Bill Dyszel

Mark Dundas Wood
For his new Don't Tell Mama show, "The Internet Ate My Brain," Bill Dyszel seems to have taken to heart the familiar creative-writing-course aphorism "Write what you know." According to bio notes, communications technology has been a big part of Dyszel's career. He is the author of 21 books, including many editions of Microsoft Outlook...

Jarrod Spector and Kelli Barrett

Gerry Geddes
First, I have a confession to make. I have a soft spot for the "Vegas side" of cabaret when done well. I have such lasting memories of Ann-Margret, Peter Allen, Petula Clark and others doing big, brassy, flashy shows that at the same time managed moments of heart and intimacy. At Feinstein's/54 Below, Jarrod Spector and...

Alexa Ray Joel

Gerry Geddes
The Café Carlyle is one of the last of its kind in New York City—a genuine night club, an elegantly appointed room harkening back to the days of the Empire Room, the Persian Room and the Maisonette, where legendary stars and promising newcomers would ply their craft before a room full of equally elegant diners...

Cheryl Ann Allen: Sophie Tucker in Person

Robert Windeler
Bearing an uncanny physical resemblance to her zaftig and otherwise larger-than-life subject, Cheryl Ann Allen, in her current show at Don't Tell Mama, nearly lives up to the title "Sophie Tucker in Person." Not only does Allen look and dress the part, she sings like Tucker and has even nailed Sophie's wheezy speaking voice. Written...

The 26th New York Cabaret Convention

Bistro Awards
The 26th edition of the New York Cabaret Convention, presented by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, took place October 13-16 at The Town Hall. Robert Windeler, Mark Dundas Wood, and Gerry Geddes covered the four nights for us. Following are their thoughts.   GALA OPENING NIGHT – by Robert Windeler "Another Op'nin', Another Show" sang KT Sullivan...

Andrea Bell Wolff

Gerry Geddes
Sometimes when a show goes wrong, it goes wrong in every way. Sad to say, Andrea Bell Wolff's "Bad Girls Do Cry," which is dedicated to the girl-group sounds of the 1960s, is one of those shows—from little things like misspelling the names of Lesley Gore and Carole King (repeatedly) in the song list, to...

Kristoffer Lowe

Robert Windeler
In his new show at the Metropolitan Room, Kristoffer Lowe presents a dazzling tribute to a relatively forgotten composer from the first half of the 20th century, Harry Warren. Because he was not the publicity hound that so many of his songwriting contemporaries were, Warren wasn't that much of a celebrity even in his lifetime...

Lennie Watts

Mark Dundas Wood
It's been suggested that one of the more important things an actor can do to maintain a professional career is to have a sense of his or her "type." If that sounds limiting and horribly commercial-minded, so it may be. But if you're serious about actually working as an actor, then accepting with grace the...

Jason Danieley

Robert Windeler
In his recent autobiographical show, "Romantic Notions," at Feinstein's/54 Below, Jason Danieley's song choices and performance styles covered several decades and ranged from sweetly touching to wildly energetic. This solid and eclectic singer was abetted in this ambitious enterprise by a superb trio led by music director and pianist Tedd Firth, and including bassist Pete Donovan...

Meg Flather

Gerry Geddes
I last saw Meg Flather at Don't Tell Mama in the mid-'80s and I remember being highly entertained by her voice and her show. Seeing her again at that venerable performance space in 2015 in her new show, "Carly & Me," I am happy to report that her wit, her charm and her singing are as...