Monday, July 30, 2018

The Salon Wrap-Up for July 29th, 2018: "Taking a Chance on Love"

Co-Host, Emily Ellet

Tonight was a relatively small house; on the plus side, however, there were opportunities for encore performances, which are always welcome. Our co-host for this week was the lovely Emily Ellet, winner of the 2017 MetroStar Talent Challenge.




In keeping with the theme "Taking A Chance On Love," and accompanied by the wonderful Jeff Cubeta, Emily opened the evening with "The Life I've Never Led" from the musical "Sister Act." Her set after the break included Maltby and Shire's "Sunday Crossword Puzzle," followed by a quiet, conversational and heartfelt rendition of Sondheim's "Being Alive" and ending with "Man Wanted" from Barry Manilow's "Copacabana." Emily closed out the evening with "My Foolish Heart," that favorite old standard. You can see Emily's show "Uncharted" at The Triad on Friday, September 7th at 7:00 p.m.


Quick Wrap - Classical Corner


Mark, joined by Matthew Martin Ward, presented a four-hands piano version of Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet Overture Fantasy." Mark remarked on how although Tchaikovsky's piece doesn't follow the exact timeline of the story, nonetheless it captures the various moods by use of three main themes. The first is a chorale, evocative of Friar Lawrence and his unwitting role as catalyst for the ultimate tragedy. The second represents the combat between the two warring families, with the cymbals in the orchestration (with exclamatory onomatopoeia by Mark in lieu of an orchestral percussion section) representative of swords clashing. The third is the love theme, perhaps the tune most often identified with the piece. All themes are interwoven and alternated, building and culminating into the suicide of the two lovers. The battle theme recaps, then turns into a dirge, as the piece closes with a final allusion to the love theme and ends with a dramatic, unison tone. Mark also mentioned how, as Tchaikovsky was secretly gay, the concept of "forbidden love" may have resonated greatly; it has been suggested that his death may have actually been a suicide. Some evidence of this torment may have been detected by his mentor Mily Balakirev who, upon hearing the love theme, wrote Tchaikovsky a letter stating that hearing it made him want to "give him a hug."

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.


Richard Becker
Richard Eisenberg
Frances O'Flynn (accompanied by Matthew Martin Ward)
Sally Darling (accompanied by Matthew Martin Ward)
Matthew Martin Ward (playing for himself)
Alexander Scelso (spoken word poem)
Jared Gilmore (solo piano)
Dawn Derow
Zach Wobensmith
Tanya Moberly
Classical Corner

BREAK

Jeff Cubeta
Tanya Moberly
David Ballard
Bill Zeffiro
Alexander Scelso (spoken word poem)
Jared Gilmore (solo piano)
Richard Eisenberg (playing for himself)
Dawn Derow

Zach Wobensmith

Richard Becker

Frances O'Flynn (accompanied by Matthew Martin Ward)
Sally Darling (accompanied by Matthew Martin Ward)
Matthew Martin Ward (playing for himself)
Emily Ellet

Special thanks to tonight's musicians: Matthew Martin Ward and Jeff Cubeta. Also thanks to Jared Gilmore on lights and sound, the amazing waitstaff, and the 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

Every Tuesday (6-9:30 pm): Annie Lebeaux is at the Townhouse, 236 E. 58th St--"a cozy, historic, genteel gay bar!"

Tuesdays through August 28th, (7:30 pm):
"Mama's Next Big Act" competition. Tanya Moberly is judging, and David Ballard, Sarah Rice and Zach Wobensmith are among the top 15 contestants! Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th St, NYC


Upcoming Shows:


Thursday, August 16, 2018 (7pm): Janice Hall (along with Sierra Rein, Sarah Rice, Julie Reyburn, and others) will be part of the third installment of Stephen Hanks's "Cabaret Campaigns: Ride The Blue Wave 2018!" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC. Musical director is Matthew Martin Ward.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018 (7pm): Josephine Sanges encores her Harold Arlen show, Come Rain or Come Shine, at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd Street, NYC.

Saturday, September 8, 2018 (8pm): Zach Wobensmith will be appearing in the benefit concert production of Peter Mills/Cara Reichel's "The Flood" to benefit Puerto Rico at The TimesCenter, 242 W 41st St, NYC.

Thursday, September 13, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Kendra Cunningham in "This Could Be You" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, September 23rd: Ira Lee Collings opens his new show, Naked from the Waist Up, at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC

Thursday September 27-Sunday September 30, 2018 (6pm): Zach Wobensmith will be playing the Narrator/Mysterious Man in "Into The Woods" in four concert performances at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.

Tuesday, October 9, 2018 (6pm): Karen Oberlin, Marissa Mulder, and Nancy McGraw will appear on the opening night of the Cabaret Convention, at Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60th Street, NYC.

Thursday, October 11th, 2018 (6 pm): Josephine Sanges will be featured at the Cabaret Convention's tribute to Jerry Herman. Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60th Street, NYC,

Saturday, October 13, 2018 (4pm): Becca Kidwell performs "Fangirl" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, October 19, 2018 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs "She Bangs She Bangs," written and performed by Jennifer Bangs at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, October 22nd, 2018 (7pm):
Madelaine Warren: Mad for Romance, is opening at Don't Tell Mama, 345 E 46th Street, NYC

Thursday, October 25, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Kendra Cunningham in "This Could Be You" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, October 26, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 5, 2018 (7pm): "Marnie Klar Sings Bobbie Gentry" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 10, 2018 (1pm):
"Marnie Klar Sings Bobbie Gentry" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, November 12, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs "She Bangs She Bangs," written and performed by Jennifer Bangs at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, November 12, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs "Lisa Viggiano Sings Bruce on Restaurant Row" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 16, 2018 (7pm): "Marnie Klar Sings Bobbie Gentry" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 17, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, November 29, 2018 (7pm):
Tanya Moberly directs Kendra Cunningham in "This Could Be You" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 30, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 1, 2018 (5pm): Tanya Moberly directs "She Bangs She Bangs," written and performed by Jennifer Bangs at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 7, 2018 (7pm): "Marnie Klar Sings Bobbie Gentry" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, December 10, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, December 13, 2018 (7pm):
Tanya Moberly directs Kendra Cunningham in "This Could Be You" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, December 30, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs "Lisa Viggiano Sings Bruce on Restaurant Row" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.


NEXT SALON-- Sunday, August 5th, 2018:
Theme: Transitions, with co-host Meg Flather.
Zach Wobensmith,

Deputy Blogette for The Salon
Email me with questions or corrections.

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