With the theme of "By The Book," one would think of strict adherence to rules. However, rules were broken and stretched and thrown out the window this past Sunday, as Tommy J. Dose brought his signature bari-tenor brilliance and fantastic hosting skills to the Salon stage. Tommy is the 2016 MAC Award Winner for Best Piano Bar Vocalist, and could be seen hitting glorious notes (sung with a mixture of opera and musical theater vocals) at Don't Tell Mama. His take on the theme was to sing songs about storytelling, narratives and the tales we try to tell when we want to have an affect on the world and on the future. He started out by singing the soaringly romantic "Almost Like Being in Love" from Brigadoon, a show steeped in myth and legend. For his Act II set, Tommy sang a song originally cut from his show "by. the. book."; "I Was Here" from the musical The Glorious Ones by Flaherty & Ahrens. This song features an actor questioning "what are we hoping for?", and trying to figure out what he will leave behind for history to know him by. He then went into Into the Woods' "Giants in the Sky," a story-driven song featuring Tommy's beautiful and pitch-perfect tenor notes. He also reavealed that his descended from giants, being a relative of Angus MaCaskill, a 7'10'' real-life "giant" who used to tour with Tom Thumb. He finished his mid-show set with "If I Sing" from Maltby & Shire's Closer Than Ever, a moody song also cut from his show, but perfectly in tune with the theme. At the end of the evening, Tommy spoke of the importance of storytelling, and how "the most important story to tell is your own, even if you don't know how it ends... and then sang "How it Ends" from the story-centric musical Big Fish.
Tommy can be seen in "by. the. book." directed by Lennie Watts with musical direction by Nate Buccieri on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 7:00pm, at Don't Tell Mama (343 W. 46th Street, NYC). This is a repeat of his debut cabaret from last Fall. Go to www.donttellmamanyc.com for more information or call (212) 757-0788. $15 cover/two drink minimum (Cash only); MAC members get $10 ticket cover price.
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| Tommy J. Dose |
Our Salon Spotlight: Mark Hartman
The Salon Spotlight was Bistro and MAC-Award winner singer-pianist Mark Hartman, whose show "Late Breaking Stories" will play at The Laurie Beechman Theatre on Thursday, January 19th at 7:00pm. After singing "Short People" by Randy Newman, which brought a lot of ironic chuckles, he revealed at the piano that in his new show "I don't want to be terribly entertaining...I want to do something that means something." In fact, in his current show, he's bringing in artists who have purpose, like Natalie Douglas, Ricky Alan Saunders, Nicholas Rodriguez and Nilan Johnson. Along with himself on piano, Mark will be joined by John Miller on bass, Jerome Jennings on drums. To complete his set, Mark sang the late George Michael's "One More Try" with fiery gospel piano accompaniment, and then asked the audience "anyone depressed?" After a few murmurs of agreement from us, Mark went into the positive "Beautiful City" with full-chorded rock blues piano break. For more information on "Late Breaking Stories," visit his event on Facebook.
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| Mark Hartman |
Quick Wrap - Classical Corner
The Classical Corner featured a friend of mine and stellar young Opera singer, Heather Bobeck. Tomorrow, Wednesday January 17th at around 2pm, Heather will be singing in the Regional level of the Metropolitan Opera Competition at Merkin Hall at 129 West 67th Street, NYC. In preparation for her entry, Heather sang a combination from La sonnambula by Vincenzo Bellini of "Ah! non credea mirarti" and "Ah! non giunge uman pensiero." At first, her character is a sleepwalker, dazed and singing about her rejected lover and the flowers in her hands while walking across a treacherous bridge. Once on the other side, she breaks out of her reverie, and finds her lover on the other side with a ring for her; she then sings her absolute joy and happiness in her newfound love. On a side note, Mark revealed that he used to be a sleepwalker as a child, and once locked his father out of a room with the door chain!
