The Salon Wrap-Up for July 30, 2017: "Ham and Cheese"

I'm so thrilled to be back at The Salon, my favorite musical home in New York City! It was an amazing night with incredible talent and a delectable theme - "Ham and Cheese." There are so many different ways we can approach this theme: Songs about food. Songs about the simple things. Songs about people being hammy or cheesy... it was fun to hear where everyone's creative mind went.

Our 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 an arranger and musical director, he has worked with such names as Hugh Jackman, Beyonce, Patti LuPone, John Turturro, Karen Mason, Louise Pitre, Amanda McBroom, Lennie Watts and Sharon McNight, among many others.

Guest Host: Steven Ray Watkins!

Our Co-Host was Bistro & 2-Time MAC Award Winner Georga Osborne!  Georga began her career as an Opera Singer in Cincinnati and has appeared on Broadway in MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and in the National Tour of MY FAIR LADY. She began working in Cabaret in the early 90’s and is most proud of playing Florence Foster Jenkins in SOUVENIR at The Weston Playhouse.  

Decked out with a red rose and a high B Flat, our co-host began with the hammy and hilarious, "Here Comes the Ballad." For her mid-show set, she started with an all-too-familiar story of traveling for work, "Sweet Kentucky Ham." She then said she wanted to sing "My Favorite Ballad" which began with lilting ah's. A little bit into the song we started to hear a tittering of laughter from the audience, and as she started to sing the lyrics we couldn't quite believe what she was doing - singing a dramatic and slightly suggestive oration of the Woody Woodpecker theme! She finished this mid-show set with a fantastic medley of gypsy songs, which included "Habanera" from Carmen, "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from Gypsy, and "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" made famous by Cher. For the final performance of the evening, Georga gave us a song in the style of Mrs Miller (recording artist from the 60s/70s) by way of Florence Foster Jenkins, singing a medley of Madonna's "Like A Virgin," "Material Girl," "Papa Don't Preach," and "Vogue" (accompanied by hilarious interpretive dance!)

Co-Host: George Osborne!

Tonight's Salon Spotlight was Multiple MAC, Bistro & Nightlife Award Winner Lennie Watts! Lennie has toured nationally and internationally with productions of "The Music Man" and "The Wizard Of Oz." Other theatre credits: “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “A Funny Thing...,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Guys and Dolls,” and “Forever Plaid.” Theater directing credits: "Godspell," "Dames at Sea," "Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," and “Phantom.” As far as directing in Cabaret, Lennie calls it his ‘day job.’ David Finkle of The Village Voice calls him, "a one man cabaret army!" and Nightlife Exchange recently named him one of “the 50 Most Influential People in New York Cabaret.” Lennie is currently the president of MAC.

Lennie began his set with a hilarious ode to getting older, his rousing and bluesy, "One Rock & Roll Too Many." He followed that with an intimate and swinging arrangement of, "Hard Day's Night." He finished the set with a powerful mashup of "Feels Like Home" by Randy Newman and "Home" from The Wiz. It was wonderful to see such a broad range of arrangements and storytelling.

Salon Spotlight: Lennie Watts!

Quick Wrap - Steven's Corner

This week, Steven chose three songs "that are about entertainers of some sort." He started with a lush and contemplative, "A Song For You" by Leon Russell. He then gave us a fascinating version of "Wow" by the great Kate Bush. He then asked the audience to participate in the next number with lots of applause and screams to mimic the song as it occurs on the record - appropriately so, as it was Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets." It was not too difficult to do, both song and performance were fantastic!

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.


Co-Host: Georga Osborne
Ira Lee Collings
Marnie Klar
Natasha Castillo
Jerome Weinstein
Michael Colby
Becca C Kidwell
Robin Kradles
Phyllis Mollen
Barb Malley
Adam B. Shapiro
David Ballard
Erin Cronican
Janice Hall
Salon Spotlight: Lennie Watts
Classical Corner: Steven Ray Watkins (on piano)

BREAK

Co-Host: Georga Osborne
Tanya Moberly
Those Girls: Eve Eaton, Rachel Hanser, Karen Mack, Wendy Russell
Julia Breanetta Simpson
Pamela Rief
Angela Leone
Matthew Martin Ward
Louisa Poster
Byron St Cyr
Shari Pine
Jen Bradley
Co-Host: Georga Osborne


Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Steven Ray Watkins and Matthew Martin Ward!

Thank you to this evening's videographer, Michael Stever, to Gil Alexandre on lights and sound, and to David Ballard and our amazing waitstaff!


Ongoing Shows:

Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC.

This summer: Tanya Moberly is judging Mama's Next Big Act at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC, and a few of our regular Salon members are taking part!


Upcoming Shows:

Thursday, August 3, 2017 (7pm): Angela Leone is appearing in "Under The August Moon" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, August 10, 2017: Robin Kradles is appearing in, "Gambling On Love" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017 (7pm): Those Girls (Eve Eaton, Rachel Hanser, Karen Mack, Wendy Russell) are appearing in an new, unplugged set at Pangea, 178 Second Avenue, NYC.

Friday, September 15, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, September 18, 2017 (7pm): Bobbie Horowitz hosts the latest installment in her series "It's Just a Number," (featuring Natasha Castillo and music directed by Matthew Martin Ward) at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, NYC.

Saturday, September 23, 2017: Adam B. Shapiro is directing Steve Bustamante's solo show at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, September 23, 2017 (4pm): Becca C Kidwell is bringing her show, "A Song & It's Girl" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, September 23, 2017 (4pm): Becca C Kidwell is bringing her show, "A Song & It's Girl" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017: Ira Lee Collings is bringing his show, "Life Is a Song - Why Not Sing It?" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, October 2, 2017: Ira Lee Collings is bringing his show, "Life Is a Song - Why Not Sing It?" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, October 6, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ritt Henn at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, October 16, 2017 (6pm): Opening night of the Cabaret Convention features Adam B. Shapiro and Tanya Moberly - Rose Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60th Street.

Friday, October 27, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ian Herman at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 29, 2017: Ira Lee Collings is bringing his show, "Life Is a Song - Why Not Sing It?" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 17, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Mark Janas at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 8, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 29, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.


NEXT SALON! Sunday, August 6, 2017, the theme of the evening will be "Multiple Personalities," with your co-host, Dorothy Bishop.

We'll see you then!


Erin Cronican
"Blogette" for The Salon
Questions or Additions? Email me.