Stephen Hanks News

NiCori Studios and Productions in association with the Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, Music at the Mansion, on Sunday, August 30, at 3pm.

For the first time in 15 years, cabaret star Julie Reyburn brings back her award-winning show, Fate Is Kind, to a New York nightclub stage when she performs the classic at the Metropolitan Room on Monday, September 14 at 7 pm as part of the new monthly series, New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits, produced by Stephen Hanks' Cabaret Life Productions with cabaret supporter Fr. Jeffrey Hamblin, MD as Associate Producer. [Reyburn's show will follow the Series launch on August 26 at 7 pm with Mark Nadler's critically acclaimed Tschaikowsky (And Other Russians), which won a 2003 Bistro Award.] Reyburn and her celebrated Musical Director Mark Janas (Producer of the Award-Winning Open-Mic show Salon) introduced Fate Is Kind in February 2000 at The Singer's Forum as a benefit cabaret for their scholarship program. It then moved to Judy's Chelsea in March 2000 for its official cabaret debut, and the show ran off and on there for most of the year. Fate Is Kind world earn Reyburn MAC and Bistro Awards in 2001 for "Outstanding Female Cabaret Debut."

Do you remember classic pop/rock songs of the 1970s such as 'Do It Again,' 'My Old School,' and 'Reeling In the Years?' If those tunes are swirling around in your head it's because they were big hits of the period by the iconic rock group Steely Dan. The founding member of that great band, guitarist extraordinaire Denny Dias, will take the stage at New York's popular jazz club IRIDIUM this week, August 6 and 7 for Denny Dias & Friends, a show that will celebrate the music of Steely Dan and showcase a few of his Denny's original songs. Joining Denny will be two special guests: Celebrated pianist/composer/music director Yaron Gershovsky and popular singer Lisa Jason as the show's lead vocalist. Performances of Denny Dias & Friends will be at 8 pm and 10 pm each night. Tickets are $30 per show (with a $15 food and drink minimum) and can be purchased at http://theiridium.com/reservations/ or by calling 212-582-2121.

Elton John. Carole King. Joni Mitchell. Carly Simon. Paul Simon. Stevie Wonder. They were six superstar singer/songwriters in a constellation of such stars during the early 1970s; musicians who could definitely be considered the composers of the 'New Great American Songbook.' On July 23 at 7 pm, the Rosen Performing Arts Center of the Wayne, New Jersey YMCA (as part of their 2015 Summer Concert Series) will present the star-studded revue Salute to Singer/Songwriters of the Seventies, which celebrates the great talents of the 'Golden Age of the Pop Singer/Songwriter.'

The National Black Theatre Festival will host 'An Evening with Vivian Reed' from August 5 through August 8, in Winston-Salem, N.C., at the Gaines Ballroom of the Embassy Suites Hotel, 10:30 P.M.  

For diehard cabaret fans and lovers of live music, there's nothing like experiencing a classic show once again or seeing an award winning 'blast from the past' for the first time. That's how cabaret show producer and publicist Stephen Hanks felt and so through his new company, Cabaret Life Productions, he's launching a new monthly series at New York's Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) titled New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits. Hanks wanted the cream of the New York cabaret crop to open the series and tapped veteran cabaret star Mark Nadler, who the New York Times critic Stephen Holden has called 'Mr. Show Business' and 'an immensely talented latter-day Al Jolson.' On August 26 (7-8:30 pm), Nadler will perform his critically acclaimed show Tschaikowsky (And Other Russians), which won a 2003 Bistro Award for 'Raising Standards of Cabaret Performance,' and received MAC and Nightlife Award Nominations for 'Outstanding Performance in a Major Engagement.'

Elton John. Carole King. Joni Mitchell. Carly Simon. Paul Simon. Stevie Wonder. They were six superstar singer/songwriters in a constellation of such stars during the early 1970s; musicians who could definitely be considered the composers of the 'New Great American Songbook.' On July 23 at 7 pm, the Rosen Performing Arts Center of the Wayne, New Jersey YMCA (as part of their 2015 Summer Concert Series) will present the star-studded revue Salute to Singer/Songwriters of the Seventies, which celebrates the great talents of the 'Golden Age of the Pop Singer/Songwriter.'

Do you remember classic pop/rock songs of the 1970s such as "Do It Again," "My Old School," and "Reeling In the Years?" If those tunes are swirling around in your head it's because they were big hits of the period by the iconic rock group Steely Dan. The founding member of that great band, guitarist extraordinaire Denny Dias, will take the stage at New York's popular jazz club IRIDIUM on August 6 and 7 for Denny Dias & Friends, a show that will celebrate the music of Steely Dan and showcase a few of his Denny's original songs. Joining Denny will be two special guests: Celebrated pianist/composer/music director Yaron Gershovsky and popular singer Lisa Jason as the show's lead vocalist. Performances of Denny Dias & Friends will be at 8 pm and 10 pm each night. Tickets are $30 per show (with a $15 food and drink minimum) and can be purchased at http://theiridium.com/reservations/ or by calling 212-582-2121.

When BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Reviewer Billie Roe was invited to the CabaretFest 2015 Provincetown scheduled for June 4-7, it was to attend as a performer, not necessarily as a reviewer. But we couldn't resist the opportunity to have Billie at least report on some aspects of the long, event-filled weekend and record some of her impressions in something akin to a diary. Based on Billie's descriptive account here, this year's Cabaret Festival in Provincetown, MA, sounds like one of the cabaret highlights of the year.

