Cabaret
Meet The Former and Present Residents of Manhattan Plaza: KT Sullivan
KT Sullivan is an singer and actress known for her performances in cabaret and musical theatre. She performed in the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel for over a decade. She now performs at venues such as the Laurie Beechman Theater, The Beach Cafe, the Pierre Hotel. She often performs with Mark Nadler, Steve Ross and Jeff Harner.
On Broadway, Sullivan appeared as Suky Tawdry in the 1989 revival of The Threepenny Opera and as Lorelei Lee in the 1995 revival of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She toured in Annie Get Your Gun with Cathy Rigby and also performed in Sugar and Born Yesterday.
With Mark Nadler and Ruth Leon they wrote American Rhapsody: A New Musical Revue, which she and Nadler performed at the off-Broadway Triad Theatre. The musical was nominated for the Lucille Lortel Award and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical Revue. They won the MAC Award for Best Musical Revue. Sullivan also appeared in the New York City productions A… My Name Is Alice and Splendora in 1995, and performed in the Musicals Tonight concert presentations of So Long, 174th Street and By the Beautiful Sea and Fifty Million Frenchmen .
In regional theatre, Sullivan appeared in You Never Know at the Paper Mill Playhouse. She has performed at the Old Globe Theatre, the Hartford Stage Company, the Municipal Opera of St. Louis, the Goodspeed Opera House, and the Great Lakes Theater Festival.
In the West End, Sullivan appeared in Vienna to Weimar with Karen Kohler.
Sullivan has recorded albums with Nadler, including Always: The Love Story of Irving Berlin, A Fine Romance: A Dorothy Fields Songbook and A Swell Party: Cole Porter. Her solo recordings include Crazy World , Sing My Heart: The Songs of Harold Arlen, In Other Words, The Songs of Bart Howard, KT Sullivan, Ladies of the Silver Screen and KT Sullivan Sings the Sweetest Sounds of Richard Rodgers. She also recorded the revival cast album of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Her latest CD, “Timeless Tunes with Jon Weber”.
In April 2012, Sullivan was named Artistic Director of the Mabel Mercer Foundation.
Sullivan married business communications consultant Stephen Miner Downey (President of the New York Browning Society) in November 27, 1999.
T2C: When did you first move into Manhattan Plaza and how did you get into the building?
KT Sullivan: In 1987, which was the year I met my husband. My roommate was Mauricio Bustamante. We met during the national tour of Annie Get Your Gun in 1993. He was Sitting Bull and I was Dolly Tate. I had been on the waiting list for three years and you had to have a roommate to have a one bedroom. In 1999 I finally got a two bedroom, so I could have room for the grand piano that Bart Howard the composer of “Fly Me To The Moon” left me when he died. I waited over three years to get that piano because it wouldn’t fit into my one bedroom. Now we all sing around the piano. I love this apartment. You can see the Freedom Tower and both rivers from the balcony. We still had to have a roommate and now it is Chinua Thomas who is a God-send as I am not technical and he is geek perfect. He can do anything.
T2C: Who are your friends in the building?
KT Sullivan: Actress Tracy Rosten, singer Jackie Sanders, her husband musician Bill Hayes and their son Olen. I love watching kids grow up here and now we have Susie Mosher’s new baby to watch grow up here. Other friends include Sammy Goldstein, Jan Horvath and her artist husband Rino Li Causi. Then there’s Tommy who hangs out downstairs and is touched. A gentle soul, who loves the Yankees. Constance was an original Copa girl who fantasizes about Ted Kennedy being in love with her. She would write me these notes and put them under my door. She used to be quite glamorous. Now her hair has gone gray and she walks with a cane. She goes out for her smokes and though still delusional, I know she’s taken care of. I miss some of the great actors that lived her like Reno Roop and Brian Murray. There are so many people you get to know.
T2C: What are your fondest memories of living in the plaza?
