Provincetown Cabaret Fest! 2017 by Joni Rapp

This year’s Cabaret Fest! stands to be one of the best cabaret events ever done here in P’town. It runs Thursday, June 1, through Sunday, June 4 and includes roughly twenty-six acts from New York City, Palm Springs, Baltimore and, of course, Boston, who will be appearing in the beautiful and totally up to date “Cabaret” and “Paramount” rooms at the Crown and Anchor Hotel and Resort.

I am so excited about this special weekend. I will be covering the entire event for NiteLifeExchange.com. I’ll be writing, taking pictures, interviewing and watching the performers. Fly here, drive here, GET here! It is going to be four days of incredible fun by the beach.

The them of this year’s event is The Songs of World War ll, featuring songs from 1938-1945.

Saturday evening will be a very special night featuring the not-to-be-missed: Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner for the great Marilyn Maye! A special meald (under a tent) next to Cape Cod Bay will make this a memorable night. There is room for 100 people and it’s selling quickly, so make reservations today if you plan to go. Details on tickets below, or through the Crown and Anchor ticket office online and by phone.

Now, let’s go through the shows step by step:

The Opening Party will be held at the famous Provincetown Theatre, from 9-11:30pm on Thursday, June 1. New York’s own funny man/host Mark-Alan and Boston pianist Brian Patton will join together to bring you Stage Door Canteen, starring The Andrews Sisters (Helena Grenot, Carolyn Montgomery-Forant and Charlotte Patton). This will also be an open mic event, so think of a song that might fit the era. Light refreshments and soft drinks will be served with a cash bar. *VIP pass holders, Sponsors, and all performers are welcome. See details on VIP passes below.

There are four Master Classes on Friday and Saturdays morning and afternoons.  Anyone taking these classes will be offered a spot to perform at Sunday’s big Continental Breakfast and The USO Show backed by The Brian Patton Band. See below for the teachers, times and prices. As of this writing, MAC Award-winners Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano’s  class is sold out, but they will be performing Friday and Saturday, as listed.

Friday at 1 pm in the Cabaret Room, singer Dawn Derow will star in My Ship – the Songs of the 40s, with Barry Levitt as Musical Director, also on the keys.

Friday at 2:30 pm in the Cabaret Room, Craig Pomeranz, with musical director Mike Roberts (piano) will star in As Time Goes By.

Friday at 5 pm in the Cabaret Room, Rod Ferguson stars in Some Others I’ve Seen, with musical director and accompanist Brian Patton.

Friday from 9 pm to 11-ish in the Paramount Room, you must see the big variety show, Sentimental Journey with about twenty six invited performers including Mark-Alan, Jeff Macauley, Warren Schein, Barbara Fasano, Eric Comstock, Marcus Dagan, Dawn Derow, Rod Fergusen, Bonnie McCloud, Joni Rapp (moi), Joe Della Penna,  Lisa Jason, John O’Neill, Brian Patton, John Spinks, Carol Montgomery Forint, Lydia Sabosto, Jim Keating, Lisa Gale Johnson, , Dave and Nancy Wilber and of course, Patricia Fitzpatrick, who is not only a producer of this whole event (Ambassador Productions), but also a wonderful singer!

Stay at the Crown & Anchor all evening and enjoy the legendary Bobby Wetherbee, playing piano and Singing Out from 9 pm-1 am, in the front room. Bobby won the Lifetime Achievement Award last year and he is not to be missed. With no cover or minimum, you can sing along or request your favorite tunes. If you’re not seeing a cabaret show on that particular night, get there early, since the room tends to fill quickly. Or come after a show for the last hour, when seats around the piano come available and Bobby is “cooking.”

Saturday is as full a day of workshops and shows:

Saturday at 9-10:30 am in the Cabaret Room, there will be the Singers’ Performance Master Class with Barry Levitt.

Saturday at 11:30 am is a Q&A Panel with Bob Bond, John O’Neill, Barry Levitt, John Amodeo and a very SPECIAL GUEST! Eat first, then come over to ask professional musicians and entertainers how to get into show biz. They’ll share access to piano accompanists, photographers, master coaches and how to get a review.

