The Salon Wrap-Up for April 24, 2016 - "Home is Where the Heart Is"

It's one of the most anticipated and largely attended Salon events. And Mark didn't disappoint, as he brought with him again a stunning collection of new students from the musical realm of The Manhattan School of Music to Co-Host. With Stage Director Andy Gale and Choreographer Michelle Puskus, Mark music directed them in the "Discover Opera! Spring Cabaret" entitled Home is Where The Heart Is, which was performed this month at The Alan M. and Joan Taub Ade's Performance Space.  We got our own private concert from them, as they sang and danced their way through musical theater, rock and roll, and classic pop favorites. On hand to guide us all through the heart-filled evening was the Director Andy Gale himself!

The Salon started with a William Finn ensemble piece, the wonderful opening number "Heart and Music" from A New Brain, which featured a great a cappella vocal break from everyone. Then Crystal Glenn sang the flirtatious "S'Wonderful" by George and Ira Gershwin, with help from triangle-creating Calder Craig and Colin Williamson.  Justin Austin romantically sang Cole Porter's "I Love Paris" from Can Can with glorious baritone, and then Grace Callahan and Calder Craig raised the comedic level with "Come Up to My Place" from On the Town. Alex Cummings returned to William Finn music with the exuberant and smoothly done "I'd Rather Be Sailing" from A New Brain. Calder Craig busted out incredible high notes in "Corner of the Sky" from Pippin (Stephen Schwartz). Before the break, Sarah Mikulski was backed up by her fellow students on "Go Back Home" from The Scottsboro Boys by John Kander and Fred Ebb.

The second set of the evening found Grace Callahan singing the soaring "Where or When" by Rogers and Hart from Babes in Arms, followed by "They Were You" from The Fantastics (Schmidt/Jones) sung by Justin Austin and Sarah Mikulski. Colin Williamson (who graced our stage last week during Classical Corner) easily made his way through the power ballad "I'm Making My Way" from Charles Fox and Hal David's rarely-done The Chosen. The Director himself, Andy Gale, then brought his beautiful tenor to "On My Way to You." To finish the evening, and to bring some 60s/70s folk into the mix, Hannah Dishman, Grace Callahan, and Sarah Mikulski sang Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now, and then the students all got up to sing Charlie Smalls' powerful "Home" from The Wiz, with gorgeous tight harmony lines mixed within solos. Finally, an invited all-sing/all-skate version of "Over the Rainbow" completed the evening.

Side Notes:

• Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Dana Lorge, who passed away this weekend. We will miss her immensely, as she was an amazing Award-Winning Host, supportive friend and mentor, and dazzling (in more than one way) persona in the Cabaret world. We had many dedications to Dana tonight (Adam Shapiro and Janice Hall wearing bling in her honor, and singing in her praise) She will not be soon forgotten...or ever.

Dana Lorge

• Also, David Ballard is doing an AIDS Walk on May 15, 2016, and has dedicated himself to raising $1,000 for it. He has raised $645 so far, but can always get a bigger Salon bump towards his goal from us! If you would like to add monetary support to his corner for an incredible cause, go to his profile at aidswalk.net!

Roster of performers for the evening (in order of appearance):
Click to visit performers' website or other links when available.All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.

MSM Students
Sarah Rydel
Harriet Zellner
Deborah Stone
Rian Keaning (with Jeff Cubeta at the piano)
Ira Lee Collings
Jerome Weinstein
Crystal Glenn (aided by Colin Williamson and Calder Craig)
Justin Austin
Grace Callahan and Calder Craig
Jim Brochu
Steve Schalchlin (with self at piano)
Niki Sorentino (with Jeff Cubeta on piano)
Lucille Carr-Kaffashan (with Jeff Cubeta on piano)
Jeff Cubeta (with self at piano)
Adam Shapiro
David Ballard
Sierra Rein
Janice Hall
Alex Cummings
Calder Craig
Grace Callahan
Justin Austin and Sarah Mikulski
Colin Williamson
Andy Gale
Tanya Moberly
Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (with self on piano)
Ruth Carlin
Amy Beth Williams
Alexa Smith and Sara Ptak
Barb Malley
Richard Eisenberg
Steve Bustamante (with self on guitar)
Christopher Eaglin
Christine
Hannah Dishman, Grace Callahan, and Sarah Mikulski
MSM Students

Even more thank yous to Boris Pelekh 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!

Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Mark Janas, Steve Bustamante, Matthew Martin Ward, Jeff Cubeta, and Steve Schalchlin!

