Photo Coverage: KT Sullivan & More Honor Julie Wilson at Town Hall
By: Stephen Sorokoff Apr. 29, 2015
Julie Wilson, who died at age ninety on April 5th, was celebrated and remembered by her peers in a special, one-time-only performance on Tuesday evening, April 28th at The Town Hall. The concert was underwritten by The Mabel Mercer Foundation.
An all-star homage, A MEMORIAL CELEBRATION OF CABARET LEGEND JULIE WILSON was free and open to the general public. Wilson's career spanned eight decades, and she was widely-held as the exemplary interpreter of the classic, Great Popular Songbook. In addition to motion picture, television, recording, and theater credits on Broadway, in the West End, and on tour, she dazzled nightclub, supper club and cabaret audiences as the glamorous embodiment of superlative lyric interpretation, showmanship, and savvy. Wilson is perhaps best described as "an actress who sang" - a rare classification for a rare talent, who coalesced drama, romance, humor, and a frequently sassy, self-deprecating sophistication.
The Wilson tribute was offered as a one-act, ninety-minute show with a cast of her coworkers, admirers, and friends. The roster is headed by Wilson's son, actor Holt McCallany, along with Karen Akers, Christine Andreas, Jeff Harnar, Mark Hummel, Andrea Marcovicci, Karen Mason, Marilyn Maye, Sally Mayes,Sidney Myer, Steve Ross, Billy Stritch, KT Sullivan, Deborah Grace Winer, and Carol Woods.
Those offering recollections about Wilson and/or songs associated with her career were joined by eight representative recipients of The Julie Wilson Award, endowed by Mr. and Mrs. Peter O. Hanson and presented by The Mabel Mercer Foundation since 2004. These participants include Shana Farr, Nicolas King, Sue Matsuki, Jeanne McDonald, Marissa Mulder, Julie Reyburn, T. Oliver Reid, and Jennifer Sheehan.
Until her passing, Wilson was a constant, tireless advocate of other cabaret entertainers. Her indefatigable support and multiple-times-weekly attendance at the shows of those she encouraged or befriended has passed into legend. The Mabel Mercer Foundation honored her on her ninetieth birthday last October 21 by dedicating an evening of their annual Cabaret Convention to her repertoire. Wilson beamingly watched from a box seat as those she had championed endeavored to express their appreciation.
The Mabel Mercer Foundation was created exactly thirty years ago to promote and advocate the singers, melodies, and lyrics of both the past and present Great Popular Songbook, and they welcome contributions in memory of Julie Wilson. Such gifts are tax-deductible; a list of those who donate will be included in a special section of the Foundation's 26th New York Cabaret Convention program at The Town Hall, October 13-16, 2015.
Photos by Stephen Sorokoff
Julie Wilson Memorial Concert The Town Hall Mabel Mercer Foundation
KT Sullivan, Artistic Director & Holt McCallany
The Town Hall
Alyce Finell, Co-Director
Marilyn Maye & Stephen Sorokoff
Sidney Myer & Stephen Sorokoff
Maria Von Nicolai & Nicolas King
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