The Salon Wrap Up for October 29, 2017: "Eat, Drink and Be Scary"

We had an bustling and exciting atmosphere at The Salon this week as we prepared for one of our annual favorites: Our Halloween Salon, with this year's theme - EAT, DRINK AND BE SCARY.

Our Guest Host/Pianist was the amazing Matthew Martin Ward! Our Co-Hosts were MAC & Bistro Award Winner Janice Hall & MAC Award Winner Adam B Shapiro!

This year's theme was all about food and spookiness, and Adam and Janice cleverly combined dress-up magic and songs about imbibing. They began their epic costume parade with Adam playing The Snake wrapped around an Apple Tree for "Forbidden Fruit / In Pursuit of Happiness." That was followed by Janice playing the role of Dracula's Wife in the song, "Vampire Surprise." For their mid-show set, Adam came out dressed as Paula Dean to sing the parody song, "You're Addicted to Spuds" (based on "Addicted to Love.") A particularly funny moment was when he shoved fresh fries in his mouth during the musical break and pulled potatoes out of his bra! Janice then came out dressed as Louise Linton (Steven Mnuchin's wife), to sing "Cheese Nips", which I saw her sing at the "Howard Ashman" tribute at The Metropolitan Room Series "Gone Too Soon." For the final song of the evening, Adam and Janice gave us a fantastic medley of dozens of songs with phrases about food in their "Glorious Food Medley", dressed as a pickle (Adam) and sriracha bottle (Janice).

Janice will be appearing in THE OPERA SHOW WITH NO OPERA in The Winter Rhythms Festival at Urban Stages – 259 West 30th St, NYC 10001 – on December 16th at 3pm. Adam will be appearing in SHE LOVES ME at The Capital Rep Theatre in Albany beginning November 24th. You can also check out Adam’s ONE MAN BROADWAY video series on You Tube at https://www.youtube.com/user/Bdwaybuff.

Co-Hosts Adam Shapiro and Janice Hall!

Salon Spotlight

Our Salon Spotlight will feature Bistro, MAC & Nightlife Award Winner Daryl Glenn with Mardie Millit & MAC Award Winner Molly Pope!

My little girl dreams have come true with this performance - the first two songs were from the obscure movie musical, "Charlotte's Web." Ok, it wasn't a movie musical - it was a cartoon movie, and it wasn't that obscure but most people don't remember there were songs in the movie. He started with "A Veritable Smorgasbord" - Templeton's song in the movie. He then asked Molly Pope to come to the stage to sing a duet between the Goose and Horse, "Lots in Common." (Fun thing to note - the very first place I did was "Charlotte's Web" at age 9 - I played the Gander.) He finished his set by inviting Mardie Millit to the stage to sing, "The Things I Will Not Miss" from the obscure movie musical, "Los Horizon" by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

For more information about their busy schedules, visit: www.darylglenn.com / www.michaelandmardie.com / www.mollypope.com

Quick Wrap - Matthew's Corner

Matthew let us know that the evening's Classical Corner is entitled, "What makes music scary" and "Is brought to you by the letter D."

D is for Diminished 7th chords. A Diminished 7 chord includes one minor third, with another minor third added, with ANOTHER minor third added. Matthew pointed out that there are two tri-tones in the chord, which makes the chord very "unstable."

D is for the key of D Minor. Most of the scary music we hear is in the key of D Minor.

D is for death. Most music that represents death uses the above chord and key, making for a very intense and unnerving experience for the listener.

He then introduced us to Liszt's "Totentans" (which translates as "dance of death" - more Ds!) which was written for for piano and orchestra. Because Matthew said that the piece cannot be done justice with just a piano, he brought in a recording of a live performance that was played over the sound system. What a wonderful close to Act 1 of tonight's Salon!

By the way, the next time you see Matthew at the piano ask him to do "scary piano face" - hilarious!

Matthew’s Broadway credits include AVENUE Q, TARZAN, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, URINETOWN, TOMMY, STATE FAIR and BLOOD BROTHERS. He was Musical Director for FORBIDDEN BROADWAY... STRIKES BACK and CLEANS UP ITS ACT. Off-Broadway: WHOOP-DEE-DOO, NUNSENSE and RUTHLESS.


