The Salon Wrap Up for October 29, 2017: "Eat, Drink and Be Scary"

We had an bustling and exciting atmosphere at The Salon this week as we prepared for one of our annual favorites: Our Halloween Salon, with this year's theme - EAT, DRINK AND BE SCARY.

Our Guest Host/Pianist was the amazing Matthew Martin Ward! Our Co-Hosts were MAC & Bistro Award Winner Janice Hall & MAC Award Winner Adam B Shapiro!

This year's theme was all about food and spookiness, and Adam and Janice cleverly combined dress-up magic and songs about imbibing. They began their epic costume parade with Adam playing The Snake wrapped around an Apple Tree for "Forbidden Fruit / In Pursuit of Happiness." That was followed by Janice playing the role of Dracula's Wife in the song, "Vampire Surprise." For their mid-show set, Adam came out dressed as Paula Dean to sing the parody song, "You're Addicted to Spuds" (based on "Addicted to Love.") A particularly funny moment was when he shoved fresh fries in his mouth during the musical break and pulled potatoes out of his bra! Janice then came out dressed as Louise Linton (Steven Mnuchin's wife), to sing "Cheese Nips", which I saw her sing at the "Howard Ashman" tribute at The Metropolitan Room Series "Gone Too Soon." For the final song of the evening, Adam and Janice gave us a fantastic medley of dozens of songs with phrases about food in their "Glorious Food Medley", dressed as a pickle (Adam) and sriracha bottle (Janice).

Janice will be appearing in THE OPERA SHOW WITH NO OPERA in The Winter Rhythms Festival at Urban Stages – 259 West 30th St, NYC 10001 – on December 16th at 3pm. Adam will be appearing in SHE LOVES ME at The Capital Rep Theatre in Albany beginning November 24th. You can also check out Adam’s ONE MAN BROADWAY video series on You Tube at https://www.youtube.com/user/Bdwaybuff.

Co-Hosts Adam Shapiro and Janice Hall!

Salon Spotlight

Our Salon Spotlight will feature Bistro, MAC & Nightlife Award Winner Daryl Glenn with Mardie Millit & MAC Award Winner Molly Pope!

My little girl dreams have come true with this performance - the first two songs were from the obscure movie musical, "Charlotte's Web." Ok, it wasn't a movie musical - it was a cartoon movie, and it wasn't that obscure but most people don't remember there were songs in the movie. He started with "A Veritable Smorgasbord" - Templeton's song in the movie. He then asked Molly Pope to come to the stage to sing a duet between the Goose and Horse, "Lots in Common." (Fun thing to note - the very first place I did was "Charlotte's Web" at age 9 - I played the Gander.) He finished his set by inviting Mardie Millit to the stage to sing, "The Things I Will Not Miss" from the obscure movie musical, "Los Horizon" by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

For more information about their busy schedules, visit: www.darylglenn.com / www.michaelandmardie.com / www.mollypope.com

Quick Wrap - Matthew's Corner

Matthew let us know that the evening's Classical Corner is entitled, "What makes music scary" and "Is brought to you by the letter D."

D is for Diminished 7th chords. A Diminished 7 chord includes one minor third, with another minor third added, with ANOTHER minor third added. Matthew pointed out that there are two tri-tones in the chord, which makes the chord very "unstable."

D is for the key of D Minor. Most of the scary music we hear is in the key of D Minor.

D is for death. Most music that represents death uses the above chord and key, making for a very intense and unnerving experience for the listener.

He then introduced us to Liszt's "Totentans" (which translates as "dance of death" - more Ds!) which was written for for piano and orchestra. Because Matthew said that the piece cannot be done justice with just a piano, he brought in a recording of a live performance that was played over the sound system. What a wonderful close to Act 1 of tonight's Salon!

By the way, the next time you see Matthew at the piano ask him to do "scary piano face" - hilarious!

Matthew’s Broadway credits include AVENUE Q, TARZAN, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, URINETOWN, TOMMY, STATE FAIR and BLOOD BROTHERS. He was Musical Director for FORBIDDEN BROADWAY... STRIKES BACK and CLEANS UP ITS ACT. Off-Broadway: WHOOP-DEE-DOO, NUNSENSE and RUTHLESS.


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 Matthew Martin Ward unless otherwise noted.

Co-Host: Adam B Shapiro
Co-Host: Janice Hall
Jim Speake
Robin Kradles
Todd Monroe
Bobbie Horowitz
Barb Malley
Sally Darling
JoAna Gray
John Rinaldi
Jessica Schneiderman
Tyke James
Carly Ozard
Erin Cronican
Zach Wobensmith
Salon Spotlight: Daryl Glenn, Mardie Millit, Molly Pope (with Ben McNaboe on piano)

Matthew's Corner: Matthew Martin Ward

BREAK

Co-Hosts: Adam B Shapiro & Janice Hall

Tanya Moberly

Bill Krakauer
Blair Alexis Brown
Richard Eisenberg
Jen Bradley
Jim Speake (encore)
Bobbie Horowitz (encore)
Barb Malley (encore)
Carly Ozard (encore)
JoAna Gray (encore)
John Rinaldi (encore)
Zach Wobensmith and Erin Cronican
Co-Hosts: Adam B Shapiro & Janice Hall

Special thanks to tonight's musicians: Matthew Martin Ward, Tyke James and Ben McNaboe!

Thank you, also, to Gil Alexanddre on lights and sound, Joe and our amazing waitstaff, and the management at Etcetera Etcetera.

Ongoing Shows:

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

Weekly: Bill Zeffiro plays and sings with a rotating list of guests at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.

