HAPPY CABARET NEW YEAR

So the new year is a few days old. Have you broken your New Year’s Resolution yet? Or is it breaking you? Hopefully, it’s making your life better and richer.

The replies were a mix of the serious and tongue-in-cheek and some were uplifting and upbeat. It’s a nice balance, just like a cabaret show with a nice mix of serious songs, and some tongue-in-cheek ones, and some uplifting, upbeat numbers. There is no cover and no minimum to read this column.But you might be interested in getting to know a little of what these cabaret folks have on their minds as you keep track of whose show you might want to note in your brand-new 2009 desk calendar:

The new year is the 100^th anniversary of the birth of songwriter JOHNNY MERCER. So there will be 365 days of wine and roses – day in, day out --- as you take your two-drink minimum (one for my baby and one more for the road to Moon River). MORGAN SILLS gets the new year off to a marvelously Mercer start by singing Mercer every Tuesday this month, come rain or come shine. His resolutions are extensive and ambitious and I’m exhausted just reading them: “My 2009 resolution is to upgrade everything and work harder! The business is constantly changing, so the website, reel, headshots, audition songs, and monologues must all be kept current. In tandem with that, you have to keep in shape and get the extra tonnage you may be toting worked off at the gym; take voice, dance, and acting lessons. Life is too short and time is too precious to be spent doing things you don't want to do. I'm eager to do more concert work around the country; I love the road. On a personal level, I constantly strive to be a better friend, and to be more present in my friends' lives, beyond seeing their shows. As someone very wise once said: "You don't find time. You make time." Find or make time to get to the Metropolitan: Morgan make music mixing Mercer magic …every Tuesday in January at 7:00 pm. ( www.MorganSills.com ) And speaking of the Mercer centennial, BARBARA FASANO has Johnny Mercer on her mind and soon landing in her lap: “One of my New Year resolutions is to read from cover to cover The Complete Lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II and finish it in time for the release of The Complete Lyrics of Johnny Mercer ! The books are projects of song historian Robert Kimball, who, in some books, writes about the backgrounds of the songs, too. “Have You Written Any Good Books Lately?” is what we might ask him and it’s also the name of one of the lesser-known Mercer songs ---both words and music, 1950. (Barbara and Eric Comstock will be back at the Metropolitan Room in March with a brand new show. www.humanchild.com)

MARILYN MAYE has just this morning been announced as the big winner --- Major Engagement category --- for The Nightlife Awards, chosen by a panel of critics and nightlife watchers. These awards, presented three weeks from today (Monday) at The Town Hall, 123 West 43 Street, make the singers stick with the annual New Year’s Resolution: “There will be no acceptance speeches to eat up time. Winners will perform to show why they were selected” in a night packed with performances (muchos bang-bang-bang for your buck. Marilyn is one of the repeat winners—and she’s a finalist in the Major Jazz Engagement category where Freddy Cole is the honoree. Trophy collector Maye also won last year’s Lifetime Achievement honor at The Bistro Awards which are announced and presented later in the season. She’s having a pretty good lifetime. Opening tomorrow and finishing two days before the January 26 Nightlife Awards, the upbeat, sunshiney personality is in the Florida sunshine this month, working. Her resolutions, philosophy and hope are summed up with these comments: "I vow to try to remain positive each day, keep moving, and sing as fast as I can. I hope for health and energy for me and for everyone. With those two entities, happiness will follow.” And she says, “I'm appearing at the Colony Hotel, Palm Beach, Florida January 6-24 --- nice place to be in January. Come join me. We'll light the candles, get the ice out. . . . you know the rest. Cheers!” (new website, www.marilynmaye.com ) DARYL GLENN is a happy man, with the selection of the group show that is his pride and joy, Nashville, having been given the Nightlife nod. Cheers to Daryl and company, too, and they’ll be toasting their acknowledgment. Of course, Daryl won’t drink right before going onstage! That’s a reasonable resolution. (Apparently, he learned that the hard way with hard liquor once.) Among his resolutions to to build on the momentum of the group show and begin work on his solo show called Momentum. ( www.darylglenn.com )

