NYC: ALGONQUIN SALON THIS SUNDAY WITH CO-HOST JENNA ESPOSITO

Mark Janas' Algonquin Salon usually takes place on Sunday nights from 7:00 to 10:00 pm in the lobby of THE ALGONQUIN HOTEL (59 West 44th Street, NYC - 212-419-9331 ). The Salon is a weekly event in which singers, writers and musicians share their talent with each other and audience members in the lobby of the Algonquin Hotel, an informal, yet elegant setting with a grand tradition of artists gathering to socialize. There is no cover and no minimum. Salon Secretary Peter Napolitano reports that on Sunday, February 8th the ebullient Jenna Esposito will be "SHAKIN' THE BLUES AWAY! (OR WALLOWING IN THEM!)", as Jenna and Co. show how to surmount (or succumb to) the Winter Blahs. "Saloners" are encouraged to bring in those songs that make you feel fabulous, as well as those that make you reach for the razor blades. Remember, any material, on or off-theme, is always welcome at the Algonquin Salon.

IT'S 2:30 AM IN ADELAIDE AND THE REPORTS ARE IN

It is already Sunday morning in Adelaide as I write this (11:00 am NYC time on Saturday) so I already have a report from down-under cabaret star Sandi McMenamin about her Saturday night show. And half of all the the members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE who live in Adelaide made it to her show (Sandi herself - so she did not have to give anyone the discount she was offering). Here's a bit of what she wrote when she got home from the show:

".... it was great to have 2 pianos playing Gershwin’s I GOT RHYTHM.

"And a fine guitarist to play THE RAINBOW CONNECTION while I sang and then played too.
And another pianist, the guitarist, and another vocalist to back me in NO TIME AT ALL from PIPPIN.

"I did 3 encores and they were still stamping their feet on the floor. Amazing!"

Brava! The reviews will be out soon - and they made a DVD of the event which should go on sale soon.

Good night Sandi - sweet dreams!

SHOWS GIVING DISCOUNTS TO CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE MEMBERS NEXT 10 DAYS

---------------
NYC: BRILL & VICKI HOUR AT MAMA'S
*** MEMBER DISCOUNT *** $5 OFF THE COVER ***
"The Brill and Vicki Hour" takes place on Saturday, February 7th at 8:30 pm at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788), featuring comics Michael Brill, Vicki Ferentinos, Dave Hill, Kathy Smith and Nancy Witter. This eclectic evening features stand-up, sketch, and musical comedy by the show's hosts, plus an array of hilarious special guests.
---------------
AUS: SANDI McMENAMIN IN CABARET IN ADELAIDE
*** MEMBER DISCOUNT *** $5 OFF THE COVER ***
Australian singer, pianist, and songwriter Sandi McMenamin will be presenting a brand new show "Sandi McMenamin In Cabaret" on Saturday, February 7th at 7.30 pm at the LATVIAN HALL (4 Clark Street, Wayville, Adelaide, AUS - TKTS: 8598 3118).
---------------
NYC: JACKIE DRAPER: BETWEEN YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW
*** MEMBER DISCOUNT *** $3 OFF THE COVER ***
Vocalist Jackie Draper returns with a reprise of her ninth solo show, once again with Music Director Gregory Toroian (at the piano) and Ritt Henn on bass on Sunday, February 8th at 5:00 pm at THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER (407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909).
---------------
NYC: HELENE FELDMAN IN CONSTANT CRAVING AT THE BEECHMAN
*** MEMBER DISCOUNT *** $5 OFF THE COVER ***
Helene Feldman returns to the cabaret stage and THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER (407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909) with her acclaimed 2008 show "Constant Craving" on Wednesday, February 11th at 7:00 pm and Sunday, February 22nd at 6:00 pm.
---------------
NYC: SUZANNE CARRICO RETURNS WITH FRIENDLY SHOW
*** MEMBER DISCOUNT *** $5 OFF THE COVER ***
Suzanne Carrico returns to THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440) the last of four performances of her acclaimed 2008 show "The Friendliest Thing." Remaining performance is scheduled for Thursday, February 12th at 9:45 pm.
---------------
NYC: JENNA IS TAKES ANOTHER CHANCE ON LOVE
VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL CABARET EVENT
*** MEMBER DISCOUNT *** $5 OFF THE COVER ***
Jenna Esposito returns to THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440) with a special VALENTINE'S DAY show, "Takin' A Chance On Love" on Saturday, February 14th at 5:00 pm.
---------------
NYC: JOAN JAFFE SINGS FUNNY AT MAMA'S
*** MEMBER DISCOUNT *** $5 OFF THE COVER ***
Singer/actor/comic Joan Jaffe brings her show JOAN JAFFE SINGS FUNNY.... to DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788) for 1 more performance - Sunday, February 15th at 6:00 pm.

