Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum selling vocalist Debby Boone will make her debut at the legendary THE CAFE CARLYLE (35 East 76th Street, NYC - 212-744-1600) on Thuesdays through Saturdays, March 19th through 30th at 8:45 pm (no performance on Friday, March 29th) with her new show "Swing This," featuring a nine piece band. Based on her upcoming CD, "Swing This" is her take on Las Vegas in the 60s with stories and memories to share from the years her father Pat Boone was headlining at the Sands and Sahara hotels. "Swing This" is a true reflection of the music, glamour and pure exhilaration of that golden age in Vegas that inspired her to be a performer in the first place. The personal stories, fabulous clothes and exciting arrangements by Debby's musical director, John Oddo, played by a group of fantastic musicians all make up, in Debby's own words, "The party I've been waiting for my whole life to throw! The show features standards such as "That Old Black Magic" "Cry Me A River" and "More Than You Know," in addition to pop hits such as "These Boots Are Made for Walking" and "Everybody Loves Somebody." A special EP preview of the upcoming full-length album will be available for purchase at the venue. There is a $45-$65-$115 cover Tues-Thurs; $50-$75-$125 cover Fri-Sat.
Widely acclaimed soprano Patricia Racette returns to 54 BELOW (254 West 54th Street, NYC - 646-476-3551 - ) with her show Diva On Detour, featuring songs from jazz, cabaret, blues and the Great American Songbook for five performances on Tuesday through Thursday, March 26th through 28th at 7:00 pm with an additional 9:30 pm show on the 27th; and Friday & Saturday, March 29th & 30th at 8:00 pm. Widely acclaimed as one of opera's leading sopranos, Patricia Racette has made her mark as the star in operas ranging from Madame Butterfly, La Boheme and Tosca to Peter Grimes and Dialogues of the Carmelites in the world's most prestigious venues, including The Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, The Paris Opera and San Francisco Opera, among many others, and on worldwide HD Broadcasts to millions. But before her career on the opera stage, Racette sang jazz, cabaret and jewels from the Great American Songbook. Now she brings her career full circle with an intimate evening featuring songs by Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Edith Piaf and other contemporary popular composers. Says The New York Times: "Her singing was robust, nuanced and passionate, befitting a performer of her skill and experience." Diva On Detour is a show that Racette is singing songs near and dear to her heart. There is a $30-$40 cover plus a $25 food/drink minimum.
Jeff Macauley brings back his acclaimed show "It Was Me - The Lyrics of Norman Gimbel" to DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788) for one more performance, on Saturday, March 30th at 7:30 pm. He will be joined by the superbly talented Tex Arnold, who also wrote the arrangements and the wonderful Jon Burr on bass. "It Was Me - The Lyrics of Norman Gimbel" has been performed in both Los Angeles and New York since August, 2012. In his previous shows, Jeff Macauley explored the rich world of early musical films in "Hollywood Party - Movie Songs 1928-1934," and paid tribute to the most popular female singer of the 40's and a beloved Hollywood icon in "MWAH! The Dinah Shore Show," for which he received Backstage magazine's Bistro Award. After examining the popular songs of the '20s through the '40s, Jeff is now taking a look at the popular music of the '50s, '60s and '70s through the extensive catalog of Norman Gimbel. Norman Gimbel won an Oscar for "It Goes Like It Goes" from Norma Rae and is responsible for some of the most recognizable and best-loved lyrics of the last half-century. In a career that goes back to the early '50s, Mr. Gimbel, working with such composers as Charles Fox, Michel Legrand, David Shire and Antonio Carlos Jobim, gave words to such standards as Meditation, Sway, So Nice, The Girl From Ipanema, I Will Wait For You, Watch What Happens, I Will Follow Him, Killing Me Softly With His Song, Bluesette, and Canadian Sunset, as well as the themes to Wonder Woman, Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days. He also wrote two Broadway musicals with composer Moose Charlap, "Whoop Up!" and "Conquering Hero." There is a $15 cover plus a 2-drink minimum.
Critically acclaimed Vocalist and popular song stylist Jerry Costanzo returns to the THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440) on Tuesday, April 2nd at 7:00 pm to announce his exciting new CD release "Invitation". Mr. Costanzo has assembled a quartet of New York's finest musicians, including Pianist/arranger Tedd Firth, Guitarist Joe Cohn, Bassist Neal Miner and Drummer Johathan Mele, to accompany him on this latest project. These fine musicians have lent their exceptional musical talents on Mr. Costanzo's previously successful releases, "Destination Moon" and "Can't We Be Friends?", creating a marvelous collaboration that continues to delight Mr. Costanzo's audiences. "Invitation" features 14 songs including the title track, as well as a new single "The Lonely One/Nature Boy", a medley of two Nat King Cole classic tunes, to be released in advance of the full album. There is a $20 cover plus a 2-drink minimum.
They're bringing country music to the hottest jazz spot on Broadway! DWIGHT THOMAS VAUGHN AND THE MISSOURI STATESMEN celebrate Tom's Southern roots as they make their debut at IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB (1650 Broadway, NYC - 212-582-2121 - ) on Tuesday, April 2nd with shows at 8:00 & 10:00 pm. It's also the official release of his new CD "In These Genes", recorded in Nashville. (available on iTunes, Amazon AND AT THE SHOW.) The Missouri Statesmen features Musical Director Sean Harkness on Guitar, Bill Turner on Dobro, Banjo and Acoustic Guitar, Kenney Kosec on Fiddle, Jacob Silvers on Bass, and Wally Usiatynski on Drums. Back up gals include Caitlin Kerchner and Leasen Almquist. Joining Broadway World Cabaret Nominee Tom, will be 2013 MAC Award Winners, Lorinda Lisitza and Ted Stafford of the "Ted and Lo Show"! And, there may be more surprise guests, popping in too! The evening, directed by his old, old pal, MAC, Bistro Award Winner and Broadway alum, Raissa Katona Bennett, will be filled with the sounds of today's country, traditional country, folk and bluegrass - The kind of music that begs you to grab your cowboy hat and put your boots on. Be sure to come a long and join in on the fun. There is a $25 cover plus a $10 food/drink minimum.
