Chicago: November/December 2014 News

  • Post author:
  • Reading time:5 mins read

Close harmony group With a Twist, consisting of Kevin Bishop, Steve Kimbrough, Paul Motondo and Nick Sula, brings an encore performance of The Best of Twist to Davenport’s 11/7 & 8. Deb Darr returns 11/13 & 14 with Auditioning for Life. Sally Mayes and Beckie Menzie appear in Sass 11/15. Dave Teng and Ben Harp present Just Duets 11/20. It’s Between Us Friends with Jim Jarred 11/22. The Chicago Cabaret Professionals’ annual holiday cabaret, Merry Measures, is 12/1 & 2. Monday’s show is directed by Carla Gordon with musical direction by Bob Moreen. Tuesday’s show is directed by Melissa Young with musical direction by Beckie Menzie. (Casting to be announced.) Davenport’s donates the club and all proceeds benefit the Auditorium Theatre’s Hands Together Heart to Art program, which fosters artistic expression in children who have lost one or more parents. The first three Saturdays in December bring back Foiled AgainAllison Bazarko, Rob Lindley, Anne Sheridan Smith—in Holiday Bizarre. Musical direction will be provided by Doug Peck, with help from Gavin Kirk on guitar. Miriam Plotkin returns with Anxiety Tonight 12/5, 14, 19, 26 & 27. George Howe commands the keyboard.

Russ Goeltenbodt says Let’s Hear It for the Goy! to the Skokie Theatre 11/13. He’s joined by special guest Carla Gordon. Expect musical direction and sundry surprises from Bob Moreen. Megon McDonogh presents The Great Singer/Songwriter Songbook 11/29.

Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael are busy over the next two months. In Chicago, the dynamic duo joins the Chicago Humanities Festival’s A Night at the Tonys 11/3, appears at The Back Room 11/21, and joins the Chicago Chamber Orchestra in Holiday Pops in the Buchanan Chapel at Chicago’s Fourth Presbyterian Church 12/7. They take their That 60s Show to the Gaslight Theater in St. Louis 11/7.

David Edelfelt appears in The Most Wonderful Time of the Year! at Chicago’s Driehaus Museum 12/12 & 13 with Beckie Menzie at the piano. Kevin Wood takes Sentimental Journeys: A Cabaret Travelogue to the Opusus Concert Cafe at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, Iowa 11/2 2 as part of its Iowa Arts program.

Elaine Dame continues The Jazz and Sushi Series at Macku Signature featuring the Elaine Dame Duo Wednesdays during November and December. La Dame graces Taverna750 11/9 and 12/14. She will release her new CD, You’re My Thrill, at the Jazz Showcase 12/1. The Elaine Dame Trio entertains New Year’s Eve at St. Charles Place Steakhouse in St. Charles. On 11/2, Acts of Kindness Cabaret (Hilary Ann Feldman, Marianne Murphy Orland, Caryn Caffarelli) performs Silver Linings Songbook to benefit Rotary International at the Westmont Chinese Cultural Center and 11/9 finds them performing Life… Sunny Side Up to benefit Northwest Arts Connection at Chief O’Neill’s Pub and Restaurant in Chicago. Hilary Ann Feldman offers Holiday Bazaar at the Highland Park Country Club 12/18. Wayne Richards entertains the gang at Big Shot in Arlington Heights Tuesdays-Saturdays throughout November and December.

Chicago cabaret and jazz and world music artists (not to mention countless fans) are sad for the closure of Katerina’s, the cozy club on Irving Park Road that was most brightened by its ebullient proprietor Katerina Carson. The good news is that the space has been assumed by a new venue, The High Hat Club, which will feature nightly entertainment. We look forward to supporting the club and enjoying its musical and gustatory fare.

Another sad closing is Club 3160 which was home to Paul Marinaro (and often his guest, Judy Roberts), Scott Gryder’s Simply Scotty and Dan Stetzel’s lively Tuesday night open mic. The club was sold. Another sports bar? Oh, well…..

The newly opened Shed in Highland Park is seeking cabaret performances and offers an open mic on Sundays. The venue describes itself as “part-country club, part musical fantasyland.” It also houses rehearsal space and recording facilities are available.