Being the daughter of an beloved gay icon buys you a lot of applause and respect. This was never more evident than when Lorna Luft took to the stage at Feinstein’s/54 Below. As part of Gay Pride Week she paid honor to the June 12th mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Earlier this week, Luft visited the Stone wall Inn, where a memorial to the 49 victims of the Orlando.To mark the 47th year of her mother Judy Garland’s passing on her 47th birthday audiences members were rewarded with a tearful surprise, a first time live performance of “Over the Rainbow,” the song made famous by her mother, Judy Garland. Luft told the audience that she had never performed the song “not because it was too hard for me emotionally, but because I always felt you can’t improve on perfection.”
Colin Freeman, her musical director, conductor, arranger and husband, lead a terrific 3 piece ensemble where Freeman played the keys, Josh Priest (Drums) and Jim Donica (Bass). It is hard to criticize such an icon, but Mr Freeman’s arrangements do not help out Ms. Luft who is strong on the emotional connection and the acting. but her belt is rough and brassy with a wide, vibrato. Singing softly is not her forte. Her energy and heart, however do make up for the inconsistent vocals.
Lorna represents to many the sad loss of her mother. She gives her audience a connection to what has been lost, taken away and given back in her daughter. That in itself makes Ms. Luft worth seeing.
Lorna Luft Celebrates Pride Week: Feinstein’s/54 Below, closed.
On May 29th catch Samantha Pauly for Memorial Day. Best known for originating the role of Katherine Howard in Broadway’s smash hit SIX the Musical, and her captivating performance as Eva Peron in Jamie Lloyd’s critically acclaimed revival of Evita on London’s West End, Samantha Pauly has carefully crafted an evening that reflects the last few years of her life. Join this Grammy nominee and Drama Desk Award winner as she revisits some career highlights, Broadway classics, pop/rock favorites, and all the fun stuff in between.
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and actor Reeve Carneyreturns to Chelsea Table + Stage June 4th to perform a night of music honoring the artistry of the legendary rock n’ roll supergroup Led Zeppelin. Carney is best known for his portrayal of Dorian Grayin on Showtime’s Penny Dreadful, Riff Raff in Fox’s Rocky Horror Picture Show Reimagining, as well as originating the role of Peter Parker in Julie Taymor/U2’s Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark. He is currently starring in the Broadway blockbuster, Hadestown. Reeve Carney delivers a one-man-show cabaret that feels more like an invitation-only after-party than a traditional concert performance. Don’t miss this special performance from one of Broadway’s leading actors!
If there’s anyone who deserves to be featured in TIMES SQUARE CHRONICLES, on this particular day, May 24, it would be this guy, Richard Jay-Alexander. Born in 1953, today he turns 70 years old, here in New York City. He has walked these city streets more than most, as he pursued and has enjoyed a 49 year career, working on Broadway, in most theaters, clubs and majestic musical institutions, such as Carnegie Hall and The MET. He’s touched many, many lives and has a passion for this business that continues to burn and just this past Sunday, he helmed a thrilling evening, celebrating BroadwayWorld.com‘s 20th Anniversary, at midtown’s historic Sony Hall. On the eve of his birthday, he attended his favorite Tuesday night happening, Susie Mosher’s The LINEUP at Birdland Theatre, and treated the audience to a couple stories, observations on this important birthday and then, with Billy Stritch at the piano, John Miller on Bass and Clint De Canon on drums, performed a moving and heartfelt (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Richard clearly has a gift and a passion for the stage and for music and we are all the better for it, on the receiving end.
Happy Birthday, Young Man! Here’s to many more.
RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
BILLY STRITCH & RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER & SUSIE MOSHER
RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
SETH SIKES, NICOLAS KING, CARLOS CLEMENZ, RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER, STEPHEN SOROKOFF, EDA SOROKOFF
DOUG MIDDLEBROOK, RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER, EDA SOROKOFF
BILLY STRITCH, KATE SHINDLE, President Actors’ Equity Association, RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
SUSIE MOSHER & RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RJA
Cabaret
My View: A Glamorous Celebrity Filled Night With Lorna Dallas at The Laurie Beechman Theatre
It was a celebrity filled audience last night and the glamor of Manhattan Cabaret nightlife was in abundance for Lorna Dallas and her show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre titled “Glamorous Nights and Rainy Days
Ms. Dallas returned to New York City with a wonderful new show. This was Ms. Dallas’ first appearance in this town since she performed at the Bistro awards prior to the lockdown of 2020. The three years respite has done nothing to dim the luster of Ms Dallas’ exceptional instrument. She stayed in fine voice all evening long. But she is more than just an excellent vocalist. She is also a compelling actress. Her show, skillfully crafted by director Barry Kleinbort, and sensitively accompanied by one of this city’s best musical directors, Christopher Denny, was a joy from start to finish. The star studded audience at the Laurie Beechman theater responded heartily to every one of Lorna’s numbers. Evening high points ran the gamut, from standards like “I Have Dreamed,” to “When the Sun Comes Out;” from an hilarious “By Strauss” by the Gershwin’s to a dramatic “Silent Spring” by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. She also premiered a new song written especially for her by Ann Hampton Callaway and Amanda McBroom, “In My Dreams,” which wowed the savvy New York crowd. Hopefully, Lorna Dallas will return to these shores on a more regular basis. Three years is too long a wait for this powerful soprano’s next appearance..
