The Mabel Mercer Foundation presents its THIRTIETH annual New York Cabaret Convention at The Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, beginning Monday, October 28th and running through Thursday, October 31st. The four individual concerts will be offered at 6 PM each evening. More than 75 vocalists and musicians are scheduled to perform.
Three of the October shows will honor individuals whose remarkable gifts categorize them as major components of the Classic Popular Songbook legacy. Judy! A Garland of Song includes music and lyrics unforgettably offered on film, stage, and recordings by the legendary Judy Garland. The performance will be emceed by CabCon favorite Klea Blackhurst and award-winning Garland documentarian John Fricke.
Deborah Grace Winer returns to herald the output of exceptional female songwriters, specifically Dorothy Fields but also including (among others) Betty Comden, Carolyn Leigh and Peggy Lee. Jeff Harnar and Andrea Marcovicci cohost a salute to the Broadway, Hollywood and Hit Parade contributions created by Frank Loesser. Finally, KT Sullivan, Artistic Director of the Mabel Mercer Foundation, takes stage to present an affectionate look back of 30 Years of Cabaret Conventions, as well a forward look with fresh new discoveries. In addition to “surprise” presentations of the annual Julie Wilson and Donald F. Smith awards, the Foundation specifically honors Sandy Stewart with this year’s Mabel Mercer Award.
A complete roster for the thirtieth New York Cabaret Convention is as follows:
Monday, October 28: THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET: CELEBRATING DOROTHY FIELDS & GREAT WOMEN SONGWRITERS, hosted by Deborah Grace Winer; music director Mark Hummel. Featuring Karrin Allyson, Christine Andreas, Debby Boone, Darius de Haas, La Tanya Hall, Nicolas King, Jay Leonhart, Rebecca Luker*, Kenita Miller, James Naughton, Linda Purl, Margo Seibert*, Emily Skinner, Stacy Sullivan, Tom Wopat. Presentation of The Donald F. Smith Award, underwritten by Adela & Larry Elow.
Tuesday, October 29: FRANK LOESSER: HEART AND SOUL, hosted by Jeff Harnar & Andrea Marcovicci; music director Alex Rybeck. Featuring Karen Akers, Anna Bergman, Barbara Brussell, Liz Callaway, Eric Comstock, Sally Darling*, Joshua Lance Dixon, Barbara Fasano, Tovah Feldshuh, Marilyn Maye, Marissa Mulder, Mark Nadler, Karen Oberlin, Steve Ross, David Sabella*, Marta Sanders, Tim Schall*, Jane Scheckter, Gabrielle Stravelli, Lisa Viggiano*, Lennie Watts.
Wednesday, October 30: JUDY! A GARLAND OF SONG, hosted by Klea Blackhurst and John Fricke; music director Jon Weber. Featuring Stephanie Blythe*, Leanne Borghesi, Carole J. Bufford, Nathan Chang, Natalie Douglas, Karen Mason, Sidney Myer, Anthony Nunziata, Will Nunziata, Christine Pedi, Hannah Jane Peterson*, Ruby Rakos*, Jennifer Sheehan, Billy Stritch. Presentation of The Julie Wilson Award, underwritten by Linda & Peter Hanson.
Thursday, October 31: THANKS FOR THE MEMORY: CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF CABARET CONVENTIONS, hosted by KT Sullivan; music director Jon Weber. Featuring Aaron Lee Battle, Celia Berk, Margo Brown*, Shana Farr, Eric Yves Garcia, Sean Harkness, Christian Holder*, Lina Koutrakos, Allora Leonard*, Beckie Menzie, Tom Michael, Susie Mosher*, Gretchen Reinhagen*, Anais Reno*, Josephine Sanges, Marcus Simone, Avery Sommers, Sandy Stewart, Mark William*, Amra-Faye Wright. Presentation of The Mabel Mercer Award to Sandy Stewart.
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: The Mabel Mercer Foundation, 630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 402, New York, NY 10036. Prices are $100, $50, and $25, and Premium Patron Seating is also available @ $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; be advised, please, that Patron Seating is limited to fifty seats per performance. On Monday, September 9th, 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.
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