Golden Opportunities
The big news this month is the presence of two Oscar winners on the local cabaret stage. At the Café Carlyle, Tony Award winner Barbara Cook (through April 12) is followed by the debut of 1980s pop phenomenon — and Academy Award winner — Christopher Cross (April 15-May 10).
At Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency, the line-up includes Oscar winner Rita Moreno (April 1-5), Barbara Schottenfeld (April 6), Spring Awakening star Lea Michele (April 7), Lainie Kazan (April 8-12), Gianni Russo (April 14), Mary Cleere Haran (April 17-18, 20), a tribute to Kitty Carlisle Hart (April 21), the amazing Linda Eder (April 24-26), and daytime diva and cabaret favorite Eileen Fulton (April 27-28).
Meanwhile, The Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel welcomes back one of its favorite performers, Maude Maggart (April 1-May 10), whose new show Speaking of Dreams spans everyone from Harold Arlen to Paul Williams to Kate Bush.
The always exciting Broadway at Birdland brings us Wicked star Annaleigh Ashford with music director Alex Lacamoire (April 7), the sensational Natalie Douglas (April 14), the hilarious Mo Rocca (April 28), and the star-studded Leading Men III benefit (April 21), with such top-tier talent as Tom Andersen, David Burnham, Jim Caruso, Jonathan Groff, Norm Lewis, Michael McElroy, Sean Palmer, Christopher Sieber, and Bobby Steggert lending their voices for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
The Zipper Factory continues to present some of the most eclectic offerings in town, including singer-songwriter Todd Almond (April 4), Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad (April 5, 12, 19, 26), Kathleen Chalfant and Patricia Elliott in Vita and Virginia (April 7, 14, 11, 28), Our Lady J (April 7), Creation Nation (April 8), the Wau Wau Sisters (April 19), and the monthly installment of Don’t Quit Your Night Job (April 24).
The Metropolitan Room once again pulls out all the stops this month, with such big-name acts as soon-to-be Hairspray star Karen Mason (April 2-4 and 10, 11, and 13), Tituss Burgess (April 7), Sherry Boone (April 8), 2008 Nightlife Award winner Marilyn Maye (April 9-16), Yvonne Constant (April 16), Julie Wilson (April 17-19, 24-26), and Sharon McNight (April 25-26).
There is a slew of stars over at Joe’s Pub as well, including Nellie McKay (April 1), monologuist Mike Daisey (April 14, 21, 28), Melissa Errico (April 23-24), Groovelily (April 27), and Sutton Foster (April 28) — not to mention the cast of the annual Flopz ‘n Cuts benefit (April 6), which includes David Burtka, Anita Gillette, Liz McCartney, Julia Murney, Anthony Rapp, Max von Essen, and Wayne Wilcox. Plus, don’t miss the students of Cap21 (April 22).
If you’re looking for topical laughs, head to The Triad for a new edition of Political Idol (April 6, 13, 20, 27), the perfect antidote for the election year blues.
Outside of the Big Apple, the lovely Royal Room at the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida welcomes
the legendary Mary Wilson (April 1-5).
Finally, the brand new Rrazz Room at San Francisco’s Nikko Hotel offers the talented Diane Schuur (April 1-5), Tim Hockenberry & Friends (April 7, 14, 21, and 28), the great Maureen McGovern (April 8-20), sitcom star Katey Sagal (April 24-27), and fellow television favorite Lynda Carter (April 29-May 4).
