Monday, May 21, 2018

The Salon Wrap-Up for May 20th, 2018: "How Low Can You Go?"


For one being so tall, our Co-Host Ritt Henn sure knows how to get low. The theme was "How Low Can You Go?" and Bassman Ritt provided some bass notes as only a Bistro Award and MAC Award winner (who just came back from India and will go to Madison Square Garden in Vancouver and China this year!) could. Mark Janas (showing no sign of jet lag after returning from his London and Edinburgh tour with Ms. Turner) introduced Ritt to the stage, and Ritt proceeded to sing and host with his trademark wit, goofy play, and amazing bass skills. Ritt and Mark Janas, along with Sean Harkness on lead guitar, can also be seen in the coming weeks at Kathleen Turner's show "Finding My Voice" at Cafe Carlyle.

Ritt started by accompanying himself on bass as he sang his own work, the charming and romantic "Born to Hold You in My Arms," which featured his sense of humor and some musical puns. He regaled us with a story of having a "walking bass solo with a wireless rig" and actually carrying the bass outside into the sidewalk area and then back into the club - he loves being literal! For his mid-show set, Ritt explained that the theme of the evening was relates to Kathleen Turner, who can sing a half note lower than he can sing early in the morning. As he put it, "Sometimes 'low' is a note, sometimes it's a state of mind" before going into the bluesy "Helen Keller and Me," again accompanying himself on upright bass with trademark cheeky humor. He then introduced the idea of lowering one's blood pressure and started on an original tune "Zen and the Art of Waiting in Line." He had the whole audience in an introductory "OMMM," and then added some adorable whistling and fast-zen dextrous bass plunks and vocals to tell the story of how to deal with the queue-waiting-blues (we've all been there) with clever lyrics like "trade my rant for a chant...ommm" and teaching us his "Sinatra Mantra." He then switched from the upright bass to electric bass, talked about India's roadside stands called "Cool Parlours," and introduced his other and better half Beth Falcone, who took to a mic to talk about their India trip together. Apparently, their luggage didn't make it to Bangalor, so they then went shopping - she was dressed in a gorgeous red-tinged Indian garb on stage as a result. They duetted on "It Was You" in sweet harmony waltz, which melted into a hot swinging version and a kiss at the end.

Beth is music directing the Off-Broadway musical "Unexpected Joy" at the York Theater for one more week, and on the Thurs/Sat Matinees she will lord over Ritt Henn on bass in the orchestra! Information at yorktheatre.org.

To end the evening, Ritt sang his MAC Award-nominated song written "Dumped," a moody, da-da-ish song full of loose notes and rhythms, which broke into a upbeat ending. It matched Ritt to a 'T', and we were all thankful to have him as Co-Host for the evening!

Ritt Henn

Salon Spotlight
The Salon Spotlight was the comedy singing duo of Cheo Bourne and Lena Moy-Borgen (with Devon Perry as "Receptionist" on piano). With Cheo's high tenor mixed with Lena's mezzo blended in nice tight harmony, they exchanged lyrics on hilariously arranged medleys. The first song though was an original song, "Office Party," which set up the whole idea for their upcoming show: a musical imagining of a 90s office party (no mention of a dead printer smashed by a baseball bat, or missing staplers, but it may show up). Next, they began some funny banter about the office's song suggestion box - lots of Celine Dion and not much Ace of Bass - but they went into "All That She Wants" by Ace of Bass anyway. They then went heavily into the 90s with "Ya Gotta Be/Wanna Be" plus a little "Bye Bye Bye" by *NSYNC. To make it really feel like it's 1997, they did a 90s Medley of songs, which included a good dose of Spice Girls to spice it up!

"Moy-Borgen and Bournes's Office Party" will take place on June 2nd, 7pm at Don't Tell Mama, with Musical Direction by Devon Perry.


