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We are a country of laws and most of the entertainers who perform at arguably the most famous and successful open mic in the country are well versed in them. After a quick interview, sign up, and reminder by the host of “only one song and not a ballad” the party starts. The rules and Caruso’s wit make it all work. He’s an instant creative director who strategically inserts the performers in the show. Billy Stritch, Jim’s partner in music and humor creates piano arrangements on the spot, or expertly sight-reads a singer’s music. The Cast Party Symphony Orchestra consisting of Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass on drums keep it rhythmically moving. However, last night the crowd’s reaction to some performances sent out a signal that wisely caused Jim to adjust the rules. Will & Anthony Nunziata started it off with thrilling solos from South Pacific and were asked by Mr. Caruso to “do another”. It reminded me of the special acknowledgement of your superior abilities when Johnny Carson would have a performer join him on the (not casting) couch. Your career was made. Speaking of Johnny Carson, a singer who Johnny had on more than any other made an appearance at Cast Party last night. Jim invited the legendary Marilyn Maye up and she proceeded to break all the rules. At times Marvelous Marilyn seemed to be interviewing Jim, and the ensuing dialogue became a great comedy routine. Marilyn then put on a mini show with Billy Stritch as the laws of Cast Party were glorious broken. Marilyn is currently at the Metropolitan Room if you can scalp a ticket and the Nunziatas will be at The Highline Ballroom for one night only on January 18th.

Come to the Party and check out the Video

Cast Party

Billy Stritch, Marilyn Maye, Jim Caruso

Cast Party

Jim Caruso

Cast Party

Will & Anthony Nunziata & Jim Caruso

Gianni Valenti, Sunny Sessa, Anthony Nunziata

Gianni Valenti, Sunny Sessa, Anthony Nunziata

Stephen studied at the Manhattan School of Music. Besides being a pianist, Stephen’s business career was in the Fashion Industry. He was CEO of a textile manufacturing facility and President of an international textile machinery company. Stephen was on the Board of Directors of the “First All Children’s Theatre” which brought the Stephen Schwartz musical The Trip and Captain Louie to the Kennedy Center in Wash DC. His wife Eda, an interior space designer and classical pianist was on the Board of Barrington Stage Company and is still active at BSC. Stephen’s photographs, videos and articles appear on Broadwayworld.com, T2Conline.com and The New York Observer. He is active in the entertainment events at the Friars Club, where he is a member. Stephen is also an Honorary Board Member of The Society For The Preservation of The Great American Songbook. Stephen Sorokoff@gmail.com

Cabaret

My View: IT’S TOUGH TO SWING LIKE FRANK….THIS TOUGH GUY CAN…..ROBERT DAVI

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The atmosphere in The Boca Black Box was akin to The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas last night as movie/TV star Robert Davi (140 films and counting) swaggered onto the stage to sing and swing the songs of Frank Sinatra.  His show, titled “My Kind Of Town” had all the elements of a Sinatra event thanks to Davi’s personality which radiates the same mystique and musical excitement that ‘Ol Blue Eyes” possessed.  Robert Davi’s performance was not a great actor acting a role… this was Robert Davi,  a great actor  who started his career as a trained singer thrilling an audience singing songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, but with Davi’s own magnetism and vocal prowess.  I don’t know if Sinatra ever played Boca Raton but Robert Davi turned Boca into ‘his kind of town last night” as he brought the musical substance and charisma of “the chairman of the board” to South Florida.

Davi’s had a long and distinguished career in show business and this Boca Black Box audience got to see a lot of the musical part of it last night. The tough guy movie actor sang the music of Frank swinging it “his way”

About Robert Davi:

Robert Davi, an American actor, singer, writer, and producer has played the roles of main villain and drug lord Franz Sanchez in the 1989 James Bond film License to Kill.  He was FBI Special Agent Bailey Malone in the NBC television series Proflier.  He played a Vietnam veteran and FBI Special Agent Big Johnson in Die Hard.  Davi played the opera-singing heavy Jake Fratelli in The goonies, Hans Zarba in Son of the Pink Panther and Al Torres in Showgirls.  His album, Davi Sings Sinatra—On The Road to Romance, hit #6 on the Billboard jazz charts.  Praised for his voice, Davi debuted as a headliner at The Venetian, in Las Vegas.

