The Mabel Mercer Foundation, Est. 1985
Preserving and promoting the intimate art of Cabaret, its timeless Songbook, and the legacy of Mabel Mercer.
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Cabaret Spotlight
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Anaïs Reno
THE ANAÏS RENO TRIO
April 27 @ 5:30PM
Birdland Jazz Club
Anaïs Reno returns to Birdland for two consecutive Saturdays, singing a wide variety of jazz standards she has yet to perform in the city. Michael Kanan will be playing piano and Sameer Shankar will be on bass. She has had a rapidly growing career as a singer with a love for jazz and songbook standards, winning the Adela & Larry Elow High School American Songbook Competition. Anaïs made her Rose Hall at Jazz At Lincoln Center debut in the Mabel Mercer Foundation’s Cabaret Convention at age 15.
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Vivian Reed's
DON’T JUST STAND THERE, PERFORM!
April 27 @ 7:00PM
The Green Room 42
In Don’t Just Stand There, PERFORM!, Vivian Reed’s student artists demonstrate that there is much more to selling a song than just standing there, staring straight ahead. They have found the joy in digging deep into the lyrics, telling the story and delivering the message of the song, thus, performing. You can be a great singer, but that alone, does not make you a great performer. The show’s repertoire will mostly consist of theater and jazz standards with a pop song here and there.
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Marilyn Maye
ANNUAL BIRTHDAY BASH
May 2 & 5-6
54 Below
Join Marilyn Maye for her annual birthday bash at 54 Below! Every performance during this run will feature a special 96th birthday celebration for this beloved cabaret legend. A timeless icon who has been entertaining audiences for over eight decades, Manhattan’s Queen of Cabaret is thrilled to be returning to her home away from home—and her favorite audiences—for this very special birthday.
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Klea Blackhurst
ONE OF THE GIRLS: THE WORDS AND MUSIC OF JERRY HERNAN
May 5 @ 7:00PM
Chelsea Table + Stage
Klea Blackhurst turns her long association with Broadway’s Jerry Herman into a new show, ONE OF THE GIRLS. Considered one of Herman’s premier interpreters, Klea officially became one of “Jerry’s Girls” when she was cast as Dolly in the 50th Anniversary Production of Hello, Dolly! at Goodspeed Opera House.
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Melissa Errico
SONDHEIM IN THE CITY VINYL RELEASE CELEBRATION CONCERT
May 7-9 @ 7:00PM
54 Below
After the critical triumph of her Sondheim Sublime album– called “the finest all Sondheim recording ever made” by the Wall Street Journal – Melissa Errico returns to her home at 54 Below and to her favorite songwriter with an entirely new program of Sondheim songs, celebrating her new album (released February 16, 2024 on Concord) and a different side of Steve.
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Gabrielle Stravelli Trio
CELEBRATES “BEAUTIFUL MOONS AGO”
May 6 @ 7:00PM
Birdland Jazz Club
The Gabrielle Stravelli Trio (Gabrielle Stravelli vocals, Michael Kanan piano, Pat O'Leary bass) celebrates the release of their debut album "Beautiful Moons Ago." With a hard swinging style rooted in jazz tradition coupled with Stravelli's totally modern lyric interpretations, the group brings the American Songbook to life. The album was recorded at the legendary Rudy Van Gelder Studio.
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Tanya Moberly
I LOVE NEW YORK SONGWRITERS
May 9 & 10 (Parts 1 & 2)
Don’t Tell Mama
Part One Featuring Songs by: Jeff Blumenkrantz, Francesca Blumenthal, Tim Di Pasqua, Richie Eisenberg, Dan Furman, David Hajdu, AC Haley, Ritt Henn, Bobbie Horowitz, Nicholas Levin, Steven Lutvak, Mary Liz McNamara, and more! Part Two Featuring Songs by: D.C. Anderson, Scott Evan Davis, Amy Engelhardt, Meg Flather, Julie Gold, Ritt Henn, Rick Jensen, Ray Jessel, Larry Kerchner, Lina Koutrakos, Rosemary Loar, Renee Rosnes, Tracy Stark, and more!
