By Marilyn Lester***As many of you know, Scott Barbarino is the publisher of NiteLife Exchange, but that’s but one of the hats that this man of many parts wears. He’s been a performer, producer, venue manager/booker, Arti
stic Director and mega-supporter of the art forms of piano bar and cabaret. Recently, he’s taken up performing again with Barbarino Takes a Bev Nap... and now producing with the OG variety show, Barbarino’s Big Nite Out! (BBNO).
What a great idea! Up until the age of the internet, variety shows were popular fare, having roots in Music Hall, Burlesque (the original kind) and Vaudeville. Even in the Middle Ages, entertainments included minstrels and troubadours, acrobats, jugglers, jesters, dancers and conjurers. TV’s “The Ed Sullivan Show” embodied the spirit of variety. Now there’s BBNO to bring back this tried-and-true happy-making entertainment. Debuting at Lips in October, the third installment played on December 10 and featured:
• Vocalist-host Joshua “Chachi” Cruz, full of charm, quick wit and a glorious baritone, unleashed his vocal chops with a rendition of “On a Wonderful Day Like Today”
• Music director and keyboardist John Bronston
• Resident girl singers, The Tropicabana Trio (Winter Commander, Hannah Jane and Lyn Webber) singing “Sugartime.” Each had their own solo spotlight as the show progressed
Photos by Conor Weiss
• Comedienne Liz Pryce Davies
• Magic Brian, whose spiel was wonderfully full of its own magic as much as his conjuring
• Composer-pianist Kevin Ray and vocalist Lyn Weber singing his “I’m Not Missing Christmas”
• Tap dancer Ethan Cavanaugh
• Harmonica artist Dave Rubin
• Special guest, vocalist Zach Carter, whose duet with himself singing “Tonight” from West Side Story was priceless
• Avant Garbage, resident Lips drag artist, who ended the show on a hilariously dramatic lip-synching high note.
The cast finale of “That’s Entertainment” said it all. And how’s that for bang for the buck!
Watch for the return of BBNO in January! We’ll certainly let you know when.