Critically acclaimed Vocalist and popular song stylist Jerry Costanzo returns to the THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440) on Tuesday, April 2nd at 7:00 pm to announce his exciting new CD release "Invitation". Mr. Costanzo has assembled a quartet of New York's finest musicians, including Pianist/arranger Tedd Firth, Guitarist Joe Cohn, Bassist Neal Miner and Drummer Johathan Mele, to accompany him on this latest project. These fine musicians have lent their exceptional musical talents on Mr. Costanzo's previously successful releases, "Destination Moon" and "Can't We Be Friends?", creating a marvelous collaboration that continues to delight Mr. Costanzo's audiences. "Invitation" features 14 songs including the title track, as well as a new single "The Lonely One/Nature Boy", a medley of two Nat King Cole classic tunes, to be released in advance of the full album. There is a $20 cover plus a 2-drink minimum.
The Broadway at Birdland concert series is pleased to announce the return of Broadway actress and cabaret star Karen Mason, who will be performing a brand new show, "Secrets of the Ancient Divas" on Monday, April 1st at 7:00 pm atBIRDLAND (315 West 44th Street, NYC - 212-581-3080). "Secrets of the Ancient Divas" is a whimsically titled look at a subject Mason holds near and dear to her heart: the iconic singers who have influenced her. In this concert, she will take on the songs of Judy Garland, Peggy Lee, Shirley Bassey and Barbra Streisand. Songs will include "The Trolley Song," "The Way We Were," "The Man That Got Away," and "Goldfinger." The musical director for the evening will be Christopher Denny, with direction by Barry Kleinbort. Karen Mason recently starred on Broadway as The Queen of Hearts in Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland, and as Velma Von Tussle in the Tony Award-winning Broadway smash hit Hairspray. Mason originated the role of Tanya in Mamma Mia!, for which she was awarded a 2002 Drama Desk nomination as Best Actress. Karen also starred as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, a role that she played over 200 times to critical praise and standing ovations on Broadway and in Los Angeles. She had previously won the Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance in And The World Goes Round. There is a $30 cover plus a $10 food/drink minimum.
Jeff Macauley brings back his acclaimed show "It Was Me - The Lyrics of Norman Gimbel" toDON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788) for one more performance, on Saturday, March 30th at 7:30 pm. He will be joined by the superbly talented Tex Arnold, who also wrote the arrangements and the wonderful Jon Burr on bass. "It Was Me - The Lyrics of Norman Gimbel" has been performed in both Los Angeles and New York since August, 2012. In his previous shows, Jeff Macauley explored the rich world of early musical films in "Hollywood Party - Movie Songs 1928-1934," and paid tribute to the most popular female singer of the 40's and a beloved Hollywood icon in "MWAH! The Dinah Shore Show," for which he received Backstage magazine's Bistro Award. After examining the popular songs of the '20s through the '40s, Jeff is now taking a look at the popular music of the '50s, '60s and '70s through the extensive catalog of Norman Gimbel. Norman Gimbel won an Oscar for "It Goes Like It Goes" from Norma Rae and is responsible for some of the most recognizable and best-loved lyrics of the last half-century. In a career that goes back to the early '50s, Mr. Gimbel, working with such composers as Charles Fox, Michel Legrand, David Shire and Antonio Carlos Jobim, gave words to such standards as Meditation, Sway, So Nice, The Girl From Ipanema, I Will Wait For You, Watch What Happens, I Will Follow Him, Killing Me Softly With His Song, Bluesette, and Canadian Sunset, as well as the themes to Wonder Woman, Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days. He also wrote two Broadway musicals with composer Moose Charlap, "Whoop Up!" and "Conquering Hero." There is a $15 cover plus a 2-drink minimum.
Before taking her new show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Lisa Faith Phillips is back to entertain with Savvy Secrets of Successful Mistresses at CORNELIA STREET CAFE (29 Cornelia Street, NYC - 212-989-9319) for one night on Friday, March 29th at 6:30 pm. She is joined by musical director Ellen Mandel. Through the character of Dr. Faith, Lisa gives the the true facts on romance, love and security. Updating with the latest current events and highlighting the savvy secrets of successful mistresses with a riding crop, maracas and witty original songs, such as "How To Be A Bad Girl" and "The Fellatio Tango", this seminar should be fun for all. Drawing on her colorful experiences, working as a stripper to pay her way through graduate school at the London School of Economics, and her background in stand-up comedy and music, Lisa and Ellen Mandel weave topical humor and song into a clever, thought-provoking and ultimately touching show. Part comedy, part cabaret, part two-woman theater piece, it all adds up to an evening of sophisticated, fun entertainment. The performance features original songs by Phillips and Mandel from the winning anthem "Help Me Dr. Faith" to the hilarious "I Can Not Get Enough" and Ellen's touching ballads "Wasn't Such a Big Affair" to her bring-down-the-house blues "Smile When You Say Good-bye". A sing-along with a touch of discipline for Jule Styne's "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" and a clever twist on Porter's "Every time We Say Good-bye" top off the entertaining evening. There is a $15 cover plus a 1-drink minimum.