Upcoming Shows:

Monday, April 25, 2016 (7pm): "A Life Behind Bars" written and performed by Dan Ruth, Directed by Tanya Moberly, at The Gutter Williamsburg Brooklyn, 200 North 14th Street, Brooklyn, NYC.

Monday, April 25, 2016 (7pm): Adam Shapiro judges at "The Met Room's Next Top Drag Queen" contest at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016 (7pm): Teresa Eggersten Cooke presents "Decades of Song" at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Thursday, April 28, 2016 (7pm): Stephen Bustamante and others in "Sing Your Heart Out: Cabaret Performance Workshop" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, April 29, 2016 (8pm): Stephen Bustamante and others in "Sing Your Heart Out: Cabaret Performance Workshop" at Unity Center of Norwalk, CT.

Saturday, April 30, 2016 (7pm):  Tanya Moberly is performing "Celebrating Streisand" for the award-winning cabaret benefit series "Cabaret Cares" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 1, 2016 (4pm): Tanya Moberly and Charles Baran are appearing in "Benefit for In God's Love We Deliver" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Monday, May 2, 2016 (7pm): Adam Shapiro judges at "The Met Room's Next Top Drag Queen" contest at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Friday, May 6, 2016 (7pm): Matthew Martin Ward and Wendy Scherl in "What You Do All Day?" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday May 7, 2016 (3pm): Lucille Carr-Kaffashan, with Music Director Jeff Cubeta, in "Unwritten, a Celebration of 21st Century Female Singer-Songwriters" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 8, 2016 (9:15pm): Rutanya Alda, Janice Hall, Marissa Mulder, Bill Zeffiro and Alan Greenberg in "A Mommie Dearest Mother's Day Celebration with Carol Ann" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Monday, May 9, 2016 (7pm): "A Life Behind Bars" written and performed by Dan Ruth, Directed by Tanya Moberly, at The Gutter Williamsburg Brooklyn, 200 North 14th Street, Brooklyn, NYC.

Wednesday, May 11th, 2016 (7pm): Sally Darling in "Totally Noel...with A Bit of Sally," an all-Noel Coward show at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, May 16, 2016 (6:30pm): Harriet Zellner in a "Cabaret Performance Workshop with Helen Baldassare" at The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street, NYC.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016 (6:30pm): Harriet Zellner in a "Cabaret Performance Workshop with Helen Baldassare" at The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street, NYC.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 (7pm): Bernie Boroson and the "92nd St Y Singers" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, May 19, 2016 (7pm): Lucille Carr-Kaffashan in "Unwritten, a Celebration of 21st Century Female Singer-Songwriters" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, May 20, 2016 (7pm): Lucille Carr-Kaffashan in "Unwritten, a Celebration of 21st Century Female Singer-Songwriters" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 22, 2016 (7pm): Adam Shapiro directs "Bustin' Loose, The Liberation of Sallie Jo Hadley" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016 (7pm): Adam Shapiro sings in "Richard Skipper Celebrates" at The Triad, 158 W 72nd St, NYC.

Thursday, May 26, 2016 (7pm): Jim Brochu and Steve Ross in "Two Guys and a Grand" at The Laurie Beechman, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 29, 2016 (7pm): Sierra Rein (as part of Marquee Five) will be featured in "Sondheim Unplugged" at Feinstein's/54 Below, 254 West 54th Street, NYC.

Sunday, June 5, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly new 4-show series, starting with "Moberly Sings Nielson with Weber" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly new 4-show series, starting with "Moberly Sings Nielson with Weber" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016 (6:30pm): Rian Keating in "This is All I Give: Songs of Love and Life" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, June 10, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly new 4-show series, starting with "Moberly Sings Nielson with Weber" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, June 12, 2016 (3pm): Rian Keating in "This is All I Give: Songs of Love and Life" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly new 4-show series, starting with "Moberly Sings Nielson with Weber" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016 (7pm): Ira Lee Collings in "Simply, Ira Lee: Through the Looking Glass - Warts and all, an 80th  'Gay Geezer' Celebration" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, June 17, 2016 (8pm): David Ballard in the NYC GMC Concert, NYU Skirball Center, NYC.

