CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE #000407 - Friday, April 14, 2000
Since 1990 Your First, Best, and Only Source of Cabaret News

Unless some last minute news comes in tonight or tomorrow, I won't be sending out another issue of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE until after I return from my trip to Los Angeles. My flight is tomorrow afternoon, and I return on Wednesday evening. So it will probably be nearly a week before the next issue.

One last reminder: if you plan to be at the www.cabaret.org reception after Eileen Barnett's show at THE CINEGRILL (7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA - 323-466-7000) on Sunday night, April 16th, please confirm this with me TODAY (Friday, April 14th) so that I can help my co-workers plan the event properly. So far about 25 folks have responded.

And tomorrow morning I will be shutting down the computer until I return, which means I will not be reading my e-mail or be able to get faxed messages until April 19th (the faxes are received on my computer).

I have a lot of news items to send out, so the reviews of shows seen will have to wait until I return.

If you want to see some shows that Wendy has booked at THE DUPLEX (61 Christopher Street, NYC - 212-255-5438), check out these two:

"Bed, Boys & Beyond" is a wonderful little revue that works so well at THE DUPLEX, especially with house techie Tom Honeck handling the lights and sound. With music by Alfredo Alvarez and Book & Lyrics by Jeff Dobbins, the show features a cast of five handsome hunks, Don Brewer, Chad Miller, Ryan Perry, Tom Stuart and James Wesley. Musical director Brett Kristofferson and director Jeff Kalpak shaped this production into a fast-paced, exciting presentation. All five performers are both great actors and vocalists (and they can dance, too!) The songs and stories are fantastic, and a few of them are destined to become cabaret standards. The setting is Chelsea, today. I only wonder how such handsome guys could relate to songs about the difficulties of getting a date! This show plays on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, and Fridays at 8:00 pm all month.

"Foxy Ladies Love Boogie 70's Explosion," is about 90 minutes short, and so much fun you wish it would last another 90 minutes! This show is very nearly a Vegas style revue. It is terrific entertainment with some very talented gals, Maggie Anderson, Marie LaFerrara, Anne Lauterbach, Joie Lenz and Jen Ward singing songs of the 70's. This show plays every Saturday night at 10:30 pm.

A showcase called "Storybook: The Lyrics of Nan Knighton" is being presented at SAM'S DREAM STREET CABARET (263 West 45th Street, NYC - 212-719-5416) on 4 consecutive Thursday evenings beginning April 27th. Along with never before heard songs, the evenings will also include songs from Ms. Knighton's THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. Twenty of Broadway's brightest & newest stars give of their voices and coast-to-coast seasoned favorite, Ken Lundie serves as Musical Director. Stephen Kaplan and Dale Badway are Production Supervisors; Mr. Badway is also the host for the evenings.

The artists scheduled to appear on opening night, Thursday, April 27th are Tom Anderson (Multiple MAC Award Winner), Marc Kudisch (WILD PARTY, SCARLET PIMPERNEL), Bryan Batt (SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, SCARLET PIMPERNEL), Paige Price (SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER), Chris Sieber (TRIUMPH OF LOVE), Brad Oscar (JEKYLL & HYDE), Anne Runolfsson (THE DEAD, VICTOR/VICTORIA), Robert Evan (JEKYLL & HYDE, LES MIZ), Kate Shindle (JEKYLL & HYDE, MISS AMERICA 1998).

Reservations are highly recommended for these shows; there is a $12.00 cover charge and a $10 minimum (food or drinks). Portions of the proceeds from each show will be donated to BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS.

WRTN-FM (93.5 and 1460 AM in Westchester) radio's Lynn DiMenna hosts "Welcome to the Club," heard live locally on Fridays from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. The fact that my show tonight will focus entirely on the MAC awards and its winners. Lynn will also be doing the Mother's Day Shows (3:30 pm and 5:30 pm) on Sunday, May 14th at THE ALGONQUIN OAK ROOM (59 West 44th Street, NYC - 212-840-6800), with Paul Greenwood as musical director and Linc Milliman on bass. She sold out the room twice last year, so get your reservations in early!

