Anna Bergman News

30th Astaire Awards producer Patricia Watt and The Douglas Watt Family Fund for the Performing hosted their annual holiday bash to celebrate the success of the foundation's Dance and movement therapy programs for autistic children.

30th Astaire Awards producer Patricia Watt and The Douglas Watt Family Fund for the Performing hosted their annual holiday bash to celebrate the success of the foundation's Dance and movement therapy programs for autistic children.

Magda Katz is joining forces with Richard Skipper to launch Richard Skipper Presents...A New Monthly Series at the Triad that will be partly a cabaret show, partly a party! And They ALL will benefit The Dr. Carol Channing-Harry Kullijian Foundation For The Arts (www.ChanningArts.org).

Magda Katz is joining forces with Richard Skipper to launch Richard Skipper Presents...A New Monthly Series at the Triad that will be partly a cabaret show, partly a party! And They ALL will benefit The Dr. Carol Channing-Harry Kullijian Foundation For The Arts (www.ChanningArts.org).

The Best of Broadway & Cabaret will come out in support of the Actors Temple, (est. 1917) on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 7 PM. This theater district historic landmark (339 West 47th Street) has fallen on hard times in recent years & is in dire need of help.

Andrea Marcovicci wins my Academy Award for creating a marvelous movie and Shelly Markham takes home one for composing a brilliant film score. Her current cabaret act 'No Strings' at the Oak Room is a musical documentary which lets you hitch a ride and romantically travel the past 25 years of Marcovicci's performing at the Algonquin.

The Best of Broadway & Cabaret will come out in support of the Actors Temple, (est. 1917) on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 7 PM. This theater district historic landmark (339 West 47th Street) has fallen on hard times in recent years & is in dire need of help.

On Friday, November 4th, The American Songbook Project held its annual signature event, their 'Name That Tune' benefit at the historic Hudson Theater in New York. Their mission is to preserve the American Songbook by bringing professional singers in the NYC schools. This year they honored Broadway composer Jerry Herman and Guild Hall (East Hampton), both of whom celebrated their 80th birthdays this year. Liz Smith emceed the Jerry Herman tribute and her passionate, loving remarks about her friend included 'It is said by show biz insiders that Jerry is so universal the you just hear a song of his once and you can hum it or sing it. And you probably can't stop. That is pretty damned great. He is universal in the musical theater, the songsmith of modern American life.' Mr. Herman's tribute included performances by James Darrah recreating his role of Ambrose Kemper from the last Carol Channing revival of Hello Dolly singing 'It Only Takes a Moment;' Meredith Patterson and Jeffry Denman performing 'Tap Your Troubles Away' from Mack and Mabel; and Andrea McArdle singing 'If He Walked into My Life Today' from Mame accompanied movingly by nine-year old Kyrian Friedenberg on trumpet.

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 20, 21, 22, The Mabel Mercer Foundation presented its 22nd annual Cabaret Convention at The Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center. More than forty exemplary vocalists and musicians appeared in three diverse programs. heck out photos from the event below!

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 20, 21, 22, The Mabel Mercer Foundation presents its 22nd annual Cabaret Convention at The Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Performances begin each evening at 6 o'clock and run 2 hours and 30 minutes with an intermission. More than forty exemplary vocalists and musicians are scheduled to appear in three diverse programs.

JASON GRAAE, the L.A. DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD winner and Broadway and cabaret star, opened his acclaimed tribute to Jerry Herman, 'PERFECT HERMANY' at The Laurie Beechman Theatre in West Bank Cafe last night, October 18. Performances run through October 25th.

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 20, 21, 22, The Mabel Mercer Foundation presents its 22nd annual Cabaret Convention at The Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Performances begin each evening at 6 o'clock and run 2 hours and 30 minutes with an intermission. More than forty exemplary vocalists and musicians are scheduled to appear in three diverse programs.

The 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, hosted by Bebe Neuwirth and Lee Roy Reams at the magnificent Skirball Center for The Performing Arts at NYU once again honored excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film. Susan Stroman took top honors for Best Choreographer on Broadway in a field of nine nominees for her stunning work in 'The Scottsboro Boys'. It was a record breaking 5th Astaire Award for the 5 time Tony Award and 5 time Drama Desk winner. Two time Tony Award Winner Bebe Neuwirth presented the award to Ms. Stroman. Sutton Foster star of 'Anything Goes' took home her second Astaire for Best Female Dancer on Broadway for her rousing performance as 'Reno Sweeney'. Her first Astaire was for 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. Desmond Richardson, Tony nominee for 'Fosse' and co-founder and co-artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet presented the award to Ms. Sutton. First timer Norbert Leo Butz star of 'Catch Me if You Can' took the prize for Best Male Dancer on Broadway presented by Tony and Drama Desk winner Karen Ziemba . Australia's Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon won the Astaire for Excellence in Choreography in Film for their breathtaking dances in 'Mao's Last Dancer' presented by Tony Award winner Bill Irwin. Legendary dancer, choreographer, teacher and founder of the National Dance Institute Jacques d'Amboise received the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award named for the late drama critic and co-founder of the Award with Fred Astaire. Following a major tribute in dance including a brilliant performance by NYCB's Russell Janzen of a piece from the ballet 'Who Cares' created by George Balanchine and first danced by d'Amboise; an exuberant performance of 'Shall We Dance' by d'Amboise's students at the National Dance Institute and praiseful introductions by Len Cariou, Charlotte & Christopher d'Amboise, Brian Stokes Mitchell presented the award to Mr. d'Amboise.

Patricia Watt, Executive Producer of the 2011 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, has announced the first group of Presenters for the 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, In addition to Len Cariou and Brian Stokes Mitchell who will co-present the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary, dancer, choreographer, teacher and star of stage, film and television Jacques D'Amboise, additional presenters include Bill Irwin, Maurice Hines, Christine Andreas, Charlotte D'amboise, Christopher D'amboise and Karen Ziemba.

The Fred and Adele Astaire Awards will once again recognize excellence in dance on both stage and film. This year's Awards gala will take place May 15,2011 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University, 566 LaGuardia Place) New York City 10019.

Ava Astaire and Patricia Watt have announced the nominating committee for the 2011 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, the only awards that recognize excellence in dance on Broadway and in film.

For Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) Music Director Rossen Milanov, stepping up to the podium is anything but new. Yet, the accomplished conductor divulges that he has butterflies about the upcoming PSO POPS! concert, which takes place Saturday, February 12 at 8 pm, at Richardson Auditorium. 'The music on a POPS! concert is common to many people in the U.S., but it's not part of my background,' explains Milanov, originally from Bulgaria. 'I'm much more accustomed to conducting classical concerts.'

For Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) Music Director Rossen Milanov, stepping up to the podium is anything but new.

For Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) Music Director Rossen Milanov, stepping up to the podium is anything but new. Yet, the accomplished conductor divulges that he has butterflies about the upcoming PSO POPS! concert, which takes place Saturday, February 12 at 8 pm, at Richardson Auditorium. 'The music on a POPS! concert is common to many people in the U.S., but it's not part of my background,' explains Milanov, originally from Bulgaria. 'I'm much more accustomed to conducting classical concerts.'

For Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) Music Director Rossen Milanov, stepping up to the podium is anything but new.