The 30th New York Cabaret Convention
The Sunny Side of the Street
Rose Theater, NYC, October 28, 2019
Reviewed by Peter Haas for Cabaret Scenes
Photo: Helane Blumfield
From throughout the country cabaret fans poured into Manhattan’s Columbus Circle on an October evening to meet and greet each other and to enjoy a special evening of song. It was the opening show of the Mabel Mercer Foundation’s four-day 30th New York Cabaret Convention. Titled The Sunny Side of the Street, and presented at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater, the evening celebrated the work of Dorothy Fields and other great women songwriters.
Written and hosted by Deborah Grace Winer—author, dramatist, and expert on the Great American Songbook— the evening brought a variety of performers to the stage. Examples included: Linda Purl, singing “I Feel a Song Coming On”; Darius de Haas with “On the Sunny Side of the Street” and “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love”; La Tanya Hall with “The Best Is Yet to Come”; Tom Wopat singing “Look Around”; Karrin Allyson with “Some of That Sunshine”; Margo Seibert performing “A Natural Woman”; Stacy Sullivan delivering a merry “I Love Being Here with You”; James Naughton with a robust “I’m in the Mood For Love”; Nicholas King doubling up to perform “The Party’s Over” and “Just in Time”; Debby Boone singing “I’m Waiting Just for You,” and Christine Andreas with “The Summer Knows.”
And that was only the first act.
After intermission, the same stars returned for the evening’s second half, with different songs, one addition, and one interruption to the music-making. The added performer was bassist Jay Leonhart, who, with conductor/pianist Mark Hummel and drummer Ray Marchica, was supporting the singers throughout the evening. For his solo, Leonhart lugged his bass to the front of the stage to play and sing a delightful “You Couldn’t Be Cuter.”
The interruption was for presentation of the Donald F. Smith Award, an annual prize named after the late founder of the Mabel Mercer Foundation. Underwritten by Adela and Larry Elow, long-time fans and supporters of cabaret, the prize is designed “to reward those cabaret artists who embody the passion, talent, glamour and dedication to the American Popular Songbook beloved and championed by Donald Smith and exemplified by Mabel Mercer.” This year’s surprised rewardee was Christine Andreas.