Upcoming Shows:

Thursday, November 2, 2017: Barbara Malley will perform "Oh My God: Am I a Diva?" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano, as a benefit for Housing Works at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

November 4-19 2017: Erin Cronican is directing and starring in, "Jack Goes Boating" a play with The Seeing Place Theater, 64 East 4th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 6, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 10, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 (5:30pm): Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 (7pm): Frances O'Flynn will perform (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 13, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing and Ian Herman at the piano, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

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

Sunday, November 19, 2017 (5pm): Bobbie Horowitz will present "It's Just a Number" featuring Sally Darling and Bob Diamond at The Triad, 158 W. 72nd Street, NYC.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling is appearing in "Together" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 25, 2017: Robin Kradles is bringing back her show, "Gambling On Love" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, December 3, 2017 (4:30pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 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.

Saturday, December 10, 2017 (4pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 16, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling is appearing in "Together" at Winter Rhythms, Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 16, 2017: Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano and Peter Napolitano as Director as part of "Winter Rhythms" at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 16, 2017: Janice Hall will perform "The Opera Show With No Opera" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano as part of "Winter Rhythms" at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Monday, December 18, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing and Ian Herman at the piano, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, December 21, 2017 (7pm): Matthew Martin Ward will present his show "After the Fair" at the Winter Rhythms Festival - starring Rebecca Luker - at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017: Sally Darling and Matthew Martin Ward bring back her show "Love, Lust, and Longing" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

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

Erin Cronican
"Blogette" for The Salon

See something you'd like to edit/add? Email me.

The Salon Wrap-Up for October 22, 2017: "Longing For Change"

As Mark Janas was still out performing with Kathleen Turner, we needed a change of hands at the piano; with the theme of "Longing For Change," our Guest Host was the illustrious and consistently amazing Ian Herman.  Ian spent the evening hitting the 88's for most of the evening, but especially for the sultry co-host, Dawn Derow. In her 1940's garb (complete with red-hot lipstick) and a powerful voice with range, jazzy sweet straight-tone and a powerful belt to match the era, Dawn first swung into a combination of "Let's Get Away From it All" into "How About You?" and informed us that a cocktail in 1941 cost .75 cents, which means a two-drink minimum was only $1.50! Indeed, Dawn had many little tidbits of information regarding historical factoids from 1941 throughout the evening, and offered packages of Peanut M&Ms for anyone who was new to The Salon, since those candies made their debut in 1941 as well! For her Act II set, she leaned against the piano and cheekily sang the spicy "The Saga of Jenny" by Kurt Weill. After revealing her process losing her original Musical Director, Barry Levitt, a month ago, she honored his memory by singing "My Ship," with a gorgeous a cappella vocal opening. She then shot straight into "Blues in the Night," which featured her soulful belt.  To wrap the entire evening up with a cocoon of vintage warmth, Dawn put on a period sweater and her soprano voice with the soaring "White Cliffs of Dover," a 1941 lullaby by Walter Kent and Nat Burton.

Dawn Derow

Her show "My Ship: Songs From 1941" - Directed by Jeff Harnar - will feature both nautical songs and ditties written in '41 on November 4th at 2:00pm ($40 tickets which will be a benefit for the family of the late, great Barry Levitt), and November 29th at 7:00pm at The Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC. Tom Hubbard on bass and and Daniel Glass/Ray Marchika on drums, with Ian Herman replacing Barry at the piano.

Salon Spotlight

Our spotlight on Sunday was Marnie Klar, who sang selections of her upcoming show "Bedtime Stories," a romp through a number of bed-related events, from fairy tales, to concepts of hopes and dreams to (yes) sexy time under the sheets. With her expressive eyes, youthful wistfulness, and comedienne chops, she started out with Mary Rogers and Stephen Sondheim's "The Boy From..." from The Mad Show, featuring all the comedic diction possible.  She then went into the dreamily blue yet still innocent "Something Cool" by Billy Barnes. Finally, she switched into ebullient children's theater storytelling with "The Tale of the Oyster" by Cole Porter from Fifty Million Frenchman, and had so much fun on stage it was palpable.

Marnie Klar will perform her show "Bedtime Stories" on Wednesday, October 25, Wednesday, November 8, 2017, Friday, November 10, 2017 (all at 7pm), and Saturday, December 10, 2017 and Tuesday, December 19, 2017 (both at 4pm), Directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Quick Wrap - Ian's Corner

Ian Herman took to the piano spotlight to play in his little corner of the room to first play "Too Fast," an original piece he wrote as an ode to George Gershwin, which had some of the most nimble piano playing I've ever heard, and (talk about "Longing to Change!") key and jazz rhythm/tempo changes throughout from one theme to the next. George would have been proud...or if you believe in karma, it was almost as if George was already at the piano! Ian then played another original entitled "Edwina," a rolling Latin-infused piece with hot rhythms that made me dance in my seat at one point, but then brought a darkly ominous middle section into the mix before bringing us back into the burning rhythm as before. As a pianist, Ian is an amazingly supportive player, but as a soloist at the keys, he is absolutely stunning!

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 Ian Herman unless otherwise noted.