Quick Wrap - Classical Corner
It's been a while since we had Classical Corner! Mark started by playing us a recording of a very famous piece, the beginning of Rossini's William Tell Overture featuring a beautiful mix of only cello and bass instrumentation, with a cello solo that goes two octaves (a huge range) in the first few bars. We associate the bass with only low notes, but there are famous piano notes in Classical repertoire that feature some real left-handed notes, like Chopin. One of Chopin's fans, Frans Lizt did Funeraia the month of Chopin's death in honor of him, and used the right handed melodies in great contrast to the fast left handed rhythm; all of these are quite a workout for the left hand. There are other pieces that use a lot of the left hand where the melody is in the left and the right hand just does backup.

Mark then asked us all to close our eyes and listen as he played a little piano selection. We all did, and listened as a gorgeous piano piece, floating and plaintive, was played. We then opened our eyes and were challenged to ask why it was a unique piece (Matthew Martin Ward was not allowed respond). It turns out Alexander Scriabin's hand was at play for Mark's Classical Corner, or at least his left one - Mark played Scriabin's Prelude and Nocturne for the Left Hand, Opus 9 (for left hand alone). Scriabin was a Russian boy in school who was very envious of Antone Rubenstein who had incredible technique. In fact, Alexander got tendinitis by practicing over and over to match Rubenstein's technique; so much so that he damaged his right hand so much that he had to write for the left hand only in his works for a while. Mark then went to the keys again and played the song again (his right hand lying by his side on the piano bench) so we could watch how the part is played with our eyes open, and gasps from many people in the audience were heard at this realization.

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: Ritt Henn
Ira Lee Collings
Deborah Stone
Lou Iacovino
Madelaine Warren
Mimi Lyons  - New Haven June 1 benefit
Jeff Michael (self on piano)
Frances O'Flynne (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self on piano and Ritt Henn on bass)
David Ballard
Sierra Rein
Kathleen France (with Ritt Henn on bass)
Salon Spotlight: Cheo Bourne and Lena Moy-Borgen (with Devon Perry on piano)
Classical Corner
BREAK
Co-Host: Ritt Henn and Beth Malone (with Ritt Henn on bass)
Tanya Moberly (with Ritt Henn on bass)
Ruperta Nelson
Angela Leone (with Bill Zeffiro)
Bill Zeffiro (self on piano)
Dawn Derow (with Bill Zeffiro on piano and Ritt Henn on bass)
Richie Eisenberg (self on piano)
Freddy Freeman (self on piano)
Barbara Malley
Adam Shapiro
Co-Host: Ritt Henn

Special thanks to tonight's musicians: Devon Perry, Matthew Martin Ward, Mark Janas, Ritt Henn, Richie Eisenberg, Freddy Freeman and Jeff Michael, and our videographer Jose Peña. Also thanks to David Ballard on lights and sound, the amazing waitstaff and management at Etcetera Etcetera.

Performances coming up by guests of this evening's Salon:

Ongoing Shows

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

Every Tuesday (6pm-7pm): "Peaceable Hour - Music to soothe the spirit and restore the heart" with Sarah Rice, Mark Watson, and Janice Hall. FREE at Saint Clements Church and Chapel, 423 West 46th Street, NYC.

Upcoming Shows

Friday, May 25, 2018 (7pm): Sally Darling and others will be a part of Ricky Ritzel's Broadway with "A Little Night Music," at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 27, 2018 (9:30pm): Adam Shapiro will be presenting music as part of composer showcase "The Music of Jeff Thomson and Jeremy Desmond," at 54 Below, NYC.

Thursday, May 31, 2018 (7pm): Parnell's Thursday Night Spotlight Encore Performance featuring Lou Iacovino (and open mic performers) with Bill Zeffiro as Music Director, no cover/$25 minimum, 7pm-10pm, at Parnell's 350 East 53rd Street @ First Avenue, NYC.