Also check out this week's BACK STAGE magazine for John Hoglund's "Bistro Bit's" column on the same topic. If you are near a library, the Wednesday, April 12 issue of DAILY VARIETY GOTHAM also had an article on the MAC AWARDS written by Robert L. Daniels. Chip Defaa had a 1/2 column item in the NEW YORK POST on Wednesday, and there was a brief blurb on the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS.

"Everything Old Is New Again" is on WBAI-FM (99.5), here in New York City on Sunday nights from 9:00 to 11:00 pm, and is also broadcast on the web on the internet at www.baifree.org. It is hosted by David Kenney. On this Sunday night's broadcast, David will feature the music of Charles Aznavour. He will also play four renditions of the Schwartz And Dietz standard "Dancing In The Dark" throughout the show. Judy Garland historian, Scott Schechter is scheduled to drop by the studio during the first hour. He'll talk about the new 24-karat-gold edition of "Judy At Carnegie Hall," released through DCC Compact Classic.

Willis Moore is winding up his CD-release tour. I missed his show at THE FIREBIRD CAFE (363 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-586-0244) last Sunday because it was at the same time as the MAC AWARDS show, but I hear that there were quite a few folks who did take the opportunity to see his show. Willis will be back at THE PLUSH ROOM (940 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA - 415-885-2800) this Sunday, April 16 and next Sunday, April 23 at 7:00 pm.

I will have to miss another great show this Sunday night, also at THE FIREBIRD CAFE (363 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-586-0244), since I will be in Los Angeles. BISTRO Award-winning vocalist Anne Tofflemire will celebrate the release of her new CD, "Let's Face the Music: The Songs of Irving Berlin," Sunday, April 16 at 7 pm. Anne got rave reviews for her Irving Berlin show when she did it at EIGHTY EIGHT'S, and John Hoglund of Back Stage has compared her to a "young Barbara Cook." Anne actually began her cabaret career in San Francisco in the hit production of "Side by Side by Sondheim" and for five years, she was a featured soloist with Sammy Cahn in his show, "Words and Music," which played San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago and London.

Did you miss Lina Koutrakos at BOTTOM LINE (15 West 4th Street, NYC - 212-228-6300)? Well, on Wednesday, April 26th, Lina and her band will join ESMERELDA (another great band at SHINE (285 West Broadway, NYC - 212-941-0900). Doors are at 9:00 pm and she will go on back to back for a 40 minute set. No reservations are necessary, and there is just an $8.00 cover. By the way, it is back up singer, Mark Harmon's last concert with Lina and crew. He is moving to Ft. Lauderdale shortly after this gig.

The Theatre Lab announces "Making It in Musicals and Cabaret," a day-long workshop for musical theatre and cabaret performers to be held on Sunday, April 16th. It's a full day of talks and master classes with some of the hottest musical and cabaret performers and directors from both Washington and New York. Enrollment is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. The workshop will be held from 10:00 - 5:00 on April 16 at Catholic University's Benjamin T. Rome School of Music. It's only $60 to attend, $125 to perform and receive coaching. Lunch is included. Call 202-588-8113 for more information.

Also in DC, check out DIVA'S ABOVE ALL, a four hour non-stop cabaret concert will take place as part of the celebrations surrounding the MILLENNIUM MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR EQUALITY on April 29th at 10:00 pm. Performers scheduled for the event include Julie Budd, Sally Kellerman, Roselyn Kind, Sweet Baby J'Ai and Sam Harris. Advanced tickets are $69.00. The performance takes place at the International Trade Center at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC - 800-792-5929)

I received this e-mail on Monday from James Beaman, newly elected MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs) Board Member at Large, and performer extraordinaire who is currently performing on Sunday nights at 9:00 pm at THE FIREBIRD CAFE (363 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-586-0244) with his new show,

>>>>>

Dear Stu:

So great to see you last night at the MAC Awards. BRAVO Richard Skipper! I am so happy for him, truly, and what a great testament to his talent and drive that he was unable to attend the MACs because he was performing in San Francisco! I always find it absurd and wonderfully validating to see my name linked with Richard's, with Tommy Femia's, and Steven Brinberg's. We are all friends and we all have such respect for each other's work --- competition, SCHMOMPETITION.

