Photo Coverage: Russ Weatherford Honored in THIS IS YOUR NIGHT at the Metropolitan Room

New York Cabaret Community Honors Actor/Director/Photographer RUSS WEATHERFORD With All-Star Show at Metropolitan Room.

The entire population of New York cabaret performers, producers, press, and patrons weren't packed into the Metropolitan Room last night. It only seemed that way.

The popular Chelsea nightclub was filled to the gills with audience members spilling out into the bar area to honor long-time cabaret devotee Russ Weatherford, who for the past several years has been one of the leading chroniclers of the entertainment genre as a quite ubiquitous photographer at shows all over town. Now, it was Weatherford's turn to be the focus of attention as the latest honoree in the Metropolitan Room's This Is Your Night series. The star-studded evening, hosted by Metropolitan Room Managing Partner Bernie Furshpan, is based on the classic This Is Your Life TV show, and celebrates an individual who has contributed in some significant way to the New York City entertainment industry in general and cabaret in particular. In addition to photographers like Weatherford (and past honoree Maryann Lopinto) the program can recognize producers, promoters, journalists, reviewers, publicists, directors, and musical directors, etc. Honorees are presented with a special gift and feted with a show featuring performances by a variety of entertainers and speeches from friends and/or family.

With Musical Director Ian Herman playing piano for most of the performers, the show featured 30 FORs (Friends of Russ) offering songs and stories in honor of Weatherford. Furshpan got the show rolling with a slide show of vintage photos and anecdotes about the honoree's beginnings in theater, his stint in the U.S. Air Force, and his long career as an actor, director, playwright, producer, teacher, and his most recent career as a photographer. Young cabaret star Carole J. Bufford was the first performer up and offered her blow-the-roof-off rendition of "House of the Rising Sun." Following Bufford was a steady stream of Weatherford's favorite performers, industry colleagues and close friends. And even though she couldn't attend because she was on the road performing, the great Marilyn Maye (with Billy Stritch on piano) delivered a special taped tribute to Weatherford featuring a song parody professing her love for her long-time friend.

The rest of the stellar cast offering songs or speeches to celebrate Russ Weatherford included: Sandi Durell, Steve Ross, Elizabeth Sullivan, Kristine Mills, Jamie deRoy, Randie Levine-Miller, Jay Rogers & Aaron Morishita, Raissa Katona Bennett, Karen Oberlin, Joe Sirola, Karen Wyman, Shana Farr, Sidney Myer, Valerie Lemon, Merrill Stone, Barry Kleinbort, Nancy Opel, Karen Akers, Scott Siegel & Marya Coburn, Bob Blume & Tom Waters, Dean Regan, Larry Kerchner, Natalie Douglas, Eric Michael Gillett, David Austin, and Eric Rudy, who was married to Weatherford in 2011 and ended the performances with a heartfelt rendition of "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha.

This special event for a most deserving man ended in a touching and tear-inducing way, when Weatherford presented Rudy with a special gift, a stunning piece of art (called "Circle of Love" created by Christel Ibsen); a fresco prepared board with natural minerals and pure pigments (selected by Weatherford) "representing the earth and the natural elements on which Eric and Russ' love is so profoundly founded."

"Love" and "Profound" were the operative words for this amazing evening devoted to a most deserving individual. -Stephen Hanks

Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff

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