APOLOGY RECEIVED FROM JOEY REYNOLDS RE: MAC SHOW COMMENT

"To my brothers and sisters in Cabaret

  I was really stupid and insensitive the other night with my failed , offensive over reach for in this case tasteless humor, I so apologize to all for these remarks, the AIDS Holocaust is one of the most shameful times in our history, I too have lost loved ones, I again, am so very sorry.

  Joey Reynolds"

GREAT SHOWS GIVING DISCOUNTS TO CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE MEMBERS NEXT 10 DAYS

===============
GREAT SHOWS GIVING DISCOUNTS TO MEMBERS NEXT 10 DAYS
$50 WORTH OF DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE IN NEXT 10 DAYS!
===============
---------------
FRIDAY - MAY 22
---------------
NYC: MARCUS SIMEONE WITH "EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE"
MEMBER DISCOUNT $5 OFF THE COVER
---------------
Bistro & MAC Award winner Marcus Simeone brings a brand new show to THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440 - http://www.metropolitanroom.com/ ) for three performances - Friday, May 22nd at 9:45 pm; Sunday, June 28th at 7:00 pm; and Saturday, July 11th at 7:30 pm. The show, "Everything Must Change" is all about the beautiful songs that changed lives through the music and lyrics of Johnny Mercer, Jimmy Van Heusen, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Bobby Darin, Carol King and more. The songs are a unique and visionary mix of familiar and rarely heard songs celebrating the insistence of change as seen through the eyes of this acclaimed and exciting singer. As an artist and a person, Marcus Simeone has experienced exceptional life-alterting experiences over this past year, contributing to the development of this show. Marcus will be accompanied by a band led by musical director Barry Levitt. There is a $20 cover plus a 2-drink minimum. $15 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
---------------
SATURDAY - MAY 23
---------------
NYC: TOMMY FEMIA IS JUDY ONE NIGHT ONLY AT MAMA'S
MEMBER DISCOUNT: $5 OFF THE COVER
---------------
Award-winning impersonator Tommy Femia's returns for one night only on Saturday, May 23rd at 8:30 pm at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 ). He is joined by his long-time musical Christopher Denny. Tommy performs live, not lip-synch, and in this new show he'll be belting Garland's best-loved classics. Also on the bill are songs that the legendary singer never got a chance to perform. Tommy always has a guest star, with this show's guest TBA. There is a $20 cover plus a 2-drink minimum. $15 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
---------------
NYC: NEW FACES AFTER MIDNIGHT AT IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB
MEMBER DISCOUNT: $10 OFF THE COVER
---------------
ScoBar Entertainment presents New Faces After Midnight at IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB (1650 Broadway, NYC - 212-582-2121 ), and opening the series at midnight on Saturday May 23rd will be Matthew Bryan Feld. Winner of the 2005-2006 national "Downbeat Award", Matthew Bryan Feld brings a diverse array of talents to you: jazz musician, vocalist, and pianist. Backed by a full band, this evening promises to be a refreshing, hip, engaging, impressive, and thoroughly entertaining. The band includes Sam Harris - piano, Paul Sikivie - bass , Michael Davis - drums, Lars Dietrich - alto sax , Benje Daneman - trumpet , Dave Rosenthal - guitar with Matthew Bryan Feld - voice/piano. There is a $20 cover plus a $10 food/drink minimum. $10 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
---------------
TUESDAY - MAY 26
---------------
NYC: "LAST TUESDAYS" WITH TERESE GENECCO & LITTLE BIG BAND
MEMBER DISCOUNT: $10 OFF THE COVER
---------------
Scobar Entertainment presents LAST TUESDAYS at IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB (1650 Broadway, NYC - 212-582-2121 ) on Tuesday, May 26th featuring Bistro Award and 2008 & 2009 MAC AWARD WINNER Terese Genecco & her 7-Piece Little Big Band. Terese and her band will be appearing the last Tuesday of every month in an open-ended run. The band for this performance will include Barry Levitt on piano, Jon Burr on bass, Joe Abba on drums, Joe Passaro on percussion, Kenny Lavender on trumpet, Jeff Lederer on sax and Mark Miller on trombone. Special guest star Barry Lloyd (San Francisco's Crown Prince of Cabaret!) will also appear with the band in both sets. There is a $25 cover plus a $10 food/drink minimum. $15 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