SUZANNE CARRICO, MAC Award winner for female debut, has a New Year’s Resolution proclaiming, “Suzanne resolves to get lots of press in 2009 and it will all be about her singing!” Well, that’s an easy enough ball to start rolling because her singing is happily on display as she’s returning with her show, starting this Wednesday at the Metropolitan Room. Her other dates are January 23, 24 and February 12. And, as the calendar worked out, her face is one of the first magazines music lovers got in the mail this new year, as I understand that Cabaret Scenes Magazines with the cover story I wrote about her and Jonathan Whitton arrived in most mailboxes and cabarets on January 2. ( www.Suzanne Carrico.com ) One of my own New Year’s resolution is to be better at the good citizen of the earth obligation to recycle. So until I can give more press about Suzanne’s singing once I attend her show, I will recycle …..some of her comments from an interview she did with me for Cabaret Exchange after winning her MAC award: Here goes…. I asked her what she thought might be the attraction of her now returning (recycled?) show, The Friendliest Thing, for someone who didn’t yet know her work. “What are the selling points of my show? Well, it's about the one thing that always sells: sex.” The title song is by Ervin Drake, from his Broadway musical What Makes Sammy Run? and it coyly but artfully is a song of seduction. She’s delighted that Mr. Drake, who also wrote “Good Morning, Heartache” and “I Believe” will be attending the show. Its theme really does look at aspects of sex. “But it's more than just the word or the act. What's been great about this theme, it expanded the amount of ideas for the show - where we originally thought it would narrow our focus, it ended up giving us more material and a wider range than we imagined - there isn't a composer who hasn’t written about it, there isn't a person who can't relate to it either positively or negatively, and there are endless ways to think about and express it. Obviously we can't get to all of it in an hour, but we explore multiple aspects of it - from the amazingly toe-curling, lip biting, fantasizing, making-me-smile-at work moments - to the morning after when you wonder how you got there in the first place, and the delightful realization of ‘what the hell was I thinking?’ The show combines the Great American Songbook composer/lyricists that I'm known for singing, with a number of vibrant new artists - while it's a departure for me, we haven't forgotten our roots - we're merely expanding our horizons. Where the Cahn show was serious in tone, this show is much lighter and has a lot more fun and quirk inherent in the material.” Suzanne didn’t want to do a show that was just a slight variation on the kind she’d done last time. That didn’t interest her, nor does being predictable. “As an artist, I'm taking a risk. The program is more challenging for me, not as much vocally and musically, but the very nature of the material brings me out of my comfort zone.” Echoing that goal of breaking out of said zone is MOLLY POPE. Just selected as one of the Top Ten cabaret talents by the magazine Time Out New York, "I resolve to drop kick myself out of my comfort zone, come hell or high water.” A regular Papal audience is not currently possible, as she states, “Molly is currently in creative incubation. For daily signs of life visit www.mollypope.com “) CRAIG POMRANZ is a torch singer who wants to pass the torch. He has a resolution I think we all need to have--- bringing good music to the younger generation or just those who have not yet been brought to it – one pair of ears at a time. "It is my resolution to introduce the music of the American Popular Songbook to young audiences. My music has allowed my godchildren, nieces and nephews to appreciate the likes of Doris Day and other vocalists, as well as understand how to listen to music of a different generation. I am still on track, as my godchildren have just gotten A Star is Born and Love Me or Leave Me DVDs for the holidays" to rave reviews." Craig’s last CD was called My Heart Don’t Skip a Beat. His lack of arrhythmia continues with a “heartfelt” new album and matching new act. Take heart; the beat goes on with both in the air on Valentine’s Day and the day after, the live show being at The Metropolitan Room. ( www.craigpomranz.com )

