Tanya Moberly News

After another night jam-packed with daring artistry and scintillating talent, "Mama's Next BIG Act!" the genre-bending talent contest, is slimming down dramatically today.

MUSIC AND ART FOR CITY GREENS continues Season 8 of Concerts to benefit Tudor City Greens.

MUSIC AND ART FOR CITY GREENS continues Season 8 of Concerts to benefit Tudor City Greens.

The stakes and the excitement just keep getting bigger as the list of competitors grows shorter… On Tuesday night "Mama's Next BIG Act!" trimmed down to 16 competitors in front of a packed house filled with raucous fans.

'Mama's Next BIG Act!' a 12-week talent competition that mixes styles and genres, is announcing its celebrity judges panel today. Featuring a mother lode of entertainers, critics and notable personalities, the jury pool is also reflective of the contest's diversity, pitting -- in direct competition -- solo, duo and group acts in music, magic, drag, burlesque and variety.

Songwriter, performer, producer, and now activist, Bobby Horowitz, has put yet another spin on the series/variety show, with her refreshing take on the subject of 'ageism' in America. Called It's Just a Number (starting with six dates running from April to October at The Metropolitan Room), Horowitz's show theme champions the notion that age truly is just a number. Featuring a different group of cabaret's best performers for each show, the series honors a person who after the age of 50 either began a new career, resumed a career, is attempting to attain knowledge in a new field, or established a new organization with the purpose of helping people. This past Saturday afternoon, Alice Fisher, who presently serves as Director of Community Outreach in the Office of NYS Senator, Liz Krueger, was the first honoree.

One of New York cabaret's most beloved personalities, songwriter and performer Bobbie Horowitz is producing a new variety show series at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) dedicated to the proposition that age truly is just a number. Each show in the series, It's Just a Number!, will feature some of cabaret's best performers and 'Honor a person who after age 50 either began a new career, resumed a career, is attempting to attain knowledge in a new field, or established a new organization to help people.' The series (six shows between April and October to start) launches on April 11 at 1 pm and will honor long-time social justice advocate Alice Fisher, creator of 'The Radical Age Movement,' a grassroots nationwide effort that challenges traditional notions of aging and introduces new ideas for building co-creative and interdependent communities.

One of New York cabaret's most beloved personalities, songwriter and performer Bobbie Horowitz is producing a new variety show series at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) dedicated to the proposition that age truly is just a number. Each show in the series, It's Just a Number!, will feature some of cabaret's best performers and 'Honor a person who after age 50 either began a new career, resumed a career, is attempting to attain knowledge in a new field, or established a new organization to help people.' The series (six shows between April and October to start) launches on April 11 at 1 pm and will honor long-time social justice advocate Alice Fisher, creator of 'The Radical Age Movement,' a grassroots nationwide effort that challenges traditional notions of aging and introduces new ideas for building co-creative and interdependent communities.

From the Oscars to the Tonys, the Grammys to Emmys, awards ceremonies are always a hit-or-miss situation. Either the event is absolutely excellent or ends with spectators saying, 'Well, they'll do a better job with it next year.' The 2015 MAC Awards, presented by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs, and held once again this year at BB King's on West 42nd Street, absolutely fell into the former category. It was a splendid affair (albeit it's usual 3-plus hours) that was expertly directed by MAC President Lennie Watts.

At a ceremony held last night in New York, the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs announced the winners of the 2015 MAC Awards. The show was hosted by Karen Mason, with musical direction by Barry Levitt, and was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts.

At a ceremony held Thursday night in New York, the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs announced the winners of the 2015 MAC Awards. The show was hosted by Karen Mason, with musical direction by Barry Levitt, and was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the evening below!

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs has announced the presenters that are scheduled to appear at the 29th Annual MAC Awards on Thursday, March 26th at B.B King Blues Club & Grill in New York City.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs will present the 29th Annual MAC Awards on Thursday, March 26st, at 7:30pm, at B.B King Blues Club & Grill in New York City.

