CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE BLOG: 6/27/10

Saturday, July 3, 2010

CABARET EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD FOR SATURDAY - JULY 3rd

CABARET EVENTS AROUND THE WORLDSATURDAY - JULY 3rd
CLICK ON UNDERLINED HEADLINES FOR MORE DETAILS

Due to the National Holiday, many USA cabarets & piano bars will be closed or on limited schedule, through Monday the 5th of July. Be sure to phone ahead and/or check club websites to check on any limited hours of operation.

NYC: LEW TABACKIN & TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI QUARTET AT BIRDLAND

Lew Tabackin & Toshiko Akiyoshi Quartet will be appearing at BIRDLAND (315 West 44th Street, NYC - 212-581-3080) Tuesday through Saturday, June 29th through July 3rd with shows at 8:40 & 11:00 pm. Lew Tabackin is one of the few jazz musicians who maintain a dual musical personality. As a tenor saxophonist, he is a hard-driving, tough-toned player reminiscent of Sonny Rollins or Don Byas. But as a flutist, he can also sound like a highly expressive master of Asian classical music. Lew moved to New York in the mid 1960s, where he was involved with the big bands of Cab Calloway, Maynard Ferguson, Thad Jones & Mel Lewis, among others. His distinctive sound has also graced various studio bands such as Dick Cavett's television orchestra. Tabackin met and married jazz pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi in 1968. Although best known for her work as a big band composer, leader and arranger, Toshiko is also a stunning pianist in the tradition of Bud Powell, and it was her piano work that first got her noticed by Oscar Peterson when he was on a tour of Japan in the 1950's. There is a $30-$40 cover plus a $10 food/drink minimum.

NY STATE: BRIGADOON COMES TO LIFE ON FORT SALEM'S MAINSTAGE

Brigadoon, the mythical Scottish village that comes to life for one day, once every hundred years, comes to life this Independence Day Weekend in the idyllic New York village of Salem, on The MAINSTAGE AT FORT SALEM THEATER (11 East Broadway, Salem, NY - 518-854-9200 - ). Performances are Friday & Saturday, July 2nd & 3rd at 8:00 pm and Sunday, July 4th at 2:00 pm. Brigadoon has book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and a score by Frederick Loewe. A co-production with the Rose Center Theater in Westminster, CA, the principal cast of characters (complemented by local performers) will open the show in Salem and repeat it two weeks later in California. The cast features its director Tim Nelson, and his wife, Mary Murphy-Nelson, part-time residents of Salem. Nelson, is Artistic Director at the Rose Center and heads the Musical Theater program and Huntington Beach, California's High School of the Performing Arts. Nelson appeared at Fort Salem last season, co-starring with Benita Zahn in the Neil Simon musical, They're Playing Our Song, another co-production with the Rose Center. For ticket information, call the box office or inquire online.

FLA: WILL & ANTHONY NUNZIATA MAKE ROYAL ROOM DEBUT

Actor/singers (and identical twins) Will and Anthony Nunziata take over THE ROYAL ROOM at THE COLONY HOTEL (155 Hammond Avenue, Palm Beach, FL - 561-659-8100 - ) on Fridays & Saturdays, July 2nd & 3rd and 9th & 10th at 8:00 pm. The Nunziata twins have traveled the country with their duo concert act, with recent guest artist appearances with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, and at Feinstein's and Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Hall. The talented twins have caught the eye of conductors and concert halls around the country, performing Broadway tunes, classic standards, Italian arias, and contemporary music. Recently the brothers sang in the grand finale song "Sunday" at "Sondheim: The Birthday Concert!" at Avery Fisher Hall in NYC, a concert celebrating the music and 80th birthday of Stephen Sondheim. Cost is $90 per person, dinner & show, and $45 for show only.

S.F.: KIM NALLEY & HOUSTON PERSON AT THE RRAZZ

Kim Nalley, internationally acclaimed vocalist, joins tenor saxophonist Houston Person for a double-header evening of soulful jazz at the RRAZZ ROOM at THE HOTEL NIKKO (222 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA - 415-394-1189 - ) on Thursday through Saturday, July 1st through July 3rd at 8:00 pm. Jazz and Blues vocalist Kim Nalley, a history graduate of UC Berkeley, often combines music and history in her concerts. Recently named one of the "Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area," Kim was first brought to national attention by SF Symphony director Michael Tilson Thomas after he discovered her singing to packed audiences in San Francisco. Since then, she has recorded several critically-acclaimed CDs. Described as "jazz's working class hero, a true man of the people," Houston Person came to national attention with a series of soulful albums recorded for Prestige in the 1960s. Person's fame grew still more with his successful 30-year musical partnership with vocalist Etta Jones. Numerous recording artists including Lena Horne, Lou Rawls and Horace Silver have also called on Person to perform on their albums. A passionate tenor saxophonist, alternately tough and tender, Person is now recognized as one of today's leading instrumentalists. Tickets are $30-$37.50.

