Cabaret Scenes Benefit

Metropolitan Room, NYC, August 24, 2016

Photos by Maryann Lopinto, except where noted

On August 24, 2016, Joseph Macchia produced a benefit for Cabaret Scenes at NYC’s Metropolitan Room. 20 performers entertained the sold-out house and helped raised funds for the magazine and its website. The evening was hosted by Cabaret Scenes editor-in-chief Frank Dain, with musical direction by Yasuhiko Fukuoka for a majority of the performers. (Some performers brought their own musical directors.)

After a brief welcome from Dain, who dedicated the evening in memory of Barbara Leavy, long a contributing writer to the magazine and wife of publisher Peter Leavy, Lee Roy Reams kicked off the night with a rousing “It’s Today.” Karen Akers performed Amanda McBroom’s “Reynosa.” MetroMinor winner Josephine Bianco sang “When I Fall in Love,” followed by jazzbird Catherine Dupuis, accompanied by Russ Kassoff, with “The Best Is Yet to Come.” Those “Sin Twisters,” Penny Fuller and Anita Gillette, performed “Once Upon a Time,” with pianist Paul Greenwood. In honor of the recently completed Olympics, Sidney Myer offered “I’m in Training for You.” 2015 MetroStar winner Minda Larsen, sang “This Moment,” Lina Koutrakos dug into “My Favorite Year,” and Frenchie Davis (season 2 of American Idol) closed the first half with a rousing “Home” from The Wiz.

Stacy Sullivan took to the stage as auctioneer extraordinaire with CDs and tickets to various cabaret shows in hand, helping raise more funds.

By special request, Jeff Harnar opened the second half with “Sondheim’s Oklahoma!,” a clever take on how the score to that classic musical would have sounded in Stephen Sondheim’s hands. Russ Kassoff was back, this time providing musical support for Yvonne Constant and “Comme d’habitude.”  Laurie Krauz brought longtime musical partner Daryl Kojak for a moody “Some Enchanted Evening.” Bringing up the energy in the room was T. Oliver Reid with “River Deep, Mountain High.” Iris Williams, with M.D. Art Weiss, gave us

“Two for the Road,” and Carolyn Montgomery-Forant performed “I Can’t Get Started.” Stacy Sullivan was back, this time to sing “Midnight Carousel.” We took a trip to Old MacDonald’s farm with tour guide Lennie Watts as he told of the farmers social challenged animals. (A flatulent pig, anyone?) Dedicating his song to Barbara Leavy, Russ Weatherford and Dana Lorge, Tom Gamblin presented a moving “It All Fades Away” (The Bridges of Madison County). The evening ended on a high note with another visit to The Wiz, with two-time Tony nominee Vivian Reed powerful interpretation of “Believe in Yourself.”

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