Deck the Halls

So many singers, so little time. That’s the way it will feel for cabaret fans in the jam-packed month of October. On top of visiting all the regular clubs, this month’s itinerary includes two very special events. The 17th Annual Cabaret Convention to be held at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center, October 16-20, will play host to such sensational talents as Ann Hampton Callaway, Mary Cleere Haran, Andrea Marcovicci, Karen Mason, Donna Murphy, Steve Ross, and Julie Wilson.

Meanwhile, The 2nd Annual Broadway Cabaret Festival at The Town Hall, October 20-22, will serve up such singular talents as Nancy Anderson, Stephen Bogardus, Cady Huffman, Jack Noseworthy, and Lari White in a salute to Jerome Kern, a Broadway Originals concert starring Liz Callaway, Debbie Gravitte, Joanna Gleason, Cheyenne Jackson, Christiane Noll, and many other stars, and a special reunion concert featuring Side Show stars Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner.

The town’s three major rooms also offer plenty of variety. Jazz singer Stacey Kent and husband Jim Tomlinson headline Feinstein’s at the Regency, October 3-14, followed by another fortuitous pairing, Jessica Molaskey and David Frishberg (October 17-28). The stately Algonquin Hotel offers MAC Award winners KT Sullivan and Allan Harris teaming for a salute to Duke Ellington and Johnny Mercer (through October 14), newcomer Sheera Ben David (October 17-21), and the always fabulous Paula West (October 24-November 11). Meanwhile, Elaine Stritch continues to thrill her fans at the Café Carlyle (through November 4).

Jim Caruso’s Broadway series at Birdland has two terrific shows on tap: On October 2, Manoel Felciano, Megan Lawrence, Theresa McCarthy, Sally Wilfert, and Michael Winther will sing The Songs of Deborah Abramson, while on October 23, the divine Julia Murney, back home from playing Elphaba in the national tour of Wicked, will show off her amazing pipes. Another midtown hotspot, the Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe will be home to the New Monday series, featuring such composers as Tim DiPasqua (October 2), Georgia Stitt (October 9), Henry Kreiger (October 16), and Laurence O’Keefe (October 23), the lovely Julie Reyburn (October 13, 20, 27), the big-voiced Liz McCartney (October 22, 29), and the multi-talented Steven Lutvak (October 30).

There’s plenty of excitement over at Joe’s Pub starting with the dynamite Leslie Kritzer re-creating the the 1980 club act of the one and only Patti LuPone (October 4). Also on tap are Wedding Singer star Kevin Cahoon with his band Ghetto Cowboy (October 15), former Saturday Night Live star Julia Sweeney paired up with singer Jill Sobule (October 23), that show-stopper from Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Capathia Jenkins alongside composer Louis Rosen (October 29), and the always-amazing Mary Testa (October 29-30).

The line-up at The Metropolitan Room just gets better and better. Where else can you catch Broadway babes Sarah Litzsinger and Kate Reinders (October 2), Baby Jane Dexter (October 4), Broadway star Jackie Mason (October 5 and 26), funny lady Kim Cea (October 8), former Rent star Adam Pascal (October 8-9), former Evita star Terri Klausner (October 9), Simply Barbra‘s Steven Brinberg (October 11-15), Tony Award winner Faith Prince (October 19-22), the peerless Wesla Whitfeld (October 21-22), and the wonderful singer/songwriter Amanda McBroom (October 24-28)? Nowhere!

Heading outside of Manhattan, the ageless Julie Budd, actor-singer Chazz Palminteri, and the legendary Julius LaRosa all play Lorenzo’s in Staten Island. The Mohegan Sun in Uncas, Connecticut celebrates its 20th Anniversary, October 19-22, with a superstar-studded line-up including Jerry Seinfeld, actor Kevin Costner and his band, country singer Keith Urban, and the one-and-only Lily Tomlin reuniting with her pals from Laugh-In, among other great acts.
Moving to the West Coast, San Francisco’s gorgeous Empire Plush Room hosts singer-songwriter Paul Williams (October 3-8), actress-singer Sally Kellerman (October 10-15), and the fierce and fabulous Jenifer Lewis (October 17-22), and Los Angeles’ Gardenia Theatre presents the legendary Neile Adams in Wanna Love Somebody (through October 7).