Thursday, May 31, 2018 (7pm): Hostess with the Mostest Bobbie Horowitz celebrates her birthday while hosting the latest installment of her series, with Musical Director Matthew Martin Ward and including Marnie Klar, in "It's Just a Number," at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, June 2, 2018 (7pm): "Moy-Borgen and Bournes's Office Party" with Musical Direction by Devon Perry at Don't Tell Mama 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, June 14 - Sunday, June 24, 2018: 5 performances of "Dan Ruth: A Life Behind Bars," directed by Tanya Moberly, will be at the Lounge Theater in 6201 Santa Monica Blvd, LA.

Friday, June 15, 2018 (7pm): Marquee Five in "Marquee Five Sings Sondheim" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd St, NYC.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018 (7:30pm): "The Dawn, Sean, and Don Show: Off The Menu" with Dawn Derow, Sean Harkness, and Don Kelly at Carroll Place, 157 Bleecker Street, NYC.

Thursday, June 21, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Kendra Cunningham in "This Could Be You" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, June 24, 2018 (1pm): Matthew Martin Ward will be a part of "Richard Skipper Celebrates" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd St, NYC.

Sunday, June 24, 2018 (4pm): Sally Darling will be a part of "Together Again" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, June 25, 2018 (7pm): Sally Darling brings back her show "Sally Darling Sings Beatrice Lillie" with Matthew Martin Ward to Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, June 29, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly featured at Ricky Ritzel's Broadway at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, July 4-August 26, 2018 (various times): Adam Shapiro will be part of the cast of "Fiddler on the Roof" (in Yiddish), directed by Joel Grey, at The National Yiddish Theater, Museum of Jewish Heritage, Battery Park, NYC.

Sunday, July 29, 2018 (4pm): Angela Leone revamps her CD release show at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018: Deborah Stone in "Siren Song" with Daryl Kojak at Pangea, 178 2nd Avenue, NYC.

NEXT SALON! - Sunday, July 8th, 2018:
No Salon between May 27, 2018 – July 1, 2018
Our next Salon is not too long from now and at the same place it's always been, but the theme is going to be "Long Ago And Far Away" with Co-Host Kim David Smith. Our Salon Spotlight will be Bruce Clough. Have a great break!
- Sierra Rein
Blogette for The Salon
Email me

Monday, May 14, 2018

The Salon Wrap-Up for May 13th, 2018: "Pure Imagination"


Boyishly charming with a twinkle in his eye, Stearns Matthews jumped on to the Salon stage to joyously and energetically start the evening as Co-Host. The theme of the evening was "Pure Imagination," and with his colorful coat and youthful energy, Stearns provided sly Wonka-esque hosting, while Steven Ray Watkins took his place behind the piano as Guest Host in place of Mark Janas. Stearns started by singing the powerful "The Spark of Creation" from Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden. He has a gorgeous high tenor, controlled and melodic, and has always impressed me with his ability to sing sweetly and yet with power when needed - last night he provided examples of both. Throughout the night, he also provided funny commentary, as well as a few film recommendations (he apparently has a great a great working knowledge of the movie "Housesitter," imagine that!). At the top of his Act II set, Stearns declared that he's "Becoming My Mother," plaintively accepting the reality of his familial situation. His mom always liked Bob from Sesame Street, who never sang a sad song, and she once legitimately suggested Brady Bunch songs for his sets. Stearns followed his Mom's advice and stayed with the positive, childlike angle and sang "Never Never Land" from Peter Pan. In 2011, Stearns sang at the Cabaret Convention a particularly funny arrangement - described as the "love child of Johnny Cash and Liza Minelli" - and performed it for us: a hilarious jazzy version of "Fulsom Prison Blues" that quoted music from Little Shop of Horrors, A Chorus Line and Gypsy. It was a great crowd-pleaser. To close the sweet and supportive evening, Stearns brought us all back to our chocolate-filled centers with "Pure Imagination" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and remarked how we all use our imaginations brilliantly sometimes to come up with songs to fit our optional themes each Sunday.