MARY FOSTER CONKLIN asks to be given the first month of the year to give her a chance to break her New Year’s Resolution. Will she? Stay tuned. “My professional New Years Resolution: to do no more than two ballads in any given set. Always a challenge in a community of crooners.” You can keep count on the ballads and count on a good show from this pro January 11 at a jazz brunch at the North Square Lounge. Her brand new show is set for the Metropolitan Room on February 6 and 7 – Moon And Sand: Songs of Salty Days and Sultry Nights. ( www.maryfosterconklin.com ) GRETCHEN REINHAGEN reports, “Here’s my New Year’s Resolution: While I haven't fully formed my resolutions into a neat and tidy to-do list, they fall into the general category of ‘Shut up and sing.’ I love to ‘talk’ about projects I want to do, but this year I'm committing myself to actually doing them! I have new material I want to sing, new original songs I plan to perform, and a special tribute show to one of my favorite comediennes which I've only talked about for the last two years, but this year I will DO! It may take until November, but it will happen. And the great thing is I haven't broken my resolutions yet, because I have until 12/31/09 to get them done! How 'bout them apples?! She’s doing her show, called How 'Bout Them Apples at Don't Tell Mama on January 20 and 25. Director is Barry Kleinbort and Musical Director is David Gaines. www.gretchenreinhagen.com Likewise, ready for the next chapter, performer-director-teacher-with years as a booker (not a bookie) and manager in cabaret, LENNIE WATTS vows, “My New Year's Resolution is to embrace change, and to light a fire under all those creative projects I've been sitting on!” Like our nation’s incoming President, Lennie is all about change and new projects. Let’s wish them both a lot of success. His website, www.lenniewatts.com is under construction, so please wear a hardhat when visiting the site. Another self-challenger is the charismatic chameleon, Kim Smith. He’s psyched for a switch: ”I try and begin each new year by planning a new project. Within this project, I always look to program something new, daring and ultimately scary; my goal is always to push myself a little further by doing something that really frightens me. I think it's imperative as a creature of the small stage to keep extending and exposing oneself.” Meanwhile, he extends an invitation to see him exposed with what he’d done lately, in 2008, when his Johnny Come Lately reappears briefly on January 10 at the Abrons Arts Centre at 8 PM, a segment of the APAP series (also appearing: Ute Lemper and his director, singer Karen Kohler with Little Death ). www.kimdavidsmith.com Wearing their snarkiness proudly, like an idiotic plastic New Year’s hat and giant eyeglasses that say 2009, blowing their own horn to celebrate the New Year, that wacky duo, BOOTH AND PAT (BOOTH DANIELS AND PATRICK FRANKFORT) offer this: "We will only use ‘yo mama’ jokes for all conflict resolution. It'll bring peace to the Middle East." They also offer a discount at their January 19 show at Caroline’s—details and more irreverence at www.boothandpat.com.

LINDA AMIEL BURNS of The New York Sheet Music Society and teacher of The Singing Experience workshops and cabaret reviewer/director/etc. weighs in with these comments, “Every January 1, I begin the new year with the resolution to lose weight, especially after the holiday parties and all the goodies that I have indulged in. It is an on-going battle! However, my professional resolution is to make the thirty-second year of The Singing Experience the best ever! To continue to learn, grow and understand that when I am the the best I can be, the better the results that are achieved in the workshops and in my life. Also, I resolve to finally finish the book that I began several years ago on my experiences over the past 30 years in the cabaret world and about the transformations I have seen through the ‘magic of music and song.’ To write about what happens to people who work on conquering their fears, start feeling good about themselves, take the risk to have their true voice heard in the world and become a ‘star’ not only on stage but in everyday of their lives.” ( www.singingexperience.com ) If your Resolutions include saving money AND seeing more cabaret singers perform, they are not mutually exclusive. Live performances are free any Wednesday. That the wonderful ‘Any Wednesday’ series at Barnes and Noble’s Lincoln Triangle store at Broadway and West 66 Street. Producer of this series AND the store’s jazzy Cool Mondays is BART GREENBERG who loves music (and presumably books) but knows there is more to life--- like having a life beyond that, and gets personal: “In 2009, I promise to take more chances: by listening to a wider variety of music, by going to social situations I've avoided in the past, by getting serious about my writing, and by finding a new boyfriend.” If you want to be on the mailing list to get announcements of the performers doing free sets at the store (usually tied in to new CD releases), just send him and e-mail and you’ll be kept informed: write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it …