LORNA DALLAS
CHRISTOPHER DENNY & LORNA DALLAS
LORNA DALLAS & DONNA McKECHNIE
LORNA DALLAS & MELISSA ERRICO
MARILYN MAYE & LORNA DALLAS
LORNA DALLAS & CHARLES BUSCH
PENNY FULLER & LORNA DALLAS
MELISSA ERRICO & EDA SOROKOFF
DAVID ZIPPEL, LORNA DALLAS, JAMIE deROY
LORNA DALLAS & REX REED
LORNA DALLAS & KT SULLIVAN
SUSIE MOSHER & LORNA DALLAS
DAVID SABELLA & LORNA DALLAS
CRAIG RUBANO & LORNA DALLAS
MARIEANN MERINGOLO & LORNA DALLAS
GEORGE DVORSKY, LORNA DALLAS, ROSIE BENTINCK
EDA SOROKOFF,MARILYN MAYE, CHARLES BUSCH
KT SULLIVAN & ELIZABETH SULLIVAN
KURT PETERSON, LORNA DALLAS
ANN TALMAN &LORNA DALLAS
LORNA DALLAS & SANDY MANLEY
JOYCE BREACH & REX REED
LORNA DALLAS & RICHARD HILLMAN
BARRY KLEINBORT, DIRECTOR
LORNA DALLAS
LORNA DALLAS
LORNA DALLAS
CHRISTOPHER DENNY & LORNA DALLAS
Tony, Grammy, and Emmy award winning composer/writer/musician David Yazbek and his band were on the stage of 54 Below last night playing some of his new songs from an upcoming album. They also played some great music from the Yazbek songbook and from his Broadway musicals.
In addition to being an award winning composer and lyricist David Yazbek is a formidable pianist possessing a fearless technique generating an extraordinary combination of intoxicating melodious dissonance. . A highlight of the evening for me was when he displayed his unique harmonic and rhythmic pianistic concepts on the Great American Songbook Standard “Over The Rainbow”. Norbert Leo Butz also starred in the the 54 evening titled “David Yazbek and The Bludgeoneers” and he brought the house to it’s feet with the “Dirty Rotten Medley”
The Band: Javier Diaz (Percussion), Tony Orbach (Sax), Sam Sadigursky (Clarinet), Dean Sharenow (Drums), Chris Tordini (Bass), Paul Vercesi (Sax)
DAVID YAZBEK
DAVID YAZBEK
NORBERT LEO BUTZ
NORBERT LEO BUTZ
NORBERT LEO BUTZ
SAM SADIGURSKY
DAVID YAZBEK & SAM SADIGURSKY
NORBERT LEO BUTZ
TONY ORBACH & PAUL VERCESI
THE BAND
DAVID YAZBEK & NORBERT LEO BUTZ
54 BELOW
Bobby Darin was a major musical talent whose life ended at a young age but accomplished so much in his career. He was catapulted to success by two of his original songs “Splish Splash,” and” Dream Lover”. Some of his other hits were Kurt Weill’s” Mack the Knife”, The English version of Charles Trent’s hit “La Mer-Beyond The Sea”.
Charlie Romo
Connie Frances first rose to fame with her hit Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby’s “Who’s Sorry Now”. She also had great success with two of Neil Sedaka-Howard Greenfield’s “Where The Boys Are” and “Stupid Cupid”
Vanessa Racci
Through Bobby and Connie’s chart topping hits Vanessa and Charlie sang and told the love story of the two musical stars budding romance at the beginning of their careers. Sadly the romance came to a halt when Connie Francis’ father did everything in his power to come between the two lovers and broke them up.
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