Stearns Matthews
Salon Spotlight
This morning, Karen Oberlin started her Mother's Day being treated by her family with breakfast and a massage, and then ended it by putting herself out there with her Salon family as tonight's Salon Spotlight! Karen has been awarded the Mabel Mercer Foundation's Donald F. Smith Award, a Nightlife Award for Jazz Vocalist of the Year and Mac Awards for Best Album and Best Duo Show....oh and plus she's a Bistro Award Winner (Vocalist of the Year). With Jon Weber at the piano, Karen took to the stage and showed the talent behind all those rewards by offering selections from her upcoming show "Confound Me: Songs in Search of Something." She began by admitting that "The Jig is Up," the humorously wry and truthful rock song by Jill Sobule. "Confound Me" the title show of her new show, was next, a hauntingly romantic song by Renee Rosnes and David Hejdu. To end her set, Karen performed the heartfelt and endlessly searching "No More" from Sondheim's Into the Woods, which fit the fairy-tale "Imagination" theme perfectly.

On Thursday, May 17th at 6:00pm, Karen will debut "Confound Me: Songs in Search of Something" with Jon Weber on piano as Music Director and featuring the Karen Oberlin Trio, at Birdland Jazz, 315 West 44th Street, NYC.

Karen Oberlin
Quick Wrap - Steven's Corner
Well, Steven said he'd do his best to be on theme, and so instantly burst into the lyrics "Imagine me and you..." from the toe-tapping "Happy Together" by The Turtles, and he had us all sing the 'Ba-ba's' along with him. Speaking of odd lyrics, Steven then sang a song that has scared him, "The Riddle" by Nick Kershaw. It originally caused a sensation when it came out in 1984 and filled everyone with questions and imaginative discussions as to what the lyrics actually meant - turns out Kershaw had a fully realized melody line and just improvised imaginative lyrics into the mic, and released it as the final recording:
Near a tree by a river, there's a hole in the ground
Where an old man of Aran goes around and around
And his mind is a beacon in the veil of the night
For a strange kind of fashion, there's a wrong and a right
But he'll never, never fight over you
To end his set, Steven emotionally sang another favorite song from the 80s: a memory song, "The Metro," originally performed by Berlin.

Side Note: Farewell to Producer Father Jeff Hamblin
This coming Sunday, May 20th at 11am, there will be a special Retirement/Thank You service for Father Jeff Hamblin, who has been a producer of The Salon for years and years. If you would like to thank him in person, he will be at St. Clement's Episcopal Church (Theater at St. Clements) on W. 46th street. A full spread of free food and coffee will be available afterwards, to celebrate Father Jeff's retirement to Florida this year!
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: Stearns Matthews
Richard Becker
Charles Baran
Jim Speake
Zach Wobensmith
Those Girls
Jeff Michael (self on piano)
Frances O'Flynne (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self on piano)
David Ballard
Sierra Rein
Marnie Klar 
Salon Spotlight: Karen Oberlin (with Jon Weber on piano)
Steven's Corner
BREAK
Co-Host: Stearns Matthews
Tanya Moberly
Amy Beth Williams (with Jon Weber on piano)
Jon Weber (self on piano)
Angela Leone
Encores:
Charles Baran
Richard Becker
Jim Speake
Those Girls
Jeff Michael (self on piano)
Frances O'Flynne (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self on piano)
Co-Host: Stearns Matthews

Special thanks to tonight's pianists: Jon Weber, Stephen Ray Watkins, and Jeff Michael. Also thanks to David Ballard on lights and sound, the amazing waitstaff and management at Etcetera Etcetera.

Performances coming up by guests of this evening's Salon:

Ongoing Shows

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

Every Tuesday (6pm-7pm) : "Peaceable Hour - Music to soothe the spirit and restore the heart" with Sarah Rice, Mark Watson, and Janice Hall. FREE at Saint Clements Church and Chapel, 423 West 46th Street, NYC.

