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Here we are in that awkward cabaret season between excuses --- in between “It’s too cold tonight to leave the house to go out for cabaret” and “It’s too warm and pretty a night to sit inside a dark cabaret room.”  Yes, it’s that time when spring should be here, but is determined to begin after its announced starting time – sort of like most cabaret shows --- and where winter’s cold has decided to stage an encore, just like cabaret shows.  Meanwhile, those taking off their ear muffs to fill their ears with music, the cabaret shows and open mics have been braving the cold and the cold realities of the economic hard times that make drawing an audience as familiar a tune as “Over the Rainbow” in a cabaret room.

If you gave up on the possibility of the warm weather arriving here in New York and decided to go find it elsewhere, you may be reading this from a vacation spot.  However, if you’ve remained hopeful and remained in town, you can go on Vacation and go to France on the cheap--- meaning the cabaret show called Vacation --- Kathleen France, a contributor here at Nitelife Exchange and a spunky MAC-nominated singer brimming with double-bubble energy, has two performances of her show about interesting situations in interesting locations during interesting vacations.  It’s Tuesday and Thursday  (April 5 and 7) at Don’t Tell Mama, the popular nightspot at 343 West 46 Street, at 7 PM.  With pianist/musical director Barry Levitt, bassist Skip Ward and percussionist Mayra Casales, she is clearly having a blast as she blasts out the songs in her big voice with her big smile.  And now the contest --- ta-da! ---for those who’d like to enjoy her company as I did when I went on opening night (my review appears at www.CabaretScenes.org).  As a Nitelife Exchanger, big-hearted, big-voiced Kathleen is offering to cover the cover charge for three chosen-at-random readers, each of whom can also bring a companion.  This is for the Thursday, April 7 show.  That’s right, you won’t pay the music/cover charge, you just have to pay for the standard two-drink requirement and sip during the Vacation trip.  Send me an e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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Speaking of contests and talent, if you know a talented singer under the age of 18, or want to come see a bunch of ‘em compete, there’s a junior version of the Metropolitan Room’s talent contest, MetroStar Talent Challenge, that just began for a series of Saturday afternoons at the venue on West 22 Street.  This contest, which Kathleen France participated in one year and then, in her writer’s hat, covered for us last summer, created buzz and excitement.  My role has been as one of the judges.  The kids’ version, called Metro Minors, got off to a promising start this Saturday and those who would like to compete in upcoming rounds or just watch them can find more information at www.MetropolitanRoom.com --- Hosted with grace and class by radio’s Valerie Smaldone,  the opening rounds found audiences cheering – and allowed to cast ballots for --- their favorites.  MAC Award-winning musical director Tracy Stark is at the keyboard accompanying the young folks, although she got a break when one boy accompanied himself for his second number.  Among these potential stars of tomorrow was one who sang “Tomorrow” from Annie, the perennial plum role for little girls.  She is 10 years old and playing the title role in a local production.   First runner-up of the first year’s MetroStar for grown-up type people, Stearns Matthews, opened the afternoon’s festivities with appropriate advice on individuality, “Make Your Own Kind of Music” and recalled how he did just that when required to put a unique spin on a Motown classic that all contestants had to sing one night, “Stop! In the Name of Love.”  His clever idea had been to sing it in different languages.  His talent, professionalism and stage presence set a fine model for the young people in competition.  Stearns’s own cabaret show will be in competition with this competition this Saturday afternoon as it’s at the same time--- over at the aforementioned Don’t Tell Mama.

I’m looking forward to seeing some Metro Minor major talent.  By the way, the two-drink minimum applies, but apple juice and chocolate milk are the preferred drinks for the minors.   The contest is ongoing and those who want to still have a chance to audition (no charge for that) are encouraged to hurry, but not to worry.  The atmosphere is supportive and the audience was attentive and quiet.  Co-judging the competition are Tanya Holt – a sensational singer readying a new act and also the venue’s booking manager—and Joseph Macchia who wears many hats in cabaret.  One involves the charity for children and teens living with HIV, Help Is on the Way Today, and the series of concerts with great singers bringing in funds: Cabaret Cares, just honored with a MAC Award nomination.  The next concert is at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Theatre Row (West 42 Street, inside the West Bank Café) on April 17, with Eric Michael Gillett in I Won't Sing A Sondheim Song...or Will I? with guest stars Melanie Vaughan and Karen Akers, and the gala fundraiser set for May 22.

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I was also at Metropolitan Room the night before the Metro Minor first round.  The occasion was the MetroJam open mic hosted by Jenna Esposito.  As the first-Friday-of-the-month event fell on April Fool’s Day, her optional theme was anything related to fools.  From her songbag of Connie Francis hits, “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” was a natural choice.  Not needing any annual special day to fool around, the house band’s mischievously winking bass player/ songwriter/singer Ritt Henn was ready with one of his amusing originals.  This one concerned the story of a girlfriend who resembled a “favorite porn star.”  Only Ritt and his wide smile and glee could make it all seem like good, clean fun, but just another cool cat moment.  He and MetroJamming bandmates Bobby Sher on drums and the wizard of the keys, John DiPinto, brought more cool to The Wizard of Oz classic “If I Only Had a Brain,” accompanying singer Dennis Hyland who set the pace for an ultra-hip trip down the yellow brick road.  MetroJam will

The night’s featured booked guest was Jim Van Slyke who is bringing back his show of songs sung, written or co-written by Neil Sedaka, including some made famous by Connie Francis.  The show is back at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency on Mondays throughout this month.  I’ve seen it twice and been happily swept away by Jim’s sublime ballad singing in a voice that easily captures the real deal Neil sound.  On Friday, he invited Jenna to duet with him on the song that was a hit for Sedaka and his daughter Dara, “Should’ve  Never Let You Go.”  I’ve never heard Jenna sound better or more involved in a lyric, the usually peppy and perky hostess stepping up to the plate to score with a serious song and delivering handsomely.  Jim Van Slyke’s one-time high school pal and school choir-mate Terese Genecco, who just celebrated her two-year anniversary of monthly shows at Iridium, and is currently singing with Shaynee Rainbolt and legendary music man Russell Garcia nearby in New Zealand and Australia (yes, really!), will do the duet honors on this number on the last Monday in April.  And  Neil Sedaka himself shows up for a voice blend as well!   The icon just recorded two duets for Jim’s all-Sedaka album that is shortly to be released on the LML label, with Feinstein’s attendees getting access to advance tracks through the magic of technology and a special code.   Jim was in sensational voice, and heartbreaking on “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” –the ballad version --- after breaking the ice with a non-Sedaka hit, Van Morrison’s “Moondance.”  See www.feinsteinsatloewsregency.com or www. JimVanSlyke.com for details.

One more contest challenge:  Two of the people mentioned in this column share a birth date and celebrated this past week.  If you can tell me who they are, you will win a cabaret CD or get into a cabaret show for no cover charge.  E-mail me with the two names –or just any comments or questions about this column and cabaret   ---   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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