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 Matthew Martin Ward unless otherwise noted.

Co-Host: Adam B Shapiro
Co-Host: Janice Hall
Jim Speake
Robin Kradles
Todd Monroe
Bobbie Horowitz
Barb Malley
Sally Darling
JoAna Gray
John Rinaldi
Jessica Schneiderman
Tyke James
Carly Ozard
Erin Cronican
Zach Wobensmith
Salon Spotlight: Daryl Glenn, Mardie Millit, Molly Pope (with Ben McNaboe on piano)

Matthew's Corner: Matthew Martin Ward

BREAK

Co-Hosts: Adam B Shapiro & Janice Hall

Tanya Moberly

Bill Krakauer
Blair Alexis Brown
Richard Eisenberg
Jen Bradley
Jim Speake (encore)
Bobbie Horowitz (encore)
Barb Malley (encore)
Carly Ozard (encore)
JoAna Gray (encore)
John Rinaldi (encore)
Zach Wobensmith and Erin Cronican
Co-Hosts: Adam B Shapiro & Janice Hall

Special thanks to tonight's musicians: Matthew Martin Ward, Tyke James and Ben McNaboe!

Thank you, also, to Gil Alexanddre on lights and sound, Joe and our amazing waitstaff, and the management at Etcetera Etcetera.

Ongoing Shows:

Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC.

Weekly: Bill Zeffiro plays and sings with a rotating list of guests at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.

Upcoming Shows:

Thursday, November 2, 2017: Barbara Malley will perform "Oh My God: Am I a Diva?" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano, as a benefit for Housing Works at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

November 4-19 2017: Erin Cronican is directing and starring in, "Jack Goes Boating" a play with The Seeing Place Theater, 64 East 4th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 6, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 10, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 (5:30pm): Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 (7pm): Frances O'Flynn will perform (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 13, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing and Ian Herman at the piano, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 17, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Mark Janas are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, November 19, 2017 (5pm): Bobbie Horowitz will present "It's Just a Number" featuring Sally Darling and Bob Diamond at The Triad, 158 W. 72nd Street, NYC.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling is appearing in "Together" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 25, 2017: Robin Kradles is bringing back her show, "Gambling On Love" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, December 3, 2017 (4:30pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 8, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 10, 2017 (4pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 16, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling is appearing in "Together" at Winter Rhythms, Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 16, 2017: Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano and Peter Napolitano as Director as part of "Winter Rhythms" at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 16, 2017: Janice Hall will perform "The Opera Show With No Opera" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano as part of "Winter Rhythms" at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Monday, December 18, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing and Ian Herman at the piano, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, December 21, 2017 (7pm): Matthew Martin Ward will present his show "After the Fair" at the Winter Rhythms Festival - starring Rebecca Luker - at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017: Sally Darling and Matthew Martin Ward bring back her show "Love, Lust, and Longing" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 29, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Erin Cronican
"Blogette" for The Salon

See something you'd like to edit/add? Email me.

The Salon Wrap-Up for October 22, 2017: "Longing For Change"

As Mark Janas was still out performing with Kathleen Turner, we needed a change of hands at the piano; with the theme of "Longing For Change," our Guest Host was the illustrious and consistently amazing Ian Herman.  Ian spent the evening hitting the 88's for most of the evening, but especially for the sultry co-host, Dawn Derow. In her 1940's garb (complete with red-hot lipstick) and a powerful voice with range, jazzy sweet straight-tone and a powerful belt to match the era, Dawn first swung into a combination of "Let's Get Away From it All" into "How About You?" and informed us that a cocktail in 1941 cost .75 cents, which means a two-drink minimum was only $1.50! Indeed, Dawn had many little tidbits of information regarding historical factoids from 1941 throughout the evening, and offered packages of Peanut M&Ms for anyone who was new to The Salon, since those candies made their debut in 1941 as well! For her Act II set, she leaned against the piano and cheekily sang the spicy "The Saga of Jenny" by Kurt Weill. After revealing her process losing her original Musical Director, Barry Levitt, a month ago, she honored his memory by singing "My Ship," with a gorgeous a cappella vocal opening. She then shot straight into "Blues in the Night," which featured her soulful belt.  To wrap the entire evening up with a cocoon of vintage warmth, Dawn put on a period sweater and her soprano voice with the soaring "White Cliffs of Dover," a 1941 lullaby by Walter Kent and Nat Burton.

