Boston News: May/June 2015

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In the past several years, cabaret has been enjoying a renaissance in Provincetown with the successful pair of summer series at the Art House and at Town Hall. Riding the crest of that wave is Patricia Fitzpatrick, Provincetown resident, cabaret performer, and now producer, who is bringing Cabaret Fest back to PTown 6/5-7. While venues are still being confirmed at press time, what is known is that various venues, from inns to theaters to meeting houses, will allow audience members to stroll though town from show to show, enjoying PTown’s seaside ambiance as much as the music. Are you humming “Old Cape Cod” yet? On Friday, 6/5, Master Class 1 will unfold at the UU Meeting House in the early morning (warm up those pipes!), with a Songwriting Master Class and Master Classes 2 & 3 following throughout the day. That evening, there will be an early show by Marcus Dagan and an evening showcase, Stars Come Out to Shine, at the UU Meeting House, with the hilarious Dana Lorge as MC and featuring performers Adam Berry, Lynda D’Amour, Brian De Lorenzo and Patricia Fitzpatrick, accompanied by the dueling musical directors Brian Patton and Barry Levitt. On 6/6, another early morning Master Class, #4, is offered, followed by a cabaret workshop where John O’Neil shows How to Put a Show Together. A lunchtime Cabaret Q & A panel will be held at the Crown & Anchor Inn, moderated by Fitzpatrick and featuring Broadway World.com cabaret editor Steven Hanks and contributing writer Billie Roe, performers John O’Neil and Dana Lorge and, most humbly, yours truly. The afternoon is filled with cabaret shows at the White Wind Guesthouse, starting with Fitzpatrick and Lorge with musical director Brian Patton, Lynda D’Amour with musical director Bill Duffy, Adam Berry, and finally Brian De Lorenzo with musical director Barry Levitt. The evening’s and weekend’s headliner is the remarkable and renowned pianist, singer, comedian and American Songbook scholar Mark Nadler, accompanied by sax and clarinet, at the Crown & Anchor Inn‘s main stage. Sunday 6/7 cools down with a buffet brunch at the Crown & Anchor, followed by Shooting Starz, where six finalists from the weekend’s Master Classes will each perform a song. Jazz bassist Ron Ormsby and jazz guitarist Alan Clinger provide additional musical accompaniment throughout the weekend.

On 5/3,  you can Spring Into Song with the cabaret fundraiser for the Newton Festival of the Arts, which will feature Sara Brodsky, Phil Kassel, Tom LaMark, Linda Marks, Bonnie MacLeod, Stephen Smith and Leni Webber. There will also be a cabaret showcase on 5/13 at the Newton YMCA featuring Bob DiCicco, Linda Marks and Tracy O’Farrell, along with the Newton North and Newton South High School Singers.

John O’Neil continues his First Monday series at the Napoleon Room, which also features Pamela Enders bringing her sophisticated take on the American Songbook and jazz/pop standards on 6/1.

South of town, John McDonald and JM Productions continue the Cabaret Series at the Common Market in Quincy 6-/12 & 13 with a clever mother/daughter show, proving The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree featuring Ann Ryan, Cheryl Jost, Marybeth Kelly, Maryjo Welch and Sheila Fahey (each of whom has performed for JM Productions for nearly 30 years) and their respective daughters Meghan Ryan, Rebecca Jost, Sara Kelly, Katie Welch and Jen Fahey.

Scullers Jazz Club brings back jazz, soul and R&B singer Catherine Russell, releasing her new CD, Bring It Back, 5/30. Suede will no doubt rock the proverbial rafters 6/6, accompanied by pianist Fred Boyle, bassist Rich Hill and drummer Steve Langone. The Boston Celebrity Series closes out its 2014-15 on 5/15 season with the legendary jazz vocalist Kurt Elling with special guest clarinetist Anat Cohen.

Songwriter Harriet Goldberg and songwriter/performer Krisanthi Pappas presented an evening of their award winning music at the Boston Association of Cabaret Artists (BACA) Songwriters Performance Showcase on 4/26 at Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham, with Krisanthi and Dane Vannatter performing vocals and with Bill Duffy on piano.

Submit your performance schedule to jamodeo@crja.com
John Amodeo