LON: PAUL L MARTIN PRESENTS CABARET GOLD THE BATTERSEA BARGE

'King of Cabaret' Paul L Martin celebrates 20 years on the cabaret scene by introducing a stellar line-up of the best cabaret artists around, all presented in the unique and charming surrounding of BATTERSEA BARGE (Riverside Walk, Nine Elms Lane, London - 020 7498 004) during a fortnight of celebrations for PRIDE 2010, from Monday, June 21st to Sunday, July 4th, all shows at 8:30 pm. The festival comprises solo performances from Top quality cabaret acts Adele Anderson, Scales of the Unexpected, Sarah-Louise Young, Paul L Martin, David Mills, Hilda Eus bio, Earl Okin, The Lorraine Bowen Experience and Holly Penfield. Tickets are available at http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/ . Call for cover/minimum information.

AUS: SHARON KIRSCHNER IN THE TRUTH ABOUT FAIRYTALES

Sharon Kirschner questions stories of our childhood in her show "The Truth About Fairytales" at THE BUTTERFLY CLUB (204 Bank Street, South Melbourne, VIC - 03 96902000 - ) Thursday through Sunday, July 1st through 4th at 7:00 pm (6:00 pm on Sunday). Growing up we were all told fairytales, and made to believe their values, morals and ideals. However there was one problem ... they weren't what really happened! Which parts had been omitted or changed, and how many really ended happily ever after. Shaz is here to tell you the truth about fairytales. Tickets are $22.

S.A.: VERNON BARNARD PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE 60'S

Vernon Barnard returns to VILLA PASCAL (28 Van Der Westhuizen Street. Durbanville, Capetown, SA - Tel: 021-9752566 - ) on Saturday, July 3rd at 7:00 pm in a tribute to The 60's. The audience is invited to dress up and relive the freewheeling, swinging 60s, a decade of "Simply the Best Music" that shaped a Generation: The British Invasion, Summer of Love, and Woodstock '69. Vernon Barnard plays tribute by bringing back the good times featuring the songs of The Troggs, The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Kinks, Manfred Mann, Gerry & the Pacemakers and many more. Call for cover/minimum information.

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Friday, July 2, 2010

NYC: NEXT OUTDOOR CONCERT AT TUDOR CITY GREENS JULY 6th AT 12:00 NOON

NYC: NEXT OUTDOOR CONCERT AT TUDOR CITY GREENS JULY 6th AT 12:00 NOON
FEATURED CABARET ORGANIZATION

Broadway and cabaret performer Raissa Katona Bennett (Phantom of the Opera, Chess) hosts an amazing array of Broadway and cabaret artists as THE CONCERTS AT TUDOR CITY GREENS holds its third show of the 2010 season at Tudor City Greens Park (enter at Tudor City Place between East 42nd and East 43rd Streets) on Tuesday, July 6th at 12:00 noon pm (Rain date: Wednesday, July 7th). The afternoon concert is called "A Child's Garden of Verse: Songs By, About, For, and With Children." Guests scheduled to appear are Broadway's Mimi Bessette (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas); Bart Shatto (Civil War, Les Miserables); MAC, Bistro, and Nightlife Award winner Julie Reyburn; cabaret performers Joshua Desjardins, Peter Haas, Christine Reisner and young theatre performers Connor Shatto and Peter Charney. Broadway performer and multiple award-winning cabaret artist Eric Michael Gillett will make a special appearance as well. Accompanists for the concert will be Tex Arnold, David Caldwell, Cindy Gooden, Sean Harkness, and Bill Zeffiro. Concerts will continue monthly through October 2010, featuring a variety of performers and themes. The concerts are being produced in association with the Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC). This year, Tom Stajmiger, a producer of theatre, concerts and cabaret around the country, joins the series, as associate producer. Sponsored, in part, by 925 Lounge and Smart Workout.

NOTE: TIME OF CONCERT IS 12:00 NOON
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NYC: SONDHEIM ... UNPLUGGED MONDAYS IN JULY AT THE BEECHMAN - NOTE VENUE CHANGE 07/05

NYC: SONDHEIM ... UNPLUGGED MONDAYS IN JULY AT THE BEECHMAN
**** NOTE VENUE CHANGE THIS WEEK ONLY ****

THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER (407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909 - ) announces their summer series, SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED, presented on Mondays in July - the 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th at 7:00 pm. Due to the holiday schedule at THE LAURIE BEECHMAN, the performance on Monday, July 5th will be held at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 - http://www.donttellmamanyc.com/ ). Featuring an array of Broadway and Cabaret's most dynamic performers, Sondheim Unplugged celebrates the work of Broadway's most beloved and prolific composer, accompanied by piano only. SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED boasts an impressive cast of some of the theatre world and cabaret's most dynamic talents, all of whom will perform their favorite Sondheim tunes. Each evening is hosted by Director/Producer Phil Geoffrey Bond (MAC/Bistro/Nightlife Award Winner), with Musical Direction by Tracy Stark (MAC/Bistro Award Winner). There is $20 cover charge, as well as a $15 food/drink minimum. (NO CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED AT DON'T TELL MAMA)

**** NOTE VENUE CHANGE THIS WEEK ONLY ****
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SATURDAY IN S.A.: VERNON BARNARD PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE 60'S

SATURDAY IN S.A.: VERNON BARNARD PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE 60'S