---------------
THURSDAY-SATURDAY - MAY 28 - 30
---------------
NYC: GRACE COSGROVE IS WISHIN' & HOPIN'
MEMBER DISCOUNT $5 OFF THE COVER
---------------
Bistro Award-winning vocalist, 2009 MAC AWARD NOMINEE Grace Cosgrove returns to THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440 - ) with her new show "Burt Bacharach Songbook", Thursday through Saturday, May 28th through 30th at 7:30 pm. In this show, Grace shifts her attention from the eclectic music of her past to the pop contemporary rhythms of legendary composer Burt Bacharach. With her long-time collaborators Don Rebic at the piano and Eric Michael Gillett as director, Grace pays tribute to the Burt Bacharach songs that formed the soundtrack of our lives, guiding the audience into a musical collage of the times in which they were written and popularized. "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?", "Alfie", "The Look of Love", "That's What Friends Are For", "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head"; they're all here, brought to life once more through Grace Cosgrove's introspective and moving vocals and Don Rebic's brilliant, imaginative arrangements. There is a $15 cover plus a 2-drink minimum. $10 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
---------------
SATURDAY - MAY 30
---------------
NYC: ANGELA SHULTZ PREMIERES HER NEW SOLO SHOW
MEMBER DISCOUNT: $5 OFF THE COVER
---------------
NYC cabaret performer Angela Shultz premieres her new solo show "Kiss Me Like You Mean It," at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 ) on Saturday, May 30th at 5:00 pm. Angela Shultz returns with a show about the kind of love that drives you to commit or be committed, featuring the songs of Derek Webb, Cy Coleman, Heart, Heisler and Goldrich, Harold Arlen and the Magnetic Fields. Musical direction is by Brett Kristofferson, with direction by Hector Coris. There is a $12 cover plus a 2-drink minimum. $7 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
---------------
NYC: THE FOLLEN ANGELS MAKE METROPOLITAN ROOM DEBUT
MEMBER DISCOUNT: $5 OFF THE COVER
---------------
THE FOLLEN ANGELS, international jazz and cabaret recording artists bring their dynamic show, "Tunes of Gershwin, Cole Porter and Friends" to the THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440 - http://www.metropolitanroom.com/ ) on Saturday, May 30th at 9:45 pm for one enchanting evening. The Angels (Hildy Grossman on vocals, Rieko Tanaka on piano and vocals, Kenneth W. Dantzig on drums, Rick Stone on sax/clarinet and Nicholas Thibault on bass) have filled concert halls and Radio airwaves and continue to draw enthusiastic audiences from Scullers Jazz Club in Boston, to Mechanics Hall in Worchester, to Danny's Skylight Room in New York City, to sharing the stage with HBO Comedian, Lewis Black. Some favorite songs included in the show are I got Rhythm, Lady Be Good, My Heart Belongs to Daddy, Night and Day, What is this Thing Called Love, Embraceable You, The Man I Love, I Love Paris, and many, many more. There is a $25 cover plus a 2-drink minimum. $20 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
---------------
SUNDAY - MAY 31
---------------
NYC: JIM VAN SLYKE SALUTES NEIL SEDAKA AT THE BEECHMAN
MEMBER DISCOUNT: $5 OFF THE COVER
---------------
Jim Van Slyke returns to NYC and THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER (407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909 ) for just one night only on Sunday, May 31st at 3:00 pm. Celebrating the music of pop icon Neil Sedaka, critically acclaimed singer Jim Van Slyke returns with this highly acclaimed new show. In a rare NY appearance, Jim lends his beautiful voice and charm to the intimate melodies of Neil Sedaka in his latest project "The Sedaka Show". Directed by Tony nominated singer/actor Brian Lane Green with Music Direction by MAC Nominee/Back Stage Bistro Award Winner Tim DiPasqua, this tour de force trio have created a magnificent evening of Neil Sedaka favorites, lost gems and a few surprises! There is a $15 cover plus a $15 food/drink minimum. $10 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.

