Theme: “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” (Halloween Edition)
They’re creepy and they’re kooky,
Mysterious and spooky,
They’re all together ooky,
The Sa-lon Family.
And with two snaps this year's Halloween Salon was underway! And what a festive evening is was. Our Co-Hosts were MAC & Bistro Award Winner Janice Hall and MAC & Broadway World Award Winner Adam B. Shapiro! Longtime family of The Salon (and roommates to boot!), these two have cemented themselves as the only appropriate souls to host the Halloween Salon. Because what creativity, fun and heart they bring to the evening - they give all other hosts a run for their money. (I should know - I have to follow them as co-host next week!)
Adam and Janice had a fantastic 5 song-set filled with costume changes (sometimes within the same tune!) Here's a breakdown of what they gave us, with a few photos:
Adam B Shapiro as Gypsy Rose Lee, stripping into the Bride of Frankenstein, a Deviless, and Corseted Skeleton - "Let Me Entertain You" from Gypsy
Janice Hall as A Gypsy Fortuneteller - "The Psychic/Card Aria" from Carmen.
Adam Shapiro as Frankenstein - "I'm Alive" from Next To Normal
Janice Hall as Lily Munster and Adam B Shapiro as Herman Munster - "A Little Priest" from Sweeney Todd
Janice Hall as Cruella DeVille (with some assistance from Adam as Ariel, complete in Mermaid attire!)- "Poor Unfortunate Souls" from The Little Mermaid
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| Adam B Shapiro, fabulous in a corset! |
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| Janice and Adam, singing "A Little Priest" |
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| Janice Hall as the Gyspy Fortune Teller |
Adam is currently appearing in DEATH OF A SALESMAN (in Yiddish!) at The New Yiddish Rep, Castillo Theatre, 543 W 42nd St, NYC and Janice is directing and teaching while awaiting confirmation of her next gig.
Special thanks to David Gillam for his amazingly designed Gypsy show curtain (and Kevin McMullan for loaning it to us!)
Quick Wrap: Classical Corner
Mark started this week's Classical Corner by playing two small portions of "Funerailles" by Franz Liszt, who would have been 204 years old last Friday. Mark said that Liszt is perfect for this week's theme as well. First of all, he was a Gypsy (being from Hungary, of course, the land of the Gypsies.) As far as tramps, Mark says that Liszt added so many fast and fiery elements to the pieces that he almost swamped them much like tramps overtake the community with their lust and games. And as far as Thieves - Mark shrugged and said Liszt stole from others quite a lot (as all musicians do.) Liszt became a great teacher in Europe, and he was such a virtuoso that he could listen to a students' composition just once, and be able to play back parts of it perfectly by ear to give his notes and suggestions.
Mark then started talking about a well known piece called, "Danse Macabre", written by Camile Saint-Saens, which takes place on All Souls Eve. The song starts with the stroke of midnight, and you can practically hear the ghouls and goblins coming out of their graves to dance through the evening, and then quietly get back into the ground. Mark plugged his iPhone into the speaker system and played us an orchestration of the beginning of the song, so we could hear how all of the instruments come together to make the eerie music. He then talked about how the piece was transcribed for the piano by Liszt (see what we mean about thieving?) which incorporates some fascinating differences - "such high drama!" as Mark said. He then shared a clip of a pianist playing the beginning Liszt's version on piano so we could hear what Liszt's imagination added to the work.
He then put away the technology and got back behind the keys. He told us that he has only ever really played "Danse Macabre" by ear (!), which means he's always had his own flair for the song as he's played it. But these days, he said, you can go to a classical site and pick up and print other versions of the score. So he brought in a transcription by H Cramer and played it for us while adding but his own color and drama. It was bone-chilling!