Glad to have been nominated, and even gladder to be elected MAC's new Board Member at Large. As readers of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE know, I am a very vocal person with many passionate opinions, and I know that there are many more like me in the MAC membership. I got several earfuls last night after the MAC Awards!!! I hope that I will be a useful advocate to the membership and that members will have the courage to speak up for what they want and what they believe in and dream of for our art form. I hope also that the Board will learn to communicate better with the membership and let everyone know who they are, what they stand for, and what they are doing for us.

There's a lot of good happening; but I believe MAC can be so much more. Certainly much more than an awards show, as marvelous as it was. Julie Wilson inspired me so very much last night --- it isn't about trophies, folks. It's about love, about passion, about giving and not receiving, and it is about having FUN! So many of the cabaret artists who seek validation from the MAC Awards don't realize how they are being continually validated --- by other artists. Artists who take a genuine interest in other people's work, who see other people's success as success for all, and who can be seen night after night applauding for their friends, their idols and inspirations from the back of any cabaret room in the city.

Awards are nice, but what do we do the other 364 days in the year??? What does MAC do? As Member at Large, my first order of business is to find out and let you all know. And encourage you to get involved and make of MAC what you want it to be --- an organization that helps you and your industry to grow and succeed.

Someone came up to me last night after the Awards and said, "Congratulations. I voted for you. You better do good." And I replied, "That's up to you." And I mean it folks. No one person can do all the work to improve or fix or change what ails MAC or any other organization. Especially a person like me, whose number one priority is a career as a performer, pushing myself and those I work with to do better and better work and to achieve success. I will work hard to try and help MAC be what it truly should be --- a support system for those of you who are members, to make sure you can do your best. But don't sit back on your haunches complaining and then refuse to make a move, take a risk, express yourself. I will not always agree with you, nor with members on the board, but I will try to communicate all sides in the name of free and open debate that constructs, rather than destructs. Negativity is a waste of time, guys.

Take your cue from the amazing performers we watched last night --- Bobby Short, Barry Manilow, Chita Rivera, Karen Mason ... artists who still do what they do with love, with passion, with true graciousness and gratitude. Take the high road, my friends. And wouldn't it be nice to see more of our favorite and less 'famous' friends on stage right beside those great names at next year's MAC Awards?? How validating that would be for those of us coming up from behind! Look out, the opinions are starting already...

You asked me to write a few words about my recent engagement in New Orleans and I will try to express what a wondrous and amazing experience it was. LE CHAT NOIR (715 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA - 504-581-5812) is New Orleans' only cabaret room and it is one of the finest performance spaces I have ever worked in. It is an expansive yet intimate room with state of the art technical capability (thanks to Matt Berman and Jaye Lee), a great stage, amazing acoustics, and the most generous, enthusiastic and loving group of hard working staff members you will find anywhere. This is all a testament to the taste, refinement, passion, graciousness and vision of proprietor Barbara Motley who created this jewel of a cabaret. The community in New Orleans embraces it with open arms, and what a welcoming and wonderful town it is.

We planned three performances of "Black Market Marlene" and before our second we were sold out and had to add an extra show!! I was fortunate to have with me my musical director David Maiocco and my musicians Tony Lauria and Mary Rodriguez. We all are in awe of our experience there. Look for much more about Barbara and LE CHAT NOIR --- they make you believe all over again in the magic of cabaret.

Thanks for the space, Stu, and best wishes.

Jamie Beaman

>>>>>>>

As usual, James has sent and interesting and most informative letter. I am hoping that we can work out a way that he can make regular, scheduled reports via CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.

James mentioned Richard Skipper who won the MAC AWARD for Impersonation and Characterization, and was in San Francisco working on MAC AWARD night with his show "An Evening With Carol Channing" at THE PLUSH ROOM (940 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA - 415-885-2800). Apparently Richard's West Coast debut was a big success. He had wonderful advance press including a TV interview and several personal appearances around town and played to full houses for every performance! It just so happened that the annual BAY AREA THEATRE CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS show was on April 10th and "Carol Channing" appeared as a surprise guest at the close of the awards show. Richard apparently got word midway through his show at The Plush Room that he had won the MAC AWARD and was able to share his great joy with the audience!

