The Salon Wrap-Up for September 22nd: "Wine, Women, and Song"
Greetings, merrymakers, and welcome to tonight's festive theme, "Wine, Women, and Song." As host Mark Janas said, it's a theme you practically don't have to think about to find material for--but it's certainly one that everyone can enjoy!Our wonderful co-host for the evening was Gracie Lee Brown, with her accompanist Thomas Hodges. Gracie was one of the finalists in the Mama's Next Big Act competition this year, and tonight she certainly showed us why. In the middle of her opening song, "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" (Willie Nelson), she even read one of her poems, which was a beautiful addition.
For her three-song set, Gracie opened with a song composed for her by her musical director, called "Maid of Shame." The song is about Gracie's frustration at seeing a whole string of her friends getting married, while she was the lonely bridesmaid. Her second selection continued the where-in-the-world-is-my-prince theme, with a reflective mashup of Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me" with Kander and Ebb's "Maybe This Time." Gracie closed the set with another Thomas Hodges original, the blues ballad "Oh, Lover."
For her final song this evening, Gracie chose "Traveling Song," by Ryn Weaver.
Salon Spotlight: Remembering Barry Levitt
Tonight's Spotlight was bittersweet: it was wonderful to welcome Helena Grenot back to Salon after a long hiatus, and to honor our friend and Maestro, Barry Levitt. The bitter part: Barry departed this earth suddenly two years ago, on September 21st. He is still fondly remembered, deeply missed, and his artistic legacy lives on in many of the singers he worked with, and in the songs he composed.
The Maestro, Barry Levitt
Helena and Barry's friendship goes back to the 1970's, and she honored their many years of musical collaboration by singing some of the songs she had performed with Barry over the years. Her first number was Pheobe Snow's "Harpo's Blues;" she followed that with the lovely "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You," composed by Victor Young, with lyrics by Ned Washington and Bing Crosby. For her final selection, Helena chose a song that Barry himself used to sing: "Pennies from Heaven."
With some of Barry's students and collaborators in attendance tonight, it is clear that Barry lives on in our hearts!
Classical Corner
Tonight's guest for Classical Corner was the young Venezuelan soprano Maria Fernanda Brea. Mark and Maria met while she was studying at Manhattan School of Music, and Mark instantly became a fan of her beautiful voice. Tonight, she treated us to three arias from different genres. Her first aria belongs to the mischievous character Rosina, from Rossini's The Barber of Seville. In this aria, Rosina, who is the ward of a much older man who is scheming to marry her, tell us that she is really a very nice person, unless you cross her, in which case...watch out.Maria's second selection was the beautiful French aria "Depuis le Jour," from the little-known opera Louise. In it, Louise rapturously remembers "the day before," the first time she and her lover were together.
Maria closed this segment with an aria from a different version of the Barber of Seville story: the Zarzuela El Barbero de Sevilla. (Zarzuela is a Spanish-language musical form similar to operetta or musical comedy.) In this farcical take-off, written in 1901, a provincial opera company is attempting to produce Rossini's opera. Maria will be performing this piece with the New Camerata Opera Company from October 16-20th, and she presented a selection sung by her character, a young girl who is hoping to be an opera star (against the wishes of her father).
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: Gracie Lee Brown (Thomas Hodges at the piano)
Regina Zona
Susan Hodgdon
Marnie Klar
Scott Raneri
Debbie Kane Raymar
Gerrilyn Sohn
Madelaine Warren
Natsuko Matsumura
Frans Bloem
Barrie Kreinik
Godie Dver
David Herman (accompanying himself on guitar)
Janice Hall
Maureen Taylor
Steve Bustamante (accompanying himself on guitar)
CLASSICAL CORNER (with guest Maria Fernanda Brea)
BREAK
Co-Host: Gracie Lee Brown (Thomas Hodges accompanying)
Thomas Hodges (accompanying himself)
Tanya Moberly
Bobbie Horowitz
Joy Michelle
Marcia Roney
Ira Lee Collings
Kati Neiheisel
Bob Simonello
Lynda Kennedy
Mark Corpron
Barbara Heller
Angela Leone
David Ballard
Joshua Bennett
Co-Host:Gracie Lee Brown (Thomas Hodges accompanying)
Special thanks to our pianist for the evening, Mark Janas, to pianist Thomas Hodges, and guitarists Steve Bustamante and David Herman. Thanks also to David Ballard on lights and sound and to the wonderful waitstaff (Joshua and Leo) and thoughtful management at Don't Tell Mama. Also, thank you to our videographer for the evening, Steve Bustamante.
Upcoming Shows:
Recurring:
Wednesday, October 16th-Sunday, October 20th, 2019 (7:30 pm): Maria Fernanda Brea will be appearing in El Barbero de Sevilla, with New Camerata Opera, atFriday, September 27th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Lisa Viggiano's new show, "From Lady Day to The Boss'" opening at Pangea, 178 Second Avenue (bet 11th and 12th Sts), NYC.
Friday, October 4th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Jungr direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.
