This Is Your Night! Russ Weatherford

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This Is Your Night! Russ Weatherford

Metropolitan Room, NYC, May 12, 2015

Photos by Maryann Lopinto for Cabaret Scenes

It was a night filled with song and joy, laughter and tears. Family, friends and colleagues gathered together to honor photographer, playwright, actor, teacher and man-about-town Russ Weatherford for his support of the cabaret community and his years in show business. Hosted by Metropolitan Room’s Managing Partner Bernie Furshpan, the packed-to the rafters crowd was treated to a nearly three-hour event boasting 29 well-wishers. Ian Herman was the musical director for most of the performers. From Bernie’s biography of Russ (including a slide show of photos of him through the years, which opened the festivities) to Carole J. Bufford’s roof-raising “The House of the Rising Sun” to Valerie Lemon’s moving “I Believe” to Barry Kleinbort’s hilarious and touching tale of how he and Russ met, to Eric Rudy’s (Russ’s husband) emotional “The Impossible Dream” and even a recorded greeting and song from Marilyn Maye and Billy Stritch (with Marilyn’s trademark special lyrics, professing her love for and desire to marry Russ), the love and respect was evident. Here are those who entertained the crowd, in order of appearance:

Bernie Furshpan
Bernie Furshpan
Carole J. Bufford
Carole J. Bufford
Sandi Durell
Sandi Durell
Elizabeth Sullivan
Elizabeth Sullivan
Kristine MIlls
Kristine Mills
Jamie deRoy
Jamie deRoy
Randie Levine-MIller
Randie Levine-Miller
Jay Rogers (L) & Aaron Morishita
Jay Rogers (L) & Aaron Morishita
Raissa Katona Bennett
Raissa Katona Bennett
Karen Oberlin
Karen Oberlin
Joe Sirola
Joe Sirola
Karen Wyman
Karen Wyman
Shana Farr
Shana Farr
Sidney Myer
Sidney Myer
Valerie Lemon
Valerie Lemon
Merrill Stone
Merrill Stone
Barry Kleinbort
Barry Kleinbort
Nancy Opel
Nancy Opel
Karen Akers
Karen Akers
Scott Siegel & Marya Coburn
Scott Siegel & Marya Coburn
Bob Blume (L) &Tom Waters
Bob Blume (L) & Tom Waters
Dean Regan
Dean Regan
Larry Kerchner
Larry Kerchner
Natalie Douglas
Natalie Douglas
Eric Michael Gillett
Eric Michael Gillett
David Austin
David Austin
Eric Rudy
Eric Rudy
Joanne Furshpan and Russ Weatherford
Joanne Furshpan and Russ Weatherford

 

Eric Rudy with the artwork Russ had commissioned.
Eric Rudy with the artwork, entitled “Circle of Love” created by Christel Ibsen, which Russ had commissioned.
Joseph Macchia (L) & Russ Weatherford
Joseph Macchia (L) & Russ Weatherford