Co-Host: Dawn Derow
Bobbie Horowitz (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Michael Colby
Rian Keating
Ira Lee Collings
Joe Peck
Linda Glick
Angela Leone
Amy Beth Williams
Kim Castlemain (self at the piano)
Frances O'Flynn and Matthew Martin Ward (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Janice Hall (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward
Sarah Rice
Sierra Rein
Salon Spotlight: Marnie Klar (with Stephen Ray Watkins on piano)

Ian's Corner: Ian Herman

BREAK

Co-Host: Dawn Derow

Tanya Moberly
Charles Evans
Grace Callahan
Jen Bradley
Joe Peck (encore)
Amy Beth Williams (encore)
Rian Keating (encore)
Ira Lee Collins (encore, with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Sarah Rice (encore)
Sierra Rein (encore)
Frances O'Flynn (encore)
Bobbie Horowitz (encore, with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Janice Hall (encore, with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (encore, self on piano)
Co-Host: Dawn Derow

Special thanks to tonight's musicians: Ian Herman, Matthew Martin Ward, Kim Castlemain, and Stephen Ray Watkin.

Thank you, also, to Janice Hall on lights and sound, Joe and our amazing waitstaff, and the management at Etcetera Etcetera.

Ongoing Shows:

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

Weekly: Bill Zeffiro plays and sings with a rotating list of guests at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.

Upcoming Shows:

Monday, October 23, 2017 (6pm): Sierra Rein will perform "Love in the Time of Recession: A Musical" an original 20-minute musical by Peter Saxe as part of "Across a Crowded Room" at The Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017  (7pm): "Bedtime Stories" with Marnie Klar (Directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017 (7:30pm): Linda Glick will perform "Teach Me Tonight" with Ian Herman at the piano, at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

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

Saturday, October 28, 2017 (2pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 29, 2017 (7pm): Sarah Rice and Sierra Rein (as part of Marquee Five) will sing in "Sondheim Unplugged: Into Sweeney Todd's Woods" at Feinstein's 54 Below.

Sunday, October 29, 2017 (7:15pm): Ira Lee Collings in "The Gay Geezer: Life Is A Song – So Why Not Sing it?” at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017 (7:30pm): Linda Glick will perform "Teach Me Tonight" with Ian Herman at the piano, at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Thursday, November 2, 2017: Barbara Malley will perform "Oh My God: Am I a Diva?" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano, as a benefit for Housing Works at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 6, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 10, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 10, 2017 (7:30pm): Linda Glick will perform "Teach Me Tonight" with Ian Herman at the piano, at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 (5:30pm): Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 (7pm): Frances O'Flynn will perform (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 13, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing and Ian Herman at the piano, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017 (6:30pm): Rian Keating will perform his show "there is a time: songs of love and life" as a benefit for the Lower East Side Preparatory High School MeiLing Tse - Virginia Yu Scholarship Fund at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

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

Saturday, November 18, 2017 (4:00pm): Rian Keating will perform his show "there is a time: songs of love and life" as a benefit for the Lower East Side Preparatory High School MeiLing Tse - Virginia Yu Scholarship Fund at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, November 19, 2017 (5pm): Bobbie Horowitz will present "It's Just a Number" featuring Sally Darling and Bob Diamond at The Triad, 158 W. 72nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 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.

Saturday, December 10, 2017 (4pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 16, 2017: Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano and Peter Napolitano as Director as part of "Winter Rhythms" at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 16, 2017: Janice Hall will perform "The Opera Show With No Opera" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano as part of "Winter Rhythms" at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Monday, December 18, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing and Ian Herman at the piano, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, December 21, 2017 (7pm): Matthew Martin Ward will present his show "After the Fair" at the Winter Rhythms Festival - starring Rebecca Luker - at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017: Sally Darling and Matthew Martin Ward bring back her show "Love, Lust, and Longing" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

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

NEXT SALON!

As is SALON TRADITION, we will have an amazing Halloween Salon night on October 29th, 2017, with scarily talented Co-Hosts Janice Hall and Adam Shapiro leading us through screamingly good shanties and apparition-filled arias with the theme of "Eat, Drink, and Be Scary." Costumes are encouraged! Even more frightening, the Salon Spotlight will be on Daryl Glenn, Mardie Millit & Molly Pope! Ooooooooooo!

Sierra Rein
"Blogette" for The Salon
See something you'd like to edit/add? Email me.

The Salon Wrap-Up for October 15, 2017: "Livin' The Dream"

We arrived at The Salon on one of the last warm days of the year, and found even warmer hearts and music in the upstairs lounge at Etc Etc Restaurant. This week's Co-Host was MAC & Bistro Award Winner Barbara Brussell, who brought the inspiring theme "Livin' The Dream."

Barbara bolted up to the stage in a bundle of energy to kick off the evening. She started with the hilarious and charming, "Putting Things Away" which was all about the love of shopping but hating the reality of what to do once you get the items home. At the top of her mid-show set, Barbara blew the audience away with a mash up of "This Nearly Was Mine" and "Once Upon A Time" - a stunningly innovative classic theater medley. She followed that with a song that I think all of us could relate to: the exasperated comedy song, "I'd Rather Sing A Song" (than be a doctor, etc!) Her third song of the mid-show set was a heartbreaking, "Strangers Once Again" - the audience was so silent you could hear a pin drop. To close out the evening, Barbara leapt to the stage to sing a darling song by Ron Miller called, "Whenever You Find Yourself" from a little known musical called, "Clothespins and Dreams."

Barbara will be appearing in The 28th New York Cabaret Convention at Rose Hall at Lincoln Center – Broadway at 60th St, NYC, 10019 – on Wednesday, October 18th at 6pm and at Don’t Tell Mama – 343 West 46th St, NYC 10036 – in THIS MOMENT on October 20th at 7pm. For more information: www.mabelmercer.org / www.donttellmamanyc.com

Co-Host Barbara Brussell

Salon Spotlight

This week's Salon Spotlight was none other than Mark Nadler, an internationally acclaimed singer, pianist, tap-dancer and comedian and recipient of the 2015 Broadway World Editor's Choice Award for Entertainer of the Year.

