November 2, 2014
Theme: “Love Takes Many Forms”
To open the evening, Founder/Host Mark Janas burst to the stage and said, “Love Takes Many Forms? More like TALENT takes many forms!” What better way to start this kind of evening with a little bit of love?! Mark then introduced our amazing Producer, Tanya Moberly, who lovingly gave us the structure and agenda for the evening. She then turned it back over to Mark, who officially ushered in The Salon by introducing our special guest performers!
Our Co-Host was the Dottie Burman Award Winning Singer/Songwriter Amy Engelhardt! Amy will be appearing in TUNE IN TIME: New York City’s Favorite Musical Theatre Game Show at The York Theatre – 619 Lexington Avenue, NYC 10022 – on October 28th & November 11th – both shows at 7:30 - and also in THE PEZ SHOW at The Actors Comedy Studio in Los Angeles on November 21st at 8:00. For more information: amy-engelhardt.blogspot.com
For the first song of the evening, Amy sang Jill Sobule’s “I’m So Happy” (which she infused with a few lyrics about The Salon!) For her mid-show set, Amy gave us 3 original tunes (one of which she accompanied herself on piano!): the hilarious “How Did This Thing...?, as well as “Like Me” and “Ounce of Hope.” She closed tonight’s show with a powerful “Boston Beguine” (hello, high B flat!) by Sheldon Harnick.
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| Co-Host Amy Engelhardt |
Our Salon Spotlight featured Ira Lee Collings (with Woody Regan on piano.) Ira just finished his critically acclaimed show OFF THE CHARTS at Don’t Tell Mama. For more information, look for Ira on Facebook.
Ira started his set with new lyrics for “I Will Survive.” He then took us on a charming journey with “He Touched Me’ (written by Milton Schafer and Ira Levin for the musical Drat The Cat!) He finished his set by telling a story about growing up gay and his relationship with the church (hint: he was Baptist.) He finished with a very moving, “No Matter What Happens.”
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| Salon Spotlight Ira lee Collings |
Quick Wrap: Classical Corner
For today’s Classical Corner, Mark Janas, started with some strains from Bach’s “Minuet in G Major” (also known as “The Lover’s Concerto.”) As we know, there are so many opera and classical songs about love, so Mark started to talk a little but about the similarities between love pieces. One difference. he said, can be in the intervals between notes. He played a little bit of Tchaikovsky, “The Love Story”, and the “Romeo & Juliet” movie theme to demonstrate the Minor 6th interval. But just as he got started down that path, Mark said, “But then I thought about it, and music theory is kind of boring, right?” Ha!
After the laughter died down, Mark walked us through his thought process of what to talk about today (related to the theme) and he said, “You know what would be fun? I want to know what YOU think is the epitome of love in classical music.” And whaddya know, our Etceterrette Adam Shapiro had gone around earlier in the night to do a little poll of our patrons. Puccini was brought up as a favorite, so Mark played a bit from La Boheme (where Rodolfo sings to Mimi) - “Que Gelida Manina.”
Love is all over opera, of course, so when Mark got the suggestion of Carmen, he invited up Minda Larsen (on the fly!) to come up to sing a snippet “Habanera” (complete with audience help to sing the chorus, “Prends Garde A Toi!”
Next, he decided to play “E Flat Nocturne” by Chopin, calling it “something soaring and simple.” Something to note: If THAT is simple, I would marvel at what we would call complex! Maybe it’s SIMPLY that he makes it look so easy... :)
Love in music has a sense of mood and flowing melody. So naturally, Mark reached out to one of his fellow classical cohorts who is fluent in mood & melody, Matthew Martin Ward, who came up to play “Wid Mung” a piece by Schumann (which he said had been transcribed for the piano by Liszt!)
With that, Mark released the group to our 15 minute intermission, where the audience got to bask in the love. :)
Roster of singers for the evening (in order of appearance):
Click link to visit the performer’s website, when available.
All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.
