For three decades, the unofficial launch of “autumn in New York” has been marked by the annual Cabaret Convention of The Mabel Mercer Foundation. This year, their four individual concerts will once again be presented at 6 PM at the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, beginning Tuesday, October 9th and running through Friday, October 12th. More than seventy diverse vocalists—ranging in age from seventeen to ninety—are scheduled to entertain; thirteen of these will make their New York Cabaret Convention debuts during the 2018 performances.
Three of the four shows will honor individuals whose gifts categorize them as major components of the Great Popular Songbook legacy. On October 10th, The Night and the Music pays tribute to Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Cook and Julie Wilson, a trio of women whose voices and communicative powers won them legendary status during the many decades of their singing careers. The words and music of Jerry Herman ring out on October 11th, recognizing his achievements in the scores of such Broadway classics as Hello, Dolly!, Mame, La Cage Aux Folles and Mack & Mabel. On October 12th, the closing night repertoire remembers Alan Jay Lerner, whose masterful lyrics and librettos elevated musicals such as My Fair Lady, Gigi, Camelot and Brigadoon.
KT Sullivan, artistic director of The Mabel Mercer Foundation, will host Cabaret Today! on the October 9th opening night of the convention, and she observes, “That first show exemplifies the world of cabaret. We’ll have both young and veteran singers, offering a variety of material that embraces the whole spectrum of popular song – from the classics to the contemporary. But that’s what this art form is all about: entertainers and melodies and words that define ‘cross-generational.’ Looking at the entire aggregation across these four nights, we’re excited by the fact that this is the sort of outstanding musical mélange we hoped would herald our twenty-ninth consecutive celebration.”
Here is the 2018 Cabaret Convention schedule. All artists are subject to availability; an asterisk indicates a New York CabCon newcomer:
Tuesday, October 9: CABARET TODAY! hosted by KT Sullivan. Featuring Corinna Sowers Adler, Danny Bacher, David Baida*, Joie Bianco, Carole J. Bufford, Bill Charlap, Dawn Derow*, Meg Flather*, Eric Yves Garcia, Gregory Generet, Paula Dione Ingram*, Marcus Lovett*, Nancy McGraw, Marissa Mulder, Todd Murray, Karen Oberlin, Sandy Stewart, Dorian Woodruff*, Carol Woods. Presentation of The Mabel Mercer Award to Carol Woods.
Wednesday, October 10: THE NIGHT AND THE MUSIC: CELEBRATING ROSEMARY CLOONEY, BARBARA COOK, AND JULIE WILSON, hosted by Deborah Grace Winer; music director John Oddo. Featuring Karrin Allyson*, Debby Boone*, Darius de Haas, Natalie Douglas, La Tanya Hall, Nicolas King, Rebecca Luker*, Marilyn Maye, Kenita Miller*, James Naughton*, Linda Purl, Emily Skinner*, Billy Stritch, Karen Ziemba.
Thursday, October 11: THE BEST OF JERRY HERMAN, hosted by Klea Blackhurst. Featuring Brent Barrett, Anna Bergman, Celia Berk, Tim Connell*, Debbie Gravitte, Greg Gropper, Renee Katz*, Valerie Lemon, Kristoffer Lowe, Marieann Meringolo, Christine Pedi, Lee Roy Reams, Joan Ryan, Josephine Sanges, Amra-Faye Wright. Presentation of The Adela & Larry Elow American Songbook High School Competition Award.
Friday, October 12: THE NIGHT THEY INVENTED CHAMPAGNE: THE LYRICS OF ALAN JAY LERNER, hosted by Jeff Harnar & Andrea Marcovicci. Featuring Karen Akers, Leanne Borghesi*, Barbara Brussell, Eric Comstock, Joshua Lance Dixon, Shana Farr, Barbara Fasano, Penny Fuller, Anita Gillette, Richard Holbrook, Stearns Matthews, Sally Mayes, Tammy McCann, Sidney Myer, Mark Nadler, Liz Robertson, Steve Ross, Marta Sanders, Gabrielle Stravelli, Iris Williams. Presentation of The Donald F. Smith Award, underwritten by Adela & Larry Elow. Presentation of The Julie Wilson Award, underwritten by Linda & Peter Hanson.
Presale advance tickets are now available ONLY through The Mabel Mercer Foundation. They may be purchased by phone 212-980-3026 or fax 212-980-3049; online at www.mabelmercer.org; or by mail at The Mabel Mercer Foundation, 630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 402, New York, NY 10036.
Prices are $100, $50, and $25; Premium Patron Seating is also available at $500 ($350 of which is tax-deductible). Those holding Patron Seating tickets are invited to a post-show cocktail reception with the evening’s artists. Patron Seating is limited to fifty seats per performance.
On Tuesday, September 4th, any remaining tickets will be available for sale ONLY through Jazz at Lincoln Center: on their website (www.jazz.org); at their box office, Broadway at 60th Street at the Time Warner Center, ground floor (Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.); or via CenterCharge: 212-721-6500.
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall is located at Broadway and 60th Street, NYC.
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