First Time’s The Charm

Do you remember your first time? Well, this month, a trio of award-winning entertainers will be making their own special memories in New York’s major cabaret rooms.

One of the world’s greatest pop singers, Judy Collins will finally make her cabaret debut at the swank The Café Carlyle (February 13-March 2). She follows the multi-award-winning actress/singer Rita Moreno, who is delighting audiences with her beautifully put-together new show Little Tributes (through February 10).

It’s always exciting whenever Ben Vereen performs, but it’s doubly exciting that the Tony Award-winning star is making his Feinstein’s at the Regency debut this month. He’ll be premiering a sure-to-be-dazzling show that includes a musical tribute to his idol, Sammy Davis, Jr. (February 6-17)

Grammy Award winner Lari White, who was the best thing about the ill-fated Broadway musical Ring of Fire, is also making her cabaret debut — with a one-week engagement at The Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel (February 27-March 3). She will be preceded by rising star Maude Maggart, whose critically acclaimed new show Good Girl/Bad Girl features songs by everyone from Jerome Kern to Joan Baez (through February 10), and the always-reliable mother-son pairing of singer Sandy Stewart and pianist Bill Charlap, who will be performing a very romantic program of standards entitled Hello, Young Lovers (February 13-24).

Lincoln Center’s amazing American Songbook series at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s gorgeous Allen Room heads into its homestretch with a truly extraordinary lineup, headed by a 50th Anniversary Celebration for the songwriters Alan and Marilyn Bergman featuring such special guests as Tony Bennett, Tyne Daly, Melissa Errico, Capathia Jenkins, and Brian Stokes Mitchell (February 2). Elsewhere on the schedule: newly crowned Nightlife Award winner John Pizzarelli (February 3), bluegrass sensations The Cherryholmes (February 7), Tony Award winners Jason Robert Brown (February 9) and Betty Buckley (February 10), the always provocative Ute Lemper (February 21), and the sultry jazz singer Jane Monheit (February 24).

Jim Caruso’s Broadway series at Birdland continues to serve up top-notch entertainment. On February 5, it will host Leading Men II, a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, starring Matt Cavenaugh, Jonathan Groff, Norm Lewis, Daniel Reichard, John Lloyd Young and a host of other male stars. The month continues with shows by Broadway multi-talents Donna Lynne Champlin (February 12) and Jeffry Denman (February 19) — whose special guests include Nancy Anderson and Brian d’Arcy James — before winding up with cabaret sensation Natalie Douglas (February 26).

You might want to find out about the possibility of instant cloning, since Monday nights are sizzling at Joe’s Pub. February 5 brings the double bill of British duo Kit and the Widow with special guest Joan Rivers followed later that night by Color Purple star Elisabeth Withers. The next week, the Pub will be exploding with the return of its most popular performer, the hilarious Jackie Hoffman (also on February 19) and the debut of Talk Show, hosted by Justin Bond of Kiki & Herb fame (also on February 19 and 26). Speaking of Kiki & Herb, the dynamic duo return on February 4, 11 and 18. And don’t forget about the latest installment of Don’t Quit Your Night Job on February 3, featuring such special guests as Jenn Colella, Jordan Gelber, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Mark Kudisch.

The Metropolitan Room continues to present an amazing roster of talent including Barb Jungr (February 1-3), Eric Comstock (February 4-5, 11-12, 18-19), the irrepressible Bryan Batt (February 4 and 7), the fabulous Terri Klaunser (February 5 and 12), Lois Walden, Barry Kleinbort, and Paul Greenwood in Why Lee, a tribute to singer Lee Wiley (February 6 and 13), the one-and-only Baby Jane Dexter (February 8-10, 15-17, 22-24), the great Maurice Hines (February 16-17), and a return visit by composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa, who will be joined by Broadway divas Ana Gasteyer, Carly Jibson, Megan McGinnis, and Kate Reinders (February 26).

Elsewhere around the New York area, the popular revue When The Lights Go On Again continues at The Triad; Broadway diva Carol Woods fills in for ailing star Odetta in an evening of spiritual song with the Shepherd’s Singers out on Long Island’s Jeanne Rimsky Theater (February 3), then headlines the Sunday brunch show at Iridium (February 4); beloved female impersonator Ruby Rims will perform a special show at the Judson Memorial Church (February 10); Tony winner Melba Moore pops into the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts (February 11); and Sandra Reaves-Phillips dazzles the crowd at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center (February 23-24); and Andrea Marcovicci performs her landmark show I’ll Be Seeing You: Love Songs of World War II at the Town Hall (February 23).

Cabaret lovers in warmer climates aren’t left out of the fun. Palm Beach, Florida’s lovely Colony Hotel presents two ageless and peerless ladies, who also happen to share a last name: Diahann Carroll (through February 10) and pianist/singer Barbara Carroll (February 13-24), followed by a seemingly ageless guy, Jack Jones (February 27-March 10).

Heading to the West Coast, San Francisco’s Empire Plush Room plays home to one of my favorite singers, the wonderful Paula West (February 6-March 4). The Osher JCC in nearby San Rafael is hosting two more of my favorite singers, Ann Hampton Callaway and sister Liz Callaway (February 10-11), and the Merced Multicultural Arts Center presents Broadway star Luba Mason (February 10). Finally, heading down to L.A., celebrated vocalist Freda Payne offers up her tribute show to the late Ella Fitzgerald at Catalina’s Jazz Bar and Grill (February 9-11).