ITS SO EASY TO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG

It is so easy to subscribe - just scroll down this page and on the right side, near the bottom of all the items in the right column - just under the PayPal button, you will see a section titled (appropriately) SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG. Click on one of the buttons (if you have a GOOGLE or YAHOO account, a click on those choices will make subscribing veer, very easy). Follow the instructions and that's it! From now on you will be notified whenever a new post or a comment about a post is added to the CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE blog. We have just 20 subscribers right now - but more that 140 folks check out this blog every day and the numbers keep climbing.

AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR!

There are now FOUR CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE sponsored websites in addition to thus blog. The latest website went up Wednesday, February 4th - it is a special website for folks on the run with Blackberries and iPhones. Its called CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE MOBILE and you can tune in on your mobile device (it looks lousy on a regular computer) at http://www.cabarethotlineonline.com/HotlineMobile . Right now it lists all the cabaret "shows of the day" on the opening page, and all the NYC, Boston/New England and Chicago/MidWest venues for live entertainment.

The other three websites are the main one: CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE (http://www.cabarethotlineonline.com/ ); the CABARET SINGS website (http://www.CabaretSings.com/ ), especially for songwriters; and our MARCH IS CABARET MONTH website (http://www.MarchIsCabaretMonth.com/ ) which is just getting humming.

Your donations, membership dollars and the receipts from advertising are vital to keep these websites going.

ON RADIO: "EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW": PREEMPTED THIS WEEK

On Sunday, February 8th, EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN, on the Radio over WBAI 99.5 FM and on the Internet at http://www.2600.com/offthehook/hot2.ram, usually heard from 9:00 to 11:00 pm and hosted by David Kenney, is pre-empted for THE GOLDEN AGE OF RADIO ON-AIR FUNDRAISER. David returns next week, February 15th. Each week David presents the usual blend of big-band jazz, swing, standards, showtunes, contemporary cabaret and celebrity interviews plus MEGA-MEDLEY MADNESS. For more information contact: oldisnew@earthlink.net. You are also invited to e-mail your comments and suggestions for future shows. You can listen to past shows at any time by going to the WBAI Archives . For more information, see http://www.oldisnew.org/ .

DON'T TELL MAMA IN LAS VEGAS?

Forwarded to me from a member: Some artwork has appeared on the web for a DON'T TELL MAMA in Las Vegas - address is shown as 517 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. This is a club currently at that location:

http://www.beautybar.com/lv/home.html

Check it out.

Stay tuned.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR MEMBERS' CHOICE FAVORITES OF 2008

===============
---------------
MEMBERS' CHOICE FAVORITES FINAL RESULTS
---------------
===============
FEMALE VOCALIST
===============
1. Barbara Cook
2. Marilyn Maye
3. Baby Jane Dexter

===============
MALE VOCALIST
===============
1. Lennie Watts
2. Eric Michael Gillett & Miles Phillips (tie)

===============
FEMALE DEBUT
===============
1. Sarah Rice
2. Deb Berman
3. Christine Bianco

===============
MALE DEBUT
===============
1. Ben Cherry
2. Stearns Matthews
3. Geoff Stoner

===============
MUSICAL / COMEDY DUO OR GROUP
===============
1. 'Bout This Time Each Year (Lennie Watts, Scott Coulter & Steven Ray Watkins)
2. The Pleasure of Your Company (Karen Oberlin & Miles Phillips)
3. What's The Point?! (Hector Coris, Patrick Garrigan, Eadie Scott)

Details and more information in Monday's CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE newsletter.

A CORNER OF SKIE AND MARY TOO!

I want to give a special plug to Skie Ocasio' show "At Last", a benefit for BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS, to be presented on Saturday, February 7th at 9:45 pm at THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440). This handsome musical theater performer is a good friend - I gave him his very first cabaret review in 2002 when he appeared (mainly for family and friends) at DON'T TELL MAMA. He had a very bad cold that day, but in true showbiz style (and because his family was only in town that weekend) the show went on - and he was terrific. He begged me to return the following week when the cold was over, and it was even better. The weather should be good, so I hope to catch another friend's show (Mary Foster Conklin) at the METROPOLITAN ROOM at 7:30 and then catch a "corner of Skie" at 9:45 pm.

