By Andrew Poretz***Hosted by KT Sullivan, Mabel Mercer Foundation Artistic Director, the third and final night of the 36th annual Cabaret Convention, On the Sunny Side of the Street—A Cavalcade of Variety, as 
promised, had an eclectic mix of performers and styles, from musical comedy to character songs, and even jazz. Later in the show, Sullivan defined cabaret as “any music where you can hear the words.” Steve Doyle and Ray Marchica were the house bassist and drummer (except where indicated).
The very popular, talented and funny couple (together and separately) Mardie Millit and Michael Garin made their Convention debut with “On the Sunny Side of the Street” (Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields) with a fun vaudeville vibe. Early on in the evening, the biggest highlight of the show came with Broadway star Christine Andreas performing a spectacular mashup duet of “I Remember It Well” (Frederick Loewe,Alan Jay Lerner) and “La Vie En Rose” (Louiguy, Edith Piaf) and with her husband, 
pianist and composer Martin Silvestri. Her singing was flawless and penetrating, her approach sublime. The legendary “Prince of Cabaret,” singer-pianist Steve Ross offered an especially poignant take on “Dancing in the Dark” (Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz).
The debonair and sensitive soul that is Eric Yves Garcia was at his very best on an incredibly moving, delicate “She Was Beautiful,” honoring the late British stars, Iris Williams and Cleo Laine, who had both recently died. The stunning Broadway star Stephanie Pope was dynamic on Daryl Kojak’s cha-cha arrangement of “Pick Yourself Up” (Jerome Kern, Fields), with pianist Ian Herman. Singer, pianist and storyteller Mark Nadler, after a hilarious story about his 
time performing “at Town Hall (dramatic pause) in Flushing,” surprised with a subdued, exquisite “Once Upon a Time” (Charles Strouse,Lee Adams), his timing impeccable, with masterful use of caesura (a pause between words).
The delightful New Zealander, Ali Harper, performed a segment of her Judy Garland show with a beautiful medley of “You Made Me Love You” (Roger Edens,Joseph McCarthy), including the “Dear Mr. Gable” verse, and “The Trolley Song” (Ralph Blane,Hugh Martin) from Meet Me in St. Louis. Harper is not only an excellent vocalist, but with verve and a strong stage presence. Piano accompaniment was by Matthew Everingham. Mexico and New Orleans performer, Lady Zen with a huge, beautiful voice and tremendous stage presence, 
tore down the house to end the first act with “On Revival Day” (Andy Razaf), most attributed to Bessie Smith, with Mark Hartman at the piano.
Broadway’s Amra-Faye Wright, an old-school performer with a powerful voice, commanded the stage with “City Lights” (John Kander, Fred Ebb) with Mark Hummel at the piano. Sam Jewison, visiting from England, is something of a young British counterpart to Eric Yves Garcia. With a beautiful voice, excellent piano skills and sure patter, he delivered a gorgeous “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” (Manning Sherwin, Eric Maschwitz). The delicious and funny Kelli Rabke, accompanied by husband, John Fischer, performed the very clever “He Knew How to Read Me” (Ben Schaechter, Dan Kael) a character song written from the poin of view of a jilted newspaper.
The dynamic young Bryan Eng (equally adept at singing and piano, and who recently began performing his original songs, 
which NiteLife Exchanged covered in July) offered “Pennies from Heaven.” But before he began, he was completely surprised by KT Sullivan, who presented Eng with the prestigious Julie Wilson Award. The hhigh-energy performer Diva LaMarr, with husband Darnell White (at the piano), performed a powerful duet of “Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong” (Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Will Jennings), with LaMarr implored the audience to sing along. The charming Justin Dylan Nastro made his Convention debut with “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” from Mary Poppins (Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman), with Yasuhiko Fukuoka’s piano arrangement adding zest to this classic Disney number.
Phillip Officer, sitting on a stool in honor of the style of Mabel Mercer, performed a soulful “Ballad of the Sad Young Men” (Tommy Wolf, Fran 
Landesman), with pianist Mark Hartman and violinist Mollie Rose. The brilliant improvisational performer Susie Mosher, with pianist0singer John Boswell, performed a piece of their zany, popular Cashino show: a zany mash-up of songs from Fiddler on the Roof with some of Bette Midler’s greatest hits, turning into the improbable and brilliant “Midler on the Roof.” To close the show, KT Sullivan delivered “Moon River” at the piano, along with a song written for her by sister Heather Sullivan: “Carpet Ride;” Heather then entered with an energetic rendition of Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind,” with saxophonist Ed Jackson, with the audience joining in.
Other performers in this last edition of the convention included Melissa Errico (“You Must Believe in Spring”); Marieann Meringolo (“How Do You Keep the Music Playing?”/“Summer Me, Winter Me”); Tanya Moberly (“New York Is My City”), Nic & Desi (“Easy Street”/“Money Makes the World Go Round”) ; Ella Emberton (“It Might as Well Be Spring” ); and John Michael Pitera (“The Ladies Who Lunch”).
Photos by Richard Termine