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
Robin Kradles
Anna Marie Sell
Kevin McMullan
Derek Williams
Carly Ozard
Richie Eisenberg
Annette Hollander (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Annie LeBeaux
Dawn Derow
Sierra Rein
Rob Davis
David Ballard
Erin Cronican
Kathleen France
Tanya Moberly (with Adam B Shapiro on supporting vocals)
Doreen Barnard
Ira Lee Collings
Eve Eaton
Wendy Anne Russell
Steve Bustamante (on vocals and guitar)
Matthew Martin Ward on voice and piano
Special thanks to tonight’s pianists and guitarists: Mark Janas, Matthew Martin Ward and Steve Bustamante.
And thank you to Gil 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: Bill Zeffiro can be seen every Tuesday night (8:30-11pm) at Millesime, 92 Madison, NYC with Candice Oden and every Wednesday night (8-12) at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.
Saturday, October 31, 2015 (9:30pm) - Sierra Rein (as part of Marquee Five) guest performs in "Into Sweeney Todd's Woods" at Feinstein's/54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.
Thursday, November 5, 2015 - Eve Eaton is appearing in "The Arrangement Experience" 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.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015 - Rob Davis in “Rob’s Big Birthday Celebration” at The Metropolitan Room – 34 West 22nd St, NYC.
Friday, November 13, 2015 (3pm & 8pm) - David Ballard is singing with the NY Gay Men’s Chrous at their Holiday concert at Town Hall, 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.
Monday, November 16, 2015 (7pm & 9:30pm) - Rob Davis in “Rob’s Big Birthday Celebration” at Salon Presents, Etc Etc Restaurant, 352 W 44th St, 2nd Floor.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015 - Sally Darling is appearing in “Perspectives” (music directed by Matthew Martin Ward) 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.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015 - Dawn Derow is having a birthday show (featuring Kathleen France at Carroll Place, 157 Bleecker St, NYC.
Sunday, November 29, 2015 - Miranda Music will have a Christmas CD Release party (featuring Kathleen France) at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St, NYC.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Adam Shapiro opens in "Di Golden Kale" for the National Yiddish Theater.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Eve Eaton is bringing back "Back To Billy" (with Wendy Russell on vocals) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Thursday, December 3, 2015 - Eve Eaton and Wendy Russell are appearing in "It Was A Very Good Year" at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
December 3-January 3, 2015 - Anna Marie Sell is appearing in Peccadillo Theatre Company's Christmas Show (Thornton Wilder One-Acts), at the Theatre at St. Clement's, 423 W. 46th Street, NYC.
December 4-20 2015 - Erin Cronican is appearing in “Gidion’s Knot” with The Seeing Place Theater, 309 East 26th St, NYC.
Sunday, December 6, 2015 (1pm) - Dawn Derow is bringing back her show, "Legit" (music directed by Mark Janas) to the Laurie Beechman, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Monday, December 7, 2015 - Wendy Russell is appearing in "Rock Arrange" at Urban Stages, 259 W 30th St, NYC
Tuesday, December 8, 2015 - Robin Kradles has a Diva Selections new show, “Holidays Cheers With A Twist” (co-starring Wendy Russell) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015 - Dawn Derow is appearing in Winter Rhythms at Urban Stages, 259 W 30th St, NYC
Sunday, December 13, 2015 (3pm & 8pm) - David Ballard is singing with the NY Gay Men’s Chrous at their Holiday concert at Town Hall, NYC.
Sunday, December 13, 2015 - Kathleen France is appearing in the Disney/Christmas show at Winter Rhythms at Urban Stages, 259 W 30th St, NYC
Sunday, December 13, 2015 (5pm) - Sally Darling is appearing in “Perspectives” (music directed by Matthew Martin Ward) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Saturday, December 19, 2015 - Sally Darling is appearing in “Perspectives” (music directed by Matthew Martin Ward) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Next Week’s Salon
Next week we're honoring friendships - however big or small - with your Bestie Co-hosts, Erin Cronican (me!) and Candice Oden. We’ll see you then!
Erin Cronican
Blogette for the Salon
(Updates? Changes? Email me)
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