Vernon Barnard returns to VILLA PASCAL (28 Van Der Westhuizen Street. Durbanville, Capetown, SA - Tel: 021-9752566 - ) on Saturday, July 3rd at 7:00 pm in a tribute to The 60's. The audience is invited to dress up and relive the freewheeling, swinging 60s, a decade of "Simply the Best Music" that shaped a Generation: The British Invasion, Summer of Love, and Woodstock '69. Vernon Barnard plays tribute by bringing back the good times featuring the songs of The Troggs, The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Kinks, Manfred Mann, Gerry & the Pacemakers and many more. Call for cover/minimum information.
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SATURDAY IN AUS: SHARON KIRSCHNER IN THE TRUTH ABOUT FAIRYTALES

SATURDAY IN AUS: SHARON KIRSCHNER IN THE TRUTH ABOUT FAIRYTALES

LON: PAUL L MARTIN PRESENTS CABARET GOLD THE BATTERSEA BARGE

LON: PAUL L MARTIN PRESENTS CABARET GOLD THE BATTERSEA BARGE

S.F.: KIM NALLEY & HOUSTON PERSON AT THE RRAZZ THROUGH SATURDAY

S.F.: KIM NALLEY & HOUSTON PERSON AT THE RRAZZ

FLA: WILL & ANTHONY NUNZIATA MAKE ROYAL ROOM DEBUT

FLA: WILL & ANTHONY NUNZIATA MAKE ROYAL ROOM DEBUT

NY STATE: BRIGADOON COMES TO LIFE ON FORT SALEM'S MAINSTAGE

NY STATE: BRIGADOON COMES TO LIFE ON FORT SALEM'S MAINSTAGE

NYC: BRANDON CUTRELL HOSTS "THE AFTER PARTY" WITH GUEST GABRIELLA STRAVELLI

NYC: BRANDON CUTRELL HOSTS "THE AFTER PARTY" WITH GUEST GABRIELLA STRAVELLI

At THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER (407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909) on Fridays at 10:30 pm, 2010 MAC AWARD NOMINEE Brandon Cutrell hosts THE AFTER PARTY, a free-wheeling open-mic with guest stars from Broadway and Cabaret, Ray Fellman at the piano and Becca Johnson -Southworth and serving up drinks and taking turns at the mic. Guest performers from Broadway, off-Broadway and cabaret drop by each week to sing, chat and join in the fun. This week's THE AFTER PARTY special guests are TBA. No cover, no minimum, no reservations - first come, first seated.
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NYC: METROJAM OPEN MIC: HOSTED BY JENNA ESPOSITO WITH GUEST RENA STROBER

NYC: METROJAM OPEN MIC: HOSTED BY JENNA ESPOSITO WITH GUEST RENA STROBER

METROJAM, the monthly cabaret/jazz open mic event held at THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440 - ), will have its next show on Friday, July 2nd at 10:00 pm featuring host, 2010 MAC AWARD NOMINEE Jenna Esposito. Accompaniment is provided by the MetroJam house band: John DiPinto on piano, Ritt Henn on bass, and Bobby Sher on drums. Each week, Jenna welcomes a special guest, and this week's guest is Rena Strober. Rena recently completed a run of "White's Lies" with Betty Buckley, and has been seen on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally in numerous productions. . Open-mic performers have a chance to perform with a full jazz band. If you're planning to perform, please arrive by 9:30 pm to sign up and be sure to bring two copies of your music (uptempo is recommended!). There is a $15 cover plus a 2-drink minimum.
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NYC: NEXT OUTDOOR CONCERT AT TUDOR CITY GREENS JULY 6th AT 12:00 NOON - NOTE TIME CORRECTION

NYC: NEXT OUTDOOR CONCERT AT TUDOR CITY GREENS JULY 6th AT 12:00 NOON
FEATURED CABARET ORGANIZATION

Thursday, July 1, 2010

MORE "HERE & THERE" PART II including a cabaret show review

MORE "HERE & THERE" PART II

Frank Ford's third and final report on the 2010 ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL was received yesterday, and we immediately posted it on the website - http://www.cabarethotlineonline.com/ and the blog - http://cabarethotlineonline.blogspot.com/ . Check it out. Frank was one of the founders of the Adelaide event, and his passion for the art and the artists of cabaret is quite evident throughout. The dates for next year's event were also announced. Plan ahead to attend the best and biggest cabaret festival in the world, June 10th through 25th, 2011. Full details of the program

I saw just 1 show in the past 7 days, and this time around I can't quite give a rave.

I was at DON'T TELL MAMA on Tuesday, June 29th at 7:00 pm for Susan Winter's "Million Dollar Matinee" show. Susan has a terrific voice and can be a marvelous entertainer. But I had some problems with this show - and it was all about the show, not about Susan. And its a problem I had with each of Ms. Winter's shows since she returned to performing after taking a break to raise a family.

It was a show featuring songs from the movies (where have we heard this theme before) and unlike Wesla Whitfield's show on the same theme at the METROPOLITAN ROOM a few weeks ago, this show lacked originality and sparkle. It seemed almost over-rehearsed - a presentation not a performance. All the right gestures were there, all the right lyrics were there, all the right patter was there, all the familiar songs were there, but it simply didn't come together as a moving, exciting, interesting cabaret experience.