Saturday, June 18, 2016 (4pm): Adam Shapiro sings and hosts "Gone Too Soon - Howard Ashman" at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, June 19, 2016 (4pm): Kati Neiheisel in "Class Acts IV" with Barry Levitt at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, June 20, 2016 (7pm): Ira Lee Collings in "Simply, Ira Lee: Through the Looking Glass - Warts and all, an 80th  'Gay Geezer' Celebration" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, July 4, 2016: Adam Shapiro opens in the all-Yiddish "The Golden Bride" at The Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, NYC.

Thursday, July 14, 2016 (7pm): Ruth Carlin in "A Light in the Window - Songs of Judy Collins" at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

NEXT SALON, Sunday May 1st, 2016:
Our amazing Co-Host will be the effervescent Lisa Viggiano, on the theme "Coast to Coast." Maybe your song is about my homestate of California ("I Left My Heart in San Francisco," anyone?), maybe your song is about Florida or Maine, or perhaps it's about the sea or a reminder of far away shores.

See you then!

Sierra Rein
Blogette for the Salon
(Updates? Changes? Email me!)

The Salon Wrap-Up for April 17, 2016 - "It Might As Well Be Spring...Songs of Hope"

Spring has indeed sprung in New York City, and hope abounded up to the stage in the form of Sue Matsuki, our Co-Host for the evening on the theme "It Might as Well Be Spring...Songs of Hope." Always the energetic and witty host, she introduced the evening with the question "Ready for some church? The Church of Cabaret!" She brought along pianist and Music Director Greg Toroian (Sue's second-longest musical relationship, she claims) and they both started the evening on the ever-affirming "Accentuate The Positive" in sweet, sweet jazzy rhythms.  Later, for the second set, she sang the moving "I Don't Know," with a moving bass line and vocals by Greg that seemed hopeless until she sang "she hopes and she prays."  Sue then moved into a ballad full of positivity and glorious metaphor for all the good times we will have: "You Must Believe in Spring." With simple vocals and full depth of emotion, Sue lovingly sung this song about trusting that love is on it's way. Speaking of love that had already been discovered and still celebrated, Sue dedicated the next song - the jazzy and very cute/flirty "Until I Met You" - to her husband. At the end of the evening, Mark Janas played with her on the swingin' Sting song "Until" (which I didn't recognize until the "time in a bottle" lyric came - amazing when a song is covered by good singers when they let the lyrics out!).

Salon Spotlight: Sue Matsuki
www.suematsuki.com

Side Notes:
David Ballard is doing an AIDS Walk on May 15, 2016, and has dedicated himself to raising $1,000 for it. He has raised $545 so far, but can always get a Salon bump towards his goal from us! If you would like to add monetary support to his corner for an incredible cause, go to his profile at aidswalk.net!

Quick Wrap: Classical Corner
With "Spring" and "Hope" being the main themes of the evening, it was fitting for Mark Janas to bring two singers representative of the hope for the future of music, Manhattan School of Music students (and soon to be Graduates in a month) Colin Williamson and Hannah Dishman (Hannah is also excited to be performing for the St. Louis Opera this Summer). Mark brought us to the theme of the reluctant but hopeful servant struggling with the thought of rescuing his girlfriend from pirates (like ya do) by inviting Colin to sing "Frisch zum Kampfe," Pedrillo's aria from "Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail" by Mozart, with themes inspired by Turkish music influence. Colin then sang and stomped his feet dramatically thru Mozart's "The Magic Flute," with Monostatos' aria "Alles fuhlt der Liebe Fruden," which included lyrics translated to "Thus, I want, because I am living/To bill and coo, kiss be tender," which is a loving hope until you realize it comes from a demon who warns the moon to look away!

Hannah Dishman next came up to sing three short pieces composed by Debussy, set to "Chasson des Bilitis," a series of poems (almost 145 of them) by Pierre Louys in 1894. Louys claimed there were ancient Greek poems that he happened to "find" and translate into French...turned out he was lying all along. Quite a viral marketing tactic, if you ask me. Debussy set these poems, which are incredibly beautiful to music, and Hannah sang three: "La flute de Pan" (The Pan-Pipes), "La chevelure" (The Hair), and "La tombeau des Naiades" (The Tomb of the Water Nymphs) in glorious soprano. The first piece cleverly included musical quotes of "the chant of the green frogs" in the accompaniment. The second piece revealed Louys' erotic side, as the lyrics (about a woman, Sappho, leaving her baby for the lustful eye of a man, reflecting the romantic days of Springtime). And the third spoke of the frost-covered woods and the past satyrs and nymphs who used to dance there during Springtime.