Mark started his set by telling a hilarious story about a time he accompanied our co-host, Barbara, at a Sex and Love Anonymous Talent Show. (No joke.) After telling some more stories about their adventures, he mused on the theme and sat down at the piano to play and sing, "Autumn In New York." He then told a hilarious (and unfortunate) story about a couple of jazz singers who had a habit of cutting songs before the ending lyric. "Example: Don't they know it's the end of the world? It ended when we said...GOODNIGHT EVERYONE!" And after a charming story about Irving Berlin, he said he would oblige Barbara's request for a ballad with a poignant, "Come a Little Closer," which then segued into the delicate, "The Way You Look Tonight" by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields. He closed his set with a jaunty, " 'S Wonderful" which morphed into Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" - sometimes at the same time in true mashup form! (Oh, and did I mention that he played the piano for himself AND ran around the room impersonating different "audience members" saying what they thought of his performance? AMAZING.)

Mark will be appearing at the Cabaret Convention Tuesday, October 17, 2017. For more information about upcoming shows, visit his website at www.marknadler.com

Salon Spotlight: Mark Nadler

Quick Wrap - Classical Corner

Mark Janas gave us an amazing lesson on the quintessential music for living in dreams: Classic music theater! Mark defined classic as "something that has worn through time with a high standard." In music it technically refers to eras like Mozart's, but in music theater we think of musicals from 50 years and beyond.

One thing that Mark remarked on was that in many musicals the music was written from top to bottom but the composers themselves (rather than having others flesh out their melodies or orchestrations.) The first musical that he referenced in tonight's corner was Camelot by Lerner and Loewe. Did you know that when the show originated it ran 4.5 hours, instead of the promised 2.5 hours? (And I can attest to this, because when I did the show it was well over 3 hours and our union musicians walked out at the 3 hours mark every night because they we're being paid overtime!) Mark looked at one of the pieces from the show, "The Simple Joys of Maidenhood" which has a classical/operatic structure with complex keys that change over and over and over and over. He then invited Erin Cronican (yours truly) up to the music to sing the song.

We then moved to Meredith Willson's The Music Man. Mark said that the first time he learned about the show was from his high school chorus teacher who said that when Willson wrote the piece everyone told him the show would never succeed because it was too old fashioned - too much a throwback. ("Poor Meredith," his teacher said, "Crying all the way to the bank!") Like some of Frank Loesser's music, the next song rides the fine line between musical theater and an art song. He demonstrated a section of the music that was reminiscent of Puccini's M Butterfly - and he said that like Bernstein's music in West Side Story, Willson innovated on what's classic to make it new again (and complex to perform!) He then asked Erin Cronican (me again!) to sing, "My White Night" from the musical.

We finally came to Rodgers and Hammerstein. Mark talked about having dinner with Mary Rodgers (Richard Rodgers' daughter, and Adam Guettel's mother). He asked her what it was like to grow up listening to great music being composed, like "Some Enchanted Evening" and she said it was repressive. Mark asked how, and she said that as a child she was rarely allowed to run around and be rambunctious because there needed to be quiet in the house! She also told a story of how one night there were dozens of luminaries in their home (Hammerstein, Gershwin, etc) and after she went to bed Gershwin got on the piano and sang through - for the first time ever - the full score for Porgy and Bess. Mark asked, stunned, "He was playing Porgy and Bess and you didn't hear it?!" She said, "Well I was only three year old!" (We love these stories, Mark!!) Mark then asked Janice Hall to come to the stage to share with us one of the most beloved anthems of music theater, "You'll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel. 

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 Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.

Co-Host: Barbara Brussell
JoAna Gray
Christy Frye
Todd Fernandez (also on piano)
Annie Lebeaux (also on piano)
Frances O'Flynn (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (also on piano)
David Ballard
Erin Cronican
Janice Hall (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)

Classical Corner: Mark Janas, Erin Cronican, Janice Hall

BREAK

Co-Host: Barbara Brussell

Tanya Moberly
Salon Spotlight: Mark Nadler
Annie Lebeaux (encore, also on piano)
Todd Fernandez (encore, also on piano)
Frances O'Flynn (encore, with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Janice Hall (encore, with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (also on piano)
JoAna Gray (encore)
Tanya Moberly (encore)
David Ballard (encore)
Co-Host: Barbara Brussell

Special thanks to tonight's musicians: Mark Janas, Matthew Martin Ward, Mark Nadler, Annie Lebeaux, and Todd Fernandez.

Thank you, also, to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound, David Ballard and our amazing waitstaff, and the management at Etc Etc.


Ongoing Shows:

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

Weekly: Bill Zeffiro plays and sings with a rotating list of guests at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.


Upcoming Shows:

October 16-19, 2017 (6pm): This year's Cabaret Convention features Tanya Moberly, Adam B. Shapiro, Matthew Martin Ward, Barbara Brussell, Mark Nadler, Ritt Henn, Shana Farr, and others, at the Rose Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60th Street.

Friday, October 20, 2017 (7pm): Barbara Brussell is appearing in her show, "This Moment" at Don't Tell Mama,  345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, October 20, 2017 (8pm): Mark Janas, Ritt Henn and Sean Harkness will play for Kathleen Turner in "Finding My Voice" at Feinstein's San Francisco, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco.

Saturday, October 21, 2017 (8pm): Mark Janas, Ritt Henn and Sean Harkness will play for Kathleen Turner in "Finding My Voice" at Feinstein's San Francisco, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco.

