Will Friedwald News

On Monday, October 1, the Friars Club presented 'Remembering the Oak Room: A musical tribute by its headliners.' This 90-minute program was held in memory of the legendary cabaret venue, featuring nearly a dozen A-list performers whose careers were closely associated with the nightclub in the Algonquin Hotel.

FRIARS CLUB: A Musical Tribute to The Oak Room from Performers Who Starred There will play tonight, October 1, 2012. The evening will be co-hosted by Bill Boggs and Will Friedwald. Scheduled to appear are Karen Akers, Emily Bergl, Barbara Carroll, Eric Comstock, Barbara Fasano, Mark Nadler and K.T. Sullivan.

FRIARS CLUB: A Musical Tribute to The Oak Room from Performers Who Starred There will play Monday, October 1, 2012. The evening will be co-hosted by Bill Boggs and Will Friedwald. Scheduled to appear are Karen Akers, Emily Bergl, Barbara Carroll, Eric Comstock, Barbara Fasano, Mark Nadler and K.T. Sullivan.

Feinstein's at Loews Regency presents the New York debut duet engagement of two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy-nominated entertainer Michael Feinstein, and acclaimed Grammy-nominated vocalist Marilyn Maye, today, September 4 - 22.

Feinstein's at Loews Regency presents the New York debut duet engagement of two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy-nominated entertainer Michael Feinstein, and acclaimed Grammy-nominated vocalist Marilyn Maye, September 4 - 22.

48 solo singers are competing in the fifth annual "MetroStar Talent Challenge" at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street. The seven-week, jury-and audience-voted competition completes three weeks of trials next Monday July 23 (showtime at 7pm), after which the contest will announce the Top 18 contestants who will advance to the next round.

Comedian Tom Dreesen just brought his one-man show, "An Evening of Laughter and Memories of Sinatra," to Feinstein's last night, May 13. BroadwayWorld was there for the concert and we bring you photo coverage below!

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY continues its Spring 2012 season with the return engagement of Grammy Award nominated singer and entertainer MARILYN MAYE. Her new show - "The Happiest Sound In Town" - is her annual birthday celebration and features some of her most-requested numbers including "Guess Who I Saw Today," "Bye Bye Country Boy," "Rain" and "Golden Rainbow." Another highlight of the show, "Come In From The Rain," was a personal favorite of Johnny Carson; Maye performed it many times on "The Tonight Show" at his personal invitation. Maye's recent local appearances have been received with rave reviews and full houses. The show runs through Saturday, May 5 at the Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street). Check out photos from the concert below!

Finalist nominees for the 16th annual Jazz Awards presented by the Jazz Journalists Association have been announced at www.JJAJazzAwards.org. The nominations demonstrate the rich diversity of music that may have been overlooked by mainstream media and other music industry-generated Awards programs.

The British label JSP Records will release a box set of Judy Garland recordings in 2013 titled CREATIONS 1936-1962 - SONGS SHE SANG FIRST.

Terese Genecco and her eight-piece "Little Big Band" continue their unbroken run of monthly shows at The Iridium, 1650 Broadway, on Tuesday February 21 (shows at 8pm & 10pm, special guest vocalist Paul Safy, Jr.).

The ASCAP Foundation honored composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz for his lifetime contributions to the Musical Theater with The ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers Award. On hand to make the presentation was Richard Rodgers' grandson and fellow musical theater composer Adam Guettel (The Light in the Piazza). The accolade was presented today during the Foundation's 16th Annual Awards Ceremony, held at the Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, in New York City. The invitation-only event, hosted by ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams, also honored a wide variety of Scholarship and Award recipients, all of whom benefit from programs of The ASCAP Foundation.

On December 5th Emily Bergl, star of Broadway, films and 'Desperate Housewives,' will release a live album of her hit Oak Room performance. 'Emily Bergl Live at the Algonquin: Kidding on the Square' will be available on Amazon and iTunes, and commemorated with a special CD release party at the Oak Room. 'Kidding on the Square' was originally recorded during a sold out run, which received raves from audiences and critics. Stephen Holden of the NY Times described Ms. Bergl as 'incandescent...a gust of fresh air that could knock you off your feet,' and Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal declared that 'in her major-league nightclub debut, Ms. Bergl has hit a home run.' By popular demand, Ms. Bergl will reprise the show on Monday nights, December 5th though the 19th. A limited number of tickets are available for the official CD Release Show on December 5th.

On December 5th Emily Bergl, star of Broadway, films and 'Desperate Housewives,' will release a live album of her hit Oak Room performance.

On December 5th Emily Bergl, star of Broadway, films and 'Desperate Housewives,' will release a live album of her hit Oak Room performance. 'Emily Bergl Live at the Algonquin: Kidding on the Square' will be available on Amazon and iTunes, and commemorated with a special CD release party at the Oak Room. 'Kidding on the Square' was originally recorded during a sold out run, which received raves from audiences and critics. Stephen Holden of the NY Times described Ms. Bergl as 'incandescent...a gust of fresh air that could knock you off your feet,' and Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal declared that 'in her major-league nightclub debut, Ms. Bergl has hit a home run.' By popular demand, Ms. Bergl will reprise the show on Monday nights, December 5th though the 19th. A limited number of tickets are available for the official CD Release Show on December 5th.

On Friday, November 4th, The American Songbook Project held its annual signature event, their 'Name That Tune' benefit at the historic Hudson Theater in New York. Their mission is to preserve the American Songbook by bringing professional singers in the NYC schools. This year they honored Broadway composer Jerry Herman and Guild Hall (East Hampton), both of whom celebrated their 80th birthdays this year. Liz Smith emceed the Jerry Herman tribute and her passionate, loving remarks about her friend included 'It is said by show biz insiders that Jerry is so universal the you just hear a song of his once and you can hum it or sing it. And you probably can't stop. That is pretty damned great. He is universal in the musical theater, the songsmith of modern American life.' Mr. Herman's tribute included performances by James Darrah recreating his role of Ambrose Kemper from the last Carol Channing revival of Hello Dolly singing 'It Only Takes a Moment;' Meredith Patterson and Jeffry Denman performing 'Tap Your Troubles Away' from Mack and Mabel; and Andrea McArdle singing 'If He Walked into My Life Today' from Mame accompanied movingly by nine-year old Kyrian Friedenberg on trumpet.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY will continue its Fall 2011 season with the return engagement of Grammy Award nominated singer and entertainer MARILYN MAYE.

Sherry Eaker & NiteLifeExchange.com in association with the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs Presents WHAT MAKES A GOOD CABARET CRITIC? A FREE SEMINAR on Saturday, October 29, 2011.

Yesterday, October 13, Bill Cosby, Chita Rivera and Mark Nadler led the benefit for ART START, an organization that operates with the mission of providing underprivileged children of New York with confidence, creativity and hope through the arts. The volunteers of ART START visit shelters all over the city armed with paintbrushes, mics and instruments - and with them, an opportunity to change a young person's life. Check out the after party below!

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY will continue its Fall 2011 season with the return engagement of Grammy Award nominated singer and entertainer MARILYN MAYE.