Side note: I found that NYPL at Lincoln Center is doing a whole costume and set design exhibit on "Magical Designs for Mozart's Magic Flute," so if you want to see sketches and actual costumes of Monostatos (the character Colin sang) in person, and SO many gorgeous Queen of the Night gowns, go check it out. The costumes include those designed by Julie Taymor, Maurice Sendak, Gerald Scarfe, Philip Prowse, and many others. Ends August 27th, 2016.

Roster of performers for the evening (in order of appearance):
Click to visit performers' website or other links when available.All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.

Sue Matsuki (with Greg Tororian at the piano)

Barbara Malley
Marnie Klar
Elena Vidanova
Sarah Rydel
Charles Baran and Joan Jaffe
Tony Denincola (with Greg Toroian at the piano)
Bernie Boroson (with Greg Toroian at the piano)
Jerome Weinstein (with Greg Toroian at the piano)
Harriet Zellner (with Greg Toroian at the piano)
Jackie Draper (with Greg Toroian at the piano)
Marissa Mulder (with Bill Zeffiro)
David Ballard and Sierra Rein
Sierra Rein
Jaye Maynard
Colin Williamson
Hannah Dishman
Sue Matsuki (with Greg Toroian at the piano)
Tanya Moberly
Ruth Carlin
Kati Niheisel (with Greg Toroian at the piano)
Zach Wobensmith (with Bill Zeffiro on piano)
Bill Zeffiro (with self on piano)
Steve Bustamante
Colin Williamson (self on guitar)
Hannah Dishman (self on guitar)
Lisa Viggiano
Sue Matsuki

Another 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!

Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Mark Janas, Bill Zeffiro, and Colin Williamson, Hannah Dishman, and Greg Toroian!

Ongoing Shows:
Monday nights (8pm):Bill Zeffiro and Marissa Mulder at La Rivista, 313 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday nights (8pm): Bill Zeffiro and Jenna Esposito at La Rivista, 313 West 46th Street, NYC.

Upcoming Shows:
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 (7pm): Marissa Mulder, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, April 25, 2016 (7pm):"A Life Behind Bars" written and performed by Dan Ruth, Directed by Tanya Moberly, at The Gutter Williamsburg Brooklyn, 200 North 14th Street, Brooklyn, NYC.

Thursday, April 28, 2016 (7pm): Stephen Bustamante and others in "Sing Your Heart Out: Cabaret Performance Workshop" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, April 29, 2016 (8pm): Stephen Bustamante and others in "Sing Your Heart Out: Cabaret Performance Workshop" at Unity Center of Norwalk, CT.

Saturday, April 30, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly is performing "Celebrating Streisand" for the award-winning cabaret benefit series "Cabaret Cares" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 1, 2016 (4pm): Tanya Moberly and Charles Baran are appearing in "Benefit for In God's Love We Deliver" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016 (7pm): Marnie Klar is bringing back her show, "Tuned In" (directed by Tanya Moberly), to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016 (7pm): Lisa Viggiano and others at "54 Celebrates David Bowie," Feinstein's/54 Below, 254 West 54th Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 8, 2016: Rutanya Alda, Bill Zeffiro and Alan Greenberg in "A Mommie Dearest Mother's Day Celebration with Carol Ann" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Monday, May 9, 2016 (7pm): "A Life Behind Bars" written and performed by Dan Ruth, Directed byTanya Moberly, at The Gutter Williamsburg Brooklyn, 200 North 14th Street, Brooklyn, NYC.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 (7pm): Bernie Boroson and the "92nd St Y Singers" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, June 5, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly new 4-show series, starting with "Moberly Sings Nicsson with Weber" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly new 4-show series, starting with "Moberly Sings Nicsson with Weber" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, June 10, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly new 4-show series, starting with "Moberly Sings Nicsson with Weber" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly new 4-show series, starting with "Moberly Sings Nicsson with Weber" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, June 17, 2016 (8pm): David Ballard in the NYC GMC Concert, NYU Skirball Center, NYC.

Sunday, June 19, 2016 (4pm): Kati Neiheisel in "Class Acts IV" with Barry Levitt at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, July 14, 2016 (7pm): Ruth Carlin in "A Light in the Window - Songs of Judy Collins" at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

NEXT SALON, Sunday April 24th, 2016:
Our amazing Co-Hosts will be the ever-amazing and future-of-music-inspiring Manhattan School of Music students! These newcomers always bring a great night of vocals, and I'm sure you can come up with a song for the theme "Home is Where the Heart Is"!