Saturday, October 21, 2017 (4pm): JoAna Gray in "Defying Expectations, Defining Dreams" (Director: Faith Prince, Musical Director: Christopher Denny) at The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 22, 2017 (2-7pm): Erin Cronican is hosting a Artist Flea Market to benefit The Seeing Place, at West 3rd Common, 1 West 3rd St, NYC

Monday, October 23, 2017 (6pm): Sierra Rein will perform "Love in the Time of Recession: A Musical" an original 20-minute musical by Peter Saxe as part of "Across a Crowded Room" at The Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017  (7pm): "Bedtime Stories" with Marnie Klar (Directed by Tanya Moberly) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

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

Saturday, October 28, 2017 (2pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 29, 2017 (7pm): Sierra Rein (as part of Marquee Five) will sing in "Sondheim Unplugged: Into Sweeney Todd's Woods" at Feinstein's 54 Below,

November 4-19 2017: Erin Cronican is directing and starring in, "Jack Goes Boating" a play with The Seeing Place Theater, 64 East 4th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 6, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 10, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 (5:30pm): Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017: Frances O'Flynn will perform (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 13, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

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

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 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.

Saturday, December 10, 2017 (4pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 16, 2017: Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano and Peter Napolitano as Director as part of "Winter Rhythms" at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Monday, December 18, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, December 21, 2017 (7pm): Matthew Martin Ward will present his show "After the Fair" at the Winter Rhythms Festival - starring Rebecca Luker - at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017: Sally Darling and Matthew Martin Ward bring back her show "Love, Lust, and Longing" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

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



NEXT SALON!

On Sunday, October 22th, the theme will be "Longing For Change" with Guest Host: Ian Herman, your Co-Host, Dawn Derow, and Salon Spotlight, Marnie Klar.


--Erin Cronican
"Blogette" for The Salon
See something you'd like to edit/add? Email me.

The Salon Wrap-up for October 8, 2017: "What's in a Name?"

As Mark laid out at the top of the evening: "language lies." It is symbolism incarnate, and requires a certain kind of leap of acceptance. Indeed, even chimpanzees are able to recognize the name of an apple, and sign “hurt ouch apple” when handed an onion. The theme of this evening, "What's in a Name," allowed us to sing songs with particular names in them, or songs about identity. Our Co-host was the lovely Ruth Carlin (with "Co-Co-Host" Paul Greenwood at the piano), who started the evening's events with a sultry, eyebrow-raised version of "Bill" from Show Boat. After a short intermission, Ruth returned to sing in many languages about her unique love, "Irving," and by the end of the nimble song we were in love with...Irrrrrving...too! Switching gears, she sang "Suzanne," a meditative Leonard Cohen song that was featured in her last show. She then lit up the stage with brimstone and promises of blood with the infamous and well-remembered "Pirate Jenny" from The Threepenny Opera by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Bertolt Brecht. At the end of the evening, she put us into a musical trip with "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" as a slow and lovely waltz.

Ruth Carlin

Ruth will premier her new show "Kaleidescope Eyes" for four dates: November 4th, November 12th, November 14th (at 7pm) and November 11th (at 1pm). Lina Koutrakos will be directing with Paul Greenwood at the piano at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Salon Spotlight!

Amy Engelhardt (arriving here straight from LA but originally from NJ) has a huge smile and a great deal of nostalgia for things that "sucked," which she claims is an East Coast phenomenon. Sitting at the piano herself, she sang some original songs (as World Premieres!) detailing some of these sucky things. Amy began her Spotlight set with her sultry, bluesy "That Minor Third," which highlighted her clever lyrics and ability to turn the melody towards an ironic phrase. As a bridge and tunnel kid growing up, she was excited to then sing "Bridge and Tunnel" (from Triptych, her original set of short musicals commissioned by New York City's New York Transit Museum); it humorously lamented all the tolls, travel, and stuck-in-traffic woes involved in dating between NJ and NYC, with a little nod to Chris Christie. She left us with another new song, the free-flowing and plaintively sweet "Will You Love Me?"

Amy will perform "My Own Devices II" tonight on Monday, October 9th (7pm) at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th Street, NYC, and "Triptych," a showcase of three original 10-minute musicals (sponsored through a New York City commission!) at The New York Transit Museum on Tuesday, October 17th, 2017 (6pm). Directed by Rene Ruiz with musical direction by Matthew Liu, starring Jennifer Malenke, Rene Ruiz and Evan Ruggerio, it will be set and performed on the Crosstown M42 bus situated there!

Quick Wrap - Classical Corner

Tonight's Classical Corner dared to bring in some heavy hitting vocals in a celebration of some well-"named" Diva roles from Opera repertoire. Our stellar guest singer was María Fernanda Brea Moeller, whose soprano voice is preternatural in strength, clarity and expression. Mark first heard her Opera Open mic at Edo Sushi with Matthew Martin Ward years ago, and his jaw dropped at her voice and ability to interpret a lyric. She has studied Opera at Manhattan School of Music, Julliard, and has been seen singing Opera in San Francisco and recently will return to Palm Beach Opera. I've sung with her myself at church, and to hear her voice reverberate against church walls is a more-than-religious experience! Read more about Maria here.

María Fernanda Brea Moeller

Her first number, "Chanson Triste," was written by composer Henri Duparc, who only wrote a few pieces in his life, with French lyrics by Jean Lahor. When she was at Julliard, Maria's teacher assigned this piece to her, and it has blossomed even further as she has worked on it over the years. The French lyrics, which Mark spoke through at the top of the song, have been translated thusly:

In your heart sleeps a moonlight,

a soft summer's moonlight,

and, to flee from this relentless life,

I shall drown myself in your brightness.

