By Andrew Poretz . . . . "A playwright confuses her opening night and is faced with an audience expecting to be entertained. As she pulls ideas out of her ass, an array of compelling charact…
By Walter Murphy … Celtic Christmas " A Taste of Ireland, which ran earlier this month at the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, offers a smorgasbord of Irish artistry, step dancing, …
By Andrew Poretz Performer Kay Kostopolous is a highly accomplished Bay Area jazz singer for whom New York is her second home. She regularly appears at Pangea with her Black Olive Jazz quart…
Jackie Mason lives again in this riotously funny comedy based on a true story. The show features Jackie's real life daughter comedian Sheba Mason, his striking look-alike Ian Wehrle, and…
By Andrew Poretz . . . Back in 1968, an advertising poster for Blackglama furs featured a Richard Avedon photo of iconicc star Bette Davis with the tagline, "What Becomes a Legend Most?" Whe…
The Power of Women's Voices is a soul-stirring celebration of prose, poetry, art, and music that honored the unapologetic brilliance of women over 40. The Triad had a packed house, and the s…
Pianist-entertainer Chris Autore is marking an extraordinary 75 years in show business with a special performance of Look at Me Now on Wednesday, November 5 at 7 PM at Don't Tell Mama. He'll…
By Andrew Poretz . . . On October 21, the 36th annual Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention opened at the Frederick P. Lowe Rose Room (Jazz at Lincoln Center) on with The Best Is Yet to Come: A Ce…
By Andrew Poretz . . . Photos by Melissa Griegel Photography (www.griegelphoto.zenfolio.com) Theater Pizzazz was on the scene to cover the Al Hirschfeld Foundation's cocktail party and openi…
By Andrew Poretz . . . . Guitarist and composer Sean Harkness is one of the most talented musicians you'll ever hear, and a rather humble fellow with a sweet nature. An impeccable guitarist,…
Jazz singer Verena McBee unveiled her latest album, "Bird (S)Swing," at Chelsea Table + Stage on May 3rd.
The City Center Encores! revival of the beloved 1953 musical is just too busy for its own good. By Brian Scott Lipton In the past few years, City Center Encores! has tried to make lightning …
By Andrew Poretz . . . . The New York Pops closed its season back in March with a spectacular finish (see HERE). In the equivalent of a post-season bowl game, the Pops returned for its annua…
By Andrew Poretz. . . . Making it to 100 years old is quite a milestone. On April 1st, chanteuse Lynne Charnay joined this exclusive club, celebrating with two sold-out nights at Don't Tell …
By Andrew Poretz . . . . Gabrielle Stravelli has long been a favorite of this reviewer. She recently completed a weekly residency at Birdland Jazz of early Saturday sets. This reviewer atten…
The New York Pops, after a diverse season of excellent programming and concerts, had its season finale on March 14 at Carnegie Hall with 100 Years of Film Scores. Unlike most of its programs…
By Andrew Poretz . . . Canadian singer/songwriter and pianist Laila Biali first came to this reviewer's attention at the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) conference seven …
By Andrew Poretz . . . . Ella Mae Dixon is a 21-year-old jazz vocalist and cabaret singer based in New York City. She first came to this writer's attention at age 18, when she appeared in Th…
By Andrew Poretz . . . . The very young cabaret singer Madalyn Matthews recently made her 54 Below debut with Fill My Cup With Blue. Madalyn first came to my attention at the Mabel Mercer Fo…
By Andrew Poretz . . . The 35th Annual Kleban Awards took place on February 3rd at ASCAP's (American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers) Manhattan headquarters. The post The 35t…
By Andrew Poretz . . . Danny Bacher died on December 16, 2024, but I don't have to believe it if I don't want to. (With apologies to John O'Hara.) New Jersey-born jazz singer and soprano sax…
Actress and singer Margaret Curry is a Bistro Award-winning cabaret performer. This reviewer saw her perform at the most recent Bistro Awards, and welcomed an opportunity to catch an encore …
Cabaret Review by Andrew Poretz . . . The Brick Room at Don't Tell Mama was entirely sold out for Juliet Ewing's second encore performance of her George Gershwin show, Rise Up Singing " The …
It's always exciting to find new talent. It's especially rewarding to discover a young singer who is keeping jazz and the Great American Songbook alive. June Cavlan, in her early twenties, p…
Concert Review by Andrew Poretz . . . The latest installment in cabaret great Michael Feinstein's Standard Time series took an eclectic turn from his themes celebrating specific musical icon…