Dawn Derow

Her show "My Ship: Songs From 1941" - Directed by Jeff Harnar - will feature both nautical songs and ditties written in '41 on November 4th at 2:00pm ($40 tickets which will be a benefit for the family of the late, great Barry Levitt), and November 29th at 7:00pm at The Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC. Tom Hubbard on bass and and Daniel Glass/Ray Marchika on drums, with Ian Herman replacing Barry at the piano.

Salon Spotlight

Our spotlight on Sunday was Marnie Klar, who sang selections of her upcoming show "Bedtime Stories," a romp through a number of bed-related events, from fairy tales, to concepts of hopes and dreams to (yes) sexy time under the sheets. With her expressive eyes, youthful wistfulness, and comedienne chops, she started out with Mary Rogers and Stephen Sondheim's "The Boy From..." from The Mad Show, featuring all the comedic diction possible.  She then went into the dreamily blue yet still innocent "Something Cool" by Billy Barnes. Finally, she switched into ebullient children's theater storytelling with "The Tale of the Oyster" by Cole Porter from Fifty Million Frenchman, and had so much fun on stage it was palpable.

Marnie Klar will perform her show "Bedtime Stories" on Wednesday, October 25, Wednesday, November 8, 2017, Friday, November 10, 2017 (all at 7pm), and Saturday, December 10, 2017 and Tuesday, December 19, 2017 (both at 4pm), Directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Quick Wrap - Ian's Corner

Ian Herman took to the piano spotlight to play in his little corner of the room to first play "Too Fast," an original piece he wrote as an ode to George Gershwin, which had some of the most nimble piano playing I've ever heard, and (talk about "Longing to Change!") key and jazz rhythm/tempo changes throughout from one theme to the next. George would have been proud...or if you believe in karma, it was almost as if George was already at the piano! Ian then played another original entitled "Edwina," a rolling Latin-infused piece with hot rhythms that made me dance in my seat at one point, but then brought a darkly ominous middle section into the mix before bringing us back into the burning rhythm as before. As a pianist, Ian is an amazingly supportive player, but as a soloist at the keys, he is absolutely stunning!

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 Ian Herman unless otherwise noted.

Co-Host: Dawn Derow
Bobbie Horowitz (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Michael Colby
Rian Keating
Ira Lee Collings
Joe Peck
Linda Glick
Angela Leone
Amy Beth Williams
Kim Castlemain (self at the piano)
Frances O'Flynn and Matthew Martin Ward (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Janice Hall (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward
Sarah Rice
Sierra Rein
Salon Spotlight: Marnie Klar (with Stephen Ray Watkins on piano)

Ian's Corner: Ian Herman

BREAK

Co-Host: Dawn Derow

Tanya Moberly
Charles Evans
Grace Callahan
Jen Bradley
Joe Peck (encore)
Amy Beth Williams (encore)
Rian Keating (encore)
Ira Lee Collins (encore, with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Sarah Rice (encore)
Sierra Rein (encore)
Frances O'Flynn (encore)
Bobbie Horowitz (encore, with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Janice Hall (encore, with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (encore, self on piano)
Co-Host: Dawn Derow

Special thanks to tonight's musicians: Ian Herman, Matthew Martin Ward, Kim Castlemain, and Stephen Ray Watkin.

Thank you, also, to Janice Hall on lights and sound, Joe and our amazing waitstaff, and the management at Etcetera Etcetera.

Ongoing Shows:

Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC.

Weekly: Bill Zeffiro plays and sings with a rotating list of guests at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.

