Cabaret, Concerts, Music Still Exist . . . Virtually!
Did you think it all came to a crashing halt because of Covid-19? In some ways it did but it sparked many creative routes to keep some of your favorite artists alive doing what they do best – performing.
Singer Sarah Brightman’s first livestream Christmas concert in December will include a reunion with her former husband and partner-in-theater Andrew Lloyd Webber. The two will perform the relatively obscure Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice song “Christmas Dream.” The stream event, Sarah Brightman: A Christmas Symphony, is set for Sunday, Dec. 20 from London’s historic Christ Church Spitalfields. The event will be broadcast in four streaming time zones around the globe (7:30 pm ET/PT). donations to The Global FoodBanking Network also will be encouraged.
Tony Winner Jefferson Mays is starring in A Christmas Carol unlike any other. Mays plays over 50 roles in a virtuosic, master class of performance that must be seen to be believed. Imaginatively directed by Michael Arden the film is live streamed for the holidays. www.achristmascarollive.com
Mondays with Lance Horne (composer/pianist) hosts his own night of singing, drinking, dancing, srip-teasing at this East Village club with Broadway star appearances; Christmas with Brini at Club Cumming, a 70s-tastic TV special hosted by Brini Maxwell. Surprise guests, a festive spiked eggnog frolic! www.clubcummingnyc.com
Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce…Pandemic! – Pomegranate Arts production live streamed event that reimagines on December 12. Celebrating Mac’s Holiday Sauce album. www.taylormacholidaysauce.com
Scott Siegel’s Nightclub New York pays performers. See major Broadway stars, different shows, talent including John Bolton, Veanne Cox, Claybourne Elder, Ali Dwoldt, Danny Gardner, Christine Lavin, Karen Mason, William Michals, Kenita Miller, Julia Murney, Brad Oscar, Laila Robins, Ryan Silverman, Elizabeth Stanley, Walter Willison. Subscription based: www.nightclubnewYork.vhx.tv
Weekly Cabaret:
Jim Caruso’s Pajama Cast Party every Monday Night at 8 pm live streamed on YouTube with Broadway’s best and Cabaret Divas; Julie (Virtual) Halston and Billy Stritch at “Billy’s Place” celebrates different songwriters, all on the Cast Party Network. www.castpartynyc.com
Radio Free Birdland www.birdlandjazz.com every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 pm. Includes performers Paulo Szot, Kate Rockwell, Aisha de Haas, Max von Essen, Julie Halston, Jessica Vosk, Matt Baker, Christopher Sieber, Natalie Douglas, Amanda Green, Telly Leung, Christina Bianco, Gabrielle Stravelli, more. Susie Mosher with a gaggle of guest performers.
The First Complete Recording of “Anyone Can Whistle “(Stephen Sondheim/Arthur Laurents) produced by John Yap thru Jay Records has become available. It features Maria Friedman, Julia McKenzie, John Barrowman and Arthur Laurents as narrator. Long overdue! (see interview of John Yap by Ron Fassler on TP )
Climb aboard the Ark! 50th Anniversary Virtual Concert Live Streamed – – Broadway’s Two by Two on December 25 at 2pm premiers on facebook.com/MetropolitanZoom and continues thru December 28 a benefit for The Actors Fund. Presented by Sandi Durell’s TheaterPizzazz.com with Karen Ziemba, Walter Willison (original Broadway cast and directing), Nikita Burshteyn, Frank Calamaro, Marcy DeGonge Manfredi, N’Kenge, Michael Notardonato, Sophia Tzougros. Musical Director Fred Barton. View also on facebook.com/TheaterPizzazz and Sandi Durell’s TheaterPizzazz YouTube Channel. Donations Gratefully Encouraged.
Sandi Durell is Publisher/Editor of www.theaterpizzazz.com/
and has been writing, reviewing, producing, having a voice in the theater, cabaret and entertainment communities for over 25+ years. She is a Voting Member of the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards; member of the American Theatre Critics Association.
Sandi is a producer of Broadway & Hollywood Live! Revues (www.ShaRellProductions.com); has produced numerous Songwriter Events for the American Popular Song Society (APSS – formerly New York Sheet Music Society on which she is a Board member); the benefit CD “Our Heart Sings;” is a producer on the Award winning film “Broadway the Golden Age” (with Rick McKay) and has produced a variety of entertainment events for most of her career.
She is a member of the League of Professional Theatre Women, Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU – Advisory Board),100+ year old Dutch Treat Club, The Lambs; an occasional theater “angel” and has had a career as a vocalist-performer.
Her column can also be found at www.theaterlife.com