Saturday at 2 pm is The 1940s Radio Show, starring Patricia Fitzpatrick. This show is a recreation of an old- time radio variety show complete with period costumes and radio ads.  This is a private event, except for VIP ticket holders, sponsors and performers. There are light refreshments and a cash bar.

Saturday at 3:30 pm in the Cabaret Room, is MWAH, a tribute to Dinah Shore starring Jeff Macauley, with musical director Barry Levitt.

Saturday atpm in the Cabaret Room is I’ll Be Seeing You, starring Marcus Dagan on vocals and piano.

Saturday at 7 pm The Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner honoring Marilyn Maye, with MC Warren Schein, The Brian Patton Band and special guest artists. There will be a sumptuous buffet dinner and the award presentation under a tent by Cape Cod Bay, at the Crown and Anchor. *See below for price information and ask about the special price for this event and the following show at 10 pm, Downtown Abbey Road – The Best of Britain, starring the weekend’s headliners direct from NYC, 2016 MAC Award-winners Barbara Fasano and Eric Comstock, remembering all the great tunes, from Noel Coward to the Beatles, written by the Brits.

Remember, the evening is young, so go hit the front room at the Crown or other the piano bars!

Friday & Saturday Nights from 9 pm-12 am, if you miss a show, or it’s sold out, or you just want to sing, go a few steps on Commercial Street to Tin Pan Alley where there will be an open mic, with New Jersey’s own Bob Egan at the keyboard. There’s no cover charge and a nice sandwich menu.

Sunday at 11 am in the Cabaret Room, is “The Rapp Up“…ooops I mean, “The Wrap-Up.”  Actually, this is the last show of the Festival and is The USO SHOW, featuring all the performers who attended the workshops, singing with The Brian Patton Trio at the closing breakfast/brunch (Continental Buffet) at the Crown.

All the restaurants in town are now open. The Crown has a great lunch and dinner menu, but if you want, easy street food, or to save money, there are snack places all within walking distance. The Food Court, The Shack, the foot longs, the pizza (say “hi” to my friend Julie at Twisted Pizza & Ice Cream. I love their NYC pizza). Yes, Spiritus is still here and so are George’s and the Lobster Pot.  There are many more, with menu’s posted in most windows. One-dollar Wellfleet Oysters and Clams can be found from 4-6 pm at Mac’s Fish House and Sushi Bar on Shankpainter Road (near Stop and Shop), complete with great cocktails and people with your order. There’s a full menu and they’ll also steam you a lobster to go.

The Crown and Anchor, with Chopped finalist Michelle Ragussis as Head Chef, is great! The Mews is still here and still serving fab meals. Tell Jane the bartender hi for me.  Vorelli’s makes a great burger and good “chowdah.” Tell Connie or Terri I sent you. But, if you insist on talking me to dinner, I still love Front Street.

For local places to eat and run, try the East End Market, coffee shop and deli at Bradford and Howland Street and my favorite place for fresh carved turkey and Far Land Deli and Coffee Shop at Bradford and Conwell.

If it’s sunny, take a break over the four days and check out the incredible P’town beaches. Check out the East End Market (Best real Turkey in town, Bradford and Howland St.) or,  Far Land (Bradford and Conwell Street) for Provisions…and they also have a shack at the Herring Cove beach for some vino, beer and good food!

OK, now you’ve got it all, except for the prices. The Marilyn Maye dinner is $75 per person, but if you stay for the Fasano/Comstock show you get both at a discount. VIP passes are the best way to go, if you plan to see as much as you can, plus you can access the private parties too.

I suggest you first check out the special deals by the Producers of Cabaret Fest at http://www.provincetowncabaretfest.com/  for more details about anything. You can contact the Crown and Anchor Box office by phone or online to get tickets to a particular show. Be sure to ask about special deals and VIP passes. The cabaret website will also answer questions about travel, including ferry discounts and more. Also contact, the P’town Chamber of Commerce, the P’town Business Guild, or just Google Provincetown and look for links and wander around.

Did you New Yorkers know you can fly here from Newark or LaGuardia? Yes, P’town has its own airport. Or, you can land In Hyannis and rent a car. Look at taking the Boston Ferry here and back, it’s a great ride.

I’m looking forward to seeing you here.

THIS is going to be a REAL Festive Weekend!

Come to the CABARET …. Life IS a Cabaret 

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