Francesca Blumenthal News

Though Julie Wilson was certainly not the first and by all means not the last great singer to have her heart stomped upon by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's 'Surabaya Johnny,' there is no one I can name more deserving to claim it as their signature song.  (Okay, maybe Lotte Lenya, but you know that's a special case.)  Though for many years now the 83-year-old beloved cabaret star has been singing songs less and less and speaking them more and more, there are few who can match her for painting vivid word pictures and bringing complex dramatic subtext to a lyric.  With pianist Christopher Denny doing a marvelous job of softly supporting her many pauses and tempo changes, Wilson's crushing performance of Marc Blitzstein's translation, played to a pin-drop silent crowd on opening night of her new show at The Metropolitan Room, is an emotionally striking portrayal of a woman who can explode with anger at the mistreatment she endures from her faithless lover while moments later barely control a sob at the admission that she still loves him.  Through the years I've seen Julie Wilson sing 'Surabaya Johnny' many times but her performance that night was the best I've ever seen or heard from anyone.  (And as is typical of her modesty, she actually introduced the song by complimenting Donna Murphy's performance of it on Broadway in LoveMusik.)  She follows it with a devilishly humored 'Mack the Knife' (also Blitzstein's translation) that builds so slowly and precisely that she goes through the entire song twice in order to hit the climax.  I heard no complaints.

The Town Hall, Times Square's landmark concert venue, is pleased to announce its 2009 season lineup. Headliners include two-time Grammy nominee Mariza, Grammy-nominated Celtic and folk fiddler Natalie MacMaster, Grammy-nominated bossa nova singer Bebel Gilberto, Golden Globe nominee Andrea Marcovicci's Birthday Concert and Grammy Award-winning King of Salsa Johnny Pacheco. Also appearing are stars from ABC's Dancing With the Stars and BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, the Doo Wop & Rock N' Roll Reunion, and Romulo's Tango Ensemble, and finally, the return of the popular hit series Broadway by the Year.

The MANHATTAN ASSOCIATION OF CABARETS & CLUBS (MAC) and ASCAP present a musical showcase celebrating women songwriters on Wednesday, October 15th at 6:00PM at The Triad Theatre (158 West 72nd Street, NYC(212) 465-2662 for reservations or email RSVP@macnyc.com).

The MANHATTAN ASSOCIATION OF CABARETS & CLUBS (MAC) and ASCAP present a musical showcase celebrating women songwriters on Wednesday, October 15th at 6:00PM at The Triad Theatre (158 West 72nd Street, NYC(212) 465-2662 for reservations or email RSVP@macnyc.com).

Maude Maggart, Billy Stritch, Steven Brinberg and Kristine Zbornik are among the nominees of the 21st Annual MAC Awards.

Karen Mason and Julie Gold were among the winners of the 2006 MAC Awards, while Betty Buckley was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award

The 2006 MAC Award winners have been announced, with Karen Mason, Julie Gold and more taking home awards

With the addition of two new categories--Best Male and Female Stand-Up Comic--the nominations list for the 2006 MAC Awards is now complete

The 2006 MAC AWARDS will be presented on MONDAY, APRIL 17 AT 7:30 PM at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center at BMCC, 199 Chambers Street. Hosted by Lee Roy Reams, the 20th annual MAC Awards will include appearances by Phoebe Snow, Ben Taylor, Karen Mason, Carol Hall and Rocky Carroll among others.

Piano man extraordinaire Mark Nadler, now appearing at Opia, chats with BWW about living and dead composers, Botoxed audiences, his buck-toothed inspiration and the future of cabaret.