As the days dwindled down to a precious few in 2014, a few cabaret goers and performers in what is affectionately but also self-mockingly called the “cabaret community” would sidle up and ask if I was planning my annual end-of-the year “Best Of” column, similar to the “Top 20 Bests and Favorites” piece over the first half of the year I posted back in early July. I would respond in the negative with very reasonable and believable excuses, but the truth is I didn't want to reveal my “Bests” of the year until the voting for the 2014 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards had ended. There's enough baggage and backstage whispering that comes with administering the BWW Awards, so I wasn't about to publish any opinions that might influence the vote while it was in process. I may be crazy but I'm not masochistic. But now all bets are off. You want lists? I'll give you lists.

Last September, after appearing at the popular Manhattan open mic cabaret show, Salon, Bistro and MAC Award-winning singer Amy Beth Williams was struck by a car near her home in Brooklyn. Now an all-star roster of Williams' fellow cabaret performers and friends will stage a benefit show, Once In Love With Amy, at Don't Tell Mama tonight, January 21 at 7 pm, to help replace the funds Williams has lost during her extensive recovery.

Last September, after appearing at the popular Manhattan open mic cabaret show, Salon, Bistro and MAC Award-winning singer Amy Beth Williams was struck by a car near her home in Brooklyn. Now an all-star roster of Williams' fellow cabaret performers and friends will stage a benefit show, Once In Love With Amy, at Don't Tell Mama on January 21 at 7 pm, to help raise the funds Williams has lost during her extensive recovery.

The day is finally here! After one month of voting on preliminary nominees in 17 categories, the results of more than 5,000 ballots were considered along with the selections of BroadwayWorld's cabaret section editors to determine the final nominees for the 2014 BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards. Joining cabaret icon Marilyn Maye with four nominations is budding star Carole J. Bufford, who made the final ballot for two different shows during 2014 and as 'Best Female Vocalist' and 'Performer of the Year.' Among Maye's nominations were 'Performer of the Year,' two shows in the 'Best Celebrity Show' category, and a 'Best Director' nomination for her work with jazz singer Gabrielle Stravelli (who received two nominations). In addition to her usual nod for 'Best Jazz Vocalist,' jazz star Jane Monheit received two other nominations as 'Performer of the Year,' and as 'Best Host' for her new variety show at Birdland, Jane Monheit's Jazz Party (Monheit also co-starred with Clint Holmes in another nominated show, Frank Wildhorn and Friends in the 'Best Revue' category.) Eric Michael Gillett also earned three nominations for 'Best Show, Male,' 'Best Male Vocalist,' and 'Best Director.'

The 7th Season of The Parks Concert Series, (formerly The Concerts for City Greens), a free outdoor concert series, continues tonight, August 13th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, August 14th at 6:30pm.) at Tudor City Greens, and will feature professional performers from Broadway and the New York City cabaret, jazz, classical and opera scene. All performers donate their time and talent for these concerts. The concert will be hosted by Tudor City resident, Broadway and cabaret veteran Raissa Katona Bennett.

The 7th Season of The Parks Concert Series, (formerly The Concerts for City Greens), a free outdoor concert series, continues on Wednesday, August 13th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, August 14th at 6:30pm.) at Tudor City Greens, and will feature professional performers from Broadway and the New York City cabaret, jazz, classical and opera scene. All performers donate their time and talent for these concerts. The concert will be hosted by Tudor City resident, Broadway and cabaret veteran Raissa Katona Bennett.

Since I attended more than 50 shows over the past eight months (a few more than once)--the large majority of which were reviewed on these web pages—I felt I had more than enough cabaret show inventory to present my second-annual “Mid-Year Cabaret Review” citing the “20 Best Cabaret Shows and Performances” for the first half of 2014. Since the eligibility period for 2014 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Award consideration begins with shows staged since last November (late October if it was the first of a run), I've included a few of those late 2013 shows in this group. And with the announcement of the BWW Award nominees just four months away, I've offered some projections on the Award categories for which these shows very well might receive consideration.