July 19th thru August 13th, 2018: New play "Aunt Jack" will feature Charles Baran, presented at the Empire Stage, 1140 North Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Upcoming Shows

Tuesday, May 15, 2018 (7pm): KT Sullivan and Jeff Harnar, with Jon Weber Music Directing, combine their Sondheim shows in to a "#SONDHEIMmontage" at The Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd St, NYC. (Other dates: July 11, August 15, October 23)

Thursday, May 17, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Kendra Cunningham in "This Could Be You" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, May 18, 2018 (7:30pm): Amy Beth Williams in "All The Way: The Music of Jimmy Van Heusen" with Musical Director Jon Weber, at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, 154 West 57th Street, NYC.

Friday, May 18, 2018 (9:30pm): Marquee Five (feat. Sierra Rein) will perform as part of "Sondheim Unplugged" at Feinstein's 54 Below, 254 W 54th Street, NYC.

Friday, May 18, 2018: Charles Baran and Beverly Bonner will perform at the Broadway Comedy Club, 318 W 53rd Street, NYC.

Saturday, May 19, 2018 (8pm): David Ballard dances while the NYC Gay Men's Chorus and the Angel City Chorale sings in the "Queer Genius: David Bowie & Beyond" at The Skirball Center, 566 LaGuardia Place, NYC.

Saturday, May 19, 2018 (9:30pm): Marissa Mulder with Jon Weber performs "I'm Old Fashioned" at The Beach Cafe, 1326 Second Avenue, NYC.

Sunday, May 20, 2018 (1pm): Richard Skipper Celebrates (with $20 bottomless brunch included) with Those Girls, Jim Speake and others, at The Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd St, NYC.

Monday, May 21, 2018 (7pm): KT Sullivan with Music Director Jon Weber in "Kern-U-Copia" at Birdland Jazz, 315 West 44th Street, NYC.

Thursday, May 31, 2018 (7pm): Hostess with the Mostest Bobbie Horowitz celebrates her birthday while hosting the latest installment of her series, with Musical Director Matthew Martin Ward and including Marnie Klar, in "It's Just a Number," at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, June 14 - Sunday, June 24, 2018: 5 performances of "Dan Ruth: A Life Behind Bars," directed by Tanya Moberly, will be at the Lounge Theater in 6201 Santa Monica Blvd, LA.

Friday, June 15, 2018 (7pm): Marquee Five in "Marquee Five Sings Sondheim" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd St, NYC.

Thursday, June 21, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Kendra Cunningham in "This Could Be You" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, June 24, 2018 (1pm): Matthew Martin Ward will be a part of "Richard Skipper Celebrates" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd St, NYC.

Monday, June 25, 2018 (7pm): Sally Darling brings back her show "Sally Darling Sings Beatrice Lillie" with Matthew Martin Ward to Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, July 29, 2018 (4pm): Angela Leone revamps her CD release show at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, September 8, 2018 (8pm): Zach Wobensmith will be in "The Flood: A New Musical in Concert" at Prospect Theater Company, the TimesCenter, 242 West 41st Street, NYC.

NEXT SALON! - Sunday, May 20th, 2018: THIS IS THE LAST SALON before our 6-week break; after May 20th, the next Salon will be July 8th!
This upcoming Sunday, Mark Janas will return to the Hosting piano, smelling like tea and London crumpets from his UK tour, and the theme will be "How Low Can You Go?" Our Co-Host will be the leggy bassman, Ritt Henn, while the Salon Spotlight will be the very fun and snazzy duo Lena Moy-Borgen & Cheo Bourne.

- Sierra Rein
Blogette for The Salon
Email me

Monday, May 7, 2018

The Salon Wrap-Up for May 6th, 2018: "Those Pesky Memories"


Tanya Moberly updated us about Mark Janas, who is in the UK as Musical Director of Kathleen Turner's show "Finding My Voice"; they just closed their show in London and are starting a 6 city tour before coming back to NYC to do the show once again May 22nd to June 2nd at the Carlyle. In Mark's place was MAC Award-Winning and "all-time degenerate" (Tanya's words) singer-songwriter-music-director-pianist Bill Zeffiro!