Sierra Rein
Blogette for the Salon
(Updates? Changes? Email me!)

The Salon Wrap-Up for April 10, 2016 - "Teamwork"

Teamwork takes many forms, and we saw a number of them in action last night at The Salon. On hand to host the evening were partners in song and producers in children, Kristin Maloney and Adam MacDonald. They are original Salon founding members – they were cast members of the musical Talk of the Town (book, music and lyrics by Ginny Reddington and Tom Dawes), which performed at the Oak Room in the Algonquin Hotel and which led to the creation of The Salon itself. Adam played Robert Sherwood and Kristin played Dorothy Parker; Parker herself, when told “Collaboration is like marriage without sex,” uttered these words of wit: “…Is there any other kind?” But Kristin was hesitant to agree on Sunday...

Kristin and Adam brought up another Talk of the Town teammate, castmember Chris Weikel (playing Robert Benchley) to sing with them on the hilariously written “Work is a Four-Letter Word” from the show. Later, Sierra Rein (that’s me!) sang a song created by the writing team of Kristin Maloney (lyrics) and Robert Maggio (music), entitled “He Needs Me.” For the Act II start, Dan Furman was welcomed to the piano to help Adam sing a swinging, fun, tenor song: “Dinner on the Moon,” which featured the lyric “orbital oyster bar.” Indeed, Adam revealed that fun, quirky songs can often be heard in their collaborative household as a way to relieve tension and rolled eyes between everybody!

With Mark Janas again at the piano, Kristin and Adam sang the lovely duet “Old Friend,” which featured lead vocals by Kristin with lovely echoed backups by Adam. Tanya Moberly then stepped up to do a howlingly fun duet with Kristin on the Jonatha Brooke song “Dog Dreams.” To round out their mid-show set, Kristin sang with Dan Furman at the piano, performing the song “South Carolina Morning“ from an untitled show about painter Edward Hopper. To complete the evening, Adam returned to the stage to sing the heartfelt and hopeful “Goodbye For Now” from Reds.

The Teamwork of young Adam, Kristin, and Mark in the lobby of the Algonquin Hotel, c.2006

Adam MacDonald looks like he's making a very good point...c. 2006.

Side Notes:
We had some unique moments to note on Sunday: Seven, the Mind Reader – he has a show “Mind Games” and who will try to break a world’s record with www.tanksforamerica.com – took 5 volunteers from the audience and (using no superpowers, he assured us) found out which of the five was holding a blue marble (which meant she was not lying throughout the interview process). The truthsayer turned out to be Rosemary Loar’s sister, who showed us the blue marble in her hand at the end of the process.

Also, David Ballard is doing an AIDS Walk on May 15, 2016, and has dedicated himself to raising $1,000 for it. He has raised $545 so far, but can always get a Salon bump towards his goal from us! If you would like to add monetary support to his corner for an incredible cause, go to his profile at aidswalk.net!

Quick Wrap: Classical Corner
Have you ever seen the last Lord of the Rings movie or “A.I.”? To this blogger, each of those movies has about 5 or 6 endings, which can be charming or infuriating, depending on the movie. For this week’s Classical Corner, and asking the audience “What makes an ending?”, Mark Janas brought up Adam MacDonald to sing the end of “Nessun Dorma.” Mark had Adam sing a truncated version of this song, and noted that the last few bars included a three-time repetition of the last word (translated as “victory”), ending on a high note. Repetition and higher notes are often used to create drama as a tried and true way to end a song.

Regarding instrumental music, Mark then played some Bach and Chopin – all off-book, by the way – exemplifying how these composers ended their works. In one of his Italian concertos, Bach included a large “tutti” section, which repeated the beginning theme except for a slight surprise moment of music before the ending. In Bach’s Prelude in C minor, an extended area of music is repeated, then a quick change to another theme in sharp contrast leads to the ending. In one of Chopin’s works, a binary structure leads to a surprise end chord – a major chord to an “unsafe” minor, with a pause, a suspension, a dominant fifth, then finally concluding back to “one.” Mark played a bit of the Minuet from Preludes, which goes from a 3-chord end dominant chord to a tonic. Also, in Chopin’s G Minor Ballad, a lyrical melody transforms to a big, boisterous, extended middle, and then a series of dramatic “false endings.” Throughout this, Mark kept yelling “NOT YET!” which made us all laugh in anticipation for the final note to be revealed.

