By Andrew Gans
CABARET
Several of my favorite singing actresses will be seen on smaller stages within the next few months.
McGovern, whose beautiful voice has been heard on Broadway and in concert halls around the world, has titled her new act A Long and Winding Road (Feb. 13-16 and Feb. 21-23). McGovern told me earlier this week that "putting together my new show with Philip Himberg has been an amazing experience. It's been a wistful, inspiring, tearful and hilarious journey back to my teens and early twenties. In this evening of intimate musical portraits, [audiences] will hear favorite songs of mine by Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Webb, Paul Simon, Carole King, James Taylor, Randy Newman, Bob Dylan, Lennon and McCartney, Laura Nyro and other iconoclastic sixties singer-songwriters, who helped shape our lives as a generation." McGovern will wrap her gorgeous tones around "The Circle Game," "The Moon's a Harsh Mistress," "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" and "Imagine," among others.
And, the one-and-only Betty Buckley, whose new CD "Betty Buckley 1967" hit the Billboard charts, will celebrate the release of her next solo recording, "Quintessence" (due Feb. 5 on the Playbill Records/Sony BMG Masterworks Broadway label), with a return engagement at Feinstein's at Loews Regency Feb. 5-23. Tony winner Buckley's newest program, entitled Then & Now, will be directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, and one can expect Buckley to cast her magical spell over audiences with her deeply felt and beautifully expressed renditions of tunes from the worlds of Broadway, country and pop.
Looking further ahead: Tony winner Barbara Cook will once again grace the stage of the Café Carlyle (March 4-April 12), and Karen Akers will bring her sultry sounds to the Algonquin's Oak Room May 13-June 14.
WISH LIST
A fully-staged Broadway revival of Follies with Bernadette Peters as Sally and Betty Buckley as Phyllis and Chita Rivera belting out "I'm Still Here."
A concert version of Evita to benefit the Actors Fund of America with all the original London and Broadway Evas — Patti LuPone, Elaine Paige, Marti Webb, Florence Lacey, Derin Altay, Loni Ackerman, Nancy Opel, Terri Klausner, et al. — each taking one song in the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice score.
Elaine Paige in concert at Carnegie Hall to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS . . . with the great British star re-creating moments from all of her stage outings.
"Pushing Daisies" star Ellen Greene back on Broadway. . .how about the multi-talented Greene as Roxie Hart in Chicago?
Okay, those are some of my theatrical wishes. Let me know yours.
Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching! E-mail questions or comments to agans@playbill.com.
04 Jan 2008
If you missed Liz Callaway's wonderful Between Flights act at the Metropolitan Room, fear not: Callaway will return to the intimate nightspot Jan. 11 and 12 with her mix of show and pop tunes. The cabaret on West 22nd Street will also welcome Christine Pedi and Maureen McGovern, who are both preparing new shows. Pedi — who just completed an extended run with Great Dames — will now turn her attention to the songs of Sheldon Harnick (Jan. 21 and 28 and Feb. 3, 4, 10 and 11). In Now I Have Everything Pedi will "gleefully take on the colorful characters and fantastic tales Harnick has given voice to in countless Broadway musicals with warmth, wit and boundless joy. These charming, sensitive and terrifically funny lyrics reflect the heart and kindness of one of the musical theatres greatest living treasures," according to press notes.
Christine Pedi
Rather than make a list of New Year's Resolutions, I thought it would be more fun to come up with productions I'd love to see. . . 
Ellen Greene in "Pushing Daisies." photo by ABC
DIVA TALK: A Diva Season Preview
Judy Kuhn, who is currently playing Fantine in the Broadway revival of Les Miserables (through Jan. 6), will reprise her evening of Laura Nyro tunes at the Iridium Jazz Club. After playing an acclaimed engagement at Joe's Pub, Kuhn will bring Serious Playground - The Songs of Laura Nyro, which includes a thrilling, moving version of "Stoney End," to the Iridium Jan. 10-31. Kuhn will offer shows Thursdays at 7 PM.
