Summer Nights

The city’s major rooms are soon to be on hiatus for the summer, but they’re definitely going out with a big bang. After a postponement earlier this spring, the extraordinary Eartha Kitt returns to the Café Carlyle with what is sure to be a purr-fectly marvelous evening of song and sizzle, June 6-July 1. Feinstein’s at the Regency welcomes the suave-as-can-be James Naughton through June 10, as the two-time Tony Award-winner (for Chicago and City of Angels) debuts his show Looking for the Heart of Saturday Night. Meanwhile, the nightspot’s special Monday night series wraps up with appearances by up-and-comer Brandon Cuttrell (June 5) and actor Gianni Russo, best known for his work in The Godfather (June 12). Over at the Algonquin Oak Room, the one-and-only Andrea Marcovicci concludes the run of her fantastic new show just… love, by request on June 10. She’s followed there by the wonderful Jessica Molaskey (June 13-July 1), who has appeared in such Broadway shows as Oklahoma!, Dream, and Parade.

The Blue Note hosts the one-and-only Betty Buckley (through June 4), the sublime Diane Schuur (June 6-11), the popular vocal group Take 6 (June 15-18), and jazz great Lee Rittenour (June 26). Lorenzo’s, the snazzy new club in Staten Island, hosts Sally Mayes (June 3), Heather MacRae (June 10), Andrea McArdle (June 17), and Karen Mason (June 24). At another new club, the Metropolitan Room, the latest installment of Jamie deRoy and friends features such special guests as Mary Bond Davis, Judy Gold, Carol Hall, and Alice Playten (June 28).

Jim Caruso’s Summer in the City series at Birdland kicks off with cast members from The Light in the Piazza (June 5), followed by Tony-winning songwriter/singer Jason Robert Brown (June 12), Piazza star David Burnham (June 19), and Broadway’s Stephanie J. Block (June 26 and 27). Meanwhile, the line-up at Joe’s Pub is especially eclectic and exciting this month, starting with concert by Sweeney Todd star Manoel Felciano (June 4) and Threepenny Opera star Nellie McKay (June 11, 18). Also on tap this month are the lovely singer/songwriter Toby Lightman (June 5), actor Carl Hancock Rux (June 8), the talented Stew (June 11), a Losers Lounge tribute to ABBA (June 15-17), an evening entitled Intimate Nights: The Golden Age of New York Cabaret featuring Julie Wilson (June 26), pop singer Jill Sobule (June 27-28), and the decidedly unusual Rene Risque and the Art Lovers (June 30).

Elsewhere around town, there’s something for everyone. The very funny Nellie Olsons make their first visit to Mo Pitkin’s (June 1-2); the great Blossom Dearie returns to Danny’s (weekends, beginning June 3) as does the wonderful Annie Ross (June 7, 14, 21) and the adorable husband-and-wife duo of Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano (June 18, 25), Sweeney Todd star Donna Lynne Champlin returns to Ars Nova (June 4) followed by The Wedding Singer‘s David Josefberg (June 5); bare star John Hill concludes his run at the Duplex (June 5); and Helen’s Hideaway Room hosts the fabulous female impersonators Jimmy James (June 2-24) and Richard Skipper (June 5, 15) and the lovely Cynthia Crane (June 9-10, 13).

Heading out to Long Island, the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center offers up jazz singer Karrin Allyson (June 10), pop great Shawn Colvin (June 24), and the hot young singer/pianist Jamie Cullum (June 30), while the Bay Street Theater‘s Comedy Club in Sag Harbor hosts Susie Essman (June 19) and David Alan Grier (June 26).

Outside of the Big Apple, the fabulous Paula West shows off her amazing artistry at Morgans Cabaret at the Prince Music Theatre in Philadelphia (May 31-June 11); New York favorites Baby Jane Dexter (June 2-17) and Jeff Harnar (June 23-30) check into Palm Beach’s Colony Hotel; singers Suede (June 1-4) and Jane Olivor (June 15-18) play San Francisco’s lovely Empire Plush Room, and Los Angeles celebrates the opening of a new room, Sterling’s Upstairs at Vitello’s, with runs by Broadway stars Amick Byram (June 16, 17, 23, 24) and Joan Ryan (June 30, July 1).