Even Rick Jensen, who usually can be counted on to provide exciting arrangements, seemed to resort to the tried and true this time around. The few times where an arrangement seemed to strike a new direction (a George M. Cohan medley that was slowed down to ballad speed, for example) lacked any discernable purpose except to be different for the sake of being different. A Burton Lane/Frank Loesser medley ("I Hear Music") turned out to be a choppy, disconcerting series of lyric lines and portions of lines containing the word "music" from their wide-ranging songbook. "That Old Black Magic" lacked any mystery, and "Makin' Whoopee" came straight from an old piano bar routine. Ms. Winter has terrific vocals and a most charming personality. Both were wasted on a show that was bland and forgettable.

Another reminder: The 4th of July U.S. INDEPENDANCE DAY celebration will soon be here, and this year, since the 4th is on Sunday, the holiday will be observed on Monday the 5th. And the normal Monday CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE will be published on Tuesday, July 6th, which also happens to be my 71st birthday. I simply might not feel like working very that hard that day, so expect a short issue. Stay tuned.

Thank you to the 3 new sponsors for the 20th Anniversary Gala on Tuesday, July 13th at THE LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER. From here on in, the GALA will be in the black - all our expenses are covered for the event.

And that doesn't include ads in our program booklet for folks who can't make the show but wish to send their congratulations (or folks who want to promote a CD or upcoming cabaret event). Cost is just $25 for a quarter page (and price per quarter is reduced the more you order). Both the inside front and back covers are already sold - full pages for the rest of the book are just $75, half pages are $45. Space is limited. Deadline is July 6th. For specs and to order, just click here:

All proceeds from the gala go to support CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE during the lean summer months when ad income drops to nearly zero (we currently have only one paid banner running instead of the normal 15, so we're really hurting this year).

HERE & THERE - PART I -Including thoughts on sheet music sharing

HERE & THERE - PART I

It should prove to be another gorgeous day here in NYC, as we prepare in the USA to celebrate our nation's birthday on Sunday, July 4th. Please note the caveats in the listings below regarding reduced venue hours or closings starting already on Saturday, in some cases, and running through Monday.

North of the border, Canada celebrates Canada Day today, so a big Happy Canada Day to all our friends up there. CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE has subscribers in just about every English speaking country, plus Brazil, France, Russia, South Africa, India and even the Middle East. But please don't ask me to keep up with all the holidays and celebrations in every country we cover.

And we accept and publish press releases about cabaret events all over the world as well. If you send it (and it is complete) we will run it. And send it directly to stuhamstra@svhamstra.com - I've given up on trying to rewrite blurbs that appear on the group mailings I subscribe to. Most often, since the groups are localized, the name of the city and the address of the venue is omitted. And at times, even the last name of the sender of the posting is skipped. Oh, and please remember, a flier is not a press release!

By the way, cabaret news items that appear in the newsletter also appear on theCABARET HOTLINE ONLINE website - and then we choose our "picks" to appear on the day of the event, on the blog - and on our 4 Twitter timelines. So, by sending your item in (if we can use it) your news will be read by our 2700 subscribers, posted on a website that now gets 10,000 visits a day, and published on a blog that gets over 400 visits a day, and sent out (day of your event) to a cumulative total of neatly 1000 twitter followers.

We received an important note from Phil Bond, booking manager of the LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER that the Sondheim Unplugged series that begins on Monday, July 5th has been forced to change venues this week only to DON'T TELL MAMA because the WEST BANK CAFE will be closed for the holiday this Monday. Details are in the listings below. Fortunately DON'T TELL MAMA is just 4 blocks away from THE BEECHMAN. The rest of the series (every Monday in July) will be back at THE BEECHMAN as scheduled.

If you're on Twitter, and follow Jason Robert Brown's feed (http://twitter.com/MrJasonRBrown ) you know about his nearly one-man crusade on behalf of songwriters. Apparently there are still folks who don't believe in supporting songwriters and trade sheet music by e-mail over the internet. There apparently are even websites devoted to putting traders in contact with each other. Please remember that without songwriters, the whole of cabaret (and other media as well) would collapse from lack of material, and songwriters have to eat, pay rent/mortgages, send kids to college, etc. just like anyone else. Jason estimates that nearly half his annual income comes from sales of his sheet music.

Amazingly, there are folks sharing his works that have begun deriding him for his efforts - similar to the scorn expressed by those who download computer software and movies without compensating the creators. It's stealing - pure and simple - to use copyrighted material you have not paid for, and this includes sheet music. I grit my teeth whenever I read postings on the various cabaret groups seeking free copies of sheet music. Out-of-print items I can understand, but to deprive a songwriter of a single deserved dollar is inexcusable.

If you're in the NYC area, don't get so involved with the weekend festivities to overlook THE CONCERTS AT TUDOR CITY GREENS (enter at Tudor City Place between East 42nd and East 43rd Streets) on Tuesday, July 6th at 6:00 pm. Details, including the names of the cast members for this month, are in the listings below. Its free!

