The Metropolitan Room Announces Piano Lounge Schedule For July

JULY AT THE METROPOLITAN ROOM

Come join us every Friday and Saturday from 11PM-2AM for our nightly piano lounge. No cover, no minimum!

7/1 7:30PM Perry Payne "Getting Away From It All" $20

9:30PM Mark Nadler "His Lovely Wife Ira...Ira Gershwin with and without George" Multi-award winning entertainer, Mark Nadler, who Stephen Holden of The New York Times hailed as "A modern-day vaudevillian whose strong performing personality echoes everyone from Bobby Short to Al Jolson... a traditional show-biz virtuoso... touched with brilliance", brings his dazzling talents to the extraordinary catalog of Ira Gershwin. Ira Gershwin, who most famously wrote lyrics to the melodies of his brother, George Gershwin, also created classics with Jerome Kern, Kurt Weill, Harold Arlen and many others who are among the greatest tunesmiths of the Twentieth Century. Nadler presents the most well-known and the most obscure of Ira Gershwin's work in fresh arrangements that range from thrilling to poignant, to playful. Amusing and illuminating anecdotes round out this celebration of life and lyrics to create a show that is rich, absorbing and most of all, vastly entertaining. $35

7/2 7:30PM Perry Payne "Getting Away From It All" $20

9:45PM Joan Crowe

7/3 7:30PM Doug Acosta "South Of The Border: Songs of Sinatra & Jobim" In a revelatory NYC debut, singing marvel Doug Acosta and quartet swing South Of The Border to toast the melodic and lyrical warmth popularized by two coolest icons. $20

10PM Metrojam Join host Jenna Esposito for our monthly open mic! Sit back and enjoy the music, or sign up and sing with some of New York's hottest musicians. $10

7/4 7PM Paulette Dozier "Jazzin' Up the 4th" Internationally renowned for her sensuous alto voice and dynamic stage presence, Paulette Dozier has thrilled audiences performing in major jazz festivals, nightclubs and theaters. Additionally, she has opened for the likes of music greats Roy Ayers and Erykah Badu; as well as the legendary comedian Shelley Berman.A career milestone for this jazzy chanteuse was the release of her last CD, "Over & Over Again." Like her debut album "With You," "Over & Over Again" received national airplay and acclaim from noted jazz critics. On both projects her producer, pianist Mike Levine, skillfully blends vintage songs with contemporary arrangements. This combination, according to John Gilbert of E-Jazz News, "...works as smoothly as cashmere feels." Paulette breaths new life into these nostalgic tunes with a unique interpretative style that is hers and hers alone. This lady's "...voice puts people under a natural spell," raves Susan Frances of Jazz Review. And her music is definitely "...worth hearing," says jazz critic Scott Yanow. Paulette Dozier is a Renaissance woman who doesn't just excite a room - she ignites it! And in this 4th of July presentation you can expect her to light up the stage. Her show features music from both her CDs, a repertoire reminiscent of the golden era of jazz. Her performance evokes the vocal styling of Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Billie Holiday; and the flamboyance of none other than Josephine Baker. The showmanship that these grande dames brought to the stage both inspires and permeates Paulette's show to leave her audience thirsting for more. "Paulette Dozier turns out to be the authentic item, singer, stage performer, provocateur," says Michael Bailey of All About Jazz, [and she] "...must really be something live." $15

7/5 7PM Daryl Glenn and JoLynn Burks sing songs from Nashville Daryl Glenn and his co-star, the beautiful and talented Broadway singer/conductor/pianist Jo Lynn Burks return with their popular, critically acclaimed, BISTRO, NIGHTLIFE, and MAC award-winning, tribute to Robert Altman's classic 1975 film, "NASHVILLE" the very first Sunday of each and every month at 7 pm. With a new and udderly fabulous special guest star for every dang show! Backed by a 6 piece all-star country band and featuring The Metropolitan Room's own Tanya Holt, Broadway's Brad Wills and award-winning/cabaret favorite Jay Rogers its a country-western throwdown not to be missed! Every fabulous song from the beloved soundtrack album will be lovingly recreated including Keith Carradine's Academy Award winning "I'm Easy". So, strap on your leather chaps, tease up your hair and head on down to the Metropolitan Room!! With guest star Lisa Asher. $25

9:30PM Jade Bartlett and Nick Boddington "Collision" After a fantastic turn out in Memphis, The Metropolitan Room has graciously agreed to host another concert by Jade Bartlett and Nick Boddington. Please come out and have a couple of drinks and some good laughs as Jade inevitably puts her foot in my mouth as she banters on through the show. With their rolling ballads and quick wits, they're sure to give a healthy dose of humor and pathos. They've got some great new songs that they think you'd really enjoy, and if you missed their last show in NYC or in Memphis, this is a great opportunity for you to come out and have a listen. $13

