The Salon Wrap-Up for August 23, 2015 - "10th Anniversary Celebration"

August 23, 2015
Theme: “The Salon Celebrates 10 Years”

Happy Anniversary, Salon family! What a pleasure it has been for me to see you all grow and flourish and share over so many years. I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of your family since 2008, and I know I speak for all of us when I wholeheartedly thank Mark and Tanya for the pleasure of being with you each week. 

The Salon opened with founder, Mark Janas, welcoming a sold-out crowd. He started by talking about the legacy of The Salon. 10 years ago, Mark was music directing “The Talk of the Town” - an Off Broadway musical running at the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel. One day after a show the cast gathered in the lobby around the piano and sang threw a few ditties. Mark figured that at a certain point the hotel would kick them out and that would be that. But they started to notice that hotel guests were ordering drinks and gathering to listen to the music. The Algonquin saw this as an opportunity, and they pounced on it. And thus, The Salon came to perform every Sunday night in the hotel lobby. After 3 years they also added a summer series on Wednesdays inside the famed Oak Room itself. Shortly thereafter we moved to our brand new private venue, Etc Etc where we have been for the last 6 years!

Mark then invited up his partner in crime, Tanya Moberly, to go over how things work at The Salon. Tanya shared her legacy with The Salon and how much it has meant to her to serve the community (and in such an impactful way, I might add!) She then announced that our Co-Hosts were 12 of our Etceterettes, the volunteers who help Tanya and Mark keep things moving week to week: Erin Cronican, Kathleen France, Marnie Klar, Janice Hall, Jaye Maynard, Marissa Mulder, Candice Oden, Sarah Rice, Sierra Rein, Adam B. Shapiro, Maureen Taylor, and Zach Wobensmith.

Your Founder, Producer and Co-Hosts, the Etceterettes!

Here’s a run-down of the amazing songs performed but our Co-Hosts over the evening:

Adam B. Shapiro gave us a world premiere song, which he wrote especially for our Salon anniversary! 
Marnie Klar sang a sassy and charming, “Naughty Baby.”
Sarah Rice sang a stunning Offenbach song from a trunk song show, Christopher Columbus. (In German AND English, no less!)
Sierra Rein gave us an inspiring and poignant, “The Impossible Dream.”
Janice Hall sang an exquisite “I’d Rather Be Doing That” which was written for her by Matthew Martin Ward and Peter Napolitano. 
Erin Cronican (me!) sang “It’s Amazing the Things That Float” from The Flood. 
Candice Oden sang a personal request of Mark Janas’, an unusual and delicately sung arrangement of “One The Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady. 
Zach Wobensmith charmed us with his strong baritone and wit on “War and Peace.”
Marissa Mulder enchanted us with her gentle rendition of “River” by Joni Mitchell.
Kathleen France brought in the firs ever song she sang at Salon, a powerful and earnest, “Cry Me A River.”
Jaye Maynard (one of the original Salon-ers from “The Talk of the Town”) sang us an fun and lilting “Paula’s Flying Academy.”
Maureen Taylor gave us a haunting and beautiful, “I Know You’re There.”

Quick Wrap: Classical Corner

Mark Janas, illustrious founder of The Salon, gave us a brief intro about this week’s classical corner, starting with a few jokes about his times as a student, and then said (and I’m paraphrasing because I don’t type perfectly!) “As a musician it’s important that you can ‘fill time’, and I had been asked to make sure I have a 15 minute piece ready to go at any time. When I started to think of the pieces I knew, this piece I’m playing tonight was about 15 minutes, and so I’ve been playing it for the last 30 years.” 

He then played his “pièce de résistance” - and what I think of as quintessential Classical Corner - Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” 

The audience leapt to its feet in a rousing ovation, the the room was bursting with joy and love - a perfect way to head into our 15 minute intermission, where guests greeted one another warmly and readied themselves for an even more amazing second half!

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.

