The Salon Wrap-Up for July 14th, 2019: "In Search Of…"

Tanya introduced our non-Bastille Day-themed "In Search Of..." and quickly got us clapping for our  guides for the evening, since the audience and all the singers were packed! Our Guest Host was singer-pianist-songwriter-musical-director Steven Ray Watkins and our Co-Host was long-time Saloner and Mamette Marnie Klar, who was awarded the Bistro Award for Outstanding Tribute Show earlier this year. Marnie started out with the country southern story-song "Ace Insurance Man" by Bobbie Gentry (the composer Marnie was honored a Bistro Award for), Steven did some voiceover interjections in between lyrics, and Marnie showcased her storytelling and diction abilities on a rockin' melody.  After the break, Marnie talked about her youthful search for stardom and her mom's Jazzercize classes, during which she fantasized about singing duets -  they then cheekily went into the 70s disco song "Guilty," which featured Steven's harmony vocals. The flowingly beautiful "Keep Breathing" was next, which allowed Marnie to go into her deep alto vocals as well as soaring mezzo notes.  She then became a little tongue in cheek with the rockingly honest and funny "Runaway" by Nik Kershaw. To end the evening, she sang "Fancy," by Bobbie Gentry, a country-pop crossover song that spoke of one woman's solution to overcoming poverty, and the heart-aching story behind it.

Photo: Theaterlife.com

Steven's Corner
Steven took off his glasses during his corner since allllll his music was memorized, and thought that he'd combine tonight's theme with what he would have by doing a few weeks ago for Pride Salon, so he did an "In Search of...a Boyfriend" series of songs. He began with Elton John's classic "Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road," which highlighted Steven's gorgeous piano playing in addition to fluid tenor vocals. Next, he sang a song he wrote for Lennie Watt's album years ago, the gospel-infused "Give Me a Voice." Twenty years later, Steven still has a few modern political thoughts on his mind that relate to these lyrics, and taught us harmony on the chorus featuring the lyrics "I've got the heart, I've got the soul." This was a stirring, uplifting, and empowering song, and we loved singing along. He ended with a song that says, to Steven, everything that needs to be said: "Love Don't Need a Reason" by Peter Allen, Michael Callen and Marsha Malamet.

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: Marnie Klar 

Bob Simonello
Laurel Lockhart
Jim Speake
Izel
Deborah Zecher
Joan Darragh
Mercedes Herman
Lucille Carr-Kaffashan
Sarah Carson
Tim Cahill (Jim Harder on piano)
Phil Crackhower (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Sally Darling (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Frances O'Flynn (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Marcia Roney (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Andrea Axelrod (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self at piano)
Sierra Rein
Zach Wobensmith

Steven's Corner
BREAK
Co-Host: Marnie Klar
Tanya Moberly
Lynda Rodolitz
Michael Colby
Becca Kidwell
Barb Malley
Richie Eisenberg
Eve Eden
Heather Villaescusa
Ann Dawson
Franz Bloem
Steve Bustamante (self on guitar)
Alison Nusbaum

Joshua Bennett
Frank McDonough
Co-Host: Marnie Klar

Special thanks to our musicians for the evening: Steven Ray Watkins, Matthew Martin Ward, Jim Harder, and Steve Bustamante. Thanks also to Alison Nusbaum 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.

Upcoming Shows:

Monday, July 15th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and tons of Salon and Cabaret regulars perform in "Infinite Joy: A Cabaret Benefit for the Joyful Heart Foundation," produced by Becca Kidwell with Tracy Stark at the piano (with raffles!), at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Friday, July 19th, 2019 (7pm): Tim Cahill w/ Doris Dear, Dawn Derow, Blake Allen, Cassie Levine and others in "An Evening With...Doris Day" at The Green Room 42, 570 10th Ave, NYC.

Friday, July 19th, 2019 (7pm): Lynda Rodolitz, Alison Nusbaum, and Sally Darling will be part of Ricky Ritzel's Broadway at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, August 11th, 2019 (5pm): Sally Darling - with Matthew Martin Ward at piano - presents "And Kurt Weill Begat Kander and Ebb" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, August 30th, 2019: Tanya Moberly performs in Ricky Ritzel's Broadway.

Friday, September 6th, 2019 (7pm): Candace Oden will produce a benefit to help a Teen Suicide Prevention organization at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, September 8th, 2019 (4pm): Andrea Axelrod (with John Cook at the piano) performs "After The Bawl" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, September 12th, 2019 (8pm): Michael Colby's "Boynton Beach Club" will perform (with Alison Nusbaum in the cast!) at Surflight Theater in Beach Haven, NJ.

Friday, September 13th, 2019 (7pm): Andrea Axelrod (with John Cook at the piano) performs "After The Bawl" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Saturday, September 14th, 2019 (4pm): Tanya Moberly, Sally Darling, Becca Kidwell, Heather Villaescusa and many more perform in Meg Flather's "A Cabaret Sisterhood" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, September 17th, 2019: Lucille Carr-Kaffashan performs "How the Light Gets In."

Wednesday, September 18th, 2019: Deborah Zecher and Lynda Rodolitz in "4 Women, 4 Stories" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, September 22nd, 2019: Joan Darragh is "The Invigorated Ingenue" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, September 28nd, 2019: Joan Darragh is "The Invigorated Ingenue" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Sunday, October 6th, 2019: Joan Darragh is "The Invigorated Ingenue" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 13th, 2019: Bob Simonello in "Rolling" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, October 19th, 2019 (7pm): "Those Girls Sing The Boys Volume One" at Pangea, 178 Second Avenue, NYC.

Saturday, October 26th, 2019: Barb Malley's 85th Birthday celebration of New York City, "Feelin' Groovy" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 27th, 2019: Lucille Carr-Kaffashan performs "How the Light Gets In."

Sunday, November 10th, 2019: Lynda Rodolitz back her show "Animal Magnetism" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday,  November 22nd, 2019 (7pm): "Those Girls Sing The Boys Volume One" at The Laurie
Beechman, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.

Monday,  December 2nd, 2019 (7pm): "Those Girls Sing The Boys Volume One" at The Laurie
Beechman, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.

NEXT SALON: July 21st, 2019
Join us for the week-after-the-NYC-Blackout theme of "Light In The Dark." Our Co-Host will be Michael Osso and the Salon Spotlight will be Meg Flather! Find songs that shine a light on the truth, or are about hope, illumination, or the Sun. See you then.

-Sierra Rein
Blogette for The Salon
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