Minda Larsen
Sheree Sano (on piano as well!)
Mary Sue Daniels (with Woody Regan)
Stella Pulo (with Woody Regan)
Woody Regan
David Ballard
Ira Lee Collings
Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward)
Matthew Martin Ward
Baano (with Woody Regan)
Ronni Faust
Leni Tabb
Ann Dawson
Richie EisenbergSusan Kasluga
Special thanks to tonight’s pianists and musicians: Mark Janas, Matthew Martin Ward, Sheree Sano, Woody Regan, and Amy Engelhardt.
And thank you to Gil Alexandre on lights and sound, our videographer Steve Bustamante, our incredible Etceterrette Adam Shapiro (and me!), and our amazing waitstaff, David Ballard (and team!)
Upcoming shows:
Ongoing: Sheree Sano is the regular happy hour pianist at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Ongoing: Matthew Martin Ward plays on Mondays at the West End Lounge, 955 W End Ave, NYC.
Saturday, November 8, 2014 (4pm) - Sue Hodgdon is bringing back her show, “I Could Go On Singing: The Songs of Judy Garland”, (directed by Tanya Moberly) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, November 9, 2014 (4pm) - Adam Shapiro is appearing in “Nothing Normal”, (with Erin Cronican on vocals), at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014 (7:30pm) - Amy Engelhardt will be appearing in TUNE IN TIME: New York City’s Favorite Musical Theatre Game Show at The York Theatre – 619 Lexington Avenue, NYC.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014 (9:30pm) - Marnie Klar is bringing back her show, “Home”, (directed by Tanya Moberly) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Friday November 14, 2014 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly is appearing in Dana Lorge’s Variety Show at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Sunday, November 16, 2014 (7pm) - Minda Larsen is doing her Johnny Mercer show at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Thursday, November 20, 2014 (7pm) - Lynn Henderson is having her CD Release Party at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Friday, November 21, 2014 (8:00pm) - Amy Engelhardt will be appearing in “The Pez Show” at The Actors Comedy Studio in Los Angeles.
Sunday, November 23, 2014 (5pm) - Sally Darling is bringing her new show “Matters of the Heart” (with music director Matthew Martin Ward) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, November 30, 2014 (4pm) - Mary Sue Daniels and Woody Regan are performing in “Groovin’ on a Sunday Afternoon” at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Saturday, December 6, 2014 (5pm) - Sally Darling is bringing her new show “Matters of the Heart” (with music director Matthew Martin Ward) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014 (9:30pm) - David Ballard is appearing in a brand new show (name TBD - directed by Tanya Moberly) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 (7pm) - Adam Shapiro is appearing in “Nothing Normal”, (with Erin Cronican on vocals) as a part of the Winter Rhythms Festival at Urban Stages, 259 W 30th St, NYC.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 (9:30pm) - David Ballard is appearing in a brand new show (name TBD - directed by Tanya Moberly) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Thursday, December 11, 2014 (4pm) - Minda Larsen is doing her Johnny Mercer show at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Saturday, December 13, 2014 (3pm) - Adam Shapiro is producing and starring in “The Lovers, The Dreamers and Jim: The Music of Jim Henson,” with Special Guest Erin Cronican (and others), as a part of the Winter Rhythms Festival at Urban Stages, 259 W 30th St, NYC
Thursday, December 18, 2014 - Caroline Kearney is appearing in “Bernie’s ‘Sing Your Heart Out’ Showcase” at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Thursday, January 15, 2015 (7pm) - Sue Hodgdon is bringing back her show, “I Could Go On Singing: The Songs of Judy Garland”, (directed by Tanya Moberly) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Next Week’s Salon
Next week we’ll be back with the theme, “Happiness Is...” Our Co-Host will be Marnie Klar. Our Salon Spotlight will be Carolyn Montgomery-Forant. We’ll see you then!
Erin Cronican
Blogette for The Salon
(Updates? Changes? Email me.)
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