I shall forget past sufferings,

my beloved, when you cradle

my sad heart and my thoughts

in the loving peace of your arms.

Oh! Sometimes you will take

my sick head upon your knees,

and will tell it a ballad

which will seem to speak of us;

and in your eyes full of sorrows,

in your eyes then I shall drink

so many kisses and tokens of love,

that perhaps I shall recover.

(translated by Christopher Goldsack)

She then cooed her way through the romantic "Me voilà seule...Comme autrefois" from Les Pêcheurs de Perles by Georges Bizet. A dramatic aria, it is basically the "My Boyfriend's Back" song; in it, a Priestess thinks how she might have seen her ex-boyfriend in the town, and wants/hopes/desires to know if she was simply seeing things or not (spoiler: she wasn't just seeing things, and those particular things get steamy from there on!). Maria's emotional delivery and fully rounded voice kept us on the edge of our seats!

As a final song we heard her native tongue (Maria originally hails from Venezuela) singing "La petenera" from La Marchenera by Spanish composers F. Moreno Torroba and G. del Toro. She sang the role of Valentina, a Countess, who is politically powerful yet at the same time is being snubbed by the man she wants to marry. This song is sung-slash-dictated to the town Balladeer, who is now supposed to take her story and make it well known to her would-be lover and the whole city. The way Maria sang, it was no question that the Balladeer soon had fire, spite, and a very pointed love letter to sing in the streets.

Thank you, Maria, for singing for us last night!

Side Note: Warm-hearted Jen Bradley brought a bouquet of lavendar and yellow roses for the entire group to share and take home!

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 Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.

Co-Host: Ruth Carlin (with Paul Greenwood at the piano)
Mark Cummings

Joana Gray

Susan Mack

John Carlucci

Rian Keating
Jen Bradley
Marcia Roney (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Barb Malley (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Ira Lee Collings (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self at the piano)
Mary Roser

David Ballard

Sierra Rein
Marnie Klar

Classical Corner

BREAK

Co-Host: Ruth Carlin (with Paul Greenwood at the piano) 

Tanya Moberly
Leanne Borghesi and David Maiocco (with David Maiocco at the piano)
Ritt Henn (with self on ukulele)
Frances O'Flynn (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Andrea Wolff (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Katie McGrath (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Caitlin Fahey
Rod Ferguson

Co-Host:  Ruth Carlin (with Paul Greenwood at the piano)

Thank you to this evening's videographer, James Eden, to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound, David Ballard and our amazing waitstaff, and the management at Etc Etc.

Ongoing Shows:

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

Weekly: Bill Zeffiro plays and sings with a rotating list of guests at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.

Upcoming Shows:

Wednesday, October 11, 2017 (7pm): Ritt Henn performs his original works in the show "Songs From the Great American Rittbook" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, October 12, 2017 (7pm): Rod Ferguson in "Some Others I've Seen: Stumbling Towards Love" at Club Cafe, 209 Columbus Ave, Boston, MASS.

Saturday, October 14, 2017 (4pm): Marcia Roney is "Letting Go" with the help of Matthew Martin Ward at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

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

Thursday, October 19, 2017 (1pm): "Wild About Harry" with Mark Cummings in Tuckahoe, NY.

Thursday, October 19, 2017 (7pm): Rod Ferguson in "Some Others I've Seen: Stumbling Towards Love" at Club Cafe, 209 Columbus Ave, Boston, MASS.

Friday, October 20, 2017 (8pm): Mark Janas, Ritt Henn and Sean Harkness will play for Kathleen Turner in "Finding My Voice" at Feinstein's San Francisco, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco.

Saturday, October 21, 2017 (8pm): Mark Janas, Ritt Henn and Sean Harkness will play for Kathleen Turner in "Finding My Voice" at Feinstein's San Francisco, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco.

Saturday, October 21, 2017 (4pm): Joana Gray in "Defying Expectations, Defining Dreams" (Director: Faith Prince, Musical Director: Christopher Denny) at The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street, NYC.

Saturday, October 21, 2017 (4pm): Caitlin Fahey is a Party of One" at Don't Tell Mama,  345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, October 23, 2017 (6pm): Sierra Rein will perform "Love in the Time of Recession: A Musical" an original 20-minute musical by Peter Saxe as part of "Across a Crowded Room" at The Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017  (7pm): "Bedtime Stories" with Marnie Klar (Directed by Tanya Moberly) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, October 26, 2017 (7pm): Rod Ferguson in "Some Others I've Seen: Stumbling Towards Love" at Club Cafe, 209 Columbus Ave, Boston, MASS.

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

Friday, October 27, 2017 (10pm): Katie McGrath will perform "Significant Others" as a Benefit of Operation Lipstick.

Saturday, October 28, 2017 (2pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 29, 2017 (7:15pm): Ira Lee Collings in "The Gay Geezer: Life Is A Song – So Why Not Sing it?” at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 29, 2017 (7pm): Sierra Rein (as part of Marquee Five) will sing in "Sondheim Unplugged: Into Sweeney Todd's Woods" at Feinstein's 54 Below,

Thursday, November 2, 2017: Barbara Malley will perform "Oh My God: Am I a Diva?" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano, as a benefit for Housing Works at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, November 2, 2017 (7pm): "Manhattan Cabaret Arts" featuring Susan Mack, John Carlucci, and Mary Roser - with Direction by Collette Black - at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 4, 2017 (4pm): Marcia Roney is "Letting Go" with the help of Matthew Martin Ward at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 6, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Monday, November 6, 2017 (7pm): Leanne Borghesi will have "Mood Swings" at The Triad, 158 72nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 10, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 (9pm): Leanne Borghesi will have "Mood Swings" at The Triad, 158 72nd Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 (5:30pm): Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano and Peter Napolitano as Director) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017: Frances O'Flynn will perform with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano.

