Michael Musto News

This is not how Lisa Levy planned on celebrating the fifth anniversary of her podcast.

Cabaret Artists Join Richard Skipper In Online Campaign Urging People To #Stayhome

Michael Musto took to Twitter to share a video of himself and Telly Leung performing the duet made famous by Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland, Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy. 

After being postponed at Joe's Pub due to the unforeseen pandemic, Justin Sayre brings his wild and witty comedy variety show The Meeting* to Livestream on March 22 at 8:00 PM EST. The Virtual show will be filmed in Julian Fleisher's 'Gay-sement,' a fully working stage and salon room in his home in Bovina Center, New York.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that playwright Mart Crowley, best known for writing the play The Boys in the Band, has passed away. He was 84.

New York-based producers Jason Jude Hill and Daniel Sears of Grumpy Entertainment have announced the master of ceremonies and performers for their show-within-a-party concept, RSVP, coming to the Norwood club on March 19, 2020. RSVP is at the forefront of modern-day variety shows which makes it a unique experience for all those who attend. Performances run the gamut of genres and talents and since there is no 'stage', performances happen all around the room. This party, which sold out in February 2020, set within the sumptuous setting of the Norwood club is made complete with games and prizes, specialty cocktails, and the RSVP's signature group karaoke number at the end of the party.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the monthly gathering of the International Order of Sodomites, the centuries-old organization which sets the mythic Gay Agenda - will return to Joe's Pubthis season for regular performances after a three year hiatus. The Meeting*, now the longest-running LGBTQ variety show in New York, is known for its audacious humor, trailblazing political discourse and button-pushing cultural exploration. Sayre will present two different evenings next month, celebrating 'The Ladies of Country' on Monday, March 2, and honoring 'The Ladies of Disco' on Sunday, March 29, both at 9:30 PM. Special guests for March 2 include Bridget Barkan, Melody Berger, Drew Droege, Larry Krone, and Bobby Blue the Balladeer, with additional names to be announced. Shows are scheduled through December 2020, with the spring season continuing on April 26 and May 31. Tracy Stark serves as music director for the series.

PIANO BAR LIVE! is lighting up screens worldwide from Brandy's Piano Bar, Mondays at 7pm. The Piano Bar is that special place where we can gather, entertain, support and create as we connect with live music. If you can't be in our live studio audience, you can watch PIANO BAR LIVE! produced by ScoBar Entertainment, streaming at www.facebook.com/PianoBarLive to chat on Facebook with old friends and new, as we all watch together.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to actor, singer, and drag legend Jeffery Roberson (aka Varla Jean Merman) about the 1966 cast recording of 'The Mad Show.' They also discuss Coco Peru, Frank DeCaro, Heklina, Joanne Worley, Linda Lavin, 'The First Wives Club,' Carol Burnett, Sandy Duncan, Barbra Streisand, Ann Reinking, Leslie Jordan, Marisol Montalvo, and Charles Busch. Varla talks about performing the role of Mary Sunshine in 'Chicago' on Broadway, and shares stories about working in Provincetown with queens such as Jinkx Monsoon, Peaches Christ, Liza Lott, and BenDeLaCreme. In addition to her hilarious onstage performances, Varla is also known for her work in Richard Day's beloved 2003 comedy film 'Girls Will Be Girls.'

ce. In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to singer and actress Linda Eder about Barbra Streisand's 1965 album 'My Name is Barbra.' They also discuss Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, Whitney Houston, Glenn Close, Frank Wildhorn, 'The Scarlet Pimpernel,' Andrew Lloyd Webber, 'Sunset Boulevard,' Eydie Gormé, Michael Bublé, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, 'Annie Get Your Gun,' Vikki Carr, Eileen Farrell, Betty Buckley and 'Hello, Dolly!' Known for her powerhouse vocals that have drawn comparisons to Streisand, Linda has performed in concert halls around the world, including Carnegie Hall. She has also performed on Broadway, where she originated the role of Lucy in 'Jekyll & Hyde,' for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to actor and drag star Cesar Villavicencio (aka Pixie Aventura) about Whitney Houston's Greatest Hits. They also discuss Freddie Mercury, Queen, Chita Rivera, Judy Garland, Bohemian Rhapsody, and RuPaul's Drag Race. Pixie talks about working with an audience, her process of creating unique and highly compelling material, and the importance of bringing about more Latinx representation in media. She also talks about being a 'research queen' and shares some of her inspirations from music, television, and film. Pixie performs nightly to packed audiences at NYC clubs like Barracuda, Hardware, Therapy, and Playhouse.

New York-based conceptual artist and musician Ted Riederer makes his BAM artistic debut by exploring the social significance of record shops, vinyl lathe cuts, and recording studios with his site-specific project, Never Records. With a nod to Fluxus, Alan Kaprow's happenings, Alan Lomax, Harry Smith, and the collectivism of 80s and 90s DC punk scene, Never Records embodies Riederer's mission to build and galvanize communities based on the act of listening, and the visualization of sound. The BAM 2020 exhibition marks the 10th anniversary of the project which has recorded artists and citizens from around the globe including Liverpool, Derry, London, Lisbon, New Orleans, Victoria (Texas), Kansas City, and Amman (Jordan).

