Lansbury Honors Seldes at Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention, 10/7-10

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 7, 8, 9, The Mabel Mercer Foundation comes of age by presenting its 21st annual Cabaret Convention at The Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Performances begin each evening at 6 o'clock, and more than forty exemplary vocalists and musicians are scheduled to appear in three diverse programs.

The Convention this year carries special import, as The Foundation concurrently celebrates an even greater milestone: the 25th anniversary of its inception. During the past two and a half decades, this unparalleled musical organization has presented more than one thousand performers during its New York Convention alone. Further proof of the presence and impact of The Foundation comes in a partial recap of their additional credit roster since 1985: cabaret concert series in London, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Palm Springs, and East Hampton; on "Cabaret at Sea" cruises; in the "Lyrics & Lyricists" series; and in special Noel Coward and Cole Porter presentations at Carnegie Hall.

In commemoration of its anniversary year, The Mabel Mercer Foundation has added a number of exciting features to its New York Cabaret Convention evenings.

The performance on Friday, October 8, "If Love Were All," celebrates the timeless music and lyrics of Noel Coward and marks the presentation of the first annual "Noel Coward Cabaret Award" -- a
$5,000 grant, made possible by the munificence of The Noel Coward Foundation. Recipient Jennifer Sheehan was selected from more than a dozen performers as this year's designee. She is a graduate of The Juilliard School and has already appeared at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, The York Theatre, and in the "Lyrics & Lyricists" series.

"If Love Were All" will also feature a special appearance by the incomparable Elaine Stritch, star of Coward's Sail Away in both New York and London.  In addition to this year's presentation of "The Mabel Award" to a very special artist in the cabaret field, the Thursday, October 7 "Gala Opening Night" also honors the distinguished American actress Marian Seldes -- a co-director of The Mabel Mercer Foundation since it was established in 1985. The new "Award of Appreciation" citation has
been created for Ms. Seldes and will be awarded her by the legendary Angela Lansbury, with whom she costarred on Broadway in Terrence McNally's Deuce during the 2007 theatrical season.

As an additional highlight, the October 7 concert showcases jazz great Barbara Carroll in her tour de force, "A Suite of Songs for Stephen."  This 22-minute medley of Sondheim's Broadway compositions was specially arranged by Carroll in honor of the songwriter's 80th birthday anniversary this year.

During the penultimate moments of "Songs for a Saturday Night" on October 9, the annual Julie Wilson Award will be presented to Nicolas King. Already a veteran performer, King has amassed major cabaret, Broadway, and television credits; he is 19 years old.

Finally, all three evenings of the 21st anniversary New York Cabaret Convention offer surprise appearances by special guests, in addition to the following roster of entertainers:

Thursday, October 7:  Gala Opening Night, with Klea Blackhurst, Carole Bufford, Barbara Carroll, Jeff Harnar, Nicole Henry, Barb Jungr, Amanda King, Andrea Marcovicci, Sue Mathys, Marilyn Maye. Presentation of The Mabel Mercer Award to A Very Special Artist.  Presentation of the "Award of Appreciation" Citation to Marian Seldes by Angela Lansbury.

Friday, October 8:  "If Love Were All"/The Timeless Words & Music of Noel Coward.  Special appearance by Elaine Stritch; with Nancy Anderson, Christine Ebersole, Gregg Edelman, Christopher Fitzgerald, Nicolas King, Sidney Myer, Sarah Rice, Steve Ross, Craig Rubano, Jennifer Sheehan, KT Sullivan. Presentation of the first annual "Noel Coward Cabaret Award" to Jennifer Sheehan.

Saturday, October 9:  Songs for a Saturday Night, with Karen Akers, Kevin Dozier, Tanya Holt, Karen Mason, Stearns Matthews, Amanda McBroom, Karen Oberlin, Johnny Rodgers, Isabel Rose, Avery Sommers, Lumiri Tubo. Presentation of The Julie Wilson Award to Nicolas King.

Tickets for the 21st annual New York Cabaret Convention are priced at $25, $50, and $100. There are also fifty patron locations held for each concert at a premium price of $500 per ticket. (Patrons of The Mabel Mercer Foundation are provided with superlative theater seating; a gala reception with the stars after the performance --hosted by a prominent New Yorker.)

The box office for the New York Cabaret Convention is located at The Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60th Street. Their hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 am - 6 pm; Sunday, 12 pm - 6 pm. The telephone number for Center Charge is (212) 721-6500.

In two decades-plus of such conventions, The Mabel Mercer Foundation has set the highest standards for presentation of the cabaret repertoire. Their events encompass the finest of both classic entertainers and the newcomers who revel in past and present melodies and lyrics from the great popular songbook. As noted, The Foundation's New York City productions have been augmented by similar conventions all over the United States, in England, and in other international
locales. As a result, The Foundation has achieved a worldwide presence, and their annual Rose Theater concert series has attracted audiences from virtually every state of the union, as well as multiple foreign countries.

First incorporated in 1985, The Mabel Mercer Foundation is a not-for-profit arts organization that perpetuates the memory of legendary singing artist Mabel Mercer by stimulating and promoting
public interest in American song and its performance. The Foundation works on a daily basis to develop and solidify a community of cabaret vocalists, producers, and audiences. In these twenty-five years of operation, they have presented literally hundreds of performers from all over the world, and their Cabaret Conventions are dedicated to the spirit of Miss Mercer and the singular art form she epitomized. When one considers that there are no longer regular television or radio
showcases for such extraordinary songs and singers, the importance of The Foundation's professional dedication and development cannot be over-emphasized.

For additional information, contact The Cabaret Convention and The Mabel Mercer Foundation at
(212) 980-3026 or info@mabelmercer.org