Way back in your memory, you may recall our Co-Host's voice bouncing in your head without knowing who it was! Warren Schein's voice has been heard on advertisements for TV and Radio spanning Nickelodeon and AMC to The History Channel, while his whole voice/face/body has been entertaining audiences across the Nation in Regional and Off-Broadway theaters. You can see his talents via his YouTube channel. Last night, Warren returning to Co-Host The Salon after having done it in duet with Dana Lorge many times before, and he knew her spirit was with him last night. Throughout the evening, Warren provided great comedy bits that had us rolling and groaning equally at his stories, jokes and insights. He began the evening with a little standup about the musings of his life, and then went into a jazzy and funny parody of "Memory" from Cats about how he's "a shorter...shorter singing Cole Porter," which fit brilliantly into the theme of "Those Pesky Memories."

In the Act II opening, Warren decided to go deeper into his past and sing a trio of songs he would often perform in his early days of entertaining, starting by crooning in his soft, velvety baritone on "That's All," afterwards appreciating Bill Zeffiro's piano stylings and comedic zingers. He then went into Mel Torme's arranging relationship for Judy Garland, and how Warren himself would go to Michal's Pub to watch Torme perform. In the spirit - but not in imitation of Mel Torme - he samba'd into "I've Got You Under My Skin." He then went into memories of listening to Johnny Mercer on the radio, and went into the classic tune "Come Rain or Come Shine," which also quoted "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head." To close the evening, he asked us to take a special trip and "Come Fly Away With Me," with snazzy style and energetically smooth vocals throughout the journey.

Warren will be performing in May and June at The Provincetown Cabaret Festival, as well as at The Actors Temple in A Comedy Cavalcade on June 3rd at 7pm. Finally, he will sing at Ricky Ritzel's Broadway at Don't Tell Mama on June 29th at 7pm. Find more info/contact Warren via www.warrenschein.com.

Warren Schein
Salon Spotlight
We had a truly phenomenal phunnywoman as our Salon Spotlight: Kendra Cunningham has been seen across the world including performances in Boston, Australia, TV, Nickelodeon, Gotham Live and Last Comic Standing. Kendra, with a slight Boston accent.She had a great standup set full of stories about her relationships, moving from Boston to New York City, bringing food and hush money to her therapist, and honest funereal family dynamics. She has a wonderful honest ease to her standup, more like sitting down and listening to her with her over a beer rather than being talked to. She was very relatable in her hilarious jabs at the realities of living in New York City. Her show "This Could Be You" - Directed by Tanya Moberly - will be at Don't Tell Mama on May 17th at 7:00pm.

Kendra Cunningham


Quick Wrap - Bill's Corner
Bill Zeffiro took to the keys and microphone and explained that when he first thought about the theme of "Those Pesky Memories." First, he remembered trying his hand at songwriting for the first time, and sang a song that he wrote when he was 27, the swinging ditty "Dream Weaver." A love affair gone wrong is certainly a pesky memory, so Bill swung with biting lyrics into another of his early-written songs, "La Comedia E Finita," which was filled with Italian references and themes that had us all wanting to order Spaghetti with a shot of vodka on the side. Then, creating a new memory for all of us, he sang to us a brand new song about memories and how we process them, the liltingly sweet...bitter...bitter-sweet...ish..."Harbor It." Bill has a knack for twisting even the most innocent of rhymes into a witty and biting truth, often at the expense of his own self-worth. It was a pleasure to hear his old tunes and to have a new one revealed to us!

Bill's new CD of all-original tunes, "Better Than Nothing," is for sale on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby - read the review in Cabaret Scenes Magazine!

Bill Zeffiro
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 Bill Zeffiro unless otherwise noted.


