Stephen Sorokoff - Page 86

On Monday, October 24, award-winning NYC cabaret favorite (and Second City alum) Colleen McHugh brought a hilarious and heartbreaking collection of songs for the terminally hopeful/truly hopeless to the Broadway at Birdland concert series stage.

It was appropriate that Amanda McBroom and Michele Brourman clasped each others hands in jubilation at the end of Amanda's cabaret show 'Strange Days'. It is not very often that I've heard such a unity exist between accompanist and vocalist. Michele was not just a supportive partner, her playing perfectly augmented the genius of Amanda McBroom. Of course both Amanda & Michele are both songwriters and they have an uncommonly warm collaboration which made it a truly magical evening.

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 20, 21, 22, The Mabel Mercer Foundation presented its 22nd annual Cabaret Convention at The Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center. More than forty exemplary vocalists and musicians appeared in three diverse programs. heck out photos from the event below!

Donald Smith greeted all the performers as they were about to set upon the stage at the Cabaret Convention last night, but unfortunately it had to be with a letter from him posted backstage at Lincoln Center. Mr. Smith is still in rehab after surgery (back soon) and this was the first time the Mabel Mercer Foundation's founder was not able to be among the assemblage of cabaret fans and marvelous performers that make this three day event the highlight of the 'cabaret year' However, Mr. Smith's touch was apparent by the quality of the artists chosen to appear in this years convention. Rick Meadows, Director and Production Stage Manager of the show started the evening off with some wonderful words from Donald, and then introduced Andrea Marcovicci to pinch hit for Mr. Smith.

After a successful 2010, with her new CD The Men I Love released on Naim Label, appearances on NY1 and BBC Breakfast TV, a sellout tour of Australia, several highly praised shows in New York, and performances for the first time in St Louis, Cleveland and San Francisco, Barb Jungr is celebrating 2011 with touring the UK with a new live Dylan collection, reforming Girl Talk with Mari Wilson and Gwyneth Herbert, and collaborating again with Kuljit Bhamra and Simon Wallace on Durga Rising.

JASON GRAAE, the L.A. DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD winner and Broadway and cabaret star, opened his acclaimed tribute to Jerry Herman, 'PERFECT HERMANY' at The Laurie Beechman Theatre in West Bank Cafe last night, October 18. Performances run through October 25th.

Halloween came early to the Metropolitan Room last night because a room full of cabaret connoisseurs were treated to a wonderfully entertaining show by an extremely beautiful and multi - talented performer.

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!

The picture of Bill Cosby in the middle of the crowded and hectic Town Hall lobby, giving advise to a young ART START youth says it all! ART START is an organization dedicated to providing creative arts to help transform New York's at-risk kids. There have been many important evenings in Town Hall's long history, but last night's will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most meaningful and entertaining events every held at the institution. National treasures Bill Cosby and Chita Rivera joined internationally acclaimed virtuoso Mark Nadler for an evening of music and comedy to benefit ART START, which has been providing visual and performing arts programs for some of New York City's most at-risk-youth since 1991.

Missing the Presidential debate to attend the exciting and elegant opening of Clint's show at the Carlyle (JFK) brought this phrase to mind. 'I knew Bobby Short, Mr. Holmes (dramatic pause) and I'm sure that he was in the room last night, smiling, and just as overwhelmed and captivated by your talent as your star studded audience was.'

Message to Congress and Presidential hopefuls - go see Mark St. German's 'The Best of Enemies' before you start the political campaign rhetoric.

The Friars Club established the Friars Foundation in 1977 as it's charitable arm. It's mission is to help performing arts groups create excellent innovative and affordable programs for the enrichment, education, and enjoyment of diverse audiences and participants. The Foundation also helps prepare the next generation of performers and musical artists through scholarship programs for students studying the performing arts.

Like entering a Rolls Royce, taking your seat in Feinstein's at Loews Regency to see a headliner, is your start of an unparalleled ride. Betty Buckley is that kind of experience. Words cannot make you hear the voice, the musicality, or the presence this Tony Award winning singer actress displays in her new show 'AH MEN! THE BOYS OF BROADWAY!' now at Feinstein's. Her show consists of songs originally sung by men, and her superb voice presents them in a powerful and emotional new light. Being a William Finn fan, I was extremely moved by her rendition of VENICE (from Elegies). Just when she brings a tear to your eye with her ballads, she brings you back to a happy place with her great jazz ability in the up tempos. We all have our 'memories' of Betty Buckley from her triumphs' on Broadway and this show reinforces the justification for using the word Extraordinary when describing Betty Buckley.

For her October shows the title should have been Jamie deRoy & her very talented Songwriter friends. Jamie, as she always does, interacts with her guest artists in a way that stimulates them to give performances that are unique and hugely entertaining. As William Finn (who appeared in a prior Jamie deRoy & Friends) remarked, 'Jamie's interview of me was the best I've ever had'. The show was directed by Jamie's extremely creative friend Barry Kleinbort who also displayed his wonderful performance abilities. Music Director was Shelly Markham.

52nd Street was the Jazz Center of NYC in the 1930s 40s & 50s. For those yearning for great music, the ambience (and black & white photos) of that glorious bygone era, you can now find it on 61st Street & Park Avenue. Harry Allen's Monday Night Jazz brings you back to that time with an assemblage of some of the finest musicians and vocalists in the world. It all takes place in the glamorous setting of Feinstein's and with dinner, dancing plus 3 sets of music. Adding to the fun were these great musicians 'hanging' with the audience on their breaks. The night I was there the group consisted of (I'll avoid the superlatives) Mike Renzi on piano, Dan Barrett trombone, Joel Forbes bass, Chuck Riggs drums and of course Harry Allen on sax. The vocalists were Rebecca Kilgore, Lynn Roberts, and Nicki Parrott. Harry's next show is an evening of Brazilian music with Jobim alumni Maucha Adnet and Deduce DaFonseca on November 7th.

Celeste Holm said to her husband Frank Basile 'What took you so long?' (when he informed her he was preparing a Cabaret Act). Everyone that has seen Frank's sold out shows at the Metropolitan Room has asked the same question.

The on stage premiere of NEWSIES just opened last night, September 25, at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, and BroadwayWorld was there for the big event! Check out photos from the after party below!

The on stage premiere of NEWSIES just opened last night, September 25, at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, and BroadwayWorld was there for the big event! Check out photos from the first official curatin call below!

I've been around many machines in my other life of manufacturing and have always bemoaned the fact that the United States was loosing it's supremacy in this area. I have now found a Human Cabaret Machine in West Greenwich Village in the person of Colleen Mchugh. This machine besides looking and sounding good, has a hard drive capable of massive amounts of lyric retention, a flash card that ad libs with awesome speed, and the ability to create new and distinct shows in rapid time. But unlike most machines, it can really think funny, witty and smart.

Last night in an East Side Penthouse overlooking the congestion at the United Nations Bick Goss was honored by the organization he founded in 1999. Mr. Goss began his career as a Bob Fosse dancer (original companies of Little Me, Sweet Charity, Dancin' and Chicago). In his role as director-choreographer-producer he has worked with Billy Crystal, Harold Prince, Gwen Verdon and with many performers who were present and performed at the festive celebration in the home of Mary Ellen Ashley & Cyrus Rubin.