KT Sullivan: I Love Ruby Rims. During the AIDS crisis he was down to like 90 lbs, but after the cocktail he thrived. At one of his fabulous Christmas benefits in the Ellington Room he sang “This Is The Moment” and I told him my age. Until I turned 65 I didn’t tell anyone my age, but I told Ruby because we share the same birthday, Halloween 1953.
T2C: What are you doing professionally now?
KT Sullivan: The Mabel Mercer Foundation takes a lot out of my time. We do the Cabaret Convention,The Adela and Larry Elow American Songbook High School Competition and in June are doing a show called “I Like Men! Celebrating 100 years of Miss Peggy Lee” hosted by my sister Stacy. This summer I be back at the Irish Repertory, with Steve Ross in Love Noel!
T2C: Have does living in the building make you feel?
KT Sullivan: Secure. Everyone is worried right now about their rent. This building is benchmarked, so rent is affordable.
T2C: What has this building allowed you to accomplish?
KT Sullivan: Location, location, location. I can see a Broadway show and be there in 10 minutes. Everything is so simple. I’m not slinging hash to pay the rent so I can do my shows and see others perform. In fact my favorite place to perform is the Laurie Beechman Theatre, as I take the elevator and never have to leave the building.
T2C: How is the building reacting to the Coronavirus?
KT Sullivan: At 7pm we stand outside and clap for the healthcare workers who have done so much. The building also has great vivid signs posted everywhere. I feel protected, taken care of, as if we were here together protecting each other. People take care of each other here.
T2C: What would you change from your time living in Manhattan Plaza?
KT Sullivan: There was a man Mike Davis, who lived next door. He canoed on the river everyday. There are practice rooms in the building, so you don’t annoy your neighbors, but Mike always complimented me on everything I was rehearsing. One time he said, “I loved the Gershwin!” When he died, they had this tiny electric piano and I stupidly declined to sing. I regretted that then and I still regret it that to this day.
T2C: What is your fondest memory of New York and Manhattan Plaza?
KT Sullivan: For Manhattan Plaza it is that people take care of each other here. They replace broken appliances and care. My fondest memory is my wedding in 1999 to Stephen. My ring bearer was three and in tails and now he stands 6’6 ft tall. I was wearing a red dress like Jezebel or those Chinese brides. My father was a part of this and I am grateful for that. The church was filled with artists of all kind. It certainly was star studded. Celeste Holmes and Charles Busch were in attendance among others. After I said “I Do” the choir broke into the “Hallelujah Chorus”. We had our reception at the National Arts Club where Terry Burrell, Mark Nadler, Tommy Femia and Tovah Feldshuh and so many others sang. Julie Halston wrote a historical monologue for the occasion.
T2C: What would you like us to know that we haven’t asked you?
KT Sullivan: I want you to know about my mother. In 1999 she made her New York debut with “The Lords Prayer” at my wedding. She was born in 1930 and I am so happy and privileged to have such an artist as my loving mother. I owe her everything. Showing gratitude is the most joy you’ll ever get and I delight in being able to share my mother’s artistry. This is my greatest joy.
The documentary Miracle on 42nd Street, is available on Amazon and will soon be available to stream.
Marilyn Maye hardly needs another review—although I know she still enjoys reading them. Yet there she was last night, at 98, onstage at Dizzy’s Club in New York, singing, swinging, looking terrific, and thrilling an audience just as she has for generations.
Her voice was in magnificent form, her wit as sharp as ever, and she commanded the room with the effortless authority of a true master. Watching her perform at this stage of her remarkable career was not simply a concert experience—it was a rare opportunity to witness music history in the making. Her arrangements seem to live in the very bones of her fantastic trio—Mark McLean on drums and Tom Hubbard on bass—and you will rarely hear a tighter, more intuitive display of musicianship supporting a singer. Tedd Firth, her pianist and arranger, seems to breathe the same musical air as Marilyn. He creates an ocean of sound that surrounds and enhances her, perfectly complementing her extraordinary sense of time and phrasing.
