Urban Stages Winter Rhythms 2025: Here’s what folks are saying about the programming of this, the 17th annual award-winning series for the benefit of Urban Stages’ Outreach Programs, running from Wednesday, December 3 through Sunday, December 14, 2025
But first, here are two interviews with Winter Rhythms producer, Sue Matsuki: by Jack Quinn of Cabaret Scenes and James Manley of Artists Weekly.
And here are some beautiful comments about this year’s terrific lineup:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3 at 7:30 PM: Festiv
al opening gala night at 7:30 PM
Eddie Bruce in The Magic and Music of Tony Bennett
Review by Jack Quinn of Theater Scene
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4 at 7:00 PM: Ron Drotos and Friends (Juliet Ewing, Susan Mack and Leslee Warren)
“Like four good friends hanging out around the piano in someone’s living room, Ron Drotos and his friends, Juliet Ewing, Susa
n Mack and Leslee Warren welcomed us all into their loving arms and voices. Ron Drotos is an amazing jazz pianist reimagining songs like the famous “wedding staple” Pachelbel’s Canon as a Joplin-like rag…genius and so much fun! All his pieces were standouts. In between his playing he brought each of these ladies, all of whom work with him at his Monthly Jazz Brunch called “Jazz on Main” in Mt. Kisco, brought it in their own impressive styles. Warren gave us sass and da blues, Mack stuck to her impressive jazz routes and Ewing gave us a mixed bag of what I like to call Caber-Jazz closing with a very beautiful interpretation of Ron’s arrangement of “Summertime”. It was an evening enjoyed by all.” – A report by Sue Matsuki, Producer Winter Rhythms (Photo by Sue Matsuki)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4 at 9:00 PM Alara Magritte and Daniel Rosen in Snowed in with the Abominable Magritte and Rosen
“Funky, Fun, Beautifully Sung and PACKED! This is the 2nd year that Winter Rhythms has featured this wonderful show and these amazing singers. Their entire cast wer
e all individual superstars – Aliza Ciara, Nadie Duncan, Savidu Geevaratme, Cha Mangan, Stefanie Richardson with Allison Kraus on the keys. Starting off the show by offering hot cocoa and homemade cookies, our chilly lobby was filled with the warmth of the evening to come. This is not your mama’s holiday show though. While it is heartfelt, funny, political and poignant, it is also like a performance art show with Broadway caliber vocals and impressive original songwriting. FANTASTIC! I suspect Alara Magritte and Daniel Rosen will become one of our future residency acts!” – A report by Sue Matsuki, Producer Winter Rhythms
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5 at 7:00 PM: Michael Colby presents Cast of Characters–Part 1
*** “I saw Michael Colby’s Cast of Characters – Part One last night at #WinterRhythms, and it was FANTASTIC. Hats off to Michael, the entire cast, the amazing Music Director, Joe Baker, Production Supervisor Grace Ingves, Director Sara Louise Lazarus, and of course, Sue Matsuki, producer of @WinterRhythms, who is so dynamic and gracious. A personal favorite last night was the song “Amanda” with music by #GeraldJa
yMarkoe, Lyrics by Michale Colby, sung by #MarinaYiannouris. But every single performance was spectacular, and of course great laughs by #craigrubano and Mark Nadler. Part Two is on Dec. 13th at 3:00PM!” – Betsyann Faiella, Savoy Communications (Photo by Jeff Harnar)
*** “On a cold December evening, it was a pleasure to warm up with Michael Colby’s top-notch cast singing character songs from some of his shows. Hosted by Colby, with musical direction by Joe Baker, and directed by Sara Louise Lazarus, it was a mostly cheerful show, full of joy and merriment but not quite lighthearted. There was a depth and darkness to some of the songs that was surprising and appreciated. Singling out any one performer from the show is difficult as they were all strong and believable in their roles: Nikita Burshteyn, Tommy Ferolano, James Harkness, Eddie Korbich, John LaLonde, Katie Claire McGrath, Taylor Moy, N’Kenge, Mark Nadler, Rita Neidich, Isabel Robin, Craig Rubano, Jane Seaman, Megan Styrna, Marina Yiannouris. Based on the extremely entertaining Part 1, I highly recommend Michael Colby Presents Cast of Characters – Part 2 on Saturday, December 13 at 3:00PM.” – Kati Neiheisel, NiteLife Exchange reporting for Sue Matsuki
***“Congratulations to Michael Colby on Part 1 of his wildly impressive “Cast of Characters” at Urban Stages. This diverse collection of songs from his various musicals was brought to vivid life by a remarkable Cast of Champions including Nikita Burshteyn, Tommy Ferolano, Eddie Korbich, John LaLonde, Katie Claire McGrath, Taylor Moy, Mark Nadler, N’Kenge, Rita Neidich, Isabel Robin, Craig Rubano, Jane Seaman, Megan Styrna & Marina Yiannouris accompanied by the one man orchestra of Joe Baker and Directed & staged winningly by Sara Louise Lazarus. Kudos to Producer Sue Matsuki & Founder/Producing Director Frances Hill on giving this entertaining, witty & welcome Colby Compendium your spotlight.” – Cabaret star Jeff Harnar
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5 at 9:00 PM: Joan Crowe and Gretchen Reinhagen in Laughing Matters (Stand Up & Song)