7/6 7PM Elizabeth Daniels and Friends "A Benefit for Shanti Bhavan" This evening of song will directly benefit the children of Shanti Bhavan, a boarding school in Southern India. The goal of Shanti Bhavan is to eradicate the caste system in India through affording the highest caliber education to children of the Dalit, or Untouchable, caste. This is the second cabaret Elizabeth Daniels will have put on for Shanti Bhavan at the Metropolitan Room. She is a musical theatre performer who recently made a two-month long trip to India to volunteer at the school. She is extremely passionate about the children and the cause and hopes to return to Shanti Bhavan soon to teach again. $20

7/7 7PM Jenna Esposito"Jenna EspositoSings Connie Francis" A 2008 and 2009 MAC award nominee for female vocalist, Jenna made her NYC cabaret debut in August, 2004 and has since performed shows at The Duplex, Danny's Skylight Room, the Laurie Beechman Theatre, and the Metropolitan Room. Her shows "A Hint of Rosemary: The Songs of Rosemary Clooney," "SMOOCH!" and "I Hate Men: Songs for the Scorned" have all received critical acclaim, and her annual "All-Star Birthday Bash" is a fun-filled evening during which she has shared the stage with a number of New York's finest performers. Jenna is also the host of Metrojam--the Metropolitan Room's open mic, which takes place on the first Friday of every month. 13 Men...and Me!, Jenna's debut CD, was released in October, 2007. "Cabaret's Sweetheart" will be singing the songs of "America's Sweetheart" in Jenna's brand new show celebrating the songs of Connie Francis. Directed by Lennie Watts with musical direction by Fortune Esposito, the show will feature hits such as "Where The Boys Are," "Stupid Cupid," and "Who's Sorry Now," as well as a number of lesser-known gems. $20

9:30PM Annie Ross Annie Ross is one of the pioneers of vocalese and the composer of "Twisted", one of the most well known examples of that art, as well as "Farmers Market", "Jackie" and many others. A founding member of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, considered the greatest jazz vocal ensemble of all time, her influence is present in all subsequent practitioners of vocalese. "Twisted" has been recorded by a host of vocalists, including some not normally associated with jazz, including Joni Mitchell and Bette Midler. $25

7/8 7:30PM Michael Morgan Trio $20

9:30PM Mark Nadler "His Lovely Wife Ira...Ira Gershwin with and without George" $35

7/9 7:30PM Meg Flather "More View Points" Meg Flather, known to millions as one of home shopping television's most popular on-air personalities, who has appeared on QVC, Shop NBC, HSN, TVSN ( Australia ), and The Shopping Channel ( Canada ) as one of TV's most successful cosmetic salespersons,has enjoyed a life-long parallel career as a singer and songwriter. With more than two decades writing and performing, Flather boasts five albums, all of which are commercially available via www.amazon.com and www.theorchard.com. A member of ASCAP, her original compositions are published by Margaret Hall Music. "More View Points" is an expression of the outspoken Flather's personality. Laced together with humorous snippets of her life story, including a childhood spent in the Philippines where her father was a director for the US Peace Corps during the Kennedy Administration, "More Viewpoints" celebrates the women who inspired Flather to write and perform music - Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Annie Lenox, and Suzanne Vega - together with many of her own compositions. Her show blends the genres of folk, pop, jazz, and the music hall with an ongoing commentary heavy on punchlines. Years after returning from the Philippines, Flather studied at New York 's famous High School of Music and Art in Harlem. As a singer and songwriter, Flather is a two-time Backstage Bistro Award-winner. Her original music is heard in the soundtracks of theatrical films, including one that bowed at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as the Off-Broadway play, "Acts of Love," and "A secret Better Not Kept," a multi-media project to prevent teen suicide. She has also performed as a special guest at the Tribeca and Vermont Film Festivals. As a comedic actress Flather has been seen on NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and the syndicated "Rosie O'Donnell Show." $20