ROBERT DAVI

ROBERT DAVI

ROBERT DAVI

ROBERT DAVI

BOCA BLACK BOX

SUNNY SESSA & ROBERT DAVI

SUNNY SESSA, EDA SOROKOFF, VALARIE CHRISTOPHER

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Broadway

Ken Fallin’s Broadway: Spamalot

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Here is the amazing cast of Spamalot. Christopher Fitzgerald as Patsy, James Monroe Iglehart as King Arthur, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer as The Lady of the Lake, Ethan Slater as The Historian/Prince Herbert, Jimmy Smagula as Sir Bedevere, Michael Urie as Sir Robin, Nik Walker as Sir Galahad andTaran Killam as Lancelot.

I was so inspired I drew the whole cast.

To read T2C’s review click here.

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Columns

My View: Who Knew Broadway and 42nd Street Ran All The Way to Boca/Delray…The Wick Theatre

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Who knew 42nd Street and Broadway ran all the way down to Boca/Delray and end at The Wick Theatre and Museum Club!  In an event yesterday afternoon that rivaled any Broadway Opening Night Party, Marilynn & Kimberly Wick celebrated the opening of The Wick’s 2023/2024 season with a spectacular immersive exhibition of “Dancing Feet” The Experience, 42nd Street. They also had in attendance none other than the star of the original Tony Award Winning Broadway show (42nd Street) Lee Roy Reams on the Museum Club’s Stage to add commentary, sing, and have a fun filled talk back with the audience.  Lee Roy, who starred as Billy Lawlor in the 1980 production, shared many anecdotes about the musical during the video presentation, including insights about renowned choreographer Gower Champion and his untimely death on the day of the show’s Broadway opening. The legendary show went on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Choreography. While Reams continued his illustrious career in musical theatre, starring in numerous Broadway shows including The Producers and La Cage Aux Folles, and at The Wick, he created a sensation with his role as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!

“The Wick is breaking new ground in both entertainment and technology by creating these immersive experiences that both entertain and educate audiences about the history of Broadway,” said Kimberly Wick, curator. “As the owners of the largest Broadway costume collection in the nation, we are thrilled to add this innovation as another way to preserve the incredible artistry of our past for generations to come.”

 Last year, The Wick Costume Museum underwent a dramatic high-tech transformation, resulting in a stunning new venue, rechristened The Museum Club at The Wick. The completely renovated space thrilled guests with 360-degree immersive video experiences, historic costume displays, dining, and entertainment.

LEE ROY REAMS

LEE ROY REAMS & MARILYNN WICK

MARILYNN WICK & KIMBERLY WICK

LEE ROY REAMS

LEE ROY REAMS

KIMBERLY WICK

DANCING FEET

LEE ROY REAMS

MICHAEL URSUA & LEE ROY REAMS

THE MUSEUM CLUB

JOHN McDANIEL, EDA SOROKOFF, LEE ROY REAMS

THE MUSEUM CLUB

EDA SOROKOFF & MARILYNN WICK

COMING ATTRACTIONS

COMING ATTRACTINS

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Ken Fallin's Broadway

Ken Fallin’s Broadway: Make Me Gorgeous’s Wade McCollum

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Attending the opening of Make Me Gorgeous starring the fabulous Wade McCollum as Kenneth/Kate Marlowe inspired this caricature.

Make Me Gorgeous  is the reworking of the original script, Mr. Madam by donnie that premiered at triangle in June 2022.

Make Me Gorgeous is a one-person show based upon a true story, taken from several books by Kenneth aka Kate Marlowe. Kenneth has been described as one of the gayest and most openly homosexual personalities of the late 50s and early 60s. He went from a 1940s/1950s drag performer to being a madam (for Hollywood gays), to being the author of several books, and at the age of 50 began transitioning, soon after marrying a man in prison. You just cannot make this stuff up

It now has a new name, but the same playwright and actor now are bringing the story to the stage at Playhouse 46th at St Luke’s, 308 W 46th Street. With the encouragement of the Tony Award-winning playwright of “Memphis” Joe DiPietro and many others, the show will have a limited run off-Broadway run until December 31, 2023.

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Broadway

Ken Fallin’s Broadway: Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara With The NY Pops

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One Night Only: An Evening with Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara with the NY Pops is happening Friday 8pm, at Carnegie Hall. This unique program by NY Pops conductor Steven Reineke, pays homage to earlier icons of stage and screen who teamed up for memorable concerts.

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