The Salon Wrap-Up for March 13, 2016 - "The Art of Compromise"

Mark Janas is out for one more week, and though we miss him dearly its a special delight to have such talented guest hosts filling in. How perfect, then, that this week's theme was "The Art of Compromise"? Compromise doesn't have to mean giving it - it means getting to have a little of everything! With that, tonight's co-host was MAC, Bistro & Dottie Burman Award Winner Brett Kristofferson! Brett is currently the Musical Director for The Wingspan Cabaret Troupe (the kids that perform at the MAC Awards every year). They will be appearing at The Riverside Theatre – 91 Claremont Ave, NYC 10027 – on March 19th at 8pm & March 20th at 2pm. For more information: http://wingspanarts.ticketleap.com/cabaret-troupe/

Guest Host: Brett Kristofferson

Our Co-Host was Jerry Phelps! Jerry was a Top Five Finalist in The Mama’s Next Big Act competition over the summer and just finished a run of his show CAN’T HAVE IT ALL at Don’t Tell Mama. For more information: www.jerryphelpsmusic.com.

Jerry kicked off the evening by inviting Angela Schultz to the stage to help him sing a gorgeous and delicate, "Can't Have It All." For his mid-show set, Jerry started with stunning tenor vocals on a rubato, dramatic arrangement of Whitney Houston's, "How Will I Know?" He then segued into some patter with a hilarious tinge of desperation that punctuated a R&B infused, "I'm Not Crying" (he swears he's not crying!) This song boasted Brett Kristofferson on backing vocals - after all, all great boy bands need those harmonies! He finished his mid-show set at the piano, playing & singing a lovely, "All I Ask." To close out the evening, Jerry and Angela sang an incredibly powerful and moving, "Chasing The Sun."

Co-Host Jerry Phelps

Our Salon Spotlight featured MAC, Bistro & Margaret Whiting Award Winner Celia Berk, with Alex Rybeck on piano! Celia will be at The Metropolitan Room – 34 West 22nd St, NYC 10010 – every Sunday in April with the release of her second album, MANHATTAN SERENADE. For more information:  www.GramercyNightingale.com/tix

For the first song of her set, Celia brought her signature smoky vocals to, "Manhattan Hometown." She followed that with Irving Berlin's 1931 timeless and pitter-pattery, "Manhattan Madness" (with help from Alex on vocals.) She finished her set with a luxurious and contemplative medley of, "The Romance of a Lifetime" with "The People That You Never Get To Love."

Salon Spotlight: Celia Berk

This evening was also host to a very special occasion - Producer Tanya Moberly's 50th birthday! Adam Shapiro make an amazing cake - here's a picture of this work of art, and the reaction to it!

Birthday cake baked by Adam Shapiro!

Tanya is jumping up and down in excitement!

Quick Wrap: Brett's Corner

For Brett's Corner, our lovely Guest Host invited up Angela Schultz to help him sing 3 songs from his new musical, "Closer Than You Think." Their first song was a charming and hopeful duet, "All That Matters."Angela followed that with a beautiful and heartfelt solo number, "Joey. It's You," where a mother tells her child how much he means to the world. To close out the set, Angela sang about a parent's effusive pride for her talented children, in the upbeat "Proud Mama."


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 Brett Kristofferson unless otherwise noted.

Jerry Phelps and Angela Schultz
Jim Speake
Ira Lee Collings (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
David Meulemans
Charles Baran
Edie Stokes
Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (also on piano)
Adam Shapiro
Robin Westle
Lauren Stanford
Erin Cronican
Marnie Klar 
Celia Berk (with Alex Rybeck on piano)
Tanya Moberly
Barb Malley (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Anna Marie Sell (with Bill Zeffiro on piano)
Zach Wobensmith
Angela Leone (with Bill Zeffiro on piano)
Bill Zeffiro (also on piano)
Steve Bustamante
Wendy Russell
Joan Jaffe
Richard Eisenberg
John Koprowski
Janet Fanale

Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Brett Kristofferson, Alex Rybeck, Matthew Martin Ward, and Bill Zeffiro.

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:

Thursday March 17, 2016: Lauren Stanford is appearing in the Julie Wilson tribute at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd Street, NYC.

March 18-20, 2016: David Ballard is performing with the Gay Men's Chorus, at the Skirball Center at NYC, NYC.

Saturday March 19, 2016 (7pm): David Meulemans is throwing a CD release party & performance for "Lucky To Be Me" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd Street, NYC.

Monday March 21, 2016 (7:30pm): Anna Marie Sell is appearing in a reading of, "It Can't Happen Here" with the Peccadillo Theater Company in NYC.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016 (7pm): John Koprowski is appearing in "The Arrangement Experience" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, March 25, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly is appearing in "Ricky Ritzel's Broadway" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, March 26, 2016:   Janet Fanale is appearing in the Drama Bookshop benefit at 54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.

Saturday, March 26, 2016 (8pm):  Joan Jaffe is appearing in "Parnell's Spotlight Night" at Parnell's, 350 East 53rd St, NYC.

Monday, March 28, 2016 (7pm): Robin Westle is hosting "Robin's Nest" at the Laurie Beechman, 407 West 42nd St, NYC.

Thursday, March 31, 2016 (7pm): Angela Leone (with music director, Bill Zeffiro) appearing in "All My Tomorrows" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, April 3, 2016: Celia is bringing her show, "Manhattan Serenade" to the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd Street, NYC.

Friday, April 8, 2016: Marnie Klar is bringing back her show, "Tuned In" (directed by Tanya Moberly) to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, April 10, 2016: Wendy Russell is appearing in "Those Girls" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016 (7pm): Jim Speake is bringing his show "Sweet Life" to the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016: Wendy Russell is appearing in "Those Girls" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Saturday, April 16, 2016 (4pm): Jim Speake is bringing his show "Sweet Life" to the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Thursday, April 17, 2016 (6pm): 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.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016: Wendy Russell is appearing in "Those Girls" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Friday, April 22, 2016 (7pm): 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.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016: Wendy Russell is appearing in "Those Girls" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 1, 2016: Tanya Moberly and Charles Baran are appearing in a benefit for In God's Love We Deliver at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016: Marnie Klar is bringing back her show, "Tuned In" (directed by Tanya Moberly) to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, May 11, 2016 (7pm): 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.


Next week we're proud to welcome Co-Host Carole Demas. The Salon Spotlight will be the group Midnight At The Never Get. The theme will be "Leap Of Faith."

Hope to see you there!


Erin Cronican
Blogette for the Salon

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