9:45PM Joan Crowe

7/10 7:30PM Perry Payne "Getting Away From It All" $20

9:45PM Jaron Vesley "Swingers and Standards" Jaron Vesely briefly steps away from his boy band duties with the wildly popular, Bistro Award-winning (and hilarious!) Fabulous Pink Flamingos to front a hot jazz combo and luxuriate in a "provocative" song list ranging from the Great American Songbook to contemporary pop - delivered in a swinging jazz setting. Featuring an exciting assortment of music from songwriters and artists including: The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Jeff Buckley, Lerner & Loewe, Joni Mitchell, Thelonious Monk, Rodgers & Hart, Three Dog Night, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Steven Tyler and (yes) Pink! Jazz pianist wunderkind Scott Bradlee is collaborating on the thrilling arrangements and will serve as Musical Director for a jazz ensemble that is at once nostalgic and edgy. $15

7/11 5PM Terry Bartlett

7:30PM Marcus Simeone "Everything Must Change" Beautiful songs that changed lives through the music and lyrics of Johnny Mercer, Jimmy Van Heusen, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Bobby Darin, Carol King and more ... This brand new show is an eclectic and visionary mix of familiar and rarely heard songs celebrating the insistence of change as seen through the eyes of one of today's most acclaimed and exciting singers on the music scene. As an artist and a person, Marcus Simeone has experienced exceptional life-altering experiences over this past year through a lens that is as constant as it is inevitable; the lens of change. As the world goes round, changes have occurred all around him personally, professionally - and inevitably. And, the views of the world have changed in many ways including global and macro. This show reflects his personal journey in song. Marcus has always believed that music has been a hand print and a reflection of the changes we experience in our lives and in the world. This view colors the inevitability and interpretations of our destinies as expressed through some light-hearted and profound songs that capture those moments of our lives a ... everything must
change. $20

9:45PM Perry Payne "Getting Away From It All" $20

7/12 7PM David Pellegrene

9:30PM West 73rd, featuring the songs of Kurt Weill Project United by their artistic curiosity and eclectic musical pedigrees, pianist Frank Ponzio, bassist Peter Donovan, drummer Vito Lesczak, and vocalist Hilary Gardner embarked on a journey through the challenging, haunting, and deeply human world of Kurt Weill. Their resulting recording, A Song About Forever, explores Weill's music from a jazz perspective, while incorporating the classical, theatrical, and global influences that continue to make Weill's music compelling to listeners from all walks of life. $20

7/13 7PM Metrostar Talent Challenge the second annual Metrostar challenge begins tonight with the first of 3 rounds of preliminaries. $25

9:30PM Sarah Jean Ford

7/14 7PM Jenna Esposito "Jenna EspositoSings Connie Francis" A 2008 and 2009 MAC award nominee for female vocalist, Jenna made her NYC cabaret debut in August, 2004 and has since performed shows at The Duplex, Danny's Skylight Room, the Laurie Beechman Theatre, and the Metropolitan Room. Her shows "A Hint of Rosemary: The Songs of Rosemary Clooney," "SMOOCH!" and "I Hate Men: Songs for the Scorned" have all received critical acclaim, and her annual "All-Star Birthday Bash" is a fun-filled evening during which she has shared the stage with a number of New York's finest performers. Jenna is also the host of Metrojam--the Metropolitan Room's open mic, which takes place on the first Friday of every month. 13 Men...and Me!, Jenna's debut CD, was released in October, 2007. "Cabaret's Sweetheart" will be singing the songs of "America's Sweetheart" in Jenna's brand new show celebrating the songs of Connie Francis. Directed by Lennie Watts with musical direction by Fortune Esposito, the show will feature hits such as "Where The Boys Are," "Stupid Cupid," and "Who's Sorry Now," as well as a number of lesser-known gems. $20

9:30PM Annie Ross $25

7/15 7:30PM Sarah DeLeo Sarah DeLeo follows up on the critical success of her debut CD The Nearness of You with I'm In Heaven Tonight, a celebration of the music of the 1950s and 60s. This inspired collection of songs reveals her powerful presence as a musical storyteller. A number of the tunes on this disc come from the American Songbook, and DeLeo's exquisitely heartfelt renditions prove that the feelings expressed in these classics are truly timeless. Whether she's singing about the euphoria of newfound love in "I Feel Pretty" or the bittersweetness of a love that might not last in "I'm In Heaven Tonight", we feel each word deeply, as if these stories were our own. DeLeo's bandmates, all stalwarts of the New York jazz scene, are in constant dialog with her, perfectly complementing her sumptuous, satiny voice and giving her room to articulate each phrase with crystal clear diction and timing.$10
9:45PM SharonMcKnight "Ladies Compose Yourselves, The Sequel" Tony nominee Sharon McKnight returns to the Metropolitan Room with another tribute to the broads of Hollywood. $20