Upcoming Shows:

Monday, October 23, 2017 (6pm): Sierra Rein will perform "Love in the Time of Recession: A Musical" an original 20-minute musical by Peter Saxe as part of "Across a Crowded Room" at The Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017  (7pm): "Bedtime Stories" with Marnie Klar (Directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017 (7:30pm): Linda Glick will perform "Teach Me Tonight" with Ian Herman at the piano, at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Friday, October 27, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ian Herman are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, October 28, 2017 (2pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 29, 2017 (7pm): Sarah Rice and Sierra Rein (as part of Marquee Five) will sing in "Sondheim Unplugged: Into Sweeney Todd's Woods" at Feinstein's 54 Below.

Sunday, October 29, 2017 (7:15pm): Ira Lee Collings in "The Gay Geezer: Life Is A Song – So Why Not Sing it?” at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017 (7:30pm): Linda Glick will perform "Teach Me Tonight" with Ian Herman at the piano, at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Thursday, November 2, 2017: Barbara Malley will perform "Oh My God: Am I a Diva?" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano, as a benefit for Housing Works at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 6, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 10, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 10, 2017 (7:30pm): Linda Glick will perform "Teach Me Tonight" with Ian Herman at the piano, at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 (5:30pm): Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 (7pm): Frances O'Flynn will perform (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 13, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing and Ian Herman at the piano, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017 (6:30pm): Rian Keating will perform his show "there is a time: songs of love and life" as a benefit for the Lower East Side Preparatory High School MeiLing Tse - Virginia Yu Scholarship Fund at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 17, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Mark Janas are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 18, 2017 (4:00pm): Rian Keating will perform his show "there is a time: songs of love and life" as a benefit for the Lower East Side Preparatory High School MeiLing Tse - Virginia Yu Scholarship Fund at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, November 19, 2017 (5pm): Bobbie Horowitz will present "It's Just a Number" featuring Sally Darling and Bob Diamond at The Triad, 158 W. 72nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 8, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 10, 2017 (4pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 16, 2017: Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano and Peter Napolitano as Director as part of "Winter Rhythms" at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 16, 2017: Janice Hall will perform "The Opera Show With No Opera" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano as part of "Winter Rhythms" at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Monday, December 18, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing and Ian Herman at the piano, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, December 21, 2017 (7pm): Matthew Martin Ward will present his show "After the Fair" at the Winter Rhythms Festival - starring Rebecca Luker - at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017: Sally Darling and Matthew Martin Ward bring back her show "Love, Lust, and Longing" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 29, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

NEXT SALON!

As is SALON TRADITION, we will have an amazing Halloween Salon night on October 29th, 2017, with scarily talented Co-Hosts Janice Hall and Adam Shapiro leading us through screamingly good shanties and apparition-filled arias with the theme of "Eat, Drink, and Be Scary." Costumes are encouraged! Even more frightening, the Salon Spotlight will be on Daryl Glenn, Mardie Millit & Molly Pope! Ooooooooooo!

Sierra Rein
"Blogette" for The Salon
See something you'd like to edit/add? Email me.

The Salon Wrap-Up for October 15, 2017: "Livin' The Dream"

We arrived at The Salon on one of the last warm days of the year, and found even warmer hearts and music in the upstairs lounge at Etc Etc Restaurant. This week's Co-Host was MAC & Bistro Award Winner Barbara Brussell, who brought the inspiring theme "Livin' The Dream."

Barbara bolted up to the stage in a bundle of energy to kick off the evening. She started with the hilarious and charming, "Putting Things Away" which was all about the love of shopping but hating the reality of what to do once you get the items home. At the top of her mid-show set, Barbara blew the audience away with a mash up of "This Nearly Was Mine" and "Once Upon A Time" - a stunningly innovative classic theater medley. She followed that with a song that I think all of us could relate to: the exasperated comedy song, "I'd Rather Sing A Song" (than be a doctor, etc!) Her third song of the mid-show set was a heartbreaking, "Strangers Once Again" - the audience was so silent you could hear a pin drop. To close out the evening, Barbara leapt to the stage to sing a darling song by Ron Miller called, "Whenever You Find Yourself" from a little known musical called, "Clothespins and Dreams."