It feels as though Marilyn and Tedd continually inspire one another, each pushing the other to greater heights. The result is something truly rare—a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience. What a privilege to have been in the room for yet another unforgettable Marilyn Maye performance.
I, like most MM friends have many Marvelous Marilyn stories, but here’s one of my favorites. After a late-night performance on a cruise ship, Eda and I shared an Apple Martini with Marilyn and then escorted her back to her cabin. As the three of us linked arms and did our best to remain “steady” navigating the passageway Marilyn suddenly blurted out, “Oh, my dear, I do hope this is the ship that’s rocking!”
BTW, Marilyn told me a while ago to keep this story to myself. So, Marilyn, if you’re reading this…oops!
MARILYN MAYE
TEDD FIRTH & MARILYN MAYE
MARILYN MAYE
DIZZY’S CLUB
DIZZY’S CLUB
TEDD FIRTH, MARILYN MAYE, TOM HUBBARD
TEDD FIRTH & MARILYN MAYE
MARILYN MAYE
DIZZY’S CLUB
MARILYN MAYE
EDA SOROKOFF, MARILYN MAYE, STEPHEN SOROKOFF
MARILYN MAYE & SHANE HARTKE
EDA SOROKOFF, MARILYN MAYE, SUSIE CLAUSEN
TEDD FIRTH & MARK McLEAN
DIZZY’S CLUB
Sony Hall was packed for last night’s Sydnie Christmas concert with a wait-list of lines down 46th street, and quite frankly, I’ve rarely witnessed an audience respond to a performer with the kind of enthusiasm that Sydnie received. Coming from the era when black and white television talent shows were often the launching pad for extraordinary careers it was my opportunity to discover whether the phenomenon that began on Britain’s Got Talent can evolve into something far bigger.
The applause meter on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, one of the most widely watched television shows of the 1950’s was a proving ground for some remarkable talent. Vic Damone, Tony Bennett, Pat Boone, Connie Francis, Eddie Fisher, and Rosemary Clooney all went on to become household names after appearing on the show (Elvis Presley auditioned but was rejected). Other contest winners were Frank Sinatra on Major Bowes’ Original Amateur Hour and Gladys Knight on Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour.
As the 2024 winner of the British counterpart to America’s Got Talent, Christmas captured audiences with a series of remarkable performances before taking the title. Now, with a string of successful concerts behind her, the real question is whether that television triumph can be the beginning of a substantial and enduring career.
The manufactured drama woven into today’s television talent shows often dictates not only the songs contestants choose but also the vocal fireworks they unleash. A singer’s style can be every bit as important as the voice itself when it comes to winning over judges and the public. Does Sydnie Christmas have something else besides that type of performance that targets the judges and the public?….She attempted to answer that question from the very start, opening with a haunting “Amazing Grace,” followed by a two-act concert filled with Pop, Broadway, Soul and Disco standards, as well as several originals. Many of the songs received standing ovations from an audience that had clearly come to celebrate—and exalt—their hero.
There is no question that Sydnie Christmas is likable, possesses a powerful instrument, and brings an original approach to a song. It’s easy to understand why the jury and audience at BGT gave her such an enthusiastic thumbs-up. But this “jury” is still deliberating. We need to hear more before reaching a final verdict.
Some Broadway friendships end when the final curtain comes down. Others apparently turn into a rock-and-roll band.
Michael Longoria
The Midtown Men brought their irresistible combination of Broadway polish, four-part harmony and pure 1960s swagger to Eisenhower Park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, proving once again that Jersey Boys may have introduced these four men to one another, but it certainly wasn’t the end of their story.
Christian Hoff
Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer first shared a stage as members of the original Broadway company of Jersey Boys, the musical phenomenon that turned the story and songs of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons into one of Broadway’s biggest hits.
Daniel Reichard
They spent more than a thousand performances together before doing something rather unusual: instead of simply moving on to their next individual Broadway jobs, they took the chemistry they had developed eight shows a week and created something of their own.
