Boston: January/February 2015 News

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The vocal lineup at Scullers Jazz Club is unusually lean this winter, but Lavay Smth & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers kick off the New Year 1/2 & 3. Linda Eder will make a rare small venue appearance at this intimate room 1/9-10

Now in its sixth season, the Standing Room Only concert series will presents four Excursion concerts, each themed to take listeners on a musical journey, performed at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Wakefield, as a benefit for the church’s Building Fund, which supports repairs to the 1839 historic structure. While most of the events are non-vocal or classical, the third in the series, Mediterranean Cruise: A Romantic Voyage, will present a delightful departure, featuring singers Leigh Barrett and Brian De Lorenzo and musical director Michael Kreutz, offering travel-related American Songbook gems, as well as songs from France, Spain, Italy, Greece and other romantic ports of call in a Valentine’s Day celebration on 2/14. It’s sure to strike an amorous chord, as well.

American Classics will present Valerie Anastasiob and Tim Harbold in their new show, In the Mood—A Time Capsule of Classics from 1939, featuring songs from The Wizard of Oz and such favorites as All the Things You Are and Lydia, the Tattooed Lady. That’s 2/27 at Follen Church, Lexington, and 3/1 at the Longy School, Cambridge.

Brian De Lorenzo performed as part of a musical tribute/birthday celebration of Bette Midler’s 70th birthday 12/1 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico at The Palm Cabaret, produced and hosted by New England Conservatory & Berklee College alum, Paco Ojeda. The event also featured jazz/cabaret crooner Spencer Day and local PV favorite, Kim Kuzma.

John Amodeo

John Amodeo has been a contributing writer to Cabaret Scenes since 1998, has written cabaret articles for Theatermania.com, was a cabaret journalist for Bay Windows (1999-2005), and for Edge Publications (2005-2025). He has also been writing cabaret feature stories and reviews for NiteLife Exchange (2024-present). An avid theater lover, John now contributes musical theater reviews to Cabaret Scenes along with his cabaret writing. He has been producer, assistant producer, and host for several Boston-area cabaret galas over the past several decades, and produced Brian De Lorenzo’s MAC-nominated recording “Found Treasures.” His liner notes grace several cabaret CDs. John holds degrees in landscape architecture from Cornell and Harvard Universities, and has been practicing landscape architecture in Boston since 1982. When not found in cabaret and theater audiences, he can be seen walking outside anywhere, as long as it is connected with nature or in a beautiful rural or urban setting. He has been fortunate enough to make good on his early childhood resolution to travel as much as possible, and has been to 38 U.S states and 38 countries with repeated visits to his favorites: England, Scotland, Italy, and Mexico. John was a founding member of the Boston Association of Cabaret Artists (BACA) and served as BACA Vice President for 2 terms. He is happily married to his favorite cabaret artist Brian De Lorenzo.