Co-Host: Warren Schein
Bobbie Horowitz
Andrea Axelrod
Adam Shapiro
Jen Bradley
Richard Eisenberg
Charles Baran
Sally Darling and Matthew Martin Ward (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self at the piano)
Angela Leone
Joan Jaffe
David Ballard
Sierra Rein
Marnie Klar
Salon Spotlight: Kendra Cunningham
Bill's Corner
BREAK
Co-Host: Warren Schein
Tanya Moberly
Brian Sommers (self on piano)
Steve Bustamante (self on guitar)
Encores:
Sierra Rein and Bill Zeffiro
Joan Jaffe
Angela Leone
Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Adam Shapiro (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Co-Host: Warren Schein

Special thanks to tonight's pianists: Bill Zeffiro and Steve Bustamante. Also to David Ballard on lights and sound, the amazing waitstaff and management at Etcetera Etcetera, and our videographer, Steve Bustamante.

Performances coming up by guests of this evening's Salon:

Ongoing Shows

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

Every Tuesday (6pm-7pm) : "Peaceable Hour - Music to soothe the spirit and restore the heart" with Sarah Rice, Mark Watson, and Janice Hall. FREE at Saint Clements Church and Chapel, 423 West 46th Street, NYC.

July 19th thru August 13th, 2018: New play "Aunt Jack" will feature Charles Baran, presented at the Empire Stage, 1140 North Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Upcoming Shows

Sunday April 21-May 13, 2018 (various times) - Erin Cronican is appearing in the one woman play, "My Name Is Rachel Corrie" and is also directing the play "I Am My Own Wife" - both with The Seeing Place Theater @ the Paradise Factory, 64 E 4th Street, NYC.

Saturday, May 12, 2018 (2pm): Sierra Rein's final performance of her debut show, "Running in Place" with Music Director Bill Zeffiro and Director James Beaman, at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd St, NYC.

Thursday, May 17, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Kendra Cunningham in "This Could Be You" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, May 18, 2018 (7:30pm): Amy Beth Williams and others perform in "All The Way: The Music of Jimmy Van Heusen" at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, 154 West 57th Street, NYC.

Friday, May 18, 2018 (9:30pm): Marquee Five (feat. Sierra Rein) will perform as part of "Sondheim Unplugged" at Feinstein's 54 Below, 254 W 54th Street, NYC.

Friday, May 18, 2018: Charles Baran will perform at the Broadway Comedy Club, 318 W 53rd Street, NYC.

Saturday, May 19, 2018 (8pm): David Ballard dances while the NYC Gay Men's Chorus sings at a concert at The Skirball Center, 566 LaGuardia Place, NYC.

Thursday, May 24, 2018 (7pm): Andrea Axelrod will present her show "Centenary" with Music Director John M. Cook & Tom Hubbard on Bass at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 27, 2018 (9:30pm): "The Songs of Thomson and Desmon" features Adam Shapiro at Feinstein's 54 Below, 254 W 54th Street, NYC.

Thursday, May 31, 2018 (7pm): Hostess with the Mostest Bobbie Horowitz celebrates her birthday while hosting the latest installment of her series, with Musical Director Matthew Martin Ward and including Marnie Klar, in "It's Just a Number," at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, May 31, 2018 (7pm): Andrea Axelrod will present her show "Centenary" with Music Director John M. Cook & Tom Hubbard on Bass at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, June 3, 2018 (4:30pm): 
Andrea Axelrod will present her show "Centenary" with Music Director John M. Cook & Tom Hubbard on Bass at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, June 15, 2018 (7pm): Marquee Five in "Marquee Five Sings Sondheim" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd St, NYC.

Monday, June 25, 2018 (7pm): Sally Darling brings back her show "Sally Darling Sings Beatrice Lillie" with Matthew Martin Ward to Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC.

NEXT SALON! - Sunday, May 13th, 2018:
Think outside of the box for our theme of "Pure Imagination" this coming Sunday, May 13th. Our  Guest Host/Pianist will be the dextrous Steven Ray Watkins with sweet candy man Co-Host Stearns Matthews and as Salon Spotlight, the beautiful and sultry Karen Oberlin!

- Sierra Rein
Blogette for The Salon
Email me