Billie Roe News

Something funny's happening to the 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' this year. Singer-restaurateur Carolyn Montgomery-Forant joins the permanent jury, and the comic actor Jay Rogers hosts the 6th annual edition of the singers contest at the Metropolitan Room. The exciting competition, which has launched the careers of a number of standouts in cabaret, pop and jazz, is accepting applications through July 1. The 2013 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' runs for seven consecutive Mondays, from July 8 through August 19.

Something funny's happening to the "MetroStar Talent Challenge" this year. Singer-restaurateur Carolyn Montgomery-Forant joins the permanent jury, and the comic actor Jay Rogers hosts the 6th annual edition of the singers contest at the Metropolitan Room. The exciting competition, which has launched the careers of a number of standouts in cabaret, pop and jazz, is accepting applications through July 1. The 2013 "MetroStar Talent Challenge" runs for seven consecutive Mondays, from July 8 through August 19.

You probably don't have to feel sorry for a mature, experienced female singer who decides to tackle the gritty music of Tom Waits and calls her show 1978 NYC Underground, but it was still tough not to feel for Billie Roe as she performed this week at the Metropolitan Room. Roe, who in 2011 offered the highly-praised Dangerous Women: Life In Film Noir, admittedly has yearned to present a Waits songbook for 35 years, but just a couple of months before her four-show run which ends tonight at 9:30 pm (her prize for winning the 2012 MetroStar Challenge Competition at the Met Room), rising cabaret star Marissa Mulder staged a Tom Waits-themed show that was close to perfect in every way and earned rave reviews from the New York Times and BroadwayWorld.com.

Step lively! For four nights in May, Billie Roe, the 2012 MetroStar Talent Challenge winner, takes us back to a New York many of us remember with a mixture of fear and affection. The world premiere of “1978 NYC Underground,” with direction by Lennie Watts, uses the music of Tom Waits to journey back to an urban twilight when artists and eccentrics of all stripes colluded to make art, news, and headlines. Music director Tracy Stark on piano leads a 5-person combo that includes Peter Calo on guitar, Saadi Zain on bass, David Silliman on drums and Roxy Coss on sax.

Wow, talk about a thumbs up! BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Reviewer/Columnist Stephen Hanks received such a positive reaction to his '2012 Best of New York Cabaret' piece posted yesterday that we thought it would be fun for him to add to his original 13 "honorable mentions" list. So, here for your holiday week reading pleasure is Part 2 of his "Best" and "Most" Honorable Mentions in Cabaret for 2012 with 21 new listings (because an even 20 would be trite). Enjoy!

Billie Roe was named of the 2012 MetroStar Talent Challenge last night at the Metropolitan Room.

The 2012 Bistro Awards took place on Monday, April 23 at 6:30pm at Gotham Comedy Club. The 27th Annual Bistro Awards gala recognized 25 artists and shows for outstanding achievement in New York cabaret and jazz. Check out our extensive photo coverage of the evening, featuring host Jim David and the award winners.

The singer, actress and comedienne Kaye Ballard, the Grammy and Tony Award-winning singer/songwriter and actress Dee Dee Bridgewater, and the jazz trumpeter and cornetist Warren Vaché will be the special honorees of the 2012 Bistro Awards tonight, April 23 at 6:30pm. Taking place at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 West 23rd Street (between 7th & 8th avenues), the 27th Annual Bistro Awards gala, which celebrates outstanding achievement in New York cabaret and jazz, will also recognize 22 other artists and shows.

The lineup of people either receiving or presenting honors at the 27th Annual Bistro Awards on Monday, April 23 (at 6:30pm at the Gotham Comedy Club on 208 West 23rd Street) just keeps getting better. The Bistro's will be the place to be that evening because there won't be as much cabaret/nightlife talent in one room, well, since last month's MAC awards.

The singer, actress and comedienne Kaye Ballard, the Grammy and Tony Award-winning singer/songwriter and actress Dee Dee Bridgewater, and the jazz trumpeter and cornetist Warren Vaché will be the special honorees of the 2012 Bistro Awards on Monday, April 23 at 6:30pm. Taking place at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 West 23rd Street (between 7th & 8th avenues), the 27th Annual Bistro Awards gala, which celebrates outstanding achievement in New York cabaret and jazz, will also recognize 22 other artists and shows.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs (MAC) has announced the nominees for the 26th Annual MAC Awards. The winners will be announced live at the MAC Awards Show on Thursday, March 29th, at the world-famous B.B. King Blues Club & Grill.

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and who she's seen in the world of cabaret in the past week. The past week's shows include Cait Doyle at the Duplex, Christine Pedi at Birdland, and Ben Cherry at Don't Tell Mama.

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and who she's seen in the world of cabaret in the past week. The past week's shows include Broadway Jukebox at Birdland, the Cabaret Hotline 'March Is Cabaret Month' gala, and John Bucchino & Friends at Birdland.