Birdland, the venue that has presented so many music luminaries in it's long history had the Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Melissa Manchester on it's stage last night. Melissa, one of the true giants of the music world made her Birdland debut and celebrated the release of her 21st album, The Fellas. The album pays tribute to the male singers, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Mel Torme, and others who influenced her as a young artist.
Celebrities, lovers, fun seekers, and glamorous sophisticated New Yorkers can be found at The Carlyle's Bememlmans Bar on Sunday nights from 9-12 getting a major dose of great music and wit as Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch hold court on Bobby Short street. There was a hurricane in Florida but everything was Sunny inside the Carlyle last night and Broadwayworld was there.
The 2017 Chita Rivera Awards will be presented on September 11, 2017, directed by four-time Tony Award nominee Randy Skinner and hosted by Two-time Tony and two-time Emmy Award winner Bebe Neuwirth. Produced by American Dance Machine for the 21st Century (ADM21) and its Founder and Producing Artistic Director, Nikki Feirt Atkins in association with Patricia Watt, the Chita Rivera Awards have announced award presenters today.
It's a world where the norms of the past are being challenged on a daily basis. We don't have Walter Cronkite to tell us 'that's the way it is', and respect for elected officials, symbols, and monuments is tried and tested every day. Sometimes I scratch my head wondering why I don't always 'get' the new notes, harmonies, lyrics, or humor anymore. So for me, walking into The Carlyle, past the photos of JFK, Jackie, and Bobby Short, and then proceeding into Cafe Carlyle to hear the music of Herb Alpert is a welcome respite in melodic heaven. Herb's trumpet doesn't overwhelm you with his amount of notes or volume, rather he overwhelms you with his melodies and elegant sophisticated improvisation, and of course so many of the tunes on his song list are hits he's made famous. It gets better….Lani Hall, Herb's wife who started her career as the lead singer of Sergio Medes' legendary group, Brazil 66 is on stage with him to supply vocals.
Stephen Sondheim was in the audience at Barrington Stage Company's production of COMPANY the night before, but last night it was all about Joe Iconis and family appearing on the dark Mainstage for a one night concert as COMPANY rested for the evening. Mr. Sondheim was highly enthusiastic for the Julianne Boyd directed COMPANY and spent time with Aaron Tveit and the cast after the show. It was an historic evening for the BSC community as Stephen Sondheim was generous with his praise for all involved with the production, which is the talk of the Berkshires this season.
Standing Room Only took on a whole other meaning during the Diana Ross performance at Tanglewood last night. Yes, there was a seat or patch of grass grass for all who attended her concert, but sitting while being thrilled by Ms. Ross wasn't an option.
When she was a teenager Julie Budd was introduced to audiences by the likes of Ed Sullivan, Merv Griffin, Johnny Carson, Carol Burnett, Danny Thomas, and Liberace, to name just a few. Julianne Boyd, artistic director of Barrington Stage Company did the honors on the first night of Julie Budd's engagement at Mr. Finn's Cabaret. The casual summer audience realized this would be a different night as Julie's band under the direction of renowned arranger/producer/pianist Herb Bernstein enter Mr. Finn's attired in tuxedos and Julie looking every bit the glamorous singer she is was wearing a gown. Julie Budd has enjoyed a legendary career. Today Julie continues to perform her concerts and one-woman shows, nationally and internationally while adding some of the most prestigious stages to her roster: Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, London Palladium, Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center and many of the finest Las Vegas Showrooms.
Elizabeth Aspenlieder was the best date you could have in the Berkshires last night. Elizabeth directed and starred in the hilarious and heartbreaking story, Bad Dates presented in the Tina Packer Playhouse at Shakespeare & Co.
It was one of the most memorable nights of music ever heard in the Pavilion at the legendary French Woods, the French Woods Symphony Orchestra of 62 camp musicians was augmented by 15 Staff members and 15 members of The New York Pops under the baton of Maestro Steven Reineke, music director and conductor of The New York Pops.
No, not in the 1980's when he was a teenage camper. It happened last night in the Pavilion at French Woods, whose stage has been the spawning ground for many of the actors and musicians who subsequently went on to Broadway. Ron Schaefer the founder and owner of the camp didn't need to introduce Jason by listing his credits. The 500 plus campers who filled every inch of space in the Pavilion were very familiar with Jason's work. The cheers and squeals when he appeared on the stage indicated he is one of their musical theatre heros. Not only did they mouth the words while he was singing and playing the piano, at times Jason pointed to them and the campers responded by singing the next lyric. Some of them surrounding us were even supplying his complicated harmonies as back up. This was some fantastic bit of spontaneous sing-a-long, unlike any I've ever heard at a concert.
Somewhere In Time, after another century of marvelous concerts at the MAHAIWE I'm sure Great Barrington audiences will be pointing out that the extraordinarily gifted Broadway star Sutton Foster sang here. But as they gaze at the historic entertainment photos displayed on the walls of it's lower lobby they will only be able to imagine the heavenly sounds of Sutton Foster's voice. They will not be able to experience how Sutton held an audience spell bound with singing that makes you want to cheer after every selection, except for the fact that you don't want to interrupt the exceptional musical moment.
Barrington Stage Company (recently voted Best of The Berkshires) set a new record at the opening night of Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY last night. There appeared to be more selfie photos attempted of Aaron Tveit the show's star and cast leaving the stage door of the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage than happen by the ever present throngs in Broadway's Shubert Alley a show. Aaron, who was Bobby in the extraordinary production directed by BSC's founder and artistic director Julianne Boyd, was mobbed by what seemed like the entire audience asTveit and the cast tried exit the stage door and continue on to the after party at the home of BSC Chair, Minky and Bruno Quinson.
It was a memorable eventing of music in New York City last night as John Pizzarelli with Daniel Jobim and Special Guest Jessica Molaskey opened at Birdland on 44th street and Michael Feinstein opened on 54th street.
One music legend came to hear another last night. Clive Davis was in Michael Feinstein's opening night audience as the Ambassador of the Great American Songbook brought the show-stopping songs of Broadway to his second home… Feinstein's/54 Below.
The man whose name is on the door (and the wall behind the bar) had this directive to the theatre going public in anticipation of a performance by Jeff Blumenkrantz and Anne L. Nathan in Mr. Finn's Cabaret at Barrington Stage Co.
Some of the worlds greatest entertainers have performed on the stage of MAHAIWE in Great Barrington. Michael Feinstein continued that tradition last night with his performance on it's historic stage.
'THIS' a play by Melissa James Gibson (House of Cards) opened on the St. Germain Stage of Barrington Stage Company last night and had most of the first night audience telling there friends 'don't miss THIS', after leaving the theatre. Broadwayworld was there for the opening night celebration. When great ideas, words, and acting are heard in a theatre THIS is what happens. 'THIS' runs thru August 27th. Already Berkshire theatre lovers are also saying 'don't miss this' about Barrington Stage Companies production of COMPANY starring Aaron Tviet on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage August 10-Sept 2...Opening night is August 13.
On Monday Linda Lavin performed her show titled 'My Second Farewell Concert' in New York City at the legendary Birdland. Last night she said a great musical hello to the Hudson Valley at Helsinki Hudson.
Barrington Stage Company favorite and Tony Award-Winner Donna McKechnie with a group of established Broadway actors were the cast in BSC's Musical Theatre Lab reading of the original musical BUTTERFLIES.