NEW TIME - YET ANYTIME

If you have been tuning in on Fridays to catch the weekly live broadcasts of the AT THE RITZ! radio program on WVOF 88.5FM with hosts Jeffrey C. Williams and Lynn DiMenna, they've switched to Saturdays from 3:00 to 4:00 pm. But fear not - you hear their weekly show, especially folks outside of WVOF's local listening area) on the web at any time at http://www.attheritz.org/ streaming 24/7 anytime!

WE LOVE YOU, IRENE! GET WELL SOON!

Say a little prayer today for my gal Irene Soderberg in Los Angeles who is undergoing hip surgery - after a year of pain. She writes "I'll be in the hospital for 3-5 days then doing physical therapy for months! I'll get in the best shape of my life! I plan on doing a national tour when I'm able." Hay, gal, don't overlook NYC on your tour!

SAD SIGN OF THE TIMES

I just sent out todays newsletter - it goes out twice a week to over 2700 subscribers - and I always wait about 15 minutes to see which ones bounce back, and why. I always get several "mailbox full" returns - some folks forget to delete old mail and others have abandoned old mailboxes without closing them. I always wait about three weeks and if the mail continues to come back I delete the address. But these past few issues several newsletters have returned from corporate e-mail addresses with the notation "mailbox closed" - another cabaret fan has lost their job. I should be optimistic - maybe their corporate mailbox was closed because they moved to another firm at higher pay. Maybe they retired to a warmer, quieter place. Let's hope and pray that this financial mess clears up fast.

16 VALENTINE'S DAY SHOWS CURRENTLY LISTED ON THE WEBSITE

With Valentine's Day just 10 days off, be sure to consider a cabaret show as part of your romantic evening. Currently 16 Valentine's Day themed cabaret show are listed in the CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE Diary/Datebook with shows scheduled from coast to coast. And there are at least another half-dozen to be added this week. Treat the one you love (or at least like a lot) to a cabaret show!

SPECIAL ISSUE TO MEMBERS GOES OUT ON FRIDAY

The third issue of our special "members only" CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE SPECIAL EDITION will be sent out on Friday, February 6th and will include the final count on our recent MEMBERS' CHOICE BEST PERFORMERS OF 2008 poll which ended on January 31st. We will be announcing the winners here on the blog after the e-mails go out. Thanks to all members who took part in the voting - 174 members voted out of the total membership on 1/31 of 386.

IF YOU HAVE AN iPHONE or an iPOD TOUCH ....

You can help me test another way to get your cabaret news. Just - on your iPhone/Touch go to SAFARI and type in the URL: http://www.svhamstra.com/HotlineMobile - let me know what you think. It is under construction and may change several times a day.

Thanks.

THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED

Just after 1 a.m. February 3, 1959, a three-passenger Beechcraft Bonanza went down about five miles northwest of Mason City Municipal Airport, near Clear Lake, Iowa. The plane crash took the lives of the pilot, Roger Peterson, and three musicians: Charles Hardin Holley, better known as Buddy Holly, 22; Ritchie Valens (originally Valenzuela), 17; and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, 28. The three young musicians were part of the "Winter Dance Party," a ramshackle tour that started in Wisconsin. It has become famous, in Don McLean's "American Pie" formulation, as "the day the music died."

NYC: ANY WEDNESDAY FEATURES NANCY STEARNS

ANY WEDNESDAY, the free in-store concert series that features the best in cabaret, jazz and theater music takes at THE BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSTORE (66th Street and Broadway, NYC). Performances are at 6:00 pm. On Wednesday, February 4th at 6:00 pm, featured performers is Nancy Stearns. Nancy will be joined by Gregory Toroian on piano and Tom Hubbard on bass to perform selections from her new CD, "This Moment," which is based on her June 2008 show at Don't Tell Mama. No cover.

NYC: MIDTOWN JAZZ AT MIDDAY WITH MARY FOSTER CONKLIN

MIDTOWN JAZZ AT MIDDAY continues on Wednesdays at ST. PETER'S CHURCH - LIVING ROOM (Lexington Avenue at 54th Street, NYC). This long-running series was created by Edmund Anderson and is now produced by Ronny Whyte. Next show is on Wednesday, February 4th featuring Mary Foster Conklin with Art Lillard's Heavenly Band. Performances are at 1:00 pm, $7 donation.