CYNTHIA CRANE says, “I have promised myself I will look for more opportunities to sing. There are so many of us and so few venues. I used to think of having salons here in my studio (I've done it a few times), but now I'm losing that so I have to think of other ways. If my pocket book will allow, I'm going to attend more open mics (like my idols Sue Matsuki, Jenna Esposito, Joan Crowe, and Rob Langeder, and I'm going to try and dream up ways for us to keep doing what we love to do. Hard times ahead.” ( www.cynthiacrane.com )

DAVID GURLAND has made up his mind about his 2009 goal: “"My resolution is to make every effort possible to record a new CD in 2009. There you have it! My first one came out 10 years ago, so this one is LONG overdue. And I've changed a lot!!!!!!!” (In the meantime, he and his pal Brian Farley will be doing a special one-night only performance of their Rodgers and Hammerstein show on January 29 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. See www.DavidGurland.com ) For CAIT DOYLE, the bitter end of 2008 was a kind of bitter end for sure, with New Year’s Eve being a long, non-celebratory night she doesn’t want to experience again. “I resolve to make next New Year's Eve better than this one, which involved waiting tables, getting locked out of my apartment, and 23 bites from what must be the last mosquito left in the city!” What a mess! Which reminds me…. her cabaret show, Hot Mess in Manhattan, is running January 9, 16, and 23; that’s three Fridays at 7 pm and the location is The Duplex. Her director is Jonathan Whitton. Here’s a link to a preview: http://nittygrittystudios.com/community/video/gallery/Hot-Mess-Demo Versatile SARAH RICE, soprano with a big voice and big heart and big repertoire, tells me, “I guess my resolution would be: To get to know the cabaret community better. I have been meeting warmly wonderful and generous people in what is a new arena for me and I want to embrace them all. So much beautiful talent!” (She will be co-starring with Marni Nixon and Edd Clark in a show called Menage: Relationships. Redefined. Location is the Metropolitan Room-- January 18 at 4 pm and January 21 and 22 at 7:30 pm. See www. SarahRice.com for more, including information about the forthcoming revival of Little Mary Sunshine where she plays the title role and shares the stage again with Marni Nixon) Veteran jazz man/ pianist/ musical director RUSS KASSOFF has a nostalgia-laced fantasy rather than a Resolution: "I'd like to put a group of jazz and cabaret artists together and organize a tour of all the great show rooms of New York THAT NO LONGER EXIST! Of course, those who played there at one time or another can voice their memories - The Persian Room, what an employee meal!, Rainbow And Stars was a magnificent art deco place, The

Riverboat, Eighty Eights, Danny's Skylight Room, the original

Caroline's when it was a Cabaret Club (I did the first week ever

there with Chris Connor!), Marty's, Michael's Pub, The Grand Finale, The Village Gate - wait a minute - there's more of them than now! I'd also like to make this huge group eligible

for group health coverage! At the end of the tour, we could all go into a special rendition of ‘I Remember It Well’…. Haven't broken this resolution yet, but also haven't started it.”(Coming up: two concerts: January 7 at 1 pm at St. Peter’s Church on West 54 Street and Lexington Avenue, part of the weekly Midday jazz series there --- and then January 13 at the Bahai Center, sets at 8 pm and 9:30 pm, both featuring vocalist Catherine Dupuis. He’s also the pianist for Bucky Pizzarelli's Birthday

Songwriter POWERS McELHONE offers more of a “If I had three wishes…” idea for New Year’s dreams. “My wish for 2009 ---after World Peace, of course --- is: (1): to continue to create good new music with great people, (and vice versa, I hope)...wherever they are: Connecticut, New Mexico, Nashville, and closer to home, in New Jersey, Brooklyn and Manhattan. (2): to immerse myself every chance I get in the music of the brave souls who put their hearts on the line night after night to bring the rest of us joy, and (3) by summer, 2009, to showcase a great new project with good friends: our new forth-forth-forthcoming off-off-off-Broadway musical comedy. Stay tuned! and Happy New Year!"Have a first look at www.benchpress.com/FirstLook.htm