Last night Carnegie Hall was the place to be, as Good Wife star and Tony Award-winning performer Alan Cumming took to the stage to make his headlining debut. With guests like Kristin Chenoweth, Darren Criss, Ricki Lake and the Gay Men’s Chorus the audience was treated to a special evening of entertainment and song.
Kristin Chenoweth
The evening was a personal one where Cumming has made a New Year’s resolution marked by a tattoo to connect and connect he does. By the end of the evening you felt as if you truly knew him.
This evening marked the release of Cumming’s newest CD Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs, from Yellow Sound Label, recorded live at the Café Carlyle. Pop hits like Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb,” Billy Joel’s “Goodnight Saigon,” “If Love Were All” by Noël Coward, “Mother Glasgow” from Scotland,”La Complainte de la Butte” from France, “How Do Humans Live” from Germany and A Sondheim mash-up were just some of the songs. With Rufus Wainwright’s “Dinner at Eight,” we heard about Cummings disconnected father/son relationship. Missing Chita Rivera and loving Kander & Ebb’s The Visit he sang an emotional “You, You, You.”As a finally a bossa nova style version of “The Ladies Who Lunch” from Company. For those Cabaret fans a seductive hip “Mein Herr” brought down the house.
With Chenoweth we got some great stories about the Tony Awards and “Easy Street” from Annie.
Ricki Lake and Alan Cumming
With Ricki Lake he went into “Ecstasy” from ATB.
Alan Cumming and Darren Criss
Glee fas were thrilled with the combo of Cumming with Darren Cris.
With the Gay Men’s Choir
A mashup of Adele’s “Someone Like You,” Lady GaGa’s “The Edge of Glory,” and Katy Perry’s “Firework” called “Someone Like The Edge of Firework”was angelically backed by the Gay Men’s Chorus.
\Cumming’s longtime musical director the fabulous Lance Horn was on piano, Eleanor Norton on cello, Michael Croiter on guitar and percussion and Chris Jogo on drums. This band swung into high action completing what was a satisfying and rewarding evening of song and stories.
If there was any doubt that Cafe Centro was a bona fide Cabaret Venue it was dispelled last night. Billy Stritch was seated at the Cafe’s Grand Piano and Linda Purl was the songstress headlining on the cabaret stage of the South Florida restaurant. The SRO crowd that had managed to snag dinner/show tickets got to hear one of the most skillful performances of the Great American Songbook and Broadway show tunes currently out there in Cabaret world. Linda Purl, an extraordinary actor is also an extremely talented vocalist who makes you fall in love with the song and also with Linda Purl, and I might add she is oh so great to focus on through my camera lens.
Billy Stritch was the music director for this gig and he brought his creative, virtuosic, jazz infused piano playing to accompany her. Billy was an engine of harmony and rhythm that coupled with Linda’s natural swing and romantic ballads perfectly. The overflow crowd loved every note of the performance. Mr. Stritch usually adds his lush voice underneath his stable of super singers to create some fantastic musical symmetry, as he has done for some of show biz’s legendary entertainers (Liza Minnelli, Christine Ebersole, Linda Lavin, Linda Eder, and Marilyn Maye to name a few.) During this show he wowed us all with his keyboard artistry. BTW, BIlly, an extraordinary singer/ entertainer on the cabaret and concert stages worldwide can be seen at the new WICK Museum nightclub on April 1st for a special one night only engagement performing his Cy Coleman show. Not to be missed by music lovers.
Sanford Fisher produced the Linda Purl evening. It brought these two super stars of the Cabaret and Concert stages together for an outstanding evening at Cafe Centro, our local oasis of live music in Palm Beach.
Another great Palm Beach event this week…..the “LADY IN RED” LIFE Gala at The Breakers……Congratulations to Lois Pope, the Board of LIFE and Entertainment Chair Sunny Sessa for creating a fantastic evening……
RITA RUDNER & PAUL ANKA……What a show!
LINDA PURL
BILLY STRITCH & LINDA PURL
BILLY STRITCH & LINDA PURL
LINDA PURL
PAUL ANKA
LOIS POPE, MAX V. ANHALT, SUNNY SESSA
SANDY FISHER & LINDA PURL
EDA SOROKOFF & PAUL ANKA
BOB MURRAY & SHARON BUSH
GARDINER HEMPEL & LINDA PURL
FRAN WEISSLER & BILLY STRITCH
SANDY FISHER & ISANNE FISHER
LESLIE LAREDO, JEFF LEIBOWITZ LARRY WEISSFELD, JANE SHAVELL
CAFE CENTRO
JULIANNA SHARELL, JANINE SHARELL, EDA SOROKOFF
ANTHONY NUNZIATA & EDA SOROKOFF
SUNNY SESSA, EDA SOROKOFF, STEPHEN SOROKOFF
“SAL” CAFE CENTRO
VALARIE CHRISTOPHER, STEPHEN SOROKOFF, SUNNY SESSA
COMING ATTRACTIONS
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Karen Akers, Jim Caruso, Tony Danza, Jamie deRoy, Max von Essen, Melissa Errico, Bob Mackie, Susie Mosher, Sidney Myer, Josh Prince, Lee Roy Reams, Rex Reed, Randy Roberts, Mo Rocca , Mark Sendroff, Lee Roy Reams, Brenda Vaccaro and David Zippel were there to see and honor Cabaret legend and Grammy nominee Marilyn Maye. Maye who turns 95 April 10th, made her at Carnegie Hall solo debut last night with The New York Pops, led by Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke.