Monday, November 13, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017 (6:30pm): Rian Keating (with Woody Regan, Musical Director) in "there is a time: songs of love and life" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

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

Saturday, November 18, 2017 (7pm): Rod Ferguson and others (Musical Director: Brian Patton) in "The USO Radio Show: A Tribute To The Music Of The World War II Years" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 18, 2017 (4:00pm): Rian Keating  (with Woody Regan, Musical Director) in "there is a time: songs of love and life" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 1, 2017 (7pm): Caitlin Fahey stars in debut show "Party of One" with Rick Jensen (MD) and Lina Koutrakos (Dir) 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.

Saturday, December 10, 2017 (4pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 16, 2017: Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano and Peter Napolitano as Director as part of "Winter Rhythms" at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Monday, December 18, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, December 21, 2017 (7pm): Matthew Martin Ward will present his show "After the Fair" at the Winter Rhythms Festival - starring Rebecca Lukor - at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017: Sally Darling and Matthew Martin Ward bring back her show "Love, Lust, and Longing" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

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

NEXT SALON!
On Sunday, October 15th, the theme will be "Livin’ Your Dream" with Co-Host: Barbara Brussell. As the Salon Spotlight, it'll be Heather Mac Rae! Bring your songs about inspiration, goals, the struggles we face, or those who make it all worth striving for!

--Sierra Rein
"Blogette" for The Salon
See an "oops!" or is something incomplete? Email me.

The Salon Wrap-up for October 1, 2017: "A Little Bit Off"

Mark bounded back to the Salon stage on Sunday night, back from "playing hookie" from NYC, proud of having performed with Kathleen Turner, Sean Harkness, and Ritt Henn in Philadelphia. In October, they're going to have two shows at Feinstein's in San Francisco (October 20th and October 21st) and next year will be London!

Our theme for this evening was a little bit weird...I mean odd...I mean..."A Little Bit Off" with guest host, Monica Salvi. At the piano, tickling the keys as Ms. Salvi's "psychotherapianist," was the tall and dapper Michael Ferreri. Monica is here from London (via her home country of Italy) to perform at The United Solo Festival: read up all about her solo show, taking place on Saturday, October 7th, at www.madwoman.org.uk. Her inventive show, "Mad Women in My Attic!" is offered as "musical group therapy," and Monica helped each of us as a clever Co-Host by handing out little smile-printed "tranquilizers" to each of us after we sang - within each little pill was a tiny scroll that had her website on it!

Mad props for the Mad Co-Host of the Evening!

Monica began her evening dressed in a top hat and classic "dance hall" corset, singing "Dangerous Cabaret," a tribute to cabaret stars of yesteryear combined with a dramatic warning of what is to be expected of her evening, emblematic of a Kurt Weill song, belted to perfection. After a costume change, Act II was started by Monica transformed into a be-turbaned Diva with a few screws demonstrably loose. After a story about her Italian teen years seeing Andrew Lloyd Weber musicals, she realized her dreams of Divatude, complete with stalkers. In this dazzling garb she sang "With One Look" from the musical Sunset Boulevard, and then went on to note how composers know how write really beautiful songs for mad woman. Monica then flowed into an example of this, the hauntingly beautiful "By The River" by Maury Yeston (from his song cycle, December Songs), featuring Monica's silvery high soprano notes. She then took a 180 and chastised Yeston's heroine for settling on just one man by finishing off her Act II opening set with the comedic Black Widow song "To Keep My Love Alive," handing out (or throwing in turn) roses to each of her tragically chosen "loves" in the audience. With a final costume change into a modest black lace dress, Monica proved her ability to belt out good advice with "The Get Well March" and had us all singing along with zany, mad aplomb to end the evening. You can view Monica's website at www.monicasalvi.com for all future bookings and media.

Monica Salvi

"Mad Women in My Attic!" starring Monica Salvi with Michael Ferreri at the piano and directed by Clare McKenna will take place at the United Solo Theatre Festival at Theater Row (Studio) on Saturday, October 7, 2017 (4pm) 410 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Salon Spotlight!

Ira Lee Collings has been a staple of the Cabaret community for many years, and his joyous 2017 Hansen Award Winner was much deserved this past year. Last night, Ira provided us with the same joy as our Spotlight performer, with help by pianist John Cook. With his high tenor range, spritely attitude and enormous heart, Ira regaled us to his Indiana childhood, the songs that influenced him growing up, and shared a selection of his personal Top 10 songs that most influenced him. Taking advantage of the nimble jazz finger of John Cook at the piano, Ira started out with Nat King Cole's "Route 66" (sung with a few cheeky gay-friendly items added in). Ira then waved a little rainbow flag, detailing how he experienced his first gay pride parade in New York on 5th Avenue in 1970, and expressed the emotion he felt when he witnessed the brave young men and women marching then. From this memory, he powerfully and emotionally belted out "No Matter What Happens." We then got to "the mother of all weed songs" with the samba-comedy song "I'm Too Old to Die Young," complete with maracas and tons of naughty joy!