J. Robert Spencer
The result was The Midtown Men.
Michael Longoria, Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer
And while their pedigree is unmistakably Broadway, this isn’t Jersey Boys on tour. The Midtown Men became their own musical act, expanding beyond The Four Seasons to embrace the glorious pop landscape of the 1960s—The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Motown, The Rascals, The Mamas & the Papas, The Ronettes and more. Their official repertoire has long celebrated the decade that gave America some of its most enduring pop music, with four singers who know exactly how to sell both a harmony and a story.
Michael Longoria, Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer
What makes the group work isn’t simply nostalgia. Plenty of acts can recreate the music of the ’60s. The Midtown Men have something considerably harder to manufacture: history with one another.
Michael Longoria, Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer
They learned how to listen to one another on a Broadway stage. They know where the other voices are going, when to step forward, when to pull back and how to turn four leading men into one sound. Reichard has recalled that while they were still performing Jersey Boys, the four would gather in dressing rooms between shows and work out harmonies to other songs they loved from the decade. In other words, The Midtown Men were quietly being born backstage while another show was happening out front.
Michael Longoria, Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer
That musical shorthand followed them to Eisenhower Park.
Christian Hoff
Christian Hoff
Christian Hoff
Hoff brings the confidence that won him the Tony Award for his portrayal of Tommy DeVito. Reichard, Broadway’s original Bob Gaudio, possesses the musical-theatre storyteller’s instinct for finding the character inside a song. Spencer, the original Nick Massi and later a Tony nominee for Next to Normal, supplies formidable Broadway chops, while Longoria—who originated Joe Pesci before succeeding John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli—knows a thing or two about sending a voice soaring above a crowd.
Michael Longoria
Michael Longoria
Michael Longoria
Together, however, they stop being four Broadway résumés and become a genuine group.
J. Robert Spencer
J. Robert Spencer
J. Robert Spencer
There is something wonderfully circular about what happened to these men. They began as actors playing a band, only to discover along the way that they actually were one. What started under Broadway lights developed into years of concerts across the country, recordings and even a nationally televised concert special.
Daniel Reichard
Daniel Reichard
Daniel Reichard
The Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre is precisely the sort of setting where this music feels at home. These songs weren’t created to sit politely behind glass as artifacts of another era. They were made for summer nights, for dancing, singing along and suddenly realizing that you remember every word to a song you haven’t consciously thought about in twenty years.
Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard
That’s the pleasure of The Midtown Men. They don’t treat the 1960s as a museum exhibition. They remind you why this music became permanent in the first place.
Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria
The Beatles gave us exuberance. Motown gave popular music sophistication and irresistible rhythm. The Beach Boys made adolescent longing sound like California sunshine. The Four Seasons gave us those impossible harmonies and that unmistakable falsetto.
Daniel Reichard
J. Robert Spencer
Daniel Reichard, J. Robert Spencer,
Michael Longoria
Christian Hoff
Four Broadway actors fell in love with all of it. Nearly two decades after first coming together, Hoff, Longoria, Reichard and Spencer are still standing beside one another, still singing, still touring and still having what appears to be a ridiculously good time doing it.
Michael Longoria, Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer
Not bad for four guys who were originally hired to pretend to be a band. Turns out they were just getting started.
Karen Mason photo by Maryann Lopinto
Ironically, the hottest show in town is also the coolest. This can only mean that Karen Mason is back at Don’t Tell Mama for her return engagement of “More SPF!..The Summer ”
Karen Mason photo by Maryann Lopinto
In this case, the SPF doesn’t refer to sun protection but rather Songs, Patter and Fun, which she delivers copiously.
Karen Mason photo by Maryann Lopinto
Catch her one-more-night-only show on August 18th at 7 pm. From an original review: Her sleek frame allows her to dramatically punctuate a lyric with a quick twitch of her shoulder or hip. It feels like every corpuscle in her body is working double time to make sure she gives an unforgettable performance, which translates into her love for the music and the audience.