There's an important item in the listings below for a show that's happening tonight - Richard Malavet's new show "The Billy Eckstine Project, Songs in the Key of 'B'" at THE METROPOLITAN ROOM at 7:30 pm (it repeats next week Thursday at 9:45 pm). We missed putting the news of this show in Monday's issue because the original press release called for a different set of dates and a different musical director, and we were told to hold the story and a revised release would be forthcoming. Instead, we received a jpg of a flier, which we didn't save, expecting a real press release to arrive shortly - but it never arrived and by that time it was too late. We ran into Richard at Susan Winter's show at DON'T TELL MAMA on Monday night and he sent us the revised information on Tuesday to include in today's issue. Check it all out in the listings below.
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FRIDAY IN S.A.: COUNTRY MUSIC ICON MATT HURTER RETURNS TO VILLA PASCAL

S.A.: COUNTRY MUSIC ICON MATT HURTER RETURNS TO VILLA PASCAL

Veteran Country music icon Matt Hurter returns to VILLA PASCAL (28 Van Der Westhuizen Street. Durbanville, Capetown, SA - Tel: 021-9752566 - ) on Friday, July 2nd at 7:00 pm with his show "Keep It Country". The song list includes many popular sing-a-long cowboy and country favorites, including standards by Roger Whittaker, Don Williams, Brook Benton, Jim Reeves, Kris Kristofferson and Matt's his own hit songs. Call for cover/minimum information.

FRIDAY IN AUS: SHARON KIRSCHNER IN THE TRUTH ABOUT FAIRYTALES

AUS: SHARON KIRSCHNER IN THE TRUTH ABOUT FAIRYTALES

S.F.: KIM NALLEY & HOUSTON PERSON AT THE RRAZZ THROUGH JULY 3rd

S.F.: KIM NALLEY & HOUSTON PERSON AT THE RRAZZ

L.A.: LINDA CIOFALO WITH DANCING WITH JOHNNY! CD RELEASE

L.A.: LINDA CIOFALO WITH DANCING WITH JOHNNY! CD RELEASE

Linda Ciofalo heads to the West Coast to celebrate her new CD with a series of performances continuing at the BRASSERIE JAZZ LOUNGE at THE CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL (5985 Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA - 310-642-7500) on Thursday, July 1st from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. She is joined by Otmaro Ruiz, John Belzaguy & Jimmy Branley . The CD, Dancing With Johnny, is a tribute to the great songwriter Johnny Mercer personalizing Mercer selections with a distinct Latin flair. Dancing With Johnny also features stellar musicians John DiMartino (piano), John Benitez (bass), Ernesto Simpson (drums), Little Johnny Rivero (percussion), Paul Meyers (nylon string guitar), Chieli Minucci (electric guitar and effex), Joel Frahm (saxophones), and Grammy-winning trumpeter Brian Lynch. Call for cover/minimum information.

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NJ: UPTOWN EXPRESS AT McCLOONE'S IN ASBURY PARK ONE NIGHT ONLY

NJ: UPTOWN EXPRESS AT McCLOONE'S

UPTOWN EXPRESS (David Gurland, John DePalma, Christopher Caswell, Brad Parks) present their CD Release "Take You There" with musical director James Followell on the piano, Dan Gross on drums, Sean Conly on bass, in a special one-night-only show at TIM McLOONE'S SUPPER CLUB (1200 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ - 732-774-1155 - ) on Thursday, July 1st at 8:00 pm. There is a $15 cover charge.
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NYC: AMY REGAN HOSTS THE NAME 'N LIGHTS CABARET SERIES AT THE BEECHMAN

NYC: THE NAME 'N LIGHTS CABARET SERIES AT THE BEECHMAN

The attitude and musical sensibility of the Lower East Side comes face to face with the class and story telling of the NYC cabaret scene when The Name 'N Lights Cabaret Series presents it's first Singer/Songwriter Night on Thursday, July 1st at 7:00 pm at THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER(407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909 - ). Critically acclaimed songstress Amy Regan headlines a bill of exciting NYC songsters whose music and lyrics will greet the intimate cabaret room with sincerity, raw energy and a variety of musical origins. Don't miss this exciting evening of original song also including performances by Paul Wyatt, Luke James and Tyler Phillips. The Name'NLights Cabaret Series is dedicated to promoting original works of theatre and music in New York City. There is a $5 cover plus a $15 food/drink minimum.
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NYC: RICHARD MALAVET SINGS BILLY ECKSTINE - OPENS TONIGHT!

NYC: RICHARD MALAVET SINGS BILLY ECKSTINE

Cabaret/jazz vocalist Richard Malavet brings his new show, The Billy Eckstine Project, Songs in the Key of "B" to THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440 - ) on Thursday, July 1st at 7:30 pm and Thursday, July 8th at 9:45 pm. Musical director is John Di Martino. The show reveals the untold story of one of America's iconic heartthrobs. Malavet has been crooning audiences with his silky baritone voice, performing at such notable cabaret venues as Don't Tell Mama's, Eighty Eights, Judy's Chelsea, Danny's Skylight Room Cabaret, Mama Rose's and The Encore. His 2001 cabaret show, "The Right to Love" was held over twice and was a hit with audiences and critics alike. Currently, Richard recorded his self-released CD debut entitled "Who Can Say What Love Is?", featuring a dynamic and eclectic suite of songs by legendary songwriters/composers Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Leonard Bernstein, Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern, as well as songs by the inimitable R&B / pop innovator Ray Charles, acclaimed composer/conductor Lalo Schifrin and newcomer Ben Moore. There is a $20 cover plus a 2-drink minimum.