Casting has been announced for the upcoming New York City premiere of Leaving the Blues, a new play by Jewelle Gomez, directed by Mark Finley. Rosalind Brown (original Broadway productions of Footloose and One Mo' Time) will play the lead role of Alberta Hunter, the great American jazz singer and songwriter. The cast also features Michael Michele Lynch, Joy Suddath, Cooper Sutton, Benjamin Mapp, Ameerah Briggs, Tsebiyah Mishael Derry and Erik Ransom.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to Tony-winning Broadway star Faith Prince about Liza Minnelli's 1972 live album 'Liza with a Z.' They also discuss Tina Landau, Fanny Brice, Funny Girl, Jule Styne, Judy Holliday, Mary Rodgers, Gwen Verdon, 'Fosse/Verdon,' Scott Frankel, Comden and Green, and Marilyn Maye. Faith tells stories of how she landed lead roles in shows like 'Guys and Dolls,' 'Bells Are Ringing,' and 'The First Wives Club,' and shares valuable advice on how to set yourself apart at auditions by bringing your intelligence into the room and onto the stage. She also talks about what it means to be your authentic self and the value of being present as a performer and in life. Faith's fabulous live albums 'Leap of Faith' and 'Total Faith' are available on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to three-time Tony nominee Carolee Carmello about the soundtrack to the 1973 film adaptation of 'Godspell.' They also discuss Julie Andrews, 'The Sound of Music,' Lesley Ann Warren, Marni Nixon, 'West Side Story,' 'Evita,' Mary Testa, 'Oliver,' 'Gypsy,' Barbra Streisand, Barbara Cook, Comden and Green, 'Falsettos,' 'Kiss Me Kate,' Marin Mazzie, and 'Parade.' They talk about Carolee's secret, closeted soprano past and the fact that she has never taken a voice lesson. Carolee is currently starring as America's coast-to-coast Dolly Levi in the national tour of 'Hello, Dolly!'

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to four-time Tony-winning lighting designer Kevin Adams about the soundtrack to the 1973 film 'Jesus Christ Superstar.' They also discuss 'Hair,' Barry Dennen, Barbra Streisand, Sandra Bernhard, 'Without You I'm Nothing,' Jodie Foster, Madonna, Tommy, Rupert Everett, Michael Mayer, Spike Lee, Jennifer Holliday, Stephen Trask, and John Cameron Mitchell. Kevin shares stories from his career, from working as a gogo dancer, to working on music videos, to collaborating with legendary directors and performers at The Mark Taper Forum, The Public Theater, and on Broadway. Kevin's credits include 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch,' 'Spring Awakening,' 'Passing Strange,' 'Next to Normal,' 'The Cher Show,' and 'SpongeBob SquarePants.'

Nordstrom and Paper Magazine celebrated the launch of Broadway Roundup, a custom content piece on PaperMag.com featuring Broadway's brightest talents hitting the stage this fall, with a musical theatre sing-a-long at the new Nordstrom NYC store's Broadway Bar.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to Tony-winning Broadway star Laura Benanti about Tori Amos's 1992 album 'Little Earthquakes.' They also discuss Patti LuPone, Arthur Laurents, Joni Mitchell, Elaine Stritch, Liza Minnelli, Marni Nixon, Lizzo, Brandi Carlile, and Julie Andrews. Laura talks about her starring roles in Broadway hits such as 'The Sound of Music,' 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,' 'Gypsy,' 'She Loves Me,' and 'My Fair Lady.' She shares stories from her career, including her 'up-the-octave' portrayal of Dolly Levi in high school. In addition to the theater, Laura has appeared on TV in 'Supergirl,' 'Nashville,' and 'The Sound of Music Live' opposite Carrie Underwood. She is also a regular on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' and has tickled viewers nationwide with her hilarious portrayal of Melania Trump.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to Tony-winning lyricist and director Scott Wittman about Frank Sinatra's 1966 live album, 'Sinatra at the Sands.' They also discuss Bette Midler, Patti LuPone, Sammy Davis Jr, Edie Beale, Christine Ebersole, Count Basie, Barbara Cook, Dusty Springfield, Ute Lemper, and Bridget Everett. Scott talks about playing 'cocktail lounge' growing up, and how his love for live albums influenced his career in theater and cabaret. Scott has worked on a number of successful Broadway shows such as 'Hairspray,' 'Catch Me If You Can,' and 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' as well as the TV show 'Smash' and the movie 'Mary Poppins Returns.'

Justin Sayre returns to Joe's Pub with another edition of their long-running Queer Variety Show, The Meeting. Sayre is celebrating 10 years since the formation of The Meeting in 2009, the show went on to become the longest running LGBTQ variety show in New York. Sayre will offer stories and songs with a host of downtown royalty, from Angela DiCarlo, Nadia Quinn, Amber Martin, and Phillip Taratula as Pam Goldberg on Friday night, December 6th. And Nathan Lee Graham, Natalie Joy Johnson, Dane Terry, Zachary Clause and Shane O'Neill as Jane Johnson. Tracy Stark will be Musical Director.