bravo to Producer Marilyn Wick, Director Jonathan Van Dyke, Choreographer Justin M. Lewis, Jason Tucker musical director and a very talented cast. The show runs October 17- November 10. Check out the photos.