LA has a New Broadway Cabaret! (This Friday Night!) — Page 2

1183 - fair enough! I'm just glad to hear it's even a possibility. I'm sick of reading about all these fun nights going on in NY.

Got-A-Light, I must say I'm getting a kick out of you calling us the "left" coast. That makes NY "right" which is just so WRONG. We're WEST coasters, baby!

I'm sure a lot of CA performers now making it in NY would love an excuse to help build up our reputation for having amazing theater talent... I can think of one in particular that should DEFINITELY make it back here every once in a while (hint hint!!!)

I'm expecting quite a few Broadway folks in the audience.

I just talked to Ron Dennis tonight (Original Richie in "A Chorus Line", original Cast of "My One and Only", "Hello Dolly" with Pearl Bailey, etc., etc.) and he will be coming tomorrow.

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FOUND THIS ON jazzpolice.com

Friday, June 2: The Spotlight: LA's Broadway Cabaret: Luba Mason, Ken Page, and Jennifer Leigh Warren 8:00 PM @ Ten20, 1020 North San Vicente Boulevard, (just south of Sunset Boulevard), The Ten20 is located on the ground floor of the Bel Age Hotel, just off the lobby entrance. West Hollywood, 310.358.7705, - Admission or Cover Charge: The is a $10.00 door charge for The Spotlight. The most stunning views of Los Angeles from high atop Sunset Boulevard, presenting the best in live Jazz and cabaret.

It is TOTALLY happening tonight, I just called. Not sure who you talked to, but they seem to know about it now.

What time is everyone going?

The person I spoke to this morning was a lot more knowledgable. I am going to do my best to get out of work in time. We've got all our contestants coming tomorrow so I'm just hoping that something doesn't come up last second to keep me stuck here at the office.

I've already warned my friend about you guys so give him a good laugh and say hi if you recognize me. He's going to let me know later on if he can make it, he wasn't feeling too well the past few days.

Oh wow! I can already envision how much of a munchkin I'm going to look like next to her should we be free to take pictures after. LOL

Can't wait! And it looks like I'll be out of here in time... so far! YAY
Luba Mason Video

All I can say is, "WOW!!!"

I'll do my best to make this brief as I'm horrible at reviewing shows...

First off I must say CONGRATULATIONS to the people who put this on. It was BEYOND packed and, I assume from the turnout, a real success!

My ONLY critique would have to be the sound system which was probably not built for nights like this. I think it did more of an injustice to Luba's voice but both ladies rose above it and I'm glad to have been introduced to them live!

Luba told an interesting story of how she was a classical pianist for 12 years and her sister was an opera singer. She spoke about her Slavik background and was very funny when describing how she changed her name and how her mother reacted.

"Ok Luba, I've been thinking about how you want to change your name and I've found the perfect one for you...What is it, Mom?... GRACE KELLY!...But Mom someone already has that name... Yeah but she's already dead"

I am forgetting some songs and I'm not even 100% sure of the titles but here is my best attempt at her song list (feel free to add or correCt if you were there):

-It's Gonna be a Bright Sunshiny Day
-(a song in spanish that she was inspired to learn by her fiance)
-All that Jazz... with a little choreography mind you, though she did accidentally hit her hand to the ceiling when reaching up.
-A song from the musical Over Here which embarassingly enough NOBODY in the room could guess. That was our Luba pop quiz and we failed miserably. Shame!
-Take me home you silly boy??? Not sure about this title at all
-A Slovak song
-The Calm Before The Storm, I think she meant to make a political statement about the war with this one
-I Got Love

Jennifer was next and quite the firecracker. She had the room going from the start actually came off stage and interacted a bit which was fun.

Her set included (once again, please forgive the lack of correct titles)

-Feeling Good
-Wouldn't it be Lovely
-Maybe this Time
-Dr. Longjohn?? A dentist song I think Bette Midler sang once too - VERY FUNNY, she WOOORKED this song. FEIRCE
-Easy to be Hard from Hair
-Suddenly Seymore (sung in spite of "all the tall skinny blonde girls that came in and out as Audrey... now it's MY turn!")
-Kansas City
-How Blessed - she stopped cause she started in the wrong key. "I could've done it, but I didn't feel like it" HA HA

OH, and she introduced Diahann Carroll as being in the audience. I had no idea I was sitting RIGHT behind her!

In addition to being bad at reviews I'm also bad at keeping things brief sometimes. And I'm off to bed! :)

Updated On: 6/3/06 at 03:42 AM

Great reviews! Sorry I missed it. Will have to catch another.

Popular - "Take Me Home, You Silly Boy" sounds like Tom Waits' song from "One From the Heart." Crystal Gayle sang it originally, and it's a beautiful song.

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Got-a-Light...I hope you will let me make some UNSOLICITED suggestions:

1) Please keep the $10 cover charge and don't raise it. I think the low cover charge really helped draw people in. You then get young actors and performers coming as well as old theatre queens like me who are going to spend money on food and drink.

2) Inviting a celebrity guest in the audience to do a number (or a duet) would be wonderful. I don't know if Diahann Carroll would have agreed to sing last night, but I'm sure Valarie Pettiford would have gotten up and done something. Also inviting a young-up-and-comer to do a number would be quite nice.

3) Ask the performers to stick to showtunes for the majority of their set. I don't think it's a coincidence that Luba's greatest applause was for "All That Jazz". Showtune queens come out to hear showtunes...

4) I absolutely loved the pairing of Luba and Jennifer, a glamorous white diva and a sassy black diva. I would suggest inviting a pair of singers who are good friends in real life and working off that chemistry and possibly them doing a duet together.

Some of my suggestions:

Wilson Cruz and Deborah Gibson
Jack Noseworthy and Valarie Pettiford
Tami Tappan Damiano and Billy Porter
Valarie Pettiford and Jane Lanier
Misty Cotton and Julie Dixon Jackson
David Engle and Tami Tappan Damiano
Larry Raben, David Engle and Tami Tappan Damiano
Ken Page and Armelia McQueen

These are just a few of my suggestions. I definitely think the first night was a MAJOR success, artistically and in terms of turnout. So keep up the good work.

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BroadwayBaby6 thank you very much for your comments. We welcome them! Feedback is a good thing, except of course when it comes from a microphone :)!

Updated On: 6/3/06 at 08:35 PM

"1) Please keep the $10 cover charge and don't raise it. I think the low cover charge really helped draw people in."

I suggest making the price a little clearer on the flyer. It was $10 to get in AND a $10 minimum on food and/or drinks. Plus $5 for the valet so it's basically a $25 night at the very least (and that's not including tipping). This is MORE than reasonable for a fun night out... but it's no $10.

Still waiting for the pictures :)

Updated On: 6/4/06 at 02:27 AM

If you stand by the bar there is not a drink or food minimum. There is if you are seated at a table.

Thanks Popular... we will work on making that more clear.