Karen Mason photo by Maryann Lopinto
Karen Mason photo by Maryann Lopinto
Christopher Denny photo by Maryann Lopinto
By the way, Karen is launching a new CD “Birthday Bash at Birdland” on September 28 at—where else?–Birdland. Even though she’s an April baby, this is one party you won’t want to miss.
Raul Esparza and Lily Rabe Photo by Joan Marcus
I’ll add my acclaim to the enthusiastic critical response for “The Winter’s Tale” currently playing at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. And hats off to the Public for giving this lesser-known Shakespeare play the attention it deserves. Everything from the stunning performances by Raul Esparza and Lily Rabe to the costumes and set, this Winter’s Tale was a perfect complement to a warm summer evening in Central Park.
A real treat awaits musical theatre lovers on August 23rd at 6 pm when the AMT Theatre will present
Penny Fuller
Broadway: The Golden Age, Rick McKay’s beloved documentary, which features interviews with dozens of Broadway legends. Historian Rob Schneider will moderate a Q&A with two-time Tony nominee (Applause, Rex) Penny Fuller after. The following week is same format/different film: Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy. AMT is at 354 W. 45th Street; for further information and tickets call 917.388.2630.
Glenn Crytzer Quartet
Just back from a week on Queen Mary 2, the Glenn Crytzer Quartet will be at Birdland on August 30 at 5:30. I can personally attest to the fact that they had passengers enthralled with their renditions of songs from the early part of the previous century.
Bryce Edwards
They are the perfect hors d’ouevre, so to speak, for Bryce Edwards show at the same stage next month on September 14th. And if you love Bryce (and who doesn’t?) you’ll love these four musicians.
Back from Las Vegas and Chicago, Jeff Harnar returns to the stage that launched him—Don’t Tell Mama—on September 9 & 16th in a show entitled “Blame It On My Youth.” From an original review: There is always a poetic sensitivity to Harnar’s work, perhaps most keenly achieved in this program. Harnar is truly one of the masters of the cabaret artform. See for yourself!
Like a Bolt of Lightning (and shinny cloth) fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi charged onto the stage of 54 Below last night wearing a silver suit and declaring to a cheering audience…”It’s a mess out there but it’s beautiful in here”! There are singers whose earthy, distinctive voices may not necessarily send chills down your spine, yet they can be enormously appealing because of their innate musicality and their ability to deliver a lyric with honesty and sincerity. Isaac Mizrahi is that kind of performer. He is chaotic, lovable, bawdy, witty, hysterical, and most importantly, completely authentic in his performances. What this product of the Garment Center may lack in vocal chops, he more than makes up for with a musician’s innate sense of time and phrasing. The result is an exciting reimagining of the dozen excellent tunes Isaac weaves (also knits) seamlessly between his humorous exchanges with the audience.
Having also spent my career in the Garment Center and also being a pianist, I like to think I know good “material” when I hear it—whether in textiles or music. Isaac, newly appointed Creative Director at Large for Target Stores performed several of our favorites, and on more than one occasion he tugged at our musical heartstrings with his interpretations of “Baubles, Bangles & Beads,” Laura Nyro’s “Save the Country,” and “Some Other Time” from On the Town, to name just a few. His story about meeting Betty Comden is absolutely hysterical, but I won’t spoil it’s surprise ending for you.
Whether he is entertaining or enlightening us through his music, fashion, or commentary, Isaac Mizrahi is truly a one-of-a-kind and formidable force in the entertainment world.
In his current show “Hooray” at 54 Below Isaac again appears with his excellent band of six musicians playing world class arrangements..Music director Benjamin Waltzer, Daniel Freedman (drums) Bruce Jamar Christopher (trumpet) Kellin Hanas (trumpet), Daniel Duke (bass), Dan Aran (percussion)
ISAAC MIZRAHI
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