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Marvin Hamlisch
LOVE IS NEVER GONE
May 10 @ 7:00PM
The Green Room 42
Featuring: Stearns Matthews, Hanna Jane, Corinna Sowers Adler, Jake Oswell, Elle Michaeli, Frank Stancati. Acclaimed composer Marvin Hamlisch was one of a kind. This show explores the genius’s spectacular song catalogue. (The Way We Were, Through The Eyes Of Love, Nobody Does It Better, A Chorus Line, They’re Playing Our Song, The Goodbye Girl, and more! All proceeds to benefit the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus.
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Billy Stritch
BILLY STRITCH TRIO
May 10-12 @ 7:00PM & 9:30PM
Billy Stritch is one of the premier singer-pianists on the New York and national jazz and cabaret scenes. Billy recently toured with the legendary Tony Bennett as Tony’s pianist and musical director. A solo entertainer in his own right, he has performed his own shows (including tributes to Mel Tormé and Cy Coleman) in concert halls and nightclubs across the country. Billy also serves as musical director for such leading vocalists as Linda Eder, Christine Ebersole and Linda Lavin.
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Lianne Marie Dobbs
WHY CAN’T A WOMAN…?
May 11 @ 1:00PM
Chelsea Table + Stage
Award-winning vocalist and NY stage and screen actor Lianne Marie Dobbs brings her "spectacular, intriguing" (Times Square Chronicle) one-woman show to Chelsea Table & Stage for Mother's Day Weekend. "Why CAN'T a Woman...?" uses Broadway leading men's songs and sassy standards, served up with a twist of SHE, to celebrate ALL the hats that women wear.
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Karen Mason
AGES SINCE THE LAST TIME with LOUIS ROSEN
May 11 & 12 @ 7:00PM
Chelsea Table + Stage
Broadway and cabaret star Karen Mason and award-winning songwriter and performer Louis Rosen reunite for a celebration of almost 50 years of collaboration and friendship, with two evenings of Louis’ songs and a few selections by their dear mutual friend, Karen’s original musical director, the late Brian Lasser.
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Celia Berk
A DREAM AND A SONG: THE MUSICAL STORIES OF ELIZABETH SULLIVAN
May 12 @ 2:00PM
Laurie Beechman Theatre
Award-winning vocalist Celia Berk celebrates Mother’s Day with a special reprise of A Dream And A Song: The Musical Stories of Elizabeth Sullivan. It debuted in December 2023 at Urban Stages’ Winter Rhythms series to critical acclaim. Celia is again joined by guitarist Sean Driscoll, violinist Seoyeon Im and pianist/music director Jon Weber. Jeff Harnar directs. Their special guest is Elizabeth Sullivan.
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Ari Axelrod
A PLACE FOR US: A CELEBRATION OF JEWISH BROADWAY
May 13 @ 7:00PM
Birdland Jazz Club
“A Place For Us” is a celebration of Jewish culture, honoring the songs and stories of Jewish composers and their crucial contributions to the American Musical. While there are many stories in the world about Jewish suffering, there are fewer stories about Jewish life and vitality. Our history is not only about how we survived, but also about how we thrived, and “A Place for Us” highlights this in its exploration of Jewish Broadway.
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Anne Kittredge
ROMANTIC NOTIONS
May 14 @ 5:30PM
Birdland Theater
Ann Kittredge’s highly anticipated recording project, “Romantic Notions” is set to release in Spring 2024. Renowned for her versatility as a performer on both grand and intimate stages, Ann is now merging her recording career with her stage expertise in her latest show, Romantic Notions. Expect fresh, creative arrangements of classics by Jimmy Webb, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Burt Bacharach, and others.