Steven Reineke Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Maye is a highly praised singer, actress, director, arranger, educator, Grammy nominated recording artist and a musical treasure. Her entire life has been committed to the art of song and performance and it showed with the 12 standing ovations she received.
Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Maye appeared 76 times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, she was “discovered” by Steve Allen and had a RCA recording contract, seven albums and 34 singles.
Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
The evening started out with the superlative New York Pops Overture of Mame, which Maye had played the title role.
Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Next a Cole Porter Medley with “Looking at You,” Concentrate On You,” “I Get A Kick Out Of You,” It’s Alright With Me,””Just One of Those Things,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and “All of You”. This was Marilyn’s second standing ovation. The first was when she stood on that stage for the first time and the audience was rapturous.
Marilyn Maye and Steven Reineke Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
A terrific “It’s Today” from Mame with high flying kicks was the third ovation and wow can that woman kick.
Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
A rainbow medley included “Look To The Rainbow” from Finnian’s Rainbow, the iconic “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” the jazzy “Make Me Rainbows” and of course “The Rainbow Connection.” And with that another standing ovation.
Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
“Put On A Happy Face” from Bye Bye Birdie.
Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Tedd Firth and Marilyn Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Frank Loesser’s Joey, Joey, Joey brought on a fifth standing ovation. This song was a masterclass in acting and vocal nuance. For that matter every song that comes out of Ms. Maye’s mouth is perfection. Part of the brilliance of this night is her musical director, arranger, and pianist Ted Firth. That man is a genius.
Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Steven Reineke, Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Lerner and Loewe’s “On The Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady ended the first act with a sixth standing ovation.
Steven Reineke Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
The overture from Hello Dolly! and then Cabaret shows Marilyn Maye also starred in opened the second act. The New York Pops sounded phenomenal as always.
Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
“Your Gonna Hear From Me” from “Inside Daisy Clover was an appropriate starter for this next round as the audience got to its feet.
Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Maye’s most requested song “Guess Who I Saw Today” from New Faces of 1952 was followed by a show stopping “Fifty Percent” from Ballroom and of course another standing ovation.
Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Her next song was chosen by the Smithsonian Institute to be included in its permanent collection of recordings from the 20th century. Her recording of “Too Late Now” is considered by the Smithsonian to be one of the 110 Best American Compositions of the Twentieth Century and Ms. Maye showed us why and again another standing ovation.
Being presented with flowers
A proclamation from The City of New York read by Steven Reineke to Marilyn Maye made this day Marilyn Maye Day. This treasure cried with joy as she sang Stephen Sondheim’s “I’m Still Here.” Though she forgot some of the lyric, Ms. Maye proved performing is all on the intent and connecting to the audience. Two more standing ovations were added here.
Steven Reineke, Marilyn Maye with the proclamation Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Steven Reineke, Marilyn Maye with the proclamation Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
For encores, I was thrilled to hear James Taylor’s “Circle of Life” and “Here’s To Life,” which is my personal favorite, finally going back into “It’s Today” with those high kicks and a twelfth standing ovation. Bravo Ms. Maye!
Steven Reineke, Marilyn Maye with the proclamation Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
If you are a singer and do not catch Ms. Maye live, you really do not care about your craft. Last night Ms. Maye made it clear why she’s been celebrated as one of America’s greatest jazz singers for more than 50 years and this was a night I will always remember. Thank-you New York Pops.
Marilyn Maye By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Steven Reineke, Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Jamie deRoy and Tony Danza Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Jim Caruso and Max von Essen Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Eric Gabbard., Steven Reineke, Jim Caruso and Max von Essen Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Marilyn Maye and Melissa Errico Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Marilyn Maye and Melissa Errico Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Bob Mackie and Marilyn Maye Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Marilyn Maye and Mark Sendroff Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Karen Akers, Sidney Myer, Marilyn Maye and Lee Roy Reams Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Josh Prince, Marilyn Maye and Michael Novak Photo By Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Don’t miss the Pop’s 40th Birthday Gala: This One’s For You: The Music Of Barry Manilow on Monday, May 1st. The gala will star Sean Bell, Erich Bergen, Betty Buckley, Charo, Deborah Cox, Danny Kornfeld, Norm Lewis, Melissa Manchester, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman, Billy Stritch, Steven Telsey, Max von Essen, Dionne Warwick, and more to be announced. This will be yet another New York Pop’s Night not to miss.
Cabaret
My View: It’s Today! It’s Tonight! Marilyn Maye Rehearses For Her New York Pops Carnegie Hall Debut
Sometimes you have to pinch yourself at the opportunities you are presented with. TODAY would be one of those. Or as Marilyn Maye might sing to you, “It’s Today.”
This afternoon I had the privilege of witnessing the 95 year old star, rehearsing on the stage of Carnegie Hall, under the baton of Maestro Steven Reineke, in front of the mighty New York Pops Orchestra. It all happens tonight and has been a lifetime in the making. As if The New York Times piece, bylined by Melissa Errico, wasn’t enough to whet your appetite for what is sure to be a historic evening, maybe these photos will help get you even more excited. Thank you to all who made this happen for me, to present to you….Humbly Yours, Stephen
MARILYN MAYE & STEVEN REINEKE
MARILYN MAYE
MARILYN MAYE & STEVEN REINEKE
MARILYN MAYE & STEVEN REINEKE
CARNEGIE HALL
MARILYN MAYE
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