Ira Lee Collings, with John Cook at the piano, can be seen in "The Gay Geezer: Life Is A Song – So Why Not Sing It? And Weed Songs...” at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Quick Wrap - Classical Corner

Last night's theme of "A Little Bit Off" reminded Mark of one particular piece of music, Chopin's Nocturne Opus 9 No 3, which is one of those pieces that Mark has heard since he was 18 years old, but hadn't yet learned to play fully. As Mark continued to explain, this particular piece has so many odd dissonances, even for Chopin. It has an interesting melody, heading down the scale by 1/2 steps, and uses the left hand in bare octaves (which feels a little naked for Chopin); combined with the melody, it all makes for some tritones and disjointed dissonances. Then it suddenly hits an incredibly random series of top notes that seem to flutter around until it reaches a fairly consonant section. A series of cadences, in which they deceptively lead the ear into an unexpected harmony, then appears, leading into a different harmony that finally resolves. There's also an off way that Chopin creates the rhythmic dissonance, by grouping odd combinations of rhythms in the left and right hands (groups of threes against groups of five, then three against seven, then three against four). As a side note,  playing 3 against 4 can be practiced by using Mark's piano teacher's "Pass the Goddamn butter" trick. Mark even pointed out jazz open seventh chords (almost unheard of in Chopin's day) hidden within this piece. Bringing back the concept of "pedal point" from Matthew Martin Ward's corner from last week, Mark showed how the top line changes and floats above the pedal'd bass line and then how the B major key goes to a B minor towards the end, clashing triplets in the bass with a series of eighths in the right hand (with the melody above it all) until another deceptive cadence into C major suddenly jars our ears. Chopin then takes us in and out of keys for a while, keeping us on our toes and "off kilter" until we finally get back to the original (albeit eccentric) B major key melody. A lovely 11 against 4 portion (which Mark admits he has a natural ability to play) leads us into the coda, which has many deceptive cadences until we finally trill ourselves into a cascading series of chromatic two's in groups of threes into a gentle landing. WHEW! What an odd adventure! Mark encouraged us to listen to a recording online (like this one) and hear all these nuances to this piece on our own time.

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 Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.

Co-Host: Monica Salvi (with Michael Ferreri on piano)
Carol Sue
Rian Keating
Caitlin Fahey

Becca Kidwell
Sally Darling
Angela Leone (with John Cook at the piano) - PR Church benefit

David Ballard

Sierra Rein
Adam B. Shapiro

Salon Spotlight: Ira Lee Collings (with John Cook on piano)

Classical Corner

BREAK

Co-Host: Monica Salvi (with Michael Ferreri on piano)

Tanya Moberly
Richie Eisenberg
Jen Bradley
Becca Kidwell (encore)
Caitlin Fahey (encore)
Sally Darling (encore)
Adam B. Shapiro (encore)
Sierra Rein (encore) 

David Ballard (encore)

Co-Host: Monica Salvi (with Michael Ferreri on piano)

Thank you to this evening's videographer, Michael Stever, to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound, David Ballard and our amazing waitstaff, and the management at Etc Etc.

Ongoing Shows:

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

Weekly: Bill Zeffiro plays and sings with a rotating list of guests at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.

Upcoming Shows:

Monday, October 2, 2017 (7:15pm): Ira Lee Collings with John Cook at the piano in "The Gay Geezer: Life Is A Song – So Why Not Sing It? And Weed Songs...” at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, October 4, 2017: Angela Leone will sing at La Rivista Restaurant, 313 W 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, October 4, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

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

Saturday, October 7, 2017 (4pm): "Mad Women in My Attic!" starring Monica Salvi with Michael Ferreri at the piano and directed by Clare McKenna will take place at the United Solo Theatre Festival at Theater Row (Studio) at 410 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 8, 2017 (1pm): Sally Darling will be a part of "Richard Skipper Celebrates" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.

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

Friday, October 20, 2017 (8pm): Mark Janas, Ritt Henn and Sean Harkness will play for Kathleen Turner in "Finding My Voice" at Feinstein's San Francisco, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco.

Saturday, October 21, 2017 (8pm): Mark Janas, Ritt Henn and Sean Harkness will play for Kathleen Turner in "Finding My Voice" at Feinstein's San Francisco, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco.

Saturday October 21, 2017 (4pm): Caitlin Fahey stars in debut show "Party of One" with Rick Jensen (MD) and Lina Koutrakos (Dir) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

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

Saturday, October 28, 2017 (2pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 29, 2017 (7:15pm): Ira Lee Collings in "The Gay Geezer: Life Is A Song – So Why Not Sing it?” at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 6, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 10, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 13, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017 (6:30pm): Rian Keating (with Woody Regan, Musical Director) in "there is a time: songs of love and life" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

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

Saturday, November 18, 2017 (4:00pm): Rian Keating  (with Woody Regan, Musical Director) in "there is a time: songs of love and life" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling will be part of "Together: 2017 Cabaret Award-Nominated Vocalists" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 24, 2017 (7pm): Carol Sue presents "Carol Sue Sings to the Amazing You," with Keith Ingram and Band (a show based on her book!) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 1, 2017 (7pm): Caitlin Fahey stars in debut show "Party of One" with Rick Jensen (MD) and Lina Koutrakos (Dir) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, December 3, 2017 (4:30pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 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.

Saturday, December 10, 2017 (4pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 15, 2017: Sally Darling will be part of "Together: 2017 Cabaret Award-Nominated Vocalists" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, December 18, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017: Sally Darling and Matthew Martin Ward bring back her show "Love, Lust, and Longing" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

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

NEXT SALON!
Next Salon will be October 8th, 2017, when our Co-Host Ruth Carlin will ask us all the theme "What's in a Name"? Do you have an answer??? Plus, Amy Engelhardt will be our Salon Spotlight!

--Sierra Rein
"Blogette" for The Salon
See an "oops!" or is something incomplete? Email me.