Leonard Bernstein once described Beethoven’s musical manuscripts as a “battleground” of sketches, edits, and multiple versions (unlike Mozart, who seemed to compose them in his head perfectly before transcribing them in amazing penmanship on the page). Mark then played a few of the many endings that Beethoven wrote for his famous "Fifth," which have thankfully been preserved for scholars to analyze. In Beethoven’s last movement, Mark counted 48 C major chords in a row, and played the piano version of the ending, yelling “I’m not making this up!” several times. He then played Bernstein’s recording of this with the Philharmonic to show how full orchestration can add a great deal of dramatic logic to an ending, despite its repeated chord progression.

Roster of performers for the evening (in order of appearance):
Click to visit performers' website or other links when available.
All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.

Kristin Maloney, Adam MacDonald, and Chris Weikel
Chris Weikel
Anna Marie Sell
Ira Lee Collings
Barbara Malley
Jerome Weinstein
Elena Vidanova
Kount Kit
Joe Regan, Jr
Carol Sue
Rian Keating
Rosemary Loar
Seven
David Ballard
Sierra Rein
Adam MacDonald (with Dan Furman on piano)
Kristin Maloney and Adam MacDonald
Tanya Moberly and Kristin Maloney
Charles J. Ouda and Ita Koreovzecher (with Dan Furman on piano)
Charles J. Ouda (self on piano)
Jaye Maynard and Charles Baran
Stephen Bustamante
Bradley Dean
Jennifer Bangs
Adam MacDonald

Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Mark Janas, Dan Furman, and Charles J. Oudo!

Another 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, April 11, 2016 (7pm):"A Life Behind Bars" written and performed by Dan Ruth, Directed byTanya Moberly, at The Gutter Williamsburg Brooklyn, 200 North 14th Street, Brooklyn, NYC.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016 (7pm): Rosemary Loar in "The Quando Swing" as part of NY Cabaret's Greatest Hits series at the Metropolitan Room,34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Friday, April 15, 2016 (7pm and 9pm):Anna Marie Sellin "Reaching For the Moon...Songs of Irving Berlin" at Cafe Noctambulo at Pangea, 178 2nd Avenue, NYC.

Monday, April 25, 2016 (7pm):"A Life Behind Bars" written and performed by Dan Ruth, Directed byTanya Moberly, at The Gutter Williamsburg Brooklyn, 200 North 14th Street, Brooklyn, NYC.

Thursday, April 28, 2016 (7pm): Stephen Bustamante and others in "Sing Your Heart Out: Cabaret Performance Workshop" at Don't Tell Mama,343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, April 29, 2016 (8pm): Stephen Bustamante and others in "Sing Your Heart Out: Cabaret Performance Workshop" at Unity Center of Norwalk, CT.

Saturday, April 30, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly is performing "Celebrating Streisand" for the award-winning cabaret benefit series "Cabaret Cares" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd 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 (7pm): Marnie Klar is bringing back her show, "Tuned In" (directed by Tanya Moberly), to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, May 9, 2016 (7pm): "A Life Behind Bars" written and performed by Dan Ruth, Directed byTanya Moberly, at The Gutter Williamsburg Brooklyn, 200 North 14th Street, Brooklyn, NYC.

Monday, May 23, 2016 (6pm): Joe Regan, Jr in Beth Israel Concert, Union Square, NYC.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016 (6:30pm): Rian Keating in "This is All I Give: Songs of Love and Life" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, June 17, 2016 (8pm): David Ballard in the NYC GMC Concert, NYU Skirball Center, NYC.

NEXT SALON, Sunday April 17th, 2016:
The theme will be You Must Believe in Spring - Songs of Hope with Co-Host/singer/songwriter Sue Matsuki. Let’s try to shake off this Spring’s long cold spell with music filled with anticipation, flowers, sunshine and warm notes!

See you then and there!

Sierra Rein
Blogette for the Salon
(Updates? Changes? Email me!)

The Salon Wrap-Up for April 3, 2016 - "April In Paris – Favorite Times & Places"

Happy April! Sierra is back, baby, to be your Blogette for the early and mid-Springtime!

To open up the first Salon for the month of April, Mark took a lovely moment to honor the nominees and winners of The 2016 MAC Awards! Although The Salon was nominated for the 7th time, after 6 years in a row, this year we passed the baton to the glorious Ricky Ritzel’s Broadway. But we had so many reasons to celebrate; along with a large number of our regulars, our Producer Tanya Moberly won a MAC Award for Best Female Vocalist (for her series "Songs I Feel Like Singing")! Read the full list here.

