Actress & nightclub entertainer Lucie Arnaz and Tony Award-winning actor and clown Bill Irwin have been named co-hosts of the 10th Annual Nightlife Awards at The Town Hall. The all-star event will take place on Monday, January 30th at 7pm. This unique awards show that honors the best in cabaret, comedy & jazz, burst upon the scene ten years ago as the only awards show in the world with NO ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES! Instead of making speeches, the winners perform to show why they were chosen! As an all-performance awards show, The Nightlife Awards gained immediate prominence and have featured world class entertainers every single year including Alan King, Robert Klein, Elaine Stritch, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Kristin Chenoweth, Donna Murphy, Raul Esparza, Keely Smith, Eartha Kitt, Paula West, Bill Charlap, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lea DeLaria, Demetri Martin, Mark Murphy, Betty Buckley, Karen Akers, Bruce Vilanch, Andrea Marcovicci, Stephen Schwartz, Patti LuPone, Liza Minnelli, etc.

                It scarcely seems possible that bandsinger Kat Gang, already poised to become one of the nation's most rapidly-rising stars of the jazz genre in her weekly appearances at the Plaza Hotel's Rose Club and the Algonquin's Oak Room, among many others, could have possibly improved even further in just a few short months after proving herself a top-notch entertainer. But that is exactly what has taken place since establishing her alliance with musician Nate Mayland. And if their recent CD Release Party at Iridium (for their debut disc The Wishbone Project) is any indication of what the future holds for these two as well as their additional backing combo, it's safe to assume that they will soon emerge as the definitive new "Bright Young Things" of the nightlife circuit.

            CROWNS: The Gospel Musical, by Regina Taylor, is in rehearsal for it's Nashville premiere, Thursday, January 26th at Christ Church Cathedral as part of the Church's Sacred  Space for the City series. I had a chance to converse with the playwright and learn a bit more about her career and the history of CROWNS.

                   MetroJam, the open mic hosted by Jenna Esposito, is movin' on up!  That's right, beginning on Tuesday, January 17, MetroJam will now be held every first and third Tuesday of the month from 9:15 p.m. - 11:15 p.m. at the storied Don't Tell Mama, located just off Times Square, in the heart of the theatre district!  Every MetroJam promises a highly entertaining and unique evening of entertainment, and the move to Midtown is sure to entice an even wider variety of performer to come on in and take the mic! 

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post, will continue its 2011-12 season with thedebutengagement ofTwo timeGrammy Awardwinning singing legend, actress and songwriter PETULA CLARK.Making her first New York nightclub engagement since the 1970s, Ms. Clark will perform her chart-topping pop hits like “Downtown,” “I Know A Place” and “My Love,” as well as highlights from her stage and screen roles in Sunset Boulevard, Blood Brothers and Finian’s Rainbow. Ms. Clark’s show at Feinstein’s will run from January 24 to February 4, 2012.

            The American Cancer Society presents Joey Arias in ENCORE for Hope, hosted by Julie Gold, with New York City Gay Men's Chorus, The Ben Allison Band, Sherry Vine, 2 To Fly Aerial, Manila Luzon, Sahara Davenport & celebrity DJ choimatic. The event is an evening of cocktails, hors d'oeuvres & performances in support of the American Cancer Society’s efforts within the LGBT Community. ENCORE will be presetnted on February 13, 2012, from 6:30-10:30pm at Providence NYC: 311 West 57th Street.

Video producer Bradshaw Smith, a fixture at theatrical events with his cable TV program "Broadway Beat," died on January 16, following a sudden and severe stroke. He was 57 and lived in Manhattan and Cherry Grove, Fire Island.

             "The Broadway at Birdland Concert Series" is proud to announce that singer Natalie Douglas will return to the historic music room on Monday, January 16, 2012, with an all-new concert, The Birthday Show. The critically acclaimed Nightlife, Bistro & seven-time MAC Award-winner Natalie Douglas, returns to her favorite perch at Birdland, celebrating her birthday with her longtime musical director, Mark Hartman (Sondheim on Sondheim, Avenue Q) and her band of Broadway All-Stars.