NYC: MARK JANAS' SUNDAY SALON AT ETCETERA, ETCETERA SKIPS A WEEK

NYC: MARK JANAS' SALON AT ETCETERA, ETCETERA SKIPS A WEEK

There will be no SALON event this week due to the holiday weekend. Mark Janas' Salon will return on Sunday, July 13th at ETCETERA ETCETERA (352 West 44th Street, NYC - 212-399-4141 - ) from 7:00 to 10:30 pm (signup starts at 6:15 pm). The Salon is where singers, writers and musicians share their talent with each other and audience members. As always, the theme is only a suggestion; you may perform anything you like in any musical genre: Broadway, pop, rock, country, jazz, classical, etc. Salon will continue every Sunday through July. There is a $10 cash cover plus a $10 food/drink minimum.

NYC: METROJAM OPEN MIC: HOSTED BY JENNA ESPOSITO - SPECIAL GUEST RENA STROBER

NYC: METROJAM OPEN MIC: HOSTED BY JENNA ESPOSITO

NYC: SONDHEIM ... UNPLUGGED MONDAYS IN JULY NOTE VENUE CHANGE THIS WEEK ONLY

NYC: SONDHEIM ... UNPLUGGED MONDAYS IN JULY AT THE BEECHMAN
**** NOTE VENUE CHANGE THIS WEEK ONLY ****

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

THURSDAY NIGHT AUS: SHARON KIRSCHNER IN THE TRUTH ABOUT FAIRYTALES

AUS: SHARON KIRSCHNER IN THE TRUTH ABOUT FAIRYTALES

S.A.: JOHN HARRIS WITH PERMANENT VERBLYF AT VILLA PASCAL

S.A.: JOHN HARRIS WITH PERMANENT VERBLYF AT VILLA PASCAL

Veteran musician/producer John Harris presents the satirical Permanent Verblyf at VILLA PASCAL (28 Van Der Westhuizen Street. Durbanville, Capetown, SA - Tel: 021-9752566 - ) on Wednesday, June 30th at 7:00 pm. Permanent Verblyf is an Anglo-Afrikaans light hearted evening of original songs, comedy and satire from this British/South African entertainer. After 5 months of writing, creating and arranging, plus 'n klein vloek woordtjie hier en daar, a bit of sweat en so paar trane ook, comes his acclaimed one man show. With his own personal brand of humor, poignant lyrics,the show should prove to be a varied and very entertaining evening. Call for cover/minimum information.
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CHI: CHERYL SZUCSITS PERFORMS "ALL ABOUT EYDIE" (Gorme of course)

CHI: CHERYL SZUCSITS PERFORMS "ALL ABOUT EYDIE"

A familiar face at DAVENPORT'S (1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL - 773-278-1830), Cheryl Szucsits is back again in the Cabaret Room highlighting the music of Eydie Gorme on Wednesday, June 30th at 8:00 pm. It's a veritable gourmet of Gorme with lots of Eydie's biggest hits like "Amor" and "Blame it on the Bossa Nova" as well as favorites from stage, screen and the pop charts. And even a little dash of Steve thrown in just for fun. She is joined by award-winning George Howe at the keyboard and Nick Christiansen on percussion. There is a $15 cover plus a 2-drink minimum.

NYC: WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE IGUANA WITH GUESTS

NYC: WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE IGUANA WITH GUESTS

Dana Lorge and Richard Skipper are hosting "Wednesday Night at the Iguana" every week at 8:00 pm at IGUANA'S VIP LOUNGE (240 West 54th Street, NYC - 212-765-5454 - ). Each week this comedy and musical variety show will feature special guest stars. This week's event, on June 30th, will feature guests Hector Coris, Elli Fordyce, Barbara Gurskey, Fran Leonardis, Frank Torren, Warren Schein, Marshal Factora, Eric Micheal Gillett and Peter Napolitano. Barry Levitt on keyboard & Saadi Zain on bass. There is a $12 cover, no minimum.

NYC: MIDTOWN JAZZ AT MIDDAY: EDDIE MONTEIRO, ACCORDION - 1:00 PM today

NYC: MIDTOWN JAZZ AT MIDDAY: EDDIE MONTEIRO, ACCORDION

MIDTOWN JAZZ AT MIDDAY continues at ST. PETER'S CHURCH - LIVING ROOM (Lexington Avenue at 54th Street, NYC - ) every Wednesday. This long-running series was created by Edmund Anderson and is now produced by Ronny Whyte and Joan Uttal Anderson, Production Consultant. The next show is on Wednesday, June 30th, and features Eddie Monteiro, accordion; Rich De Rosa, drums; and Vinnie Corrao, guitar. Performances are at 1:00 pm, $7 donation.
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NYC: BITTER AND BE GAY WITH TOBY BLACKWELL AT THE BEECHMAN - Pride Event