Barbara will be appearing in The 28th New York Cabaret Convention at Rose Hall at Lincoln Center – Broadway at 60th St, NYC, 10019 – on Wednesday, October 18th at 6pm and at Don’t Tell Mama – 343 West 46th St, NYC 10036 – in THIS MOMENT on October 20th at 7pm. For more information: www.mabelmercer.org / www.donttellmamanyc.com

Co-Host Barbara Brussell

Salon Spotlight

This week's Salon Spotlight was none other than Mark Nadler, an internationally acclaimed singer, pianist, tap-dancer and comedian and recipient of the 2015 Broadway World Editor's Choice Award for Entertainer of the Year.

Mark started his set by telling a hilarious story about a time he accompanied our co-host, Barbara, at a Sex and Love Anonymous Talent Show. (No joke.) After telling some more stories about their adventures, he mused on the theme and sat down at the piano to play and sing, "Autumn In New York." He then told a hilarious (and unfortunate) story about a couple of jazz singers who had a habit of cutting songs before the ending lyric. "Example: Don't they know it's the end of the world? It ended when we said...GOODNIGHT EVERYONE!" And after a charming story about Irving Berlin, he said he would oblige Barbara's request for a ballad with a poignant, "Come a Little Closer," which then segued into the delicate, "The Way You Look Tonight" by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields. He closed his set with a jaunty, " 'S Wonderful" which morphed into Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" - sometimes at the same time in true mashup form! (Oh, and did I mention that he played the piano for himself AND ran around the room impersonating different "audience members" saying what they thought of his performance? AMAZING.)

Mark will be appearing at the Cabaret Convention Tuesday, October 17, 2017. For more information about upcoming shows, visit his website at www.marknadler.com

Salon Spotlight: Mark Nadler

Quick Wrap - Classical Corner

Mark Janas gave us an amazing lesson on the quintessential music for living in dreams: Classic music theater! Mark defined classic as "something that has worn through time with a high standard." In music it technically refers to eras like Mozart's, but in music theater we think of musicals from 50 years and beyond.

One thing that Mark remarked on was that in many musicals the music was written from top to bottom but the composers themselves (rather than having others flesh out their melodies or orchestrations.) The first musical that he referenced in tonight's corner was Camelot by Lerner and Loewe. Did you know that when the show originated it ran 4.5 hours, instead of the promised 2.5 hours? (And I can attest to this, because when I did the show it was well over 3 hours and our union musicians walked out at the 3 hours mark every night because they we're being paid overtime!) Mark looked at one of the pieces from the show, "The Simple Joys of Maidenhood" which has a classical/operatic structure with complex keys that change over and over and over and over. He then invited Erin Cronican (yours truly) up to the music to sing the song.

We then moved to Meredith Willson's The Music Man. Mark said that the first time he learned about the show was from his high school chorus teacher who said that when Willson wrote the piece everyone told him the show would never succeed because it was too old fashioned - too much a throwback. ("Poor Meredith," his teacher said, "Crying all the way to the bank!") Like some of Frank Loesser's music, the next song rides the fine line between musical theater and an art song. He demonstrated a section of the music that was reminiscent of Puccini's M Butterfly - and he said that like Bernstein's music in West Side Story, Willson innovated on what's classic to make it new again (and complex to perform!) He then asked Erin Cronican (me again!) to sing, "My White Night" from the musical.

We finally came to Rodgers and Hammerstein. Mark talked about having dinner with Mary Rodgers (Richard Rodgers' daughter, and Adam Guettel's mother). He asked her what it was like to grow up listening to great music being composed, like "Some Enchanted Evening" and she said it was repressive. Mark asked how, and she said that as a child she was rarely allowed to run around and be rambunctious because there needed to be quiet in the house! She also told a story of how one night there were dozens of luminaries in their home (Hammerstein, Gershwin, etc) and after she went to bed Gershwin got on the piano and sang through - for the first time ever - the full score for Porgy and Bess. Mark asked, stunned, "He was playing Porgy and Bess and you didn't hear it?!" She said, "Well I was only three year old!" (We love these stories, Mark!!) Mark then asked Janice Hall to come to the stage to share with us one of the most beloved anthems of music theater, "You'll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel. 

