Will Friedwald News

Terese Genecco and her eight-piece "Little Big Band" continue their unbroken run of monthly shows at The Iridium, 1650 Broadway, on Tuesday February 21 (shows at 8pm & 10pm, special guest vocalist Paul Safy, Jr.).

The ASCAP Foundation honored composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz for his lifetime contributions to the Musical Theater with The ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers Award. On hand to make the presentation was Richard Rodgers' grandson and fellow musical theater composer Adam Guettel (The Light in the Piazza). The accolade was presented today during the Foundation's 16th Annual Awards Ceremony, held at the Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, in New York City. The invitation-only event, hosted by ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams, also honored a wide variety of Scholarship and Award recipients, all of whom benefit from programs of The ASCAP Foundation.

On December 5th Emily Bergl, star of Broadway, films and 'Desperate Housewives,' will release a live album of her hit Oak Room performance. 'Emily Bergl Live at the Algonquin: Kidding on the Square' will be available on Amazon and iTunes, and commemorated with a special CD release party at the Oak Room. 'Kidding on the Square' was originally recorded during a sold out run, which received raves from audiences and critics. Stephen Holden of the NY Times described Ms. Bergl as 'incandescent...a gust of fresh air that could knock you off your feet,' and Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal declared that 'in her major-league nightclub debut, Ms. Bergl has hit a home run.' By popular demand, Ms. Bergl will reprise the show on Monday nights, December 5th though the 19th. A limited number of tickets are available for the official CD Release Show on December 5th.

On December 5th Emily Bergl, star of Broadway, films and 'Desperate Housewives,' will release a live album of her hit Oak Room performance.

On December 5th Emily Bergl, star of Broadway, films and 'Desperate Housewives,' will release a live album of her hit Oak Room performance. 'Emily Bergl Live at the Algonquin: Kidding on the Square' will be available on Amazon and iTunes, and commemorated with a special CD release party at the Oak Room. 'Kidding on the Square' was originally recorded during a sold out run, which received raves from audiences and critics. Stephen Holden of the NY Times described Ms. Bergl as 'incandescent...a gust of fresh air that could knock you off your feet,' and Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal declared that 'in her major-league nightclub debut, Ms. Bergl has hit a home run.' By popular demand, Ms. Bergl will reprise the show on Monday nights, December 5th though the 19th. A limited number of tickets are available for the official CD Release Show on December 5th.

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.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY will continue its Fall 2011 season with the return engagement of Grammy Award nominated singer and entertainer MARILYN MAYE.

Sherry Eaker & NiteLifeExchange.com in association with the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs Presents WHAT MAKES A GOOD CABARET CRITIC? A FREE SEMINAR on Saturday, October 29, 2011.

Yesterday, October 13, Bill Cosby, Chita Rivera and Mark Nadler led the benefit for ART START, an organization that operates with the mission of providing underprivileged children of New York with confidence, creativity and hope through the arts. The volunteers of ART START visit shelters all over the city armed with paintbrushes, mics and instruments - and with them, an opportunity to change a young person's life. Check out the after party below!

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY will continue its Fall 2011 season with the return engagement of Grammy Award nominated singer and entertainer MARILYN MAYE.

In a hotly contested semi-final round of the 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' at The Metropolitan Room last night, five finalists, were picked to move forward in the 8-week singers' competition.

In a hotly contested semi-final round of the 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' at The Metropolitan Room last night, five finalists, were picked to move forward in the 8-week singers' competition.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its Spring 2011 season with the return engagement of Grammy Award nominated singer and entertainer MARILYN MAYE with her new show 'It's Maye In May.' Her recent local appearances have been received with rave reviews and full houses. According to Rex Reed in The New York Observer, 'Her show is not to be missed. It's a master class in singing conducted by a polished pro who majored in unforgettable.' In addition to performing jazz and pop standards from the American Songbook composers, Marilyn will be adding her creative touch to songs by her favorite contemporary songwriters including Peter Allen, James Taylor, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. She'll present several Broadway show tunes including one from a current Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical. Maye will be joined by pianist/conductor Tedd Firth, bassist Tom Hubbard, and Jim Eklof, her drummer of almost 50 years. The show runs at Tuesday, May 24 to Saturday, June 4 at the Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

Jim Van Slyke returns to Feinstein's in grand style with his critically-acclaimed show, 'The Sedaka Show,' celebrating the music of pop icon Neil Sedaka. Jim lights up the stage with this intoxicating tribute to pop music legend Neil Sedaka and five decades of top 40 hits.

Jim Van Slyke returns to Feinstein's in grand style with his critically-acclaimed show, 'The Sedaka Show,' celebrating the music of pop icon Neil Sedaka. Jim lights up the stage with this intoxicating tribute to pop music legend Neil Sedaka and five decades of top 40 hits.

Jim Van Slyke returns to Feinstein's in grand style with his critically-acclaimed show, 'The Sedaka Show,' celebrating the music of pop icon Neil Sedaka. Jim lights up the stage with this intoxicating tribute to pop music legend Neil Sedaka and five decades of top 40 hits.

Jim Van Slyke returns to Feinstein's in grand style with his critically-acclaimed show, 'The Sedaka Show,' celebrating the music of pop icon Neil Sedaka. Jim lights up the stage with this intoxicating tribute to pop music legend Neil Sedaka and five decades of top 40 hits.

Jim Van Slyke returns to Feinstein's in grand style with his critically-acclaimed show, 'The Sedaka Show,' celebrating the music of pop icon Neil Sedaka. Jim lights up the stage with this intoxicating tribute to pop music legend Neil Sedaka and five decades of top 40 hits.

Jim Van Slyke returns to Feinstein's in grand style with his critically-acclaimed show, 'The Sedaka Show,' celebrating the music of pop icon Neil Sedaka. Jim lights up the stage with this intoxicating tribute to pop music legend Neil Sedaka and five decades of top 40 hits.

The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, is bringing back -- for three nights only -- the super hot Marilyn Maye in her rapturously reviewed "Her Own Kind of Broadway".