HERE'S WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT ....

Cabaret Hotline Online is an independent website with more than 7,400 pages of news, information and stories on cabaret, owned and maintained by Stu Hamstra. CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE is not affiliated with any club or organization. It is totally supported through advertising and membership donations. This blog is an extension of the website and newsletter.

NOW IN OUR 26th YEAR OF PROMOTING THE ART & ARTISTS OF CABARET!

"His eye is on the sparrow...."

Friday, May 1, 2009

GREAT SHOWS GIVING DISCOUNTS TO MEMBERS NEXT 10 DAYS

===============
$41 WORTH OF DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE IN NEXT 10 DAYS!
===============
JUST AN IMPORTANT COMMENT HERE: I highly recommend all the performers and shows on this list. I am proud to have them offering discounts to our members!
---------------
NYC: TANYA MOBERLY "FRESH BREWED" AT DON'T TELL MAMA
MEMBER DISCOUNT $5 OFF THE COVER
---------------
Tanya Moberly returns to DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 - ) with four more performances of her acclaimed show of last October, "FRESH BREWED - TALES FROM THE COFFEE BAR" on Friday, May 1st; Saturday, May 2nd; Thursday, May 7th; & Friday, May 9th, all shows at 7:30 pm. The show consists of 8 short comedies by Henry Meyerson with songs by Ani Di Franco, and features Tanya Moberly, Jared Reimuth, Daniel Ruth & Jill Melanie Wirth, with Scott Ethier at the piano. Ms. Moberly directs. Tanya has worked with Mr. Meyerson on some of these coffee characters from their inception at D-Stages to full productions of them at The Avery Point Playhouse in Connecticut and The Producer's Club in Manhattan (1999-2000). Ms. Moberly has been performing at Don't Tell Mama since 1998 when she co-created the "The Blonde Leading The Blonde" with partner Susan Hackett and writer/director Ilona Vellios. The show ran for 8 episodes over the course of 5 years and received a MAC Award nomination in 2000 for special production. Solo shows that followed include: "Moberly Sings Di Franco", "For What It's Worth" ; "Tanya Sings Arlen, etc..." , "Tanya Sings Jonatha Brooke"; and "Tanya Sings Beck, etc..." There is a $15 cover plus a 2-drink minimum. $10 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
---------------
NYC: KINETIC DANCE THEATER PRESENTS YARDBIRD SUITE
MEMBER DISCOUNT $5 OFF THE COVER
---------------
Kinetic Dance Theater (Joanna and Ryan Greer, Artistic Directors) announce the return of dancer/ choreographer/ vocalist Ryan Greer to DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 - ) to premiere "Yardbird Suite", a jam session inspired by the original American avant-garde, bop. Final performance is on Sunday, May 3rd at 7:15 p.m. Yardbird Suite explores the indelible movement in music that reinvented jazz and gave birth to counter culture. Directed and Choreographed by Joanna and Ryan Greer, featuring Ryan Greer, with Musical Director and Recording Artist Jody Shelton on piano (Baby Wants Candy, Colleen McHugh's Calendar Girl), Mark Verdino on bass and dancers Meghan Burns and Caren Chianese. There is a $10 cover plus a 2-drink minimum. $8 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
---------------
NYC: LAURIE KRAUZ' TAPESTRY REWOVEN AT THE IRIDIUM
MEMBER DISCOUNT $10 OFF THE COVER
2009 MAC AWARD NOMINEE
---------------
ScoBar Entertainment presents 2009 MAC AWARD NOMINEE Laurie Krauz & The Daryl Kojak Octet and their show "Tapestry Rewoven," a jazz re-imagining of the Carole King classic, to the IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB (1650 Broadway, NYC - 212-582-2121 ) the first Tuesday of every month. Next performances is May 5th. Joining Laurie and Daryl on stage will be Sean Conly on bass, Gene Lewin on drums, Jamie Fox on guitar, Sue Terry on sax & flute and Emily Bindiger, Margaret Dorn, and Kathryn Raio on backup vocals. There is a $25 cover plus a $10 minimum. $15 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
