Back in Business

There are many reasons to be sad that summer is officially over this month, but there are a few worth rejoicing about — namely the re-opening of the city’s three major cabaret venues. And what could be a bigger cause for celebration than the return of the indominitable Elaine Stritch to her home base, the Café Carlyle, with her new show At Home at the Carlyle Again (September 12-November 4). She will once more team with her fantastic musical director Rob Bowman for an unforgettable evening of songs and stories.

Feinstein’s at the Regency also has a much-awaited reprise: the 96-years-young Kitty Carlisle Hart returns to the swank cabaret with I Walk With Music. (September 26-30). She will be preceded there by the dynamic R&B duo Ashford & Simpson (September 12-23), while the club’s special Sunday and Monday night series features Rebecca Kilgore (September 11), Joe Francis (September 17-18), and Nancy Tabb Marcantel (September 25).

The stately Algonquin Hotel has a trio of favorites on hand to kick off its season: Jazz singer Sarah Partridge (September 5-9), the one-and-only Jack Jones (September 12-23), and MAC Award winners KT Sullivan and Allan Harris teaming for a salute to Duke Ellington and Johnny Mercer (September 26-October 14).

Jim Caruso’s Broadway series at Birdland gets off to a boisterous start with singer/songwriter Jason Robert Brown and the Caucasian Rhythm Kings (September 11), followed by Todd Londagin and his Big Band (September 12), and the unusual girl-group The Lascivious Biddies (September 18). There will also be two special shows on September 19: The Nashville Connection: Broadway Meets Country, featuring Marcus Hummon, Sherrie Austin, Deven May, Erich Bergen, Cole Burden, Louis Tucci, and Brian Charles Rooney. Separately, the jazz club also hosts an 80th birthday celebration for John Coltrane (September 20-23) and the fabulous John Pizzarrelli (September 26-30), along with the musical review Her Song every Saturday and Sunday at 5:30pm.

Not surprisingly, there’s great theater talent all over town: Tony Award nominee Ann Hampton Callaway does a five-night stint at Dizzy’s Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center (September 6-10); Sweeney Todd star Manoel Felciano returns to Joe’s Pub on September 25; Broadway veterans Keith David, Franc D’Ambrosio, and Eileen Fulton are among the many outstanding acts at The Metropolitan Room; the aforementioned KT Sullivan and the fabulous Billy Stritch both play Lorenzo’s in Staten Island; and former Avenue Q star Stephanie D’Abruzzo guest stars in the musical revue Into the Weeds at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Café on September 9.

Heading outside of the Big Apple, the Stockton Inn in Stockton, New Jersey plays host to America’s favorite “cruise director,” former Love Boat star Jill Whelan (September 15-16), San Francisco’s gorgeous Empire Plush Room will feature Tony Award winner Melba Moore (September 12-17) and comedian Mort Sahl (September 27-30); the Cabaret Theatre at the Mohegan Sun in Uncas, Connecticut welcomes the multi-talented Tony Danza (September 27-October 1); and Los Angeles’ Gardenia Theatre presents the legendary Neile Adams in Wanna Love Somebody (September 29-October 7).