Bill Zeffiro News

Corinna Sowers-Adler will star in 'By Request - New York Moments' at The Metropolitan Room on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 4pm. Corinna continues the 'By Request' series with a very special show including songs and the memories and special moments behind why that song has been inspirational or life changing, all containing the theme of New York City.

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.

Talent and wine flowed freely at the historic Actor's Temple on 47th Street Sunday evening, July 6, as John Chatterton's 15th anniversary season of the Midtown International Theatre Festival began with a joyous party featuring snippets of some of the 75 productions featured this year in a festival that includes fully-staged plays and musicals, as well as one-acts, 10-minute plays, readings, and cabaret performances.

The Midtown International Theater Festival has announced its 2014 lineup. Details below!

Rising cabaret star Marissa Mulder's most recent performance of 'Living Standards' at the Metropolitan Room was certainly up to the high standard she has set for herself over the past couple of years. In fact, she's so consistently solid that she overcame the show's misguided and clunky premise that some very good contemporary songs should be thought of as 'standards.'

Year 2014 marks Year 15 for the MITF and John Chatterton is celebrating in a big way. Prolific producer John Chatterton has been a fixture of the Manhattan theatre scene for two decades. For much of that time, his brainchild, The Midtown International Theatre Festival, has been celebrating the diversity of theatre becoming a leader in presenting powerful works from around the world - and one of the best reasons to come to New York in the summer. The once bachelor MITF now has a full family of arts programs: The Short Play Lab, which will be part of this year's festivities; Cabaret MITF - featuring Broadway and cabaret performers - also be part of this summer's festivities; and the Commercial Division spotlighting works whose production values and subject matter are the stuff for Off- [and on] Broadway; and, of course, the founding Midtown International Theatre Festival. The Midwinter Madness Short Play Festival and the MITF Children's Theatre Festival shared in the fun earlier this year.

The 7th Season of The Parks Concert Series, (formerly The Concerts for City Greens), a free outdoor concert series, continues on Wednesday, June 25th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, June 26th 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 Concert for City Greens), a free outdoor concert series, commences tonight, May 28th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, May 29th 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.

The 7th Season of The Parks Concert Series, (formerly The Concert for City Greens), a free outdoor concert series, commences on Wednesday, May 28th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, May 29th 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.

If you are even a semi-regular reader of this column of reviews, you know that about every three or four months, I post a compilation of observations of shows from the previous quarter of the year. This cabaret critiquing mash up happens for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I admittedly see too many cabaret shows for the amount of time I have to promptly review them (and then, of course, the usual writer's procrastination sets in). So I have to prioritize the timeliness of the reviews based on the prestige of the performer, the length of a show run, the strength (or lack thereof) of the performance, etc. The quality of the shows in these compilations—which can range from a half dozen to a dozen reviews in one shot—are usually a mixed bag of outright raves, qualified positives, and constructive pans (I'm not a fan of the word “negative” in the reviewer lexicon). With that in mind here are a collection of cabaret show reviews going back to the start of a very harsh winter.

The 7th Season of The Parks Concert Series, (formerly The Concert for City Greens), a free outdoor concert series, commences on Wednesday, May 28 at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, May 29 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, which are hosted by Tudor City resident and Broadway and cabaret veteran Raissa Katona Bennett.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Craving a show after the show? 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, is expanding its popular late-night series with fresh faces and hot new performances to keep the party buzzing into the wee hours. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th St., 54 BELOW welcomes you to loosen your tie and embrace the night at its upcoming events:

In May 1914, four brothers at a poker table sat down as Leonard, Arthur, Julius, and Milton, and stood up as Chico, Harpo, Groucho, and Gummo. In May 2014, MARXFEST celebrates the centennial of this momentous event with screenings, talks, parties, performances, and remembrances, all in the city of their birth.

In May 1914, four brothers at a poker table sat down as Leonard, Arthur, Julius, and Milton, and stood up as Chico, Harpo, Groucho, and Gummo. In May 2014, MARXFEST celebrates the centennial of this momentous event with screenings, talks, parties, performances, and remembrances, all in the city of their birth.

Talent America's 2001 "Performer of the Year" Brian De Lorenzo presents a tribute to two of the greatest singers of the American Songbook, Frank Sinatra & Tony Bennett in "Sinatra, Tony & Me", Sunday, April 27 and Sunday May 4 at 12 noon, at The Metropolitan Room, 24 W. 22nd Street, New York. Taking the stage with the Bill Zeffiro Trio, De Lorenzo appears in this encore performance following his appearance at Boston's top jazz venue, Scullers Jazz Club.

In May 1914, four brothers at a poker table sat down as Leonard, Arthur, Julius, and Milton, and stood up as Chico, Harpo, Groucho, and Gummo. In May 2014, MARXFEST celebrates the centennial of this momentous event with screenings, talks, parties, performances, and remembrances, all in the city of their birth.

Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, held their 28th Annual MAC Awards celebration last evening at BB King's Blues club in Times Square. Winners in twenty-five categories were announced. The show was hosted by the vivacious singer, band leader, multiple MAC Award winner and 2014 Nominee, Terese Genecco. The gala was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President. Don Rebic served as Musical Director. Presenters included Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal and designer Bob Mackie. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners.

Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, held their 28th Annual MAC Awards celebration last evening at BB King's Blues club in Times Square. Winners in twenty-five categories were announced. The show was hosted by the vivacious singer, band leader, multiple MAC Award winner and 2014 Nominee, Terese Genecco. The gala was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President. Don Rebic served as Musical Director. Presenters included Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal and designer Bob Mackie. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners.