The Salon Wrap-Up for June 23rd, 2019: "Pride and Prejudice"

Did we all have a fantastic break?!?! It was hot when we left Don't Tell Mama, but they fixed the AC and we were all comfortable for the return to The Salon. Mark Janas is currently on the road with Len Cariou, so in his place our Guest Host and Pianist was William TN Hall, on the double-edged theme of "Pride and Prejudice." Our Co-Host was the MAC and Bistro Awards-winner Amy Wolk. She and William opened the evening out with a hilariously sexy original song by them both, "The Brit Song," an Anglophilia-filled lyric which gave a new meaning to "Golden Snitch." At the top of Act II and after a Gypsy-themed fanfare by William, Amy took to the stage to sing a set of songs made famous by notorious gay icons: first effectively belting out "The Music That Makes Me Dance" (made famous by jewish gay icon Barbara Streisand) from the musical Funny Girl. Next was written by not-so-famous-jewish-icon...AMY! She teaches many kids, some of which have been on Broadway, and wanted to impart some "wisdom" upon the next generation of children and Cabaret audiences alike, the peppy "Hey, Hey, It's OK." She followed it by having some business cards with "Your Boyfriend is Gay" typed out on it in a friendly manner, for those times we may need to subtly clue in a friend or stranger. She then began to sing the light and fluffy song "Sing Happy" through clenched teeth and rolled eyes, turning the song on it's ear in a very demanding (but enthrallingly twisted) manner. To finish the evening, Amy and William wrapped up with the soothing yet bitingly realistic blues song, "One For My Baby," which she dedicated to her late friend.

Amy hosts a game show at The Laurie Beechman - "I Only Have Lies for You" returns in September (a podcast is available with more episodes coming up in the next few weeks!).

Amy Wolk

Salon Spotlight

Our Salon Spotlight was Michael Kirk Lane. No stranger to Don't Tell Mama, Michael is a Multiple MAC Nominee and BroadwayWorld Award winner. William TN Hall is also MD on his shows, so the two of them rocked out together on a set of varied numbers. On the theme of Prejudice, Michael admitted to us that he has certain predisposed thoughts about "Republicans," no matter what situation he finds himself with them...in. Michael remembers Don't Tell Mama back when it was only a piano bar and didn't have the stages it does now, so he went into a song he remembers singing during those years, the moving "Princess." On the subject of Pride, he then went into the ultimate anthem of self-knowledge and acceptance, "I Am What I Am" from La Cage aux Folles, from the tender and yearning opening lyrics to the boisterously marched ending, his rendition included an added rainbow coat. By the end of the song, Michael had the whole audience clapping and hollering in appreciation.

Michael Kirk Lane

"Just Because" performs on Monday, August 19th and Sunday, August 25th, both at 7pm at Don't Tell Mama. Direction by Jay Rogers, with Musical Direction by William TN Hall.

William's Corner

William ran out Jamison by the time he started his Corner, but Joshua was at the ready to freshen up his cup. William works at Don't Tell Mama on Saturdays and a variety of other piano bars throughout the week, playing the piano and singing, and so performed one of his favorites - "Wig in a Box" from pop-rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. From the place where he was born - London - William then sang from the musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie: "It Means Beautiful," sung by a young Muslim friend to Jamie, her young, working class drag queen friend. The repeated chorus lyric "A little bit of glitter in the grey" certainly caught my ear, and it was such a beautiful and moving work. I hope the show makes it's way to New York City and the rest of America! The last piece was certainly continuing on the gay theme: the self-accepting folk-rock song "If You Want to Sing Out" by Cat Stevens. William's excellent piano skills and soaring voice that was equal for rock and ballads were just perfection!

William can be found behind the piano and on vocals at the piano bars of The Duplex on Wednesdays at 8pm, at Brandy's on Thursdays 9:30pm and at Don't Tell Mama on Saturdays at 9pm.

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 William TN Hall unless otherwise noted.

Co-Host: Amy Wolk 
Bobbie Horowitz (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Barb Malley
Amy Beth Williams
David Rackoff
Michele Herman
Victoria Weill-Hogai
Bob Simonello
Alicia Littman
Johnathan Kuhn (with Emily Kuhn on trumpet)
Goldie Dver
Sierra Rein
Marnie Klar
Salon Spotlight Michael Kirk Lane
William's Corner
BREAK
Co-Host: Amy Wolk 
Tanya Moberly
Matthew Martin Ward (self at piano)
Ben Becker (self on piano)
Becca Kidwell
David Ballard
Joshua Bennett
Co-Host: Amy Wolk

Special thanks to our pianist for the evening, William TN Hall and also to musicians Matthew Martin Ward and Emily Kuhn. Thanks also to David Ballard on lights and sound, and astounding waitstaff Joshua and Leo, and management at Don't Tell Mama. Also thanks to our videographer for the evening, Steve Bustamante.

Ongoing Shows:

Mondays Starting July 9th (6pm): Peaceable Hour with Sarah Rice, Janice Hall, and Mark Watson at St. Clements Church, free, see schedule for details - peaceablehour.com, 423 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesdays-Sundays: Adam Shapiro is performing in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish at Stage 42, 422 W 42nd St, NYC.

Upcoming Shows:

Monday, June 24th, 2019 (7pm): Matthew Martin Ward performs at Sean Harkness Summer Solstice as part of the Summer Melodies series at Urban Stages, 259 W 30th St, NYC.

Tuesday, June 25th, 2019 (7pm): Matthew Martin Ward performs with Anne Kittredge in "Fancy Meeting You Here (an Evening of Ahrens and Flaherty) as part of the Summer Melodies series at Urban Stages, 259 W 30th St, NYC.

Tuesday, June 25th, 2019 (9:30pm): Sierra Rein - as part of Marquee Five - will sing as part of "The Lineup with Susie Mosher" at The Birdland Theater, 315 West 44th St, NYC.

Wednesday, June 26th, 2019 (7:00pm): Goldie Dver will be performing "Back In Mama's Arms" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, June 26th, 2019 (7:30pm): Matthew Martin Ward will be part of the Noel Coward concert "If Love Were All" at St. John's in the Village, 224 Waverly Pl, NYC.

Thursday, June 27th, 2019 (8pm): David Ballard will be part of the 50th Anniversary NYC Gay Men's Chorus performance "Quiet No More: A Choral Celebration of Stonewall" at Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave, NYC.

Thursday, June 27th, 2019 (8pm): Matthew Martin Ward plays for Christine Pedi at The Townhouse, 236 E. 58th St, NYC.

Saturday, June 29th, 2019 (2pm): Jonathan Kuhn will be in the Man Jovi Studio Acting Presentation at Shetler Studios, 244 W 54th Street, NYC.

Saturday, June 29th, 2019 (7pm): Sierra Rein will sing as part of "Celebrating Democracy" at Urban Stages, 259 W 30th St, NYC.

Sunday, June 30th, 2019 (7pm): Sierra Rein - as part of Marquee Five - will sing at "Sondheim Unplugged" at Feinstein's/54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.

Sunday, June 30th, 2019 (1:30pm): Jonathan Kuhn will be in the Man Jovi Studio Vocal Presentation at Shetler Studios, 244 W 54th Street, NYC.

Thursday, July 11th, 2019 (6:30pm): Marnie Klar will be performing at Parnell's, 350 E 53rd St, NYC.

Sunday, July 14th, 2019 (4pm): Tanya Moberly and Becca Kidwell perform in Meg Flather's "A Cabaret Sisterhood" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, July 15th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly performs in "Infinite Joy: A Cabaret Benefit for the Joyful Heart Foundation," produced by Becca Kidwell, at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, August 17th, 2019: Alicia Littman at Parnell's,  350 E 53rd St, NYC.

Monday, August 19th, 2019 (7pm): Michael Kirk Lane in "Just Because" - Direction by Jay Rogers, with Musical Direction by William TN Hall. At Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, August 25th, 2019 (7pm): Michael Kirk Lane in "Just Because" - Direction by Jay Rogers, with Musical Direction by William TN Hall. At Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, October 17th, 2019 (7pm): Bobbie Horowitz brings her show "It's Just A Number!" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, October 26th, 2019: Barb Malley is planning an 85th musical Birthday celebration with Don Kelly and Matthew Martin Ward.

NEXT SALON: June 30th, 2019
After the parades and joy of the afternoon are winding down, come into the air conditioned but still snuggly theme of "Love is Where You Find It." Our Guest Host at the piano will be Bill Zeffiro, and our Co-Host will be Opera and Cabaret vocalist, Liora Michelle. Salon will be at Don't Tell Mama every Sunday until Labor Day, so hit repeat on your calendar!

-Sierra Rein
Blogette for The Salon
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