NYC: BITTER AND BE GAY WITH TOBY BLACKWELL AT THE BEECHMAN

Returning to the New York cabaret stage after a year performing in the recent national tour of RENT, comic/singer Toby Blackwell presents two encore performances of his hit cabaret show, "BITTER AND BE GAY," atTHE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER (407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909) on Wednesday, June 30th at 7:00 pm (Special Pride Extravaganza!) and Friday, July 9th at 8:00 pm. Accompanied by musical director Brian Nash, Toby has updated the show with new comedy, new music, and an updated "Divas Section." (Whitney is back!) Even the backup singers (Brian Golub and Tony Haris) are new! Seamlessly blending traditional cabaret with elements of stand-up comedy and musical theater, Toby examines what it means to be a member of "The Tribe of Gay." Toby chronicles his personal journey as a gay man, from a young boy realizing he is different, to a proud hot mess on an all-gay cruise, while also presenting his take on modern gay life. As usual, Toby will accentuate his live performance with audio and video pieces to create a fun multimedia experience. There is a $15 cover plus a $15 food/drink minimum.
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NYC: SUSAN WINTER IN MILLION DOLLAR MATINEE - Final show today!

NYC: SUSAN WINTER IN MILLION DOLLAR MATINEE
MEMBER DISCOUNT - $5 OFF THE COVER

Bistro and MAC-Award Winner Susan Winter will be appearing in her new show "Million Dollar Matinee." at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788) on Wednesday, June 30th at 7:00 pm. Having grown up in an era of classic black and white TV, Susan Winter is a long time fan and aficionado of movie classics. Claiming she learned to sing the Great American Songbook while watching Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly and even James Cagney, she is paying homage to that wonderful bygone time. Singing arrangements by Musical Director, Rick Jensen, who will be at the piano, directed by Lina Koutrakos, this show garnered Susan her first MAC nomination. She has even added some special material by Peter Napolitano and Matthew Ward. Like the movies she loved to watch over and over again. There is a $15 cover plus a 2-drink minimum. $10 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
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THE 2010 ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL FINAL WEEK REPORT by Frank Ford

THE 2010 ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL
FINAL WEEK REPORT
Reported by Frank Ford

The final week of 10th Adelaide Cabaret Festival ended triumphantly with box office up 25%, 50 performances sold out and attendance up 67% to 80,000 through the addition of a variety of free events.

Artistic Director David Campbell said "The feedback from audiences and artists about this year's Festival, the biggest Cabaret Festival in the world, has been outstanding, everyone is having a great time and press reviews have been marvellous."

What a bobby-dazzler final week program! It started with composer Steven Schwartz backed by a line up of musical theatre stars hosted by David Campbell. Schwartz's latest musical "Wicked" is a huge success in Australia so the excitement of his presence was palpable. Liz Callaway stunned us with Defying Gravity from Wicked. Equally did the duet from Pippin, Corner of the Sky, by Mitchell Butel and David Harris. Other songs from his canon illustrated the great variety of work of this phenomenally successful composer/lyricist. For Disney he wrote the music for animated feature films like Pocahontas and the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Schwartz filled in the creative background to his musical journey of almost a half century. It culminated in his long held desire to compose an opera, so we were treated to Ali McGregor singing two arias from Seance on a Wet Afternoon which will come to Australia in 2012. What an incredible experience to be in the presence of a musical genius and hearing a stellar presentation of his creations!

In stark contrast Trevor Ashley gave us a whirl wind, larger than life portrait of Liza Minnelli in Liza (on an E). In a glittering blaze of sequins this high energy dynamo gave us a show that many said was better than the recent original. His portrait of Liza is frighteningly super real. It's filled with lots of love and laughter and through his artistry we experience the tragic melodrama of her life. We empathise with Liza as she staggers about the stage, flinging her hands in frenetic dance gestures while he delivers her songs with a forceful punch that goes right to the heart.

The next show I saw was a real live Broadway legend in the flesh, Liz Callaway. Her sister Anne Hampton Callaway had delighted audiences at the Cabaret Festival a few years back. The two sisters do a double act which would be a real treat for a future Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Liz opened with You There In The Back Row and through her beautiful rendition she did embrace the audience right up to the back row. Her modesty, warmth and stage charm shone brilliantly out into the theatre. Next followed You Don't Own Me which had a nice edge to it. Liz displayed incredible range with a cavalcade of wildly diverse songs from her stage career, animated movies and beautiful songs from little known musicals which were a delightful surprise. When on Broadway she sang Memories from Cats, a staggering 1500 times. We joined in a sing along to the 1960's hit Downtown. After her splendidly singing of Sondheim's, Meadowlark and Not a Day Goes By, Liz parodied Another Hundred People from Company. With new words she sings Another Hundred Lyrics - just flew out of my mind! A wonderful send up of Sondheim's penchant for wordy, hard to sing lyrics and his complex musical arrangements. It was a rare delight of an evening. The audience responded with two standing ovations.

David Campbell, as mentioned before, has invited established performers to create new shows for the Festival. He suggested to Alex Rathgeber to do a solo show exploring a contemporary interpretation of the music of Cole Porter. In the light of our swinging times of Anything Goes, the lyrics of Cole Porter suddenly take on a whole new meaning. In the lyrics of his hidden world - But, if baby, I'm the bottom, You're the top - becomes Too Darn Hot! Suddenly with the brilliant contemporary arrangements of James Simpson on piano assisted by Mick Moreno on drums and Alana Dawes on strings, a whole new dazzling expose of the deeper meaning imbedded in the songs blow our minds. A marriage of convenience can't disguise Porter's fascination and delight in a gay life. The greatest song writer of the 20th century is a master of subversion. His canon of clever, witty, elegant, romantic songs has deeper meanings.

