The Salon Wrap-Up for August 5th, 2018: "Transitions"

For the theme of "Transitions," today Mark Janas gracefully transitioned from the BBQ Birthday he was at in Staten Island (for his Father, who turned 92 yesterday) to the Salon stage, and showed us a gorgeous black and white glamour shot of his father during his days of getting hit with pies working for Spike Jones. Even at age 92, and perhaps because of it, Sr. Janas is still singing, and performing on Public Access television! To help us transition from one singer to the other, we had raven-haired and rich-voiced Meg Flather as our Co-Host, who brought us through the twists, turns and key changes on the theme. Meg is a Bistro and Hanson winner, a two-time MAC Award winner, who will have her Cabaret Convention Debut on October 9th!

Meg Flather

Meg started out with a unique arrangement of the popular anthem "Let the River Run" complete with with spoken rhythmic opening and closing sections, bringing about a powerful belt and energy. She next perform a song written by herself, "We Are As Strong," a folk-style Carly Simon-esque protest song detailing her awakening into a stronger, more "woke" self. After the break, Meg took to the mic along with Tanya Moberly (friends since performing together in a production of Company - Marta and April, respectfully) and sang the duet "So Much Mine" by The Story, taking advantage of the lovely contrast with Meg's rich alto and Tanya's bell-like harmony. Meg then revealed a little personal story about how her mother passed away from alzheimer's in March, and how she now recognized that her mother used the disease to free a part of herself and become more joyful before she left. Staying connected to her mother in grief and in joy, Meg went into a new original piece of hers, "Like a Sunday," which included strains of "Dona Nobis Pacem," reflecting and accepting universal feelings of loss. It was very moving. At the end of the evening, Meg brought up the concept of growing ones' own roses rather than waiting for someone to give 'em to ya. Meg decided to teach this self-fulfilling attitude to her goddaughters, and penned a rock country song of self-reliance and creation, "A Song of Roses." Finally, to celebrate the fact that "We are all transitioning to who we are tomorrow," Meg performed the powerfully accepting "A Change in Me" from Beauty and the Beast.

Meg will bring back her acclaimed show "Back When We Were Beautiful" to Don't Tell Mama's on Sunday, October 14th at 6:00pm. Read about it on NiteLifeExchange.com

Quick Wrap - Classical Corner
To Mark, the term "transitions" can mean many things in the classical music sense. It can refer to the transition between eras of classical music, or the variances between different works throught a single composer's life, in addition to what one can call a transition between musical motifs in a single song. Mark referenced Beethoven, and how throughout his life he transitioned from one style to the next from piano concerto to another, and indeed was a part of the transition between the classical and Romantic eras. Even so, when his more dramatic music was brought to the public, even some of his most famous (now) music received lukewarm reviews at the time. He later transitioned to a more Romantic, robust and fuller sound to his work. Mark then played a bit of Mozart's work - he had work varying in style from from Don Giovanni to The Magic Flute, to works that sounded very much like Beethoven. Mark then played a bit of Mozart's "Fantasy in C minor," which contains a lot of transitions both noticeable and imperceptible. These transitions are signaled when the ear notices that the introduced themes do not "settle," but switch between A and B and contrasting motifs with lighting speed. The changing of keys can be seen in multitudes on each page, and within no time we go from C minor to the far-reaching F# minor key. These changes also include transitions of a harmonic nature in the work, reflecting the high drama in the Italian Puccini-esque style, with an emotional emphasis unique to Mozart's work. Mark then played the piece in it's entirety to appreciative audience applaud.

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: Meg Flather
Kit
Ira Lee Collings
Becca Kidwell (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Barbara Malley (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Sally Darling and Matthew Martin Ward (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Madelaine Warren
Deborah Stone
Johnathan Kuhn and Michele Herman
Guenevere Donohue
Marnie Klar
David Ballard
Sierra Rein
Jaye Maynard

Classical Corner

BREAK
Co-Host: Meg Flather
Tanya Moberly
Lou Iacovino
Richard Eisenberg
Marcia Roney (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Andrea Levitt (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self on piano)
Joan Jaffe
Co-Host: Meg Flather

Special thanks to tonight's musicians: Mark Janas, and Matthew Martin Ward, and our videographer Ruben Olvera. 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:

Upcoming Shows:

Wednesday, August 8, 2018 (8am): Catch Johnathan Kuhn singing for the hustle and bustle of the morning commuters in the south atrium performance space of Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street and 8th Avenue, NYC.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018 (7pm): Deborah Stone sings "Siren Song" with Musical Director Daryl Kojak, at Pangea,178 2nd Avenue, NYC.

Thursday, August 9, 2018 (7pm): Lou Iacovino performs a set at Parnell's, 350 E 53rd Street, NYC.

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

Friday, August 31, 2018 (7pm): Tanya Moberly will be a part of Ricky Ritzel's Broadway at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 (7pm): Marcia Roney and Andrea Levitt will be a part of a performance by "The Cabaret Theater Workshop" taught by Peter Napolitano and Matthew Martin Ward at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, 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.

Saturday, September 22, 2018 (2pm): Sierra Rein returns to The Laurie Beechman Theater with "Running in Place" with Bill Zeffiro, Matt Scharfglass, and Rex Benincasa - Directed by James Beaman. The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.

Sunday, September 23, 2018 (5:30pm): Ira Lee Collings opens his new show, "Naked from the Waist Up," at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC

Wednesday, September 26, 2018 (9:30pm): Sierra Rein returns to The Laurie Beechman Theater with "Running in Place" with Bill Zeffiro, Matt Scharfglass, and Rex Benincasa - Directed by James Beaman. The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.

Sunday, September 30, 2018 (7:30pm): Ira Lee Collings  performs "Naked from the Waist Up," at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC

Tuesday, October 2, 2018 (7pm): Ira Lee Collings  does it "Naked from the Waist Up," at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC

Tuesday, October 9, 2018 (6pm): Meg Flather, 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.

Saturday, October 13, 2018 (4pm): Becca Kidwell performs "Fangirl" with Musical Director Tracy Stark and Director Gretchen Reinhagen, at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, October 15, 2018 (7pm): Ira Lee Collings closes "Naked from the Waist Up," at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 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," 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.

Saturday, December 29, 2018 (7pm): "Sally Darling Sings Beatrice Lillie" with Matthew Martin Ward, Music Director 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 12th, 2018:

Ok, apparently next Sunday is going to be off the mother-fracking hook. The theme will be "Location, Location, Location." So where will you be next Sunday? HERE to witness Co-Host Larry Kerchner, who will be on hand to feature Dennis Chiccino, Nina Hennessy, Marissa Mulder and Mark Nadler with a full band which includes Tex Arnold (piano), Tom Hubbard (bass) and Ray Marchica (drums). IN ADDITION our Salon Spotlight will be none other than Sharon McNight! Be there or be...there!

- Sierra Rein

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