---------------
NYC: HECTOR CORIS PREMIERES HIS DEBUT SOLO SHOW
MEMBER DISCOUNT $6 OFF THE COVER
2009 MAC AWARD NOMINEE
---------------
Award-winning NYC cabaret performer Hector Coris premieres his debut solo show "Life is Wonderful" at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 - ) in May, with performances scheduled for Tuesdays, May 5th and 19th at 7:15 pm and Saturday, May 9th at 5:00 pm. In his debut solo show, Hector explores the musicality of mortality through the words and music of Ben Folds, Kander and Ebb, Zoe Lewis, Susan Werner, My Chemical Romance, William Finn and other contemporary songwriters. Musical direction is by Ray Bailey, with direction by Angela Shultz. There is a $12 cover charge plus a 2-drink minimum. $6 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
---------------
NYC: SHAYNEE RAINBOLT SINGS RUSSELL GARCIA
MEMBER DISCOUNT: $10 OFF THE COVER
2009 MAC AWARD NOMINEE
---------------
MAC Award wining singer 2009 MAC AWARD NOMINEE Shaynee Rainbolt and her Four Trombone Band sing the songs of Russel Garcia at THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440 - ) on Thursday, May 7th at 9:45 pm. Shaynee and the band, featuring Barry Levitt (piano) Tom Hubbard (bass) Ray Marchica (drums) and the FOUR TROMBONES (John Allred, Nate Mayland, Isrea Buttler & George Flynn) will be presenting Russ Garcia's music - originals as well as some favorite standards, All Arranged By Garcia for Shaynee. Recently Shaynee Rainbolt went into the studio with this legendary composer/arranger to create the first-ever vocal album of Russ Garcia originals. Whether Russell Garcia was composing film scores In Hollywood (The Time Machine, Atlantis the Lost Continent, Charlie Chaplin's Limelight etc.), arranging for Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Anita O'Day, Julie London, Blossom Dearie, Mel Torme, or Frances Faye (to name just a few) or composing ground-breaking modern symphonic Jazz for Stan Kenton in the 50s, it is undisputed that Garcia's musical contributions created the template by which so much of our modern movie music, big band and pop-jazz have sprung. Garcia literally wrote the book on arranging that musicians around the world have relied on since the 40's, and he continues to write, teach and perform today at the tender age of 92. There is a $20 cover plus a 2-drink minimum. $10 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
---------------
NYC: LAURA HULL RETURNS TO THE METROPOLITAN ROOM
MEMBER DISCOUNT: $5 OFF THE COVER
2009 MAC AWARD NOMINEE
---------------
Jazz vocalist and songwriter Laura Hull will return to THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440 - ) on Friday, May 8th at 9:45 pm to celebrate the CD release of "Take Me Home," as well as the just-released news of her MAC award nomination in the Female Jazz Vocal category. Joining Ms. Hull and her trio will be musical director and co-producer, pianist Pat Firth. Ms. Hull's music is drawn from an extensive repertoire of American popular songs, jazz standards, obscure gems, and her original music. Her CD was recently named in CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE as one of the top-10 CDs of 2008 by John Hoglund. A native of New York City, Ms. Hull spent her formative years singing at the resorts of upstate New York's fabled Catskill Mountains, where she practiced her craft performing with numerous bands and learned to sing in a variety of genres and styles. She worked as a session singer for a major studio, a jingle singer for many agencies and showcased her singing at clubs in and around New York City. There is a $20 cover plus a 2-drink minimum. $15 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.

TWO GREAT SHOWS THIS WEEKEND - NOT TO BE MISSED

I want to encourage you all to try to catch one or both of two shows that are being presented in the next few days - both offering discounts to members. They are each unique, yet both show that great cabaret need not simply be a lady with a microphone in front of a piano.