To explore this theme, in his show Experiment, Rathgeber uses as a vehicle his own recent experiences in London, playing in Phantom of the Opera. We re-live his romantic experiences made passionate and amplified by Cole Porter's songs. By attaching songs to his real life experiences the subversion in the songs spring to life in a whole new light. Rathgeber has a splendid voice and through his subtle interpretation was able to make visible, the invisible in the songs. The audience was fascinated and moved by this incredibly beautiful expose.

Another surprise and delight of the Festival was to be exposed to the music of composer Justin Paul and lyricist Benj Pasek. These rising young stars of musical theatre entertained us with their back stories and splendid singing of their songs while introducing us to their exciting creations. It's all great fun as they banter with each other, even talking over one another in what seemed a very spontaneous show, yet one suspects these two clever showmen were well rehearsed. From the brief exposure to their material they are very cluey and on the beat. These New Yorkers exude the dynamism of the Big Apple and the influence of Sondheim dominates their work, unfortunately sometimes to the detriment with Sondheim's penchant for over wordy, complicated lyrics. They performed songs from Edges which Adelaide saw last year at the Opera Studio; their musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach and the more serious Dogfight. Two Broadway divas, Shoshana Bean and Liz Callaway surprised with guest appearances adding much cachet and excitement to the event. What a coupe for the Festival!

How appropriate Adelaide's Caroline O'Connor who starred in the opening show of the first Adelaide Cabaret Festival returned to celebrate its first decade. It was also the decade of Caroline's rise to international stardom as she recalls highlights in her show, A Musical Life, from West End musicals and films Moulin Rouge and De-Lovely. This diminutive figure is a giant on stage, wowing us with her powerful voice, versatility and engaging vivacious charm. Her personality crosses the footlights creating the informal ambience and relationship with audience, that is the essence of cabaret. It was remarkable how she could achieve this in a traditonal theatre setting. She shares her musical life with songs sung in Chicago, West Side Story, Mack and Mabel and other musicals, illustrating the many transitions in her career. Caroline paid homage to Piaf and Garland, both whom she had portrayed in shows about their lives. In her glimmering, body hugging dress her skilled dance movements delighted the eye. It was a stunning show. This human dynamo exploded on stage like a starburst of artistic exuberance.

And now for something very different, Smoke and Mirrors is a brilliant collection of bizarre acts in the style of a certain European cabaret. A provocateur, in the form of a clownish creature played by the incomparable iOTA, entices us into a drug like infused trip down a side show alley of human emotions. Like the emcee in the film, Cabaret, iOTA leads us into the darker side of life and escapism. Have you ever dreamed of running away to the circus? He asks. Magician Timothy Woon shocks and delights us with his tricks and illusions reinforcing the theme of Smoke and Mirrors. Comic, old fashioned, moustached muscle men construct their spectacular acrobatic manoeuvres like a slow motion cartoon. A bearded lady sings spectacularly. An aerialist beguiles us with her gymnastics on a trapeze. The super four piece rock and roll band lead by Tina Harris accentuates the action and mood on the stage. iOTA guides us from spectacle to spectacle wooing us or challenging us with his own intriguing songs. The atmosphere is hot and feverish, dangerous and sexy, riveting our attention to the constantly changing milieu. The finale is a knock out, when a white faced Todd McKenney does a fabulous tap dance and song number, The Dumber They Come the Better I Like Them, ending in a strip tease. What more could one ask for?

Well perhaps Hugh Sheridan, possibly the new Hugh Jackman, in his return showing of Newly Discovered. Last year's smash hit show about the life and music of Anthony Newley.

For something different, Frisky and Mannish's School of Pop was a fun lesson in reworking the songs of every pop icon from the past 30 years. The talented duo received many laughs from their clever rewriting of the lyrics and both have good singing voices. They whizzed through their history lesson on pop music at breath taking speed. It was fun and always drew howls of laughter from those in the know. There was not enough time to see all of the Festival shows, mostly sold out, on offer in the last week.

It was a spectacular final week of the 10th Adelaide Cabaret Festival with Artistic Director David Campbell conjuring up a kaleidoscope of cabaret acts. The quality and variety of shows attracted the biggest attendance ever. There was definitely something for everyone. The Festival continues to expand and redefine the art of cabaret. There were masterclasses for performers from Queenie Van De Zandt and for cabaret song writers from Pasek and Paul. Campbell went into the specialist music high schools to tutor the art of cabaret which culminated in performances by students at the Festival. Campbell sees his role of mentor, as a way of keeping cabaret alive and kicking for future generations.

The spirit of the Festival could best be gauged by the huge, jubilant crowd at the last night of Mark Nadler's Hootenanny in which performer after performer, including David Campbell, joined Mark in his antics and songs to the delight of everyone. David Campbell gave us a fantastic Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2010 to celebrate its first decade and I am sure he will have more delights and surprises next year. Plan ahead to attend the best and biggest cabaret festival in the world, Adelaide 10 - 25 June 2011.

Frank Ford

Full details of the program on http://www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com/

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HERE'S WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT ....

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Wednesday, June 30, 2010