NOTES FROM THE MAC AWARDS:

NOTES FROM THE MAC AWARDS:
- Nancy Witter in a gown looked quite glamorous - and made her patented smile even brighter than normal.
- Michelle Collier almost in a dress had even the gay men ogling.
- Hardest working guy on and off stage had to be Steven Ray Watkins, who must have spent weeks creating the Motown-style arrangements for all those numbers.
- Has anyone else noticed that B.B.Kings is in need of a little refurbishing?
- Performers who rocked: Tommy Femia - wow! (I'm at his show Saturday night at MAMA'S at 8:30 pm); Marcus Simeone - incredible! (Won both the award and best in show - hope to make it to his show at METROPOLITAN tonight at 9:45 pm).
- Couldn't have happened to a better guy: Daryl Glen - his NASHVILLE show did a trifecta: NIGHTLIFE - BISTRO - MAC! And a regular gig at the METROPOLITAN - First Sunday every month at 7:00 pm
- Big thank you to Lennie Watts for once more giving us a new angle on cabaret, while making the annual occasion a festive, exciting, entertaining and fascinating night.
(more comments in Tuesday's issue of the HOTLINE)

MAC REPORT UPDATE

After receiving a note from a subscriber regarding the item in yesterday's newsletter regarding comments made at the MAC AWARDS show on Monday, I realize that I did not clearly hear the original remark in its entirety. The press table was located on the far right (facing the stage), the podium on the far left. And there was a general "chatter" going on around me. Apparently there was an additional phrase in the remark that I did not catch, one that many gays and friends of gays in the audience felt was particularly offensive. I find it offensive as well, now that I have been made aware of the exact words and their meaning (it was a pun - you had to hear it clearly to catch it).

That being said, and with no attempt to brush aside the incident, and hoping and trusting that an apology is forthcoming (or perhaps has already been made - I personally am not in the habit of listening to the radio late at night), one must take into consideration the fact that Mr. Reynolds has not just tirelessly promoted cabaret performers, he regularly (I think it is on Friday nights) has has his guest Mr. Sidney Myer and a group of openly gay comics to liven up his show. He regularly promotes, appears in and attends GMHC and BC/EFA events, and in no way could be considered anti-gay from what I know.

I truly believe the remark, as offensive as it was, was thought by him to be funny at the time. As I said immediately to by pal Daniel after the remark was made, there is no way to joke about AIDS. Hopefully Joey Reynolds is aware of that fact now. Talk of boycott, letter writing campaigns and the like are childish and usually counter productive (and for some, self-serving - self-promoting tactics).

(I will be repeating this in Tuesday's Newsletter)

NO TRUDI MANN BRUNCH AT BUTTERFIELD 8 ON SUNDAY

Please note - it is MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND and also FLEET WEEK (the sailors are in town, everywhere) so things may be a little off the usual schedule in NYC. For example, BUTTERFIELD 8 is closed, which means no Brunch with Trudi Mann & Co this Sunday. But other Sunday events and cabaret shows do continue. Check out the DATEBOOK/DIARY on the website and/or phone ahead.

PARTY FOR SPARKY SUNDAY AT DON'T TELL MAMA

After 18 years behind the piano in the piano bar at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 - ) , Michael "Sparky" Edelstein is bidding farewell to the NYC area and moving to Melbourne, FL - near Cape Canaveral - where and his partner recently purchased a condo. There is a special "farewell" piano bar party this Sunday night - May 24th - starting around 8:00 pm - and this NYC icon deserves the thanks of generations of piano bar fans and performers.

NYC: SETH'S CHATTERBOX: GUEST STEVE ROSEN

NYC: SETH'S CHATTERBOX: GUEST STEVE ROSEN
FEATURED CABARET BENEFIT EVENT
---------------
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, May 21st, Seth's guest will be Steve Rosen currently appearing in GUYS & DOLLS. 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.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE - INITIAL PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED FOR 19TH BIRTHDAY SHOW

Tickets are now available for the 19th Birthday Party of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE that will be held on Thursday, July 9th at 7:00 pm at THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER (407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909 - ). Sales are limited to 75 seats, with nearly 25 seats already sold and of Monday, May 18th.

We've already lined up some great performers for the show: Tom Andersen, Raisa Katona Bennett, Ryan Greer and Jim Speake to start. Two more performers we've invited but need some time before they can commit.

The cost per ticket is just $15 to 2009-2010 members and $25 for those who have not renewed their memberships yet or haven't joined yet. SILVER memberships are just $20 so you can join/renew as a member for $20 then get your ticket for $15 and receive a full year of benefits - just click on the JOIN HERE button at the top of every page on the website for details on all levels and benefits of membership. Each 2009-2010 member can order a second ticket at the member price ($15) even though their guest might not be a member. Tickets and memberships are not refundable. NO RESERVATIONS WILL BE TAKEN BY THE CLUB - no tickets sold the day of the event. Tou can order tickets here: TICKETS

Program Booklet ads are available as well - in just three sizes: 1/4 page (square), 1/2 page (horizontal) and full page. Pricing is $75 full page, $50 for 1/2 page and $30 for 1/4 page.