7/16 7:30PM Doug Sheppard "A Most Unusual Day" is one man's tale of chance encounters and accidental survival! A story of how unintended (and often VERY unexpected) twists make their way into the ordinary events of life, and manage to lead you in a not-so-ordinary way to where and who you are. Singing the songs of Cole Porter, Willy Nelson, Randy Newman and others, actor Doug Sheppard makes his solo cabaret debut in a musical look at life's fits of fancy, fantasy, and much dreaming done wide-awake. $15

9:45PM Joan Crowe

7/17 7:30PM John Gabriel "They Write the Songs" $15

9:45PM SharonMcKnight "Ladies Compose Yourselves, The Sequel" $20

7/18 5PM Jaron Vesley "Swingers and Standards" $15

7:30PM Eric Frazier Eric Frazier provides the quintessential prototype for music in it's various genres. He is known for his eclectic approach and the variety of avenues through which he brings the experience of live music and entertainment to his audiences. His performances will ignite you with a potpourri of music including Jazz, Blues, Salsa, Caribbean, R&B, World Music, New Orleans music and more. He dances and invites his audience to dance and sing! He gives you a feeling of fun, celebration and inspiration. It's a can't miss show! $25
9:45PM The Velveteen Playboys The last playboys of the western world invade gotham city with their unique blend of "Cosmic Lounge Music." It's lounge with a twist as the Velveteen Playboys perform live at the Metropolitan Room on July 18th. Come experience the Cosmic Lounge! $10

7/19 7PM Jonathan Long

7/20 7PM Metrostar Talent Challenge Preliminary round #2 $25

9:45PM Kevin Dozier and Michael Holland

7/21 7PM Gretchen Reinhagen "Almost Blue" Gretchen Reinhagen is "Almost Blue" in her Metropolitan Room debut. Following the success of "How ‘Bout Them Apples" which earned Gretchen rave reviews, including a "Back Stage" critic's pick, this "up and comer" is tapping into her inner blues girl and hitting the Metropolitan Room this summer with a hot new show of bluesy and almost blue tunes. She's backed by a band of fabulous women led by musical director Tracy Stark on piano, with Donna Kelly on drums, Lisa Brigantino on bass, and backup vocals by Karen Mack and Heidi Weymuellar. "Almost Blue" promises to be a rockin' good time and the perfect remedy for the blues. $20

9:30 Annie Ross $25

7/22 7:30PM Staff Spectacular #3 Join the multi-talented staff of the Metropolitan Room as they raise the roof in support of Help Is On The Way Today.

7/23 7:30PM SharonMcKnight "Ladies Compose Yourselves, The Sequel" $20

9:45 Joan Crowe

7/24 7:30PM SharonMcKnight "Ladies Compose Yourselves, The Sequel" $20

9:45PM Bedia Farha

7/26 7PM Rosalyn McClore

7/27 7PM Metrostar Talent Challenge Preliminary Round #3 $25

9:45PM Kevin Dozier and Michael Holland

7/28 7PM Jonathan Long

9:30PM Annie Ross $25

7/30 9:45PM Joan Crowe

7/31 7:30PM Nicole Henry Her latest CD "The Very Thought of You," just reached #7 on U.S. Billboard's Top Jazz Chart. With three international TOP 10-selling CDs in the last five years, and a list of international performances, young Nicole Henry's pure and soulful voice continues to inspire and touch hearts worldwide. Her live concerts are captivating, combining elegance and conversational, intelligent wit that not only leaves you truly entertained, but connected to something of greater beauty. Performing the Great American Songbook, love songs, and originals, Henry's voice adds new life and richer meaning to the lyrics she sings. Nicole Henry is simply one of the finest vocalists to emerge this decade. $25

9:45PM Q-Talk Scandalous Conversation,Soulful Crooning,and Scintillating Cocktails watch out the ladies of The View here come the men of Q-Talk. Q-Talk is a late night gay talk show at The Metropolitan Room.The show will be hosted by Joseph Macchia(cabaret and Off Broadway producer),Dave August (Naked Boys Singing and Broadway Cares Poster Boy),Stacey Todd Holt(The Producers and Cry Baby)Frantz Hall( Tommy Tune Tonite) and their token Straight Man Eddie Jacques. The mission on Q-Talk is to bring together both the straight and gay communities it will feature segments such as Table Talk, Performer interviews with performances, a lifestyle sections where the men will discuss everything from health and fitness to fashion and more. As well as gay pop culture. No cover

The Metropolitan Room
34 West 22 (between 5th and 6th Ave.)
Reservations strongly suggested
(212) 206-0440

Each show has a 2 beverage minimum
Credit cards accepted
Schedule subject to change.

Check out www.metropolitanroom.com

 

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