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| Heather Bobeck |
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: Tommy J. Dose
Kit
David Gilliam
Bob Diamond (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self on piano)
David Ballard
Sierra Rein
Marnie Klar
Classical Corner: Heather Bobeck
Salon Spotlight: Mark Hartman (self on piano)
BREAK
Co Host: Tommy J. Dose
Jen Bradley
Nick Miller
Steve Bustamante (self on guitar)
Encores:
Encores:
Sally Darling
Barb Malley
Bobbie Horowitz
Kit
David Ballard
Heather Bobeck
Co Host: Tommy J. Dose
Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Mark Janas, Matthew Martin Ward, Steve Bustamante, and Mark Hartman.
And thank you to Becky Balin on lights and sound, and our amazing waitstaff who always handle the demands of a full house with grace and style, and Steve Bustamante, tonight's videographer.
Ongoing Shows:
Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC. www.shanghaimongnyc.com
Upcoming Shows:
Monday, January 16, 2017 (7pm) - Bobbie Horowitz is continuing her series, "It's Just a Number" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St, NYC.
Thursday, January 19, 2017 (7pm): Mark Hartman & more in "Late Breaking Stories" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Friday, January 20, 2017 (7pm): "Sondheim Unplugged" featuring music from Assassins and more, with appearance by Sierra Rein as part of Marquee Five. Feinstein's 54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.
Sunday, January 22, 2017 (2:30pm): Nick Miller in Bronx Opera's "Sire John in Love" for ARE Opera at Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College, NYC.
Thursday, January 19, 2017 (7pm): Mark Hartman & more in "Late Breaking Stories" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Friday, January 20, 2017 (7pm): "Sondheim Unplugged" featuring music from Assassins and more, with appearance by Sierra Rein as part of Marquee Five. Feinstein's 54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.
Sunday, January 22, 2017 (2:30pm): Nick Miller in Bronx Opera's "Sire John in Love" for ARE Opera at Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College, NYC.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017 (7pm): Bob Diamond is bringing back, "The Gift of Love" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, January 27, 2017 (7pm): Ricky Ritzel's Broadway presents Barbara Malley, Bob Diamond, and more at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, January 27, 2017 (7pm): Ricky Ritzel's Broadway presents Barbara Malley, Bob Diamond, and more at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017 (7pm): Bob Diamond is bringing back, "The Gift of Love" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 (7pm): Barbara Malley is bringing back her show, "OMG! Am I a Diva?" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC, benefitting American Rivers.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams in "Carried Away" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Friday, March 3, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings back "Tanya Moberly Sings Nilsson With Weber" one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams in "Carried Away" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Friday, March 3, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings back "Tanya Moberly Sings Nilsson With Weber" one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Friday, March 10, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings back "Tanya Moberly Sings the Blues with Ian Herman" one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams in "Carried Away" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Friday, March 17, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings back "Tanya Moberly Sings Amy, Ani, Rickie and Joni with Ritt Henn" one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017: Kit is appearing for one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams in "Carried Away" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Friday, March 17, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings back "Tanya Moberly Sings Amy, Ani, Rickie and Joni with Ritt Henn" one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017: Kit is appearing for one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, March 31, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings back "Tanya Moberly Sings Kenny Loggins with Steven Ray Watkins" one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Dan Ruth in "A Life Behind Bars" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Dan Ruth in "A Life Behind Bars" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Dan Ruth in "A Life Behind Bars" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Wednesday, May 10, 2017: Save the date for Sally Darling's new show at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs Dan Ruth in "A Life Behind Bars" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
NEXT SUNDAY! The theme will be "Transformations" with Co-Host and current Cabaret Scenes cover-boy Joshua Lance Dixon. Joshua won the 2016 competition of Mama's Next Big Act and became NiteLife Person of the Week for it! Feel free to bring songs about growing up, finding a new love or new life direction, or perhaps songs from a musical version of Metamorphosis (it exists!).
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