Rob Lester - Page 4

Songbook Sundays, a series celebrating songwriters, is a treat of tradition. Deborah Grace Winer and co. closed out the year singing Cole Porter's praises in HAPPEN TO LIKE COLE PORTER.

The legacy of iconic Nina Simone is in good hands with the admiring Amber Iman (Lempicka). The captivating star takes on more of the repertoire with impressive skills and love.

HOLIDAY REGARDS at Urban Stages, a collection of Michael Colby's songs sung by a fine company repeats 12/8 & 12/16. Part of a mega-series of shows with over 100 performers total (cabaret, theatre, jazz, more) at Urban Stages in Manhattan.

Read our interview with a long-time, long admired cabaret star who celebrates born in the same month (different year) as one of his idols (Noel Coward). It's our monthly Birthday Tribute feature.

Samuel Vincent Aubuchon and friends sing songs from yesteryear with energy and fondness. The Burt Bacharach tunes in this 12/3 show bring nostalgia and smiles.

WAITING IN THE WINGS at The Triad tells of the tribulations and triumphs of an understudy. Melodie Wolford is the talented lady in question. There's no question that she's star-worthy, not just star-adjacent.

Sisters Liz & Ann Hampton Callaway are in a NEW YORK STATE OF MIND at 54 Below through November 30, singing about NYC, their younger years, love, life, etc., with glorious harmony and emotions with a terrific trio led by pianist Alex Rybeck.

DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT at The Green Room 42 dipped into the discards from Broadway scores to reveal what was first intended. The 11/12 show was a worthy reminder that some songs cut from Broadway shows are intriguing ancestors worth meeting.

Jack Viertel's new novel mixes some bits of actual theatre productions, people, places, and songs into its fiction. The author read excerpts from the book for a program he hosted and co-produced at 54 Below, with guest singers performing relevant/referenced songs.

KAREN MASON AND ALL THAT JAZZ at 54 Below, with dates in Chicago this week, is a solid show by a musical pro and her long-time music director at the piano.

THE SONGS THAT GOT AWAY was another trip through songs famous and not so famous with Michael Feinstein in fine form, as usual. This has got to be far and away one of the most enjoyable educational Michael Feinstein-led trips through Broadway history.

Vicki Burns is a singer who pleases, scats, swings, and is a modest but solid presence. If you missed her concert in-person at 92NY, part of the free Faculty Concert Series, you can hear most of what you missed on her CD called Lotus Blossom Days.

Songs with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein from musical theatre gems were celebrated and sung and discussed at 92NY in a fine Lyrics and Lyricists concert, COCKEYED OPTIMIST concert at The 92nd Street Y, New York. The concert kicked off L&L's 2024-25 season which continues next month with a tribute to activist Nina Simone.

How's your music trivia expertise? Try the Broadway World Cabaret Quiz of 'True or False' questions about music figures born in November.

A KISS FOR BRAZIL finds primo jazz singer Karrin Allyson in a blissful, 'kiss-full' bossa nova style and more at Birdland through November 2. It's a pleasure.

René Marie at the Appel Room is a formidable, feisty presence saluting the late legend Harry Belafonte, concentrating on calypso. Her handling of the repertoire of legendary Belafonte, JUMP IN THE LINE!, brings a warm embrace with a hot band.

The Cabaret Convention's three multi-performer shows are done for this year. Concluding our recaps, here's the word on what we heard during the third night: EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN, presented on October 24th. So many songs, so many singers, jammed into three nights, is the cornucopia of the Cabaret Convention concerts.

KT Sullivan's travels take her to the East Village again on November 21 for her true treat show about traveling. FAR AWAY PLACES is a splendid trip.

Bobby Short, whose centennial we can celebrate this year, was a cabaret favorite. The second night of the Cabaret Convention mega-concerts put the focus on him. Audiences who dashed to Columbus Circle for the two-act 6 PM concert caught a long Short celebration, full of memories and songs he sang.

The annual Cabaret Convention concert series has begun. The shows continue tonight and tomorrow at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Last night, the convention opened with songs with music by Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, etc.). It was a treat.