Hey There, Good Times

What good is sitting alone in your room, even if the winds blow and the icicles form, when there are so many compelling reasons to go outside and hear some of the country’s top entertainers?

At The Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel Andrea Marcovicci wraps up her critically adored show I’m Feeling Like a Million: A Salute to the Incomparable Hildegarde on January 13. She’s followed by her much-adored protegée, Maude Maggart, whose new show Good Girl/Bad Girl features songs by everyone from Jerome Kern and George Gershwin to Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell (January 16-February 10).

As you may have read, the supposed demise of The Café Carlyle isn’t happening anytime soon, and they’ve got a superstar-studded season in store. Starting things off right is the multi-award-winning actress/singer Rita Moreno, who will debut her new show Little Tributes in the swank boite (January 16-February 10).

After a brief hiatus, Jim Caruso’s Broadway series at Birdland returns with two very exciting shows. On January 15, the always-hilarious Jason Graae serves up the world premiere of his new act Graae’s Anatomy, while on January 29, Tony Award winner Cady Huffman will celebrate her birthday by putting on a fantastic show. Talk about great gifts — she’s got him.

Over at Joe’s Pub, the eclectic line-up includes actor Steve Cuiffo as Lenny Bruce (January 3), the fabulous Leslie Kritzer in her critically acclaimed tribute to Patti LuPone (January 3, 6), jazz great Terence Blanchard (January 11), the divine Daphne Rubin-Vega (January 15), the hilarious Harry Shearer and Judith Owen (January 18), the great Lesley Gore (January 19), and the unique Diamanda Galas (January 21).

At The Metropolitan Room, the talent roster is deep and wide, including comedian Joy Behar (January 4), Broadway and television star Tom Wopat (January 5-8), Butley co-star Julian Ovenden (January 8), the wonderful singer Thos. Shipley (January 11-13), Broadway favorite Ken Page (January 18-21), the red-hot Barb Jungr (January 25-27), and the brilliant Judy Blazer in a tribute show to Judy Garland (January 25-29).

Elsewhere around Gotham, the swanky Carnegie Club on West 56th Street hosts Steven Maglio and the Stan Rubin Orchestra in their new show Sinatra: Remembering the Sands every Saturday night starting January 13. That same night, the musical revue Her Song resumes performances at Birdland for an open-ended engagement.

Another popular revue When The Lights Go On Again, featuring Bill Daugherty, Paul Kropfl, Christina Morrell, and Connie Pachl, comes back to The Triad for a seven-week run. You might also want to head to the Triad on January 8, when Chicago star Roz Ryan teams up with Shelton Becton, and January 21, when former Phantom of the Opera star Franc D’Ambrosio makes a special one-night appearance with his popular show, Franc D’Ambrosio’s Broadway.

If you’re fleeing the freezing apple, but still want to get your nightlife fix, then Palm Beach, Florida’s lovely Colony Hotel is the place to be. Tony winner Faith Prince kicks the year off with a bang (January 3-6), followed by her pal, the aforementioned Tom Wopat (January 9-13), the extraordinary Christine Andreas (January 16-27), and the absolutely amazing (and ageless) Diahann Carroll (January 30-February 10), whose show last year at Feinstein’s at the Regency was one of my viewing highlights!

Meanwhile, San Francisco’s Empire Plush Room is hosting some local favorites this month: Kathy Wall (January 6), Tim Hockenberry (January 11-14), Wesla Whitfield (January 16-February 4), and Kristopher McDowell in a salute to Anthony Newley (January 22-23).

If that’s not enough for you, the City by the Bay is also showcasing the legendary Dionne Warwick at the Herbst Theatre on January 20. Don’t walk on by; get a ticket!