Mark Janas is performing in "Broadway and the Bard" with Len Cariou and couldn't be here tonight, so our amazing Guest Host/Pianist was Multiple MAC & Bistro Award Winner Steven Ray Watkins! As an actor he has appeared in THE LAST SESSION, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and in the national tours of BIG, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and SHOWBOAT. As a musician, he has worked as a session player, a musical/vocal director in the theater and arranger/musical director in cabaret with such names as Patti LuPone, John Turturro, Karen Mason, Amanda McBroom, Lennie Watts and Sharon McNight, among many others.
 |
| Guest Host Steven Ray Watkins |
Our Co-Host was the charming and powerful, Amorika Amoroso - winner of the Mama’s Next Big Talent Competition held last summer. Amorika, taking no prisoners, shot our evening out of a cannon with the bluesy and gutsy, "Dr. Feelgood." For her mid-show set, she started with a roof raising, "Love For Sale." She followed that with a superbly acted version of "Foolin' Myself." The third song of the set was a gentle and yearning rendition, "Ask Me Now." To close the evening, Amorika gave us a deliciously bitter, "Mean To Me."
Amorika will be appearing in The International Cabaret Festival at Don’t Tell Mama – 343 West 46th St, NYC 10036 – February 19th at 7pm. For more information: www.donttellmamanyc.com
 |
| Co-Host Amorika Amoroso |
Our Salon Spotlight featured 2-Time MAC & Julie Wilson Award Winner Marissa Mulder & Multiple MAC Award Winner Bill Zeffiro! Marissa & Bill will be presenting a preview from their upcoming show SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES – MUSIC FROM THE FILMS OF WOODY ALLEN.
To kick off their 3 song set, Bill and Marissa started with a hilarious "Two of a Kind" with some delightful ad-libbing (aka unexpected patter!) Bill then invited Marissa to sit next to him at the piano while she sang, "I Won't Last A Day Without You." They completed their set with a gorgeous medley of Gershwin songs including, "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Do, Do Do," "Rhapsody in Blue," and many others, in honor of their upcoming show celebrating songs from Woody Allen's movies.
 |
| Salon Spotlight Bill Zeffiro and Marissa Mulder |
Bill and Marissa can be seen at La Rivista - 313 West 46th St, NYC 10036 - on most Wednesday nights from 8pm-12am and will be returning to The Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 West 42nd St, NYC 10036 – in UNCONVENTIONAL March 1st at 7pm. For more information about Bill and Marissa's upcoming shows, visit www.marissamulder.com / www.billzeffiro.com.
Quick Wrap: Steven's Corner
When Steven started this segment, he joked that his Corner's simply give him a chance to sing the songs of his favorite songwriters and tonight would be no exception! He began with a lovely and nostalgic "A Sing For You" by Leon Russell. He followed that with, "All Is Fair" by the inimitable, Nik Kershaw. He finished Steven's Corner with a touching version of Peter Allen's, "Love Don't Need A Reason."
Roster of performers for the evening (in order of appearance):
Click link to visit the performer’s website or other links, when available.
All piano accompaniment by Steven Ray Watkins unless otherwise noted.
Amorika Amoroso
Bill Dyszel
Marie Sassi
Marnie Klar (with Steven Ray Watkins on vocals)
Mary Sue Daniels
Carol Sue Gershman
Richard Eisenberg (also on piano)
Nicholas Levin (also on piano)
Angela Leone (with Bill Zeffiro on piano)
Myriam Phiro (with Bill Zeffiro on piano)
Rob Davis
David Ballard
Donna Kendall Stearns (on piano, with Erin Cronican on vocals)
Erin Cronican
Adam Shapiro
Marissa Mulder and Bill Zeffiro (on piano and vocals)
Tanya Moberly
Sue Matsuki
Lynda Rodolitz
Ira Lee Collings
Barb Malley
Sally Darling
Zach Wobensmith
Anna Marie Sell
Steve Bustamante
Mark Cummings
Ellen Weiss (also on piano)
Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Steven Ray Watkins, Bill Zeffiro, Donna Kendall Stearns, Richie Eisenberg, Nicholas Levin, and Ellen Weiss.
And thank you to Jared Gilmore 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:
Monday, February 1, 2016 (7pm): Sue Matsuki is guest hosting at Sarah Rice's new open mic at The Harp, 3rd Ave at 46th St, NYC.
Thursday, February 4, 2016: Rob Davis encores his show, "Frank and Billie, and Me" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Thursday, February 4, 2016 (7pm & 9:30pm): Marissa Mulder is debuting a brand new show, "Marilyn and Me", at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd Street, NYC.
Monday, February 8, 2016 (8pm): David Ballard is singing with the NYC Gay Men's Chorus in Alan Cumming's show "Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs with Friends" at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, NYC.
Saturday, February 13, 2016 (9pm): Myriam Phiro is appearing in "Meet Me in Paris" at Gemini & Scorpio Loft Douglass St, Brooklyn.
Sunday, February 14, 2016 (7pm): Adam Shapiro is appearing in "It's Only Love ~ An Evening of Broadway Love Songs" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd Street, NYC.
Friday, February 19, 2016 (7pm): Amorika Amoroso will be appearing in The International Cabaret Festival at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 West 46th St, NYC.
Saturday, February 27, 2016 (5pm): Rob Davis hosts "Cabaret Beats Cancer: Songs about Courage, Healing and Love" - a benefit cabaret to aid Erin Cronican with breast cancer treatments - featuring singers Adam Shapiro, Tanya Moberly, Zach Wobensmith, Marissa Mulder Rob Davis, Erin Cronican (and 7 cabaret favorites!) at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Thursday, March 3, 2016 (9:30): Myriam Phiro is appearing in "Piaf@100" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd Street, NYC.
Sunday, March 6, 2016 (4pm): Bill Dyszel is appearing in "The Internet Ate My Brain" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, March 25, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly is appearing in "Ricky Ritzel's Broadway" Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, April 17, 2016: Sally Darling is bringing her brand new show, "Totally Noel" (with music director, Matthew Martin Ward) to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, April 22, 2016: Sally Darling is bringing her brand new show, "Totally Noel" (with music director, Matthew Martin Ward) to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016 (7:00pm): Adam Shapiro is hosting "Gone Too Soon: A Tribute to Howard Ashman" with guest singer Erin Cronican at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd Street, NYC.
We're off for the next two weeks, but we'll be back February 21 with the theme: "Next – Letting Go Of The Past & Embracing The Future." We're proud to welcome Guest Host Rick Jensen with Co-Host Scott Evan Davis.
Hope to see you there!
Erin Cronican
Blogette for the Salon
(Updates? Changes? Email me!)
No comments:
Post a Comment