Adam B. Shapiro
Matthew Martin Ward (on voice & piano, with Adam Shapiro on vocals)
Annie Lebeaux (on voice and piano)
Marnie Klar
Bob Diamond
Gretchen Reinhagen
Sarah Rice (with Sierra Rein on backing vocals)
Richie Eisenberg 
Joe Regan Jr
Sierra Rein 
Carol Sue
Bill Dyszel
Janice Hall (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Bobbie Horowitz
Elaine St George
Gabrielle Stravelli
Erin Cronican 
Candice Oden
Tanya Moberly
Zach Wobensmith
Ira Lee Collings
Barb Malley
Marissa Mulder
Danika Dorais
Brian Dorais
Kathleen France
Steve Bustamante (on guitar)
Charlotte Patton
Jaye Maynard
John Trujillo
Maureen Taylor
Mary Lahti
Michael Colby

Special thanks to tonight’s pianists and guitarists: Mark Janas, Matthew Martin Ward, Annie Lebeaux, and Steve Bustamante.

And thank you to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound, our amazing waitstaff who always handle the demands of a full house with grace and style, and Steve Bustamante who is providing video footage for people interested in that service!

Upcoming shows:

Ongoing: Matthew Martin Ward plays on Mondays at the West End Lounge, 955 West End Ave, NYC.

Ongoing: Candice Oden sings every Tuesday night (8:30-11pm) with Bill Zeffiro on keys at Millesime, 92 Madison Ave, NYC

Ongoing: Bill Zeffiro can be seen every Wednesday (8-12) at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.

Ongoing: Mama's Next Big Act every Tuesday night until August 25th at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Monday, August 24, 2015 - Bobbie Horowitz's is hosting the “It's Only A Number" series at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.

Saturday, August 29, 2015 (10am) - Sierra Rein is appearing in a free 20 minute presentation of “What Friends Are For” at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, NYC.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015 (6:30pm) - Sarah Rice and Tanya Moberly are appearing in Concerts for City Greens at Tudor City. 

Saturday, September 12, 2015 (4pm) - Sarah Rice and Janice Hall are appearing in a tribute to Madeline Kahn at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015 (7pm) - Bill Dyszel is appearing in “The Internet Ate My Brain” at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, September 18, 2015 - Bob Diamond is appearing in a Cabaret Cares benefit. 

Saturday, September 19, 2015 - Gretchen Reinhagen hosts a 50s, 60s & 70s concert (also starring Bob Diamond) at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.

Thursday, September 24, 2015 (7:00pm) - "Somewhere in this Song", The music and lyrics of Nicholas Levin at The Metropolitan Room 34 West 22nd St., NYC. Starring Mick Bleyer, Kristin Maloney, Marissa Mulder, and Adam B. Shapiro. Musical Director: Matthew Martin Ward Director: Peter Napolitano.

Sunday, September 27, 2015 (4pm) - Sarah Rice is appearing in “Sondheim Unplugged” at 54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.

Sunday, September 27, 2015 (4:30pm) - Barb Malley is appearing in "Eat! Drink! Be Merry!" (with Bob Diamond as guest vocalist) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015 (7pm) - Gabrielle Stravelli is appearing in her debut show at 54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.

October 2015 - Annie Lebeaux is music directing “Heather Smiley for President” for Theater for the New City, NYC.

October 2015 - Zach Wobensmith is appearing as The Father in “Billy Elliot” at the Media Theatre in PA. 

Tuesday, October 6, 2015 (9:30pm) - Gabrielle Stravelli is appearing in her debut show at 54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015 (9:30pm) - Gabrielle Stravelli is appearing in her debut show at 54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015 (9:30pm) - Gabrielle Stravelli is appearing in her debut show at 54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015 (7pm) - John Trujillo is appearing in “The Ties ThatBind” at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, October 23, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Mark Janas) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, November 6, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Sean Harkness) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Wednesday, November 11, 2105 - Marnie Klar's new show at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, November 13, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Ritt Henn) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015 - Marnie Klar's new show at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC. 

Friday, November 20, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Steven Ray Watkins) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Sunday, November 22, 2015 (7pm) - John Trujillo is appearing in “The Ties ThatBind” at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015 - Marnie Klar's new show at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Next Week’s Salon

Next week we’re honoring Leonard Bernstein’s birthday with the theme: “The Many Sides of Lennie (meaning Bernstein, but any Lennie will do)” with your co-host, Julie Reyburn.  We’ll see you then!

Erin Cronican
Blogette for the Salon

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