And speaking of THE PLUSH ROOM (940 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA - 415-885-2800), Jazz Singer Faith Winthrop will start a two week engagement there, April 25th through May 7th - nightly Wednesday through Saturdays at 8:00 pm and on Sundays at 5:00 pm. She is one of the most respected jazz vocalists and vocal coaches on the scene today, marks her long-awaited return with a new autobiographical show titled ITS ALL ABOUT FAITH. The show features a blend of accomplished vocal stylings with tales of her beginnings in the business as the house singer at the famous hungry i. The show will offer priceless images in slides & archival black & white photos along with a cornucopia of show business ephemera, costumes & curios.

There's a wonderful one-evening cabaret program coming up (a benefit) that I urge you to see at DANNY'S SKYLIGHT ROOM (342 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-265-8133) as part of its "CRITIC'S CHOICE" CABARET SERIES. Hosted by Peter Haas (contributing writer to CABARET SCENES MAGAZINE), proceeds will benefit the LAURI STRAUSS LEUKEMIA FOUNDATION, funding research to conquer leukemia. Performing will be Kane Alexander, Christine Andreas, Scott Coulter, Heather Gilchriest, Nancy McCall, and a few surprise guests. A contribution of $30 and a $10 food/drink minimum.

Don't forget that on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday, April 17th through 20th at 9:00 pm, Anne Kerry Ford previews the music she will perform with The West German Radio Orchestra in Dusseldorf for concerts celebrating Kurt Weill's centenary at THE GARDENIA (7066 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA - 323-467-7444) . Her husband, acclaimed guitarist/Grammy nominee Robben Ford will sit in. Victor and I plan to be at the Monday night show while we are visiting "the home office" of www.cabaret.org.

And on Sunday, April 16th at 7:00 pm, "Just Me and My Friends' Cabaret" with host Sandi Durell is at THE GARRICK BISTRO (242 West 49th Street, NYC - 212-489-8600) featuring guests from Cabaret to Broadway. The lineup includes James Beeks (WILD PARTY - MTC), Paige Price (SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER), Dana Miller (LES MIZ), Michael Garin, Lynn DiMenna, Tessa Bell, David Gurland, Georga Osborne and 14-year old Melanie Kaiser. Cover charge is $10 - with NO minimum! Musical directors are Ken Gould and Seth Weinstein.

On Wednesday Victor and I were at THE FIREBIRD CAFE (363 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-586-0244) for the opening night of Steve Ross' new show, "Love & Laughter, Part One." This delightful saloon singer does songs both old and new, with never a dull moment. He will be performing on Wednesdays & Thursdays at 9:00 pm, Fridays & Saturdays, 9:00 & 11:00 pm through June 3rd. I urge you to catch this one. It is glorious!

Here's some advance word on a benefit for the Children's Aid Society Chorus on Wednesday, May 3rd from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm at NO MOORE (234 West Broadway, NYC - 212-925-2595). Admission is $35.00 to $50.00. It will be an evening of guitar and vocals including the vocal ensemble Uncommon Chord, Felicia Collins 360 (Lead Guitarist from the David Letterman Show) and Mary Foster Conklin (with Tony Romano on guitar and Martin Wind on bass). It's for a good cause, and should be a fine evening of music.

Well, I hit the 15000 character limit - I try to keep these CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE issues around that size to make them easier to send. But there are more items to tell you about, so if I have time, I will try to dash off another issue tomorrow morning before I head for the airport.

If you don't hear from me tomorrow, watch for a fact-filled, news-filled issue as soon as I recover on my return from LA. And I look forward to seeing and chatting with as many friends of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE as possible on Sunday night at THE CINEGRILL (7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA - 323-466-7000). Don't forget to confirm if you plan to attend - we wouldn't want to run out of cheesecake!

And that is just about the way it was.

Hugs & Stuff,

STU

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