Saturday, October 5th, 2019 (7pm): Julie Reyburn returns to the cabaret stage in "Anywhere we Are," with musical director Mark Janas, and featuring David Ballard, at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, October 5th, 2019 (8pm): Goldie Dver will return in her show "Back in Mama's Arms" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 6th, 2019 (6 pm): Madelaine Warren sings an encore performance of her show "Mad for Romance," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Monday, October 7th, 2019 (7pm): Angela Leone presents "Mathis and More," with Bill Zeffiro at the piano, at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Tuesday, October 8th, 2019 (9pm): Gracie Lee Brown performs her show, "Say Goodnight, Gracie," with pianist Thomas Hodges, at The Bitter End, 147 Bleecker St, NYC.
Friday, October 11th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Jungr direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.
Saturday, October 12th, 2019 (7pm): Julie Reyburn returns to the cabaret stage in "Anywhere we Are," with musical director Mark Janas, and featuring David Ballard, at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 13th, 2019 (5 pm): Bob Simonello is "Rollin' a 7," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Monday, October 14th, 2019 (7 pm): Scott Raneri presents his show "The Marvelous Mr. Marzo," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Tuesday, October 15th, 2019 (7 pm): Joy Michelle debuts her show, "The Music of Life," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC
Thursday, October 17th, 2019: Bobbie Horowitz presents another installment of "It's Just A Number" (featuring Maureen Taylor and others) at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, October 19th, 2019 (3:30 pm): Susan Hodgdon holds a CD release party to celebrate her show "So in Love with Cole," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Saturday, October 19th, 2019 (4:30 pm): "Debbie Kane Raymar Sings Julie, Barbra, and The Beatles," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, October 20th, 2019 (7 pm): Joy Michelle debuts her show, "The Music of Life," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC
Thursday, October 24th, 2019: Maureen Taylor will be part of Michael Colby's "The Algonquin Kid" at the Lamb's Club, 132 W 44th St, NYC.
Thursday, October 24th-Saturday, October 26th, 2019 (8pm): Dan Ruth encores his award-winning one-man show, "A Life Behind Bars," directed by Tanya Moberly, at Carnegie Stage, 25 W Main St, Carnegie, PA.
Friday, October 25th, 2019 (7pm): Marnie Klar will be appearing in "Ricky Ritzel's Broadway," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, October 27th, 2019 (7 pm): Scott Raneri presents his show "The Marvelous Mr. Marzo," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 (5pm): Tanya Moberly is one of the many performers singing the songs of Meg Flather in "A Cabaret Sisterhood," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, November 3rd, 2019 (3pm): Angela Leone presents "Mathis and More," with Bill Zeffiro at the piano, at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, November 3rd, 2019 (5:30 pm): Gerrilyn Sohn makes her cabaret debut in "Something Cool," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, November 6th, 2019 (9:30 pm): Barbara Heller appears in "The Love Show," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Thursday, November 7th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Stephanie Trudeau in "Chavela: Think of Me" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Lisa Viggiano's new show, "From Lady Day to The Boss" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Thursday, November 14th, 2019 (7 pm): Scott Raneri presents his show "The Marvelous Mr. Marzo," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Thursday, November 14th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Jungr direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Friday, November 15th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Lisa Viggiano's new show, "From Lady Day to The Boss" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, November 16th, 2019 (4pm): Tanya Moberly directs Rian Keating in "This Traveling Heart," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, November 17th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Jungr direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, November 20th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Rian Keating in "This Traveling Heart," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Thursday, November 21st, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Lisa Viggiano's new show, "From Lady Day to The Boss" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, November 24th, 2019 (3:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs Rian Keating in "This Traveling Heart," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Frank McDonough in "Frank's Thanks," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Rian Keating in "This Traveling Heart," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Thursday, December 5th, 2019: Kati Neiheisel presents a "Christmas Show" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, December 8th, 2019 (5:30 pm): Regina Zona presents "Becoming the Queen 2.0," at The Triad, 158 W 72nd St, NYC.
Sunday, December 8th, 2019: Angela Leone presents "Mathis and More," with Bill Zeffiro at the piano, at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Thursday, December 12th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Stephanie Trudeau in "Chavela: Think of Me" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, December 14th, 2019: Kati Neiheisel presents a "Christmas Show" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Saturday, December 14th, 2019 (8pm): Tanya Moberly directs Frank McDonough in "Frank's Thanks," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Tuesday, December 17th, 2019 (7 pm): Scott Raneri presents his show "The Marvelous Mr. Marzo," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Saturday, February 29th, 2020: Lynda Kennedy presents her debut show with Mark Janas on piano at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
GET READY! SALON WILL RETUN ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27TH, with our annual Halloween Show, hosted, as tradition demands, by Janice Hall and Adam Shapiro!
This year's theme is "Hooray for Halloween: A Hollywood Halloween Celebration."
COSTUMES ENCOURAGED!
Submitted by Janice Hall
Blogette for The Salon
Email me with any additions or corrections.
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