And we're looking for a few more sponsors ($100 each includes a free ticket). All sponsors get a free 1/4 page ad in the Program Booklet and also get mentioned in all promotional e-mails and newsletters about the show - just like in the paragraph that follows:

The 19th Birthday Party of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE is sponsored in part (so far) by Raisa Katona Bennett , Suzanne Carrico, Teresa Fischer, Marty Geiger, and Eric Michael Gillett.

NO HUMP NIGHT OF THE IGUANA SHOW WEDNESDAY, MAY 20TH

NO HUMP NIGHT OF THE IGUANA SHOW WEDNESDAY, MAY 20TH. Joan Crowe, who hosts this Wednesday night party at IGUANA'S VIP LOUNGE (240 West 54th Street, NYC - 212-765-5454 - http://www.iguananyc.com/ ) will celebrating her birthday instead. The party resumes on Wednesday, May 27th with guest host Richard Skipper.

2009 MAC AWARD WINNERS POSTED

CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE ISSUE DATE CHANGE

BECAUSE MONDAY, MAY 25th IS A HOLIDAY the normal MONDAY issue of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE will be published on Tuesday, May 26th next week.

"CABARET FOLKS ON TWITTER YOU SHOULD FOLLOW" DEPARTMENT

Every Monday we spotlight another cabaret personality who you should follow on TWITTER (besides me at http://twitter.com/stuhamstra ). These are performers and friends of cabaret that I am currently following, who provide pithy comments and news on a regular basis, and who will not inundate you with TWITS of a political, commercial or pornographic nature and endless promos for their website, blog or next cabaret show. Choice this week is Brandon Cutrell (https://twitter.com/BrandonCutrell ) A few weeks ago the lad had just signed up for TWITTER, but he became an expert very quickly. Follow this Indiana transplant as he performs all over town, Indiana, Fire Island and more - and his exploits in NYC. Click on his link to sign on as a follower.

2009 MAC AWARDS SHOW UPDATE & COMMENTS

Tonight's the night - the town is abuzz with excitement and anticipation. Its the night of the 23rd Annual MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets) Awards and the show kicks off with a "Red Carpet" exercise at 6:30 pm, everyone's chance to be insulted on video. The show itself kicks off at 7:30 pm at BB KING'S BLUES CLUB (237 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-997-4144 - ). Before MAC made the wise move to return to the cabaret-style setting, one had to hurry up and dine before the show, or wait until after the show - usually around midnight, or so. Now you can drink and dine right at your seat. I suppose that's why this year again the show is nearly a sellout. (some tickets will be available at the door).

I ran into the show's director, MAC VP Lennie Watts, on Saturday, and asked him for his prediction for tonight, which he summed up in one word: "Long." No wonder. Look thaws on the bill: in addition to presenting a lifetime achievement award to Polly Bergen, MAC will bestow the Board of Directors Award to Joey Reynolds and Myra Chanin of the JOEY REYNOLDS SHOW and Eva Swan and Vocal Ease. The TimeOut New York Special Achievement Award will go to Poor Baby Bree.

Andrea Marcovicci and Nancy Witter will co-host the show, with cabaret luminaries like John McDaniel, Klea Blackhurst, Rex Reed, Tyne Daly, Steve Ross, Julie Wilson, Karen Mason, and Marilyn Maye presenting and/or performing and entertainment by the talents of 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, Ricky Ritzel, Spider Saloff, Marcus Simeone and Anne Steele. Should be quite a night!

I'm not going to race home afterwards to get the word out on the names of the winners - a silly sort of effort I have tried in the past. Instead I just might make the rounds of three parties after the show: Jim Caruso's CAST PARTY takes place every Monday night at BIRDLAND (315 West 44th Street, NYC - 212-581-3080), Brandon Cutrell & Alyssa Umphress will host a special edition of AFTER PARTY at THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER (407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909), and DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788) is hosting a party in their elegant new lounge, with free appetizers and $5 drink specials. They are all within 5 blocks or less of B.B.KINGS - let the evening continue until dawn's early night!