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Sally Mayes
NOW AND THEN
May 16 @ 7:00PM
The Green Room 42
Sally Mayes is a gal on a mission. She has been doing a very special retrospective series this season, and she’s not done yet! As she puts it, “Well, I have always been a storyteller, and I love that aspect of what I do the most. I also have a great affection for the opportunities I have been given both on and off Broadway and also in recording, and some of the best arrangements I have done over the years come from that love. I cannot wait to remind people of this stuff, and I am having so much fun!!”
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Betty Buckley
LIVE AT JOE’S PUB
May 16-18
Joe’s Pub
Betty Buckley returns this fall to Joe’s Pub for six shows with her long-time collaborator, 8 time Grammy-nominated pianist/MD Christian Jacob, Tony Marino on bass, and Dan Rieser on drums. Buckley is a master storyteller that combines her consummate acting skills with extraordinary musicality to create a unique and mesmerizing evening of music.
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Craig Rubano
TAKE THE MOMENT
May 19 @ 2:00PM, June 12 @ 7:00PM
Laurie Beechman Theatre
He’s back! Broadway’s (Les Misérables, The Scarlet Pimpernel), and multiple M.A.C. and Bistro award-winning cabaret artist, Craig Rubano returns to New York City with a collection of songs that shine a spotlight on the choices we make during the moments that matter. Directed by Jeff Harnar, and together with Music Director Beth Ertz, Craig will tap into music and lyrics by Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Jerry Herman, and more.
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Steve Ross
LIVE AT BIRDLAND
May 20 @ 7:00PM
Birdland Jazz Club
Steve Ross’ repertoire draws from the work of songwriters past and present, such as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, with whose work he has a special affinity, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, and Stephen Sondheim. Ross sings in a light baritone voice, playing the piano with verve. For several years, he has been referred to as ‘the Crown Prince of New York Cabaret,” an unofficial but merited title.
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Alexis Cole
I’LL TAKE NEW YORK: GREAT SONGS OF A GREAT CITY
May 21 @ 7:00PM
54 Below
Join Alexis and her trio as they celebrate the pulse and history of NYC through music both popular and obscure. You’ll hear fresh takes on classics like Rodgers & Hart’s “Manhattan,” Sinatra’s “New York, New York,” and Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,” coupled with less familiar songs that shine a light on different corners of Gotham; it’s a sonic tour of the spices of life in the big city that never sleeps.
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Carolyn Montgomery
GIRLSINGER: A CELEBRATION OF ROSEMARY CLOONEY
May 22 @ 7:00PM
54 Below
With a world-class band featuring members of Clooney’s own musical ensemble, and Carolyn Montgomery’s critically acclaimed powerhouse vocals belting out hits like “Hey There,” “Come On-A My House,” and “Tenderly,” audiences sing along, laugh, weep, and dance in their seats. Montgomery’s talent for storytelling elevates the music into a spellbinding, one-woman tour-de-force.
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Karen Akers
WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE
May 27 @ 7:00 PM
Birdland Jazz Club
In this show, Karen Akers looks back at some of the songs that first brought her acclaim in cabaret as well as on Broadway, television, and recordings — works by Craig Carnelia, Maury Yeston, Edith Piaf, and Stephen Sondheim, among other treasures. In short, this is an evening of classic Karen Akers. The show, titled “Water Under The Bridge,” will be musical directed by Alex Rybeck.
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Marissa Mulder
SWINGIN’ ON A STAR: MARISSA MULDER SINGS JIMMY VAN HEUSEN
June 2 @ 1:00PM
The Cutting Room
One of the most prolific composers of the Great American Songbook, Jimmy Van Heusen was also one of the most colorful. He test-piloted fighter planes while creating timeless classics such as Love and Marriage, All The Way, High Hopes, Come Fly With Me, The Second Time Around and Call Me Irresponsible.
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As we approach the forty-year milestone at the Mabel Mercer Foundation, we want to extend our sincere gratitude for your continued generosity and support in preserving the timeless art of Cabaret by keeping great songs alive.
“The Mabel Mercer Foundation, American song’s best friend.”
— Octavio Roca, San Francisco Chronicle