Mabel at Myron’s: A Celebration of Cabaret Legend Mabel Mercer

Post author:Jeanie Carroll
Post published:August 23, 2026
Reading time:3 mins read

Mabel at Myron’s
A Celebration of Cabaret Legend Mabel Mercer

Myron’s at The Smith Center, Las Vegas, NV, August 11, 2026

Reviewed by Jeanie Carroll

Mabel at Myron’s was a quintessential New York night in Las Vegas that saluted cabaret muse Mabel Mercer, the singular sensation that inspired stars such as Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, and Johnny Mathis. The evening was reminiscent of a night out on the town in Manhattan that would inevitably lead to Midnight at Mabel’s.

Any knowledge of American popular song interpretation would not be complete without the study of Mabel Mercer’s influence on lyric interpretation and performance. Her perfect diction and honest approach to lyrics led many of America’s rising singers to emulate her style. Tin Pan Alley was expanded and included Broadway’s brightest composing stars: Cole Porter; George & Ira Gershwin; Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein, II; and Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. Chic supper clubs and smoky saloons in New York and Paris were a perfect playground for “the intimate art of cabaret.”

Phillip Officer curated and hosted this superb tribute to the brave woman who pioneered our beloved American Popular Songbook. His recording You Fascinate Me So celebrating Mercer was released last year to rave reviews. He is passionate about bringing her contributions and achievements to light.

Left to Right: Craig Rubano, Brent Barrett, Dennis Bono, KT Sullivan, Patrick Hogan, Natalie Douglas, Jeff Harner, Amanda King, Michelle Johnson, Phillip Officer (Host), Clint Holmes, and Mark Hartman (Music Director)

The show featured witty and touching stories, well-acted songs, and a gorgeous tribute duet. There was so much talent on one stage that this author’s head is still spinning! Officer organized this stellar line-up that was composed of vocalists from New York City and Las Vegas. Our musical palates were treated to tasty samplings by an illustrious cast. The stage lit up with so many dazzling performances. Jeff Harnar was magical with “It’s De-Lovely” (Cole Porter). Patrick Hogan offered a smooth-as-silk “Nice ‘n’ Easy” (Lew Spence/Alan & Marilyn Bergman). Jazz chanteuse Amanda King enchanted us on “Too Marvelous for Words” (Richard Whiting/Johnny Mercer) and Clint Holmes jazzed it up with “It’s All Right with Me” (Porter). Dennis Bono crooned “Until the Real Thing Comes Along” (Saul Chaplin/Sammy Cahn) with the charisma of the Rat Pack. Michelle Johnson expertly enacted “I’m Becoming My Mother” (Brian Lasser). Brent Barrett reanimated “One of The Good Guys” (Richard Maltby, Jr./David Shire). Fourteen-time MAC Award winner Natalie Douglas presented a show-stopping “Fifty Percent” (Billy Goldenberg/The Bergmans). Multilingual Craig Rubano sang a rousing “The Impossible Dream” (Mitch Leigh/Joe Darion) in Spanish and English. KT “Cabaret Icon” Sullivan’s mezzo soprano trilled “Once Upon a Time” (Chalres Strouse/Lee Adams). Music director/pianist Mark Hartman offered Noël Coward’s “Matelot” to the mix, and bassist extraordinaire David Ostrem was featured on “Look at Him” (Bob Merrill). Officer closed the evening with a stirring arrangement of “Fly Me to the Moon” (Bart Howard) and “Both Sides Now” (Joni Mitchell) that brought the audience to its feet.

The sold-out audience loved witnessing this musical union of talent and camaraderie and the marriage between these two entertainment capitals of the world. Now that the bridge has been built, it would be a wonderful treat if this were an annual celebration at Myron’s at The Smith Center.

Tags: Too Marvelous for Words, Mitch Leigh, Joe Darion, Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Fifty Percent, I’m Becoming My Mother, It’s De-Lovely, It’s All Right with Me, The Impossible Dream, Both Sides Now, composer, Once Upon a Time, George & Ira Gershwin, Amanda King, Billy Goldenberg, Clubs, Johnny Mathis, Tin Pan Alley, Brian Lasser, Michelle Johnson, Cabaret Reviews, David Shire, Myron’s at the Smith Center, One of The Good Guys, Dennis Bono, Patrick Hogan, You Fascinate Me, New York night, Navada, A Celebration of Cabaret Legend Mabel Mercer, Mabel at Myron’s, Jeanie Carroll, Richard Maltby Jr., Craig Rubano, Nice ‘n’ Easy, David Ostrem, ASA, Saul Chaplin, Matelot, American Songbook Association, Until the Real Thing Comes Along, Look at Him, Cabaret, Peggy Lee, Bart Howard, Johnny Mercer, Carolyn Leigh, Lena Horne, Natalie Douglas, Mark Hartman, Broadway Musicals, Cy Coleman, Tony Bennett, Broadway, Joni Mitchell, Jeff Harnar, KT Sullivan, Cole Porter, Las Vegas, Cabaret Scenes, Lyricist, Reviews, Lew Spence, CD, Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Whiting, Fly Me to the Moon, Lee Adams, Charles Strouse, Frank Sinatra, Clint Holmes, Nat King Cole, American Songbook, Bob Merrill, Brent Barrett, Sammy Cahn, Richard Rodgers, Mabel Mercer, Noël Coward

Jeanie Carroll

Jeanie Carroll, cabaret enthusiast and vocalist, has had a long and exciting career as a performer in many configurations: in Big Bands, with Jazz Combos; as a soloist/guitarist; being involved in Community Theatre; as a DJ; and as a Music Educator in Sedona and Las Vegas. Carroll frequently travels to participate in cabaret conferences from Chicago to Paris, France. Her passions include family, travel, languages, and teaching. When she has a night off from gigging, she loves attending and writing about high-caliber cabaret events!