Urban Stages presents this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2017, which begins tonight, December 12, featuring some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).
Cabaret Producer, Promoter, and Performer Stephen Hanks has been chosen by Urban Stages Founding Artistic Director Frances Hill and Director of Musical Theatre Peter Napolitano to Produce and Host the Opening and Closing Night Gala Shows for the organization's Ninth Annual WINTER RHYTHMS SERIES, running this year from December 12 through December 23 at the Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues).
Urban Stages announces the line-up for this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2017, which will begin Tuesday, December 12 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).
The Carlyle's legendary Bemelmans Bar has a substantial bench (piano) of talented singer/pianists who have performed for it's prominent clientele. Michael Marci, a Palm Beach Florida import is musically hitting it out of the park on Sundays with his creative piano and vocal stylings and has been attracting a sophisticated and celeb filled audience.
Russ Woolley presents 'Richard Skipper Celebrates ... The Songs of World War II (in honor of Armed Forces Day)' on Saturday, May 20th, 2017 in a 1pm BRUNCH SHOW* (90 minutes) at The Laurie Beechman Theatre.
Sue Matsuki & Gregory Toroian continue their monthly series Coming Home to Mama with If I Could Talk to the Animals - a show chock full of tunes about animals that became standards! Did you know that Sarah Vaughan recorded a song about a frisky lion or that a love song that Diana Krall sings is from Dr. Dolittle and was originally sung to a seal? Or that a song called "The Snake" actually refers to an agent? The special guests for this upcoming performance are the one and only Sidney Myer and legendary bass player Jay Leonhart. This series continues Friday, April 7th at 7 pm at Don't Tell Mama and celebrates Sue and Gregory's 23 years of artistic collaboration.
To Celebrate their 23rd year of artistic collaboration, MAC Award Winning Duo Sue Matsuki & Gregory Toroian and Matsuki Productions are launching a new monthly series at Don't Tell Mama called "Coming Home to Mama". Each show will feature a wonderful Special Guest and each show will have a certain theme or celebrate a monthly holiday. They will also be bringing back encore performances of a few of the shows they have performed over the years.
On Monday, January 9, Birdland once again hosted Justin "Squigs" Robertson as special guest artist-in-residence at Jim Caruso's Cast Party. Over twenty impromptu performers were delighted by the gift of an original "Squigs," swiftly drawn during their performance on the Birdland stage.
Some of the "best singers on the planet" are on Jim Caruso's list at his Cast Party at Birdland and last night they all had their performances memorialized by famed Broadway artist Justin "Squigs" Robertson. Justin, a caricaturist in the tradition of Al Hirschfeld had to work fast since it's against Cast Party rules to sing a ballad. After each performer zipped through a swinging tune they were presented with a quickly drawn "Squigs" caricature. Marilyn Maye, who is currently appearing at the Metropolitan Room dropped in and sang one of her great medley's and even though it gave Justin enough time to do an oil painting, she too got a quick drawing. All donations made for the artwork were given to Justin "Squigs" designated charity, Convenant House.
At a ceremony held earlier this week in New York, the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs announced the winners of the 2016 MAC Awards. A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Amanda McBroom. Also honored with a Board of Directors award was Maryann Lopinto. Jamie deRoy received the Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Award on behalf of her work with The Actors Fund: Jamie deRoy & Friends Cabaret Initiative. Sally Darling received the Hanson Award. The show was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, with musical direction by Matt Baker.
The art of cabaret lost its Queen almost a year ago when the Julie Wilson died on April 5 at age 90. There will likely be a number of tributes to Ms. Wilson throughout this year and a big one is happening on March 17 at 7 pm at the Metropolitan Room, where Joseph Macchia's Cabaret Cares/Help Is On the Way charity will pay tribute to the cabaret legend with a star-studded variety show that will also raise money for the organization that supports children living with HIV/AIDS.
There are milestones in everyone's life--events that are so strongly embedded in your memory that you can actually recall the date, the time, the place, and the feelings you had when they occurred. Events like a joyful marriage, the birth of a child, or the loss of a loved one all help to define us as human beings. For a woman you can add to that list a diagnosis of breast cancer. Erin Cronican, a young professional singer, director, writer, show business coach, and self professed “Actor and All-Around fun gal” is a beloved member of the New York theatrical and cabaret communities who is currently undergoing 28 radiation treatments (having previously completed three months of intense chemo therapy) for breast cancer.
Described as “An Afternoon of Famous Duets,” Saturday's Urban Stages Winter Rhythms presentation (Day Four of the 11-day, 20-show festival) was unexpectedly sweeping in its approach, covering duos that sang pop, folk, jazz, Great American Songbook, and musical theater tunes. With veteran cabaret singer Sue Matsuki serving as producer and host, and Musical Director Gregory Toroian on piano, the show encompassed both the predictable and the surprising and was a genuine pleasure.
Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director, Peter Napolitano, Producer/Director of Musical Programming) today announced the line-up for this year's Award-Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre. WINTER RHYTHMS 2015 marks the seventh year that Urban Stages has brought noted musical artists to its stage during the holiday period. The mission of Winter Rhythms is to bring the talents of known and unknown singers, musicians, lyricists and composers to the attention of the New York theater community while performing at Urban Stages Theater. Winner of the 2015 Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Series MAC Award, WINTER RHYTHMS benefits Urban Stages' acclaimed Outreach Program, which brings more than 200 free "arts in education" presentations to libraries and schools throughout the five boroughs. This year's event features 20 shows and more than 100 artists.
Urban Stages announces the line-up for this year's Award Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30thStreet, just East of 8th Avenue). Tickets are $25 per show and may be purchased by visiting urbanstages.org or by calling (866) 811-4111. For complete schedule information, visit urbanstages.org.