Our favorite time and place is always 7pm at Etcetera Etcetera, so it was fitting that the optional theme for this evening's Salon was "April in Paris – Favorite Times and Places." To put us in the French mood during our blustery/cold April opening night, co-host Wendy Russell took us through the theme of gay paree in strong vocals. With 2016 MAC Award-winning Stephen Ray Watkins accompanying her at the piano, Wendy started out with the snappily-lyric'd "When in Rome (I Do as the Romans Do)". For the second act opener, she asked three companions to guide her through the City of Lights. All dressed up in berets, red roses and oh so "Français" stripes, were "Those Girls" Karen Mack, Eve Eaton, and Rachel Hanser, providing Wendy with great backup harmonies, comedy, and baguettes. They began with "Walkin' on Broken Glass," which showed of Wendy's gorgeous mix belt. The next number, "Little White Church" featured vocals by Karen Mack, a rockin' piano backtrack, and classic "train" harmonies. They completed their set with a wonderful tight-harmony arrangement of "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" (is there nothing better than all-female harmony?!?!) arranged by Stephen Ray Watkins. For the end of the show, Wendy and Stephen lifted their voices and our spirits with The Beatles' "All You Need is Love."

The show "Those Girls at the Beechman" will take over The Laurie Beechman Theatre on April 10th at 3pm, and April 13th, 20th and 27th at 7pm. Stephen Ray Watkins is taking the helm as Musical Director, and Lennie Watts (oh hey, another 2016 MAC Award winner!) will direct.

Our Salon Spotlight for the evening was Natasha Castillo, whose show "Feels Like Home" will burst onto the scene in May at Don't Tell Mama. With Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano, she opened up her spotlight with the sweetly flowing "Those Good Old Dreams," which was featured in her last show. She then segued into her new show, which will show off some brand new songs, including a peppy mashup of "Put On a Happy Face" and "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile." Moving from the theme of smiling to the theme of hope, Natasha then engulfed us with fuzzy feelings, performing "The Rainbow Connection" (from The Muppet Movie).

Quick Wrap: Classical Corner
Mark loved Paris as a theme for the evening, but he had only 15 minutes to explore it! From the end of the 19th to the beginning of the 20th,  Paris was rich in art and creativity and music, and Impressionism was at its heyday. The ideal was not about accuracy, but that the backgrounds and foregrounds were fuzzy and out of focus - it was more about feelings and moods rather than reality itself. Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy were Impressionistic masters at this time, although Debussy hated the term, and they were masters of different musical Impressionism techniques, including bitonality (two chords put together) and pentatonic (five note) and whole tone scales to create a wholly new sound. Also of note to Mark was Nadia Boulanger, a famous composer and music teacher who taught for decades for such luminaries as Philip Glass, Aaron Copeland, and Quincy Jones, and who was an incredible influence in modern times. To illustrate all these concepts in a very French way, Mark played a little bit of a piece by Les Six, a group of composers who performed mainly in concert settings in the 1920s. They were also almost a reaction against Impressionism, and instead went towards Mentalism, very simplistic and haunting with D major into a D major 7 chords.

Mark then entered into the musical realm of Maurice Ravel, who wrote "Gaspard de la nuit" on the themes of three poems by Aloysius Bertrand. In the first piece Ondine, the water spirit, tries to lure a man to his death in a watery grave. Ravel set the nymph in vocal form with a melody that runs its way through a cascading figure which, when played softly and quickly, creates the feeling of water. The second movement is on a piece by Edgar Alan Poe regarding a ghastly figure of a hanged man alongside the constant sound of a bell ringing in the distance. The third is about the goblin Scarbo and is one of the hardest pieces Mark has ever been in front of. Mark left us with a work by the free-spirited Debussy, the hauntingly beautiful "Clair de Lune."

Roster of performers for the evening (in order of appearance):
Click to visit performers' website or other links when available.
All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.

Wendy Russell (with Stephen Ray Watkins* at the piano)
Jim Speake* (with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano)
John Koprowski (with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano)
Roberta Jackson (with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano)
Bobbie Horowitz*
Susan Neuffer
Kount Kit
Jerome Weinstein
David Ballard
Nicholas Levin and Janice Hall (with Nicholas Levin at the piano)
Sierra Rein (with Bill Zeffiro at the piano)
Bill Zeffiro (with self at piano)
Marnie Klar (with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano)
Natasha Castillo (with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano)
Wendy Russell, Karen Mack, Eve Eaton, Rachel Hanser (with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano)
Tanya Moberly*
Bob Diamond
Barbara Malley*
Ann Dawson
Nicky Nicholas
Sally Darling** (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Matthew Martin Ward

*2016 MAC Award Winner!!!
** 2016 Hansen Award Winner!!!

Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Mark Janas, Stephen Ray Watkins, Nicholas Levin, and Bill Zeffiro!

Another 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!

Ongoing shows:

Monday nights (8pm): Bill Zeffiro and Marissa Mulder at La Rivista, 313 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday nights (8pm): Bill Zeffiro and Jenna Esposito at La Rivista, 313 West 46th Street, NYC.

Upcoming shows:

Thursday, April 7, 2016 (8pm): Matthew Martin Ward and Wendy Scherl in "What You Do All Day" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, April 8, 2016 (7pm): 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 (3pm): "Those Girls at the Beechman" with Wendy Russell, Karen Mack, Eve Eaton, Rachel Hanser at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Monday, April 11, 2016 (7pm): "A Life Behind Bars" written and performed by Dan Ruth, Directed by Tanya Moberly, at The Gutter Williamsburg Brooklyn, 200 North 14th Street, Brooklyn, NYC.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016 (7pm): Jim Speake presents "Sweet Life: The Show" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at The West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016 (7pm): "Those Girls at the Beechman" with Wendy Russell, Karen Mack, Eve Eaton, Rachel Hanser at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Saturday, April 16, 2016 (4pm): Jim Speake presents "Sweet Life: The Show" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at The West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, April 17th, 2016 (6pm): Sally Darling in "Totally Noel...with A Bit of Sally", an all-Noel Coward show at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 (7pm): Marissa Mulder and Bill Zeffiro in "Unconventional," at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at The West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC. 

Tuesday, April 19, 2016: Rutanya Alda, Bill Zeffiro and Alan Greenberg in "A Mommie Dearest Mother's Day Celebration with Carol Ann" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at The West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016 (7pm): "Those Girls at the Beechman" with Wendy Russell, Karen Mack, Eve Eaton, Rachel Hanser at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Friday, April 22th, 2016 (7pm): Sally Darling in "Totally Noel...with A Bit of Sally", an all-Noel Coward show at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.


Monday, April 25, 2016 (7pm): "A Life Behind Bars" written and performed by Dan Ruth, Directed by Tanya Moberly, at The Gutter Williamsburg Brooklyn, 200 North 14th Street, Brooklyn, NYC.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016 (7pm): "Those Girls at the Beechman" with Wendy Russell, Karen Mack, Eve Eaton, Rachel Hanser at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Saturday, April 30, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly is performing "Celebrating Streisand" for the award-winning cabaret benefit series "Cabaret Cares" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd 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 (7pm): Marnie Klar is bringing back her show, "Tuned In" (directed by Tanya Moberly), to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, May 6, 2016 (7pm): Matthew Martin Ward and Wendy Scherl in "What You Do All Day" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 8, 2016: Rutanya Alda, Bill Zeffiro and Alan Greenberg in "A Mommie Dearest Mother's Day Celebration with Carol Ann" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Monday, May 9, 2016 (7pm): "A Life Behind Bars" written and performed by Dan Ruth, Directed by Tanya Moberly, at The Gutter Williamsburg Brooklyn, 200 North 14th Street, Brooklyn, NYC.

Wednesday, May 11th, 2016 (7pm): Sally Darling in "Totally Noel...with A Bit of Sally", an all-Noel Coward show at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, May 14, 2016 (7pm): Natasha Castillo in "Feels Like Home" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, May 20, 2016 (7pm): Natasha Castillo in "Feels Like Home" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016: Bobbie Horowitz is performing her popular cabaret, "It's Just a Number," at the Metropolitan Room, honoring Jim Speake.

NEXT SALON, Sunday April 10th, 2016: 
The theme will be "TEAMWORK," so it's a great opportunity to grab a partner or two and duet, trio, or quartet up a storm, or find a song about getting together (or not). Creative and parental teammates Kristin Maloney and Adam McDonald (charter members of The Salon back when "Talk of the Town" was playing at The Algonquin Hotel) will be on hand to make sure all the teams play nice with each other.

We all hope to see you there!

Sierra Rein
Blogette for the Salon
(Updates? Changes? Email me!)