“Joan Crowe and Gretchen Reinhagen were both hilarious last night at #winterrhythms. Gretchen always is but I actually had not seen Joan in years – so NOT in her stand-up reincarnation. These are BRAVE WOMEN. It takes a lot of courage to keep working out material and moving forward and seeing what works. I wa
s extremely amused!!!” – Betsyann Faiella, Savoy Communications
***“Joan Crowe and Gretchen Reinhagen have much in common as multi-award-winning singers turned stand-up comedians, but they are each their own woman with distinct points of view. Crowe appears as an entitled, free-spirited bohemian, perfectly conveyed in one of her signature tunes, “The White Girls Can’t Sing The Blues, Blues” (M/L: Sue Matsuki/Gregory Toroian). But is that all she is? Stand-up confessions between her songs reveal much more about this complex woman. Her sensitivity is showcased in her final song “Laughing Matters” (L: Mark Waldrop / M: Dick Gallagher from When Pigs Fly).
Ironically, naturally funny Gretchen Reinhagen often appears as the “straight man” in her own stories about work, life, and love. Is the universe out to get her? She sings it out in “Good Thing Blues” (L: Gretchen Reinhagen / M: Tracy Stark). As a tribute to her dear friend, the late actor/director/singer/comic genius Jay Rogers, she “musters up the courage” to sing an “adults-only” song, “The Dresser Drawers Blues” (L/M: Kansas Joe McCoy), in his honor. Oh, mon dieu! Reinhagen ends the set with her original song, the moving “A Train With No Brakes.” Expert musical support is provided by Musical Director Tracy Stark on piano, Skip Ward on bass, and Daniel Glass on drums.” – Kati Neiheisel, NiteLife Exchange reporting for Sue Matsuki
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 at 3:00 PM: Ritt Henn and Beth Falcone with The 10th Annual Holiday Survival Kit
“This show is SMART, educational, fun, funny, moving, poignant and it is all wrapped up in four incredibly talented performers playing multiple instruments (and a violin player whose name I have to get) creating an unforget
table event…that’s what it is…an event! WOW! Beth Falcone, Ritt Henn, Roosevelt Andre Credit and Christine deFrece brought us around the world with all the different ways different cultures and religions celebrate their holidays during this season. I lost count as to how many instruments Beth plays and no one gets the sounds out of an upright bass like our Ritt. Roo and Christine are always explosive and moving in their individual solos but it’s the sum of all these parts that make this show one we will book every year!” – A report by Sue Matsuki, Producer Winter Rhythms
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 at 7:00 PM: Deborah Stone and Sean Harkness in Good Stuff
“What a musical treat Deborah Stone and Sean Harkness gave us tonight. Brilliant! Brava and Bravo!” – Betsyann Faiella, Savoy Communicat ions (Photo by Taka Harkness)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 at 3:00 PM: Sara Louise Lazarus presents Circle in the Square’s Broadway Blockbusters II
“Another one of our residency acts at Winter Rhythms, Director to the stars, Sara Louise Lazarus along with Musical Director Joe Baker present one of their 
classes from the Circle in the Square School to do a show of all Broadway Blockbusters. Songs that might be over done or not recommended for an audition but ALWAYS a crowd pleaser and boy did this show please their audience! This is the 5th year they have been with us They never disappoint! I will get the names of all the singers and update soon but each one of these young people will eventually be on Broadway…I have no doubt. The are also in the best hands with Sara and Joe.” – A report by Sue Matsuki, Producer Winter Rhythms (Photo by Sue Matsuki)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 at 7:00 PM: Tom Toce presents The N.Y. Songwriters Alliance
“If you think the Great American Songbook is only of a certain era…well, you’re wrong. It’s growing every day with Tom Toce’s N.Y. Songwriters Alliance which was an evening of all original music written by some of New York’s BEST songwriters. (Michael Colby
, Beth Falcone, John Forster, Ned Ginsburg, Ritt Henn, Randy Klein, Eva Margolies, Hilary Rollins, Paul Rolnick, Steve Sieck, Ethan Tarasov and our host, Tom Toce.) All were sung by the songwriter or by an impressive array singers. If you are looking for great new material, I am sorry that you missed this show!” – A report by Sue Matsuki, Producer Winter Rhythms