Tanya Moberly returns to DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 - ) with more performances of her acclaimed show of last October, "FRESH BREWED - TALES FROM THE COFFEE BAR" on Friday, May 1st; Saturday, May 2nd; (also Thursday, May 7th; & Friday, May 9th) all shows at 7:30 pm. It is an incredible hour of song and story - sort of point-counterpoint. Ms. Moberly vocals and phrasing are astounding and the eight stories are truly remarkable, witty and insightful "slices of life". NOT TO BE MISSED.

Kinetic Dance Theater's "Yardbird Suite" featuring dancer/ choreographer/ vocalist Ryan Greer will have its last show of this series a DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 - ) on Sunday, May 3rd at 7:15 pm. They call it a jam session inspired by the original American avant-garde, bop. I call it an amazing combination of jazz music, vocals and dance. It is a spellbinding tribute to the bop period as exemplified by Charlet "Bird" Parker, and the very talented Mr. Greer's creation is another incredible illustration of the power found in the intimacy of a cabaret room. NOT TO BE MISSED.

AROUND THE WORLD WITH CABARET

I got two iPhone messages sent from different sides of the world this week - Sue Matsuki is vacationing with her husband in China and Cynthia Crane is in Paris on vacation/business. Cynthia is actually performing in Paris at SWAN BAR (165, Bld du Montparnasse, Paris, FR - 01 44 27 05 84 - http://www.swanbar.fr/ ) on Friday night, the 1st of May! (I hear things get really festive on the 1st of May in both Paris and China).

NYC: 23RD ANNUAL MAC AWARDS AT B.B. KING BLUES CLUB

MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets) will celebrate the 23rd Annual MAC Awards on Monday, May 18th at 7:30 pm at BB KING'S BLUES CLUB (237 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-997-4144 - ). Doors open at 6:00 pm. The show will be hosted by Andrea Marcovicci and Nancy Witter. This year's performers/presenters include Polly Bergen (Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award), Klea Blackhurst, Tyne Daly, Karen Mason, Marilyn Maye, John McDaniel, Rex Reed, Steve Ross and Julie Wilson among others. Featured performers include John Bucchino, Brandon Cutrell, Jamie deRoy, Tony DeSare, Jenna Esposito, Tommy Femia, The Fabulous Pink Flamingos, Eric Michael Gillett, Tanya Holt, Lina Koutrakos, Angela LaGreca, Barry Levitt, Lorinda Lisitza, Sidney Myer, Georga Osborne, Christine Pedi, Poor Baby Bree, Ricky Ritzel, Spider Saloff and Anne Steele.

Taking part in a special tribute in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Motown and its contribution to expanding the American Songbook will be the 2009 MAC AWARD nominees for Best Male/Female Vocalist: Raissa Katona Bennett, Jenna Esposito, Terese Genecco, Julie Reyburn, Marcus Simeone, Kim Smith, Jonathan Whitton, and Michael Winther.

The 2009 MAC Awards will bestow the Board of Directors Award to Joey Reynolds and Myra Chanin of the JOEY REYNOLDS SHOW, who consistently promote Cabaret, Comedy and Jazz artists on the long running WOR Radio program. Also receiving the honor will be Eva Swan and Vocal Ease for bringing Broadway and Cabaret talent to hospitals, nursing homes and senior center for over a decade. The TimeOut New York Special Achievement Award will go to Poor Baby Bree.

Tickets are priced at $45, $75 and $125.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

DID YOU GO TO THE BISTRO AWARDS LAST NIGHT?

Please post you comments and reflections below. May take some time for comments to appear. Thanks. (appropriate & polite comments only, please)

-- POSTED FROM MY IPOD TOUCH

ON RADIO: "EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW": MUSIC OF PAUL ROBESON

On Sunday, May 3rd, 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, will feature the music of Paul Robeson. Some of the songs from his career that you will hear: "St. Louis Blues" (W. C. Handy); Shakespeare's Monologue from Othello; "Solitude"; of course, "Old Man River" (Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II) and "Going Home" And More! David will also present Robeson's Dramatic Testimony before the House Unamerican Activities Commitee as performed in Eric Bentley's play ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN? 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 .