He doesn't want to say 'Bye, bye' to Miss American Pie just yet. In the summer of 2013 and early 2014, BroadwayWorld New York cabaret editor/reviewer and Cabaret Scenes Magazine feature writer Stephen Hanks fulfilled his long-held fantasy to perform a cabaret show based on the songbook of 1970s pop singer/songwriter Don McLean, who wrote the classic song, 'American Pie.' Hanks' show BEYOND AMERICAN PIE: THE DON McLEAN SONGBOOK was staged four times at Manhattan's Metropolitan Room and once at Stage 72 (The Triad), and Hanks says the reaction from reviewers and audience members was surprisingly positive. Now Hanks is bringing back his Don McLean 'tribute show,' only this time as DON McLEAN: STORYTELLER, and he'll be performing it at the World Famous Don't Tell Mama 'Brick Room' today, June 20 and Monday, June 29, both shows at 7 pm.

Stephen Hanks, Producer of Cabaret Life Productions, and Union Temple of Brooklyn (17 Eastern Parkway) are proud to announce that Musical Director/Pianist Jon Weber will perform his critically acclaimed show, From Joplin to Jarrett: 100 Years of Piano Jazz, at Union Temple tonight, June 19 at 8 pm. The one-man concert will be in the 3rd Floor Social Hall at 8 pm after the 6:30 pm Shabbat Service and dinner. Admission to the concert is FREE.

British chanteuse Barb Jungr is also a staunch defender of the cabaret faith, and an incredibly erudite one at that. In December 2012, for the British online current-affairs magazine, spiked, she made such a great argument for the cabaret art form—in the face of constant putdowns by judges of British singing competitions shows, among others—that BWW felt it needed to be read by the American cabaret community and its fans.

In November 2014, singer/songwriter Rembert (Remy) Block staged three performances of her cabaret show tribute to Joni Mitchell-On a Lonely Road . . . Travelin' With Joni-at New York's iconic club, Don't Tell Mama. Joined again by her Musical Director Gregory Toroian on piano and her Director Raquel Cion, Remy Block is bringing back her highly praised show, this time to the Duplex Cabaret Theater tonight, June 10 at 7 pm. The Duplex is at: 61 Christopher Street (at 7th Avenue). For reservations, call 212-255-5438.

In 2015, the CabaretFest in Provincetown (MA), one of America's biggest Cabaret events, is returning to its roots. After a one-year layoff, this weekend extravaganza of song that began in 1999 under the guidance of actor and cabaret performer John O'Neil, will be back this June (4-7) bigger and better than ever. Singer and Cape Cod resident Patricia Fitzpatrick and Ambassador Productions has recruited O'Neil to help re-launch the event in its original format-only longer. CabaretFest 2015 Provincetown weekend will be jammed-packed with activities and shows that Fitzpatrick says, 'Promise to be educational, entertaining, and fun, and all will celebrate 'The Art of Cabaret!'

He doesn't want to say 'Bye, bye' to Miss American Pie just yet. In the summer of 2013 and early 2014, BroadwayWorld New York cabaret editor/reviewer and Cabaret Scenes Magazine feature writer Stephen Hanks fulfilled his long-held fantasy to perform a cabaret show based on the songbook of 1970s pop singer/songwriter Don McLean, who wrote the classic song, 'American Pie.' Hanks' show BEYOND AMERICAN PIE: THE DON McLEAN SONGBOOK was staged four times at Manhattan's Metropolitan Room and once at Stage 72 (The Triad), and Hanks says the reaction from reviewers and audience members was surprisingly positive. Now Hanks is bringing back his Don McLean 'tribute show,' only this time as DON McLEAN: STORYTELLER, and he'll be performing it at the World Famous Don't Tell Mama 'Brick Room' on Saturday, June 20 and Monday, June 29, both shows at 7 pm.

Charlotte Patton has been married and not. She's had serious relationships, flings, and romances with men of all ages (but mostly younger). She's experienced all the charms, foibles, and idiosyncrasies of the opposite sex--and loves them anyway. Now the actress and comedian will bring all of that worldly wisdom to her sensual, provocative, and playful new cabaret show . . . 'Celebrating Men (Bless Their Hearts),' opening at New York's Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) tonight, May 28 at 9:30 pm. Patton's show is Directed by Award-winning cabaret performer Karen Oberlin with Musical Direction by MAC Award winner Barry Levitt. Recent MAC Award winner Tom Hubbard is on bass. Peter Napolitano contributes as Creative Consultant.

Stephen Hanks, Producer of Cabaret Life Productions, and Union Temple of Brooklyn (17 Eastern Parkway) are proud to announce that Musical Director/Pianist Jon Weber will perform his critically acclaimed show, From Joplin to Jarrett: 100 Years of Piano Jazz, at Union Temple on June 19 at 8 pm. The one-man concert will be in the 3rd Floor Social Hall at 8 pm after the 6:30 pm Shabbat Service and dinner. Admission to the concert is FREE.

Since BroadwayWorld.com launched its New York Cabaret Awards in 2012, the process of voting on preliminary nominees and final nominees for recognition in approximately 20 categories has been open to anyone registering to vote on the highly-trafficked entertainment website. For it's 4th Annual Cabaret Awards nomination period—this year beginning after Thanksgiving 2015--BroadwayWorld will now put the nomination process into the hands of its cabaret show reviewing staff (Alix Cohen, David Clarke, John Hoglund, Andrew Martin, Billie Roe, and Remy Block) and select industry experts, led by BWW Cabaret Editor and Awards Show Producer Stephen Hanks (who has also hosted the show since its inception). Once the final nominees are announced, the general public will again be offered the chance to vote online for the best performers and shows of the past year.

New York Cabaret Community Honors Actor/Director/Photographer RUSS WEATHERFORD With All-Star Show at Metropolitan Room.