"ART OF CABARET: MASTER CLASSES" FEATURE TOP CABARET NAMES

THE PERRY-MANSFIELD PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL & CAMP (40755 RCR 36 Steamboat Springs, CO - 970-879-7125) is pleased to announce the return of their master faculty to this summer's The Art of Cabaret: Master Classes in Song Performance (August 24th to 31st). Masters include Andrea Marcovicci, Karen Mason, Shelly Markham, Christopher Denny and Barry Kleinbort. Auditions will be held this spring in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles starting on February 10th in NYC. Full details and application procedures can be found on the website.

RON POOLE RETURNS!

Ron Poole is back in New York City, and will soon be returning to hosting the world famous "Poole Party!" at DON'T TELL MAMA this Spring. He will also be teaching his Stand-Up Comedy Boot Camp Workshop in February which is great for folks who want to give stand-up a try, for stand-ups who want to work on new material, and for singers who'd like to work on their patter/talking in their cabaret shows. Here's the scoop:
 
BIG APPLE STAND-UP COMEDY BOOT CAMP WORKSHOP
Create, write and perform 5 to 7 minutes of funny, original stand-up comedy material with classes held at Don't Tell Mama! Taught by Award-Winning Stand-Up Comic, Improviser & Variety Show Producer RON POOLE!
 
Saturday, February 14th 12:00-4:00 pm
Sunday, February 15th 12:00-2:00 pm
Saturday, February 21st 12:00-3:00 pm
 Performance: Saturday, February 21st at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788) at 7:30 pm

For more information, see http://www.ronpooleparty.com

FUN WITH BLOGS

I am having a bit of fun with this new blog, thanks to some things I have come to realize. First off, I always have to worry about using certain terms and words in the twice-weekly newsletter. I have had to reject or at least revise titles of some shows that I receive releases for since I know that, since it is an e-mail publication, the "porn-police" have built extensive content filters to reject e-mails that contain certain words or phrases. A few weeks ago, 60 newsletters were rejected and returned by such censoring programs and I went over the issue word for word and could not figure out the reason for the rejection. But on the blog there is no such handicap.

Also, the blog allows me to "get things off my chest" right away. There is a real treat in being able to say what I feel soon after I feel it. Of course, I am blessed with a delete switch if I feel differently a few hours later and regret what I wrote. I can't do that in the newsletter.

Most of all, it gives folks a chance to comment and respond - but hardly anyone does. We are not close to 250 visitors a day (not a big amount, but still gratifying) but only one person has made a comment - or I should say 2 comments made by the same person. Interesting.

THE SUSPENSE DEEPENS

Cabaret is happening around the world and I am truly anxious to find out the results of Sandi McMenamin's cabaret show in Adelaide on Saturday the 7th of February. She has an ad on the website. And I might even find out as early as Friday! You see, they start each day in Australia and then then pass the day off to succeeding countries as the earth rotates (or for traditionalists, as the sun rotates). As I post this on Monday around 5:30 pm it is already 9:00 am TUESDAY in Australia! (Yes, it appears that Australia breaks its country into 1/2 hour time zones). Sandie's offering a discount to members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE - we have just 2 members in Adelaide, and one of them is Sandi. The suspense is killing me - will the other member show up, and will he ask for the discount?

GREAT NEWS ABOUT THE BIRTHDAY GIRL

Great news I forgot to include in Thursday's issue: During intermission at the N.Y. NIGHTLIFE AWARDS show at THE TOWN HALL last Monday I ran into Ludmilla Ilieva - aka Milla. We reported several weeks ago that she was a bit under the weather so we were truly excited to see her - and she looks more "fit & fiddle" than ever! Now we need to try to persuade her to do another show!

This fantastic vocalist is also well known for posting the days list of birthdays (and short bios or comments) on the Talkin' Broadway website.

IT'S OFFICIAL - 6 MORE WEEKS OF WINTER!

Today, Monday, February 2nd, is GROUNDHOG DAY (at least here in the USA) and this morning in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney's beloved groundhog Phil emerged from his den in bright sunlight and thus prognosticated 6 more weeks of winter. And snow in on the way for NYC - tonight and tomorrow. I say, lets turn all groundhogs into fur coats so we can keep warm for six weeks!