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: Barbara Brussell
JoAna Gray
Christy Frye
Todd Fernandez (also on piano)
Annie Lebeaux (also on piano)
Frances O'Flynn (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (also on piano)
David Ballard
Erin Cronican
Janice Hall (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)

Classical Corner: Mark Janas, Erin Cronican, Janice Hall

BREAK

Co-Host: Barbara Brussell

Tanya Moberly
Salon Spotlight: Mark Nadler
Annie Lebeaux (encore, also on piano)
Todd Fernandez (encore, also on piano)
Frances O'Flynn (encore, with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Janice Hall (encore, with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (also on piano)
JoAna Gray (encore)
Tanya Moberly (encore)
David Ballard (encore)
Co-Host: Barbara Brussell

Special thanks to tonight's musicians: Mark Janas, Matthew Martin Ward, Mark Nadler, Annie Lebeaux, and Todd Fernandez.

Thank you, also, to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound, David Ballard and our amazing waitstaff, and the management at Etc Etc.


Ongoing Shows:

Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC.

Weekly: Bill Zeffiro plays and sings with a rotating list of guests at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.


Upcoming Shows:

October 16-19, 2017 (6pm): This year's Cabaret Convention features Tanya Moberly, Adam B. Shapiro, Matthew Martin Ward, Barbara Brussell, Mark Nadler, Ritt Henn, Shana Farr, and others, at the Rose Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60th Street.

Friday, October 20, 2017 (7pm): Barbara Brussell is appearing in her show, "This Moment" at Don't Tell Mama,  345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, October 20, 2017 (8pm): Mark Janas, Ritt Henn and Sean Harkness will play for Kathleen Turner in "Finding My Voice" at Feinstein's San Francisco, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco.

Saturday, October 21, 2017 (8pm): Mark Janas, Ritt Henn and Sean Harkness will play for Kathleen Turner in "Finding My Voice" at Feinstein's San Francisco, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco.

Saturday, October 21, 2017 (4pm): JoAna Gray in "Defying Expectations, Defining Dreams" (Director: Faith Prince, Musical Director: Christopher Denny) at The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 22, 2017 (2-7pm): Erin Cronican is hosting a Artist Flea Market to benefit The Seeing Place, at West 3rd Common, 1 West 3rd St, NYC

Monday, October 23, 2017 (6pm): Sierra Rein will perform "Love in the Time of Recession: A Musical" an original 20-minute musical by Peter Saxe as part of "Across a Crowded Room" at The Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017  (7pm): "Bedtime Stories" with Marnie Klar (Directed by Tanya Moberly) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, October 27, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ian Herman are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, October 28, 2017 (2pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 29, 2017 (7pm): Sierra Rein (as part of Marquee Five) will sing in "Sondheim Unplugged: Into Sweeney Todd's Woods" at Feinstein's 54 Below,

November 4-19 2017: Erin Cronican is directing and starring in, "Jack Goes Boating" a play with The Seeing Place Theater, 64 East 4th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 6, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 10, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 (5:30pm): Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017: Frances O'Flynn will perform (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, November 13, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 17, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Mark Janas are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 8, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 10, 2017 (4pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 16, 2017: Andrea Bell Wolff will perform "Prisoner of Love" with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano and Peter Napolitano as Director as part of "Winter Rhythms" at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Monday, December 18, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, December 21, 2017 (7pm): Matthew Martin Ward will present his show "After the Fair" at the Winter Rhythms Festival - starring Rebecca Luker - at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017: Sally Darling and Matthew Martin Ward bring back her show "Love, Lust, and Longing" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 29, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.



NEXT SALON!

On Sunday, October 22th, the theme will be "Longing For Change" with Guest Host: Ian Herman, your Co-Host, Dawn Derow, and Salon Spotlight, Marnie Klar.


--Erin Cronican
"Blogette" for The Salon
See something you'd like to edit/add? Email me.