NYC: SETH'S CHATTERBOX: JACK PLOTNICK & COLLEEN BALLINGER

Seth Rudetsky's BROADWAY CHATTERBOX at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 ) is usually presented on Thursdays at 6:00 pm. On Thursday, April 30th, Seth's guests are actor/comedian Jack Plotnick and Colleen Ballinger (YouTube fave "Miranda"). Seth's weekly interview show always features stars, soon-to-be stars and folks behind the scenes of the musical theater stage - for just a $10 cover - 2-drink minimum. Best of all, all proceeds from the cover go to BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS! See: .

Monday, April 27, 2009

IT WILL BE ANOTHER YEAR BEFORE WE CAN MAKE THIS OFFER AGAIN!

Right now there is a super-bargain going on - 14 weeks of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE membership for the cost of 12! This is especially valuable for those who are not currently members. Current 2008-2009 memberships are valid through July 5th, 2009. But there are two special conditions coming up that might tempt a current member to renew now. $20 SILVER memberships have a special benefit - you can apply the $20 towards your first banner ad in the membership year (does not apply to side-bar ads). So, if you plan on running a banner in the next two months, its the same as getting a free membership. Same goes for GOLD members who get a 20% discount on all banner ad costs for the membership year - those currently at the SILVER level who already used their rebate and intend to run several banner ads in the next 14 months should check the math to see of the 20% of their planned expenditure is greater than $75.

Second good reason is that 2009-2010 members get a chance to purchase their tickets to our gala 19th Birthday Party in July in advance of non-2009-2010 members, and at a special discount. The Birthday shows usually sell out several weeks before the show. Five 2009-2010 memberships have already been sold. The new membership lists for the new year will be put up on the website over the weekend. Just click on the button marked JOIN HERE at the top of every page on the website for details on various levels and benefits of membership - there is even a button at each level where you can join by credit card using PayPal.

SOME OF THE HEADLINES FROM TODAY'S NEWSLETTER

IN THIS ISSUE:
* TWO MAC AWARD SECTIONS ON THE WEBSITE
* CABARET FOLKS ON TWITTER YOU SHOULD FOLLOW
* FEATURED CABARET FESTIVALS GET OWN SECTION ON WEBSITE
* NYC BULLETIN SERVICE TO BE DISCONTINUED ON JULY 5, 2009
* 2009-2010 MEMBERSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE
* VOICES FROM THE GREAT WHITE WAY WITH NANCY ANDERSON
* JOAN CROWE IN THE KEY OF COMEDY CD RELEASE
* WANDER STREETS OF BERLIN WITH ADRIENNE CATHRINE HAAN
* JIM VAN SLYKE SALUTES NEIL SEDAKA AT THE BEECHMAN
* JAMIE deROY & FRIENDS PRESENTS TONY AWARD SONGS
* SHEET MUSIC SOCIETY FEATURES DORIS DAY BIO AUTHOR
* JOYCE LYONS OPENS NEW VENUE AT WATERSIDE PLAZA
* ANDREA MARCOVICCI IN 60th BIRTHDAY CONCERT
PLUS LOTS MORE

Check out todays news
CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE #090409 - Monday, April 27, 2009

Sunday, April 26, 2009

FEATURED CABARET BENEFITS GET THEIR OWN DATEBOOK

I have started another special section - similar to the current section we have on the website promoting members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE who also are 2009 MAC AWARD NOMINEES, but this time listing, in one place, all the FEATURED CABARET BENEFITS in the weeks to come. Currently we repeat all such benefits in every issue of the newsletter, but to save space, this will be discontinued, except for those benefit events that are also advertisers (write me about special banner ad rates for producers of benefits where 100% of the proceeds are given to a bone-fide charity - two such benefit producers are currently running banners on the website). Listings on the special page will be made at no cost - you don't need to be a member of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE. The special page will also be promoted on the HOME PAGE, in the regular DATEBOOK/DIARY, on the BLOG and also mentioned in every issue of the newsletter.