By Andrew Gans
05 Jul 2007

Christine Ebersole

The Mabel Mercer Foundation's 2007 Cabaret Convention will be presented Nov. 5-8 at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The week of events celebrates the best of Manhattan cabaret.

The 18th Annual Cabaret Convention will kick off Nov. 5 with a Gala Opening featuring the talents of Barbara Brussell, Judy Butterfield, Barbara Carroll, Tony DeSare, Jeff Harnar, Maude Maggart, Andrea Marcovicci, Steve Ross, Catherine Russell, Jennifer Sheehan and Paula West. Marcovicci will receive the Mabel Award that evening "in grateful acknowledgment of the elegance, intelligence, communicative power, and musical magic she ceaselessly shares with the world-wide cabaret community."

The Nov. 6 concert is titled The Art of the Performance and will feature two acts. The first half of the evening will welcome Christine Ebersole, Greta, Pamela Luss, Steve Kirwan and Billy Stritch. The second half of the night will feature veteran singer-actress Marilyn Maye. The evening will also include the presentation of the Bart Howard Encouragement Award to Stritch "in happy recognition of his outstanding musical taste and gifts as composer, arranger, singer, musician and exemplary cabaret entertainer."

Centennial Celebration! is the title of the Nov. 7 evening, which will honor the 100th birthday anniversaries of several composers, lyricists and performers. Those taking to the stage will include Eric Comstock, Cynthia Crane, Barbara Fasano, Terese Genecco, Valerie Lemon, Phillip Officer, Julie Reyburn, Lumiri Tubo and Julie Wilson. The latter will present the Julie Wilson Award to Reyburn "in joyful gratitude for the vocal majesty and lyrical interpretation she continually manifests in her classic presentations of The Great Popular Songbook." Comstock will also receive The Dick Gallagher Award that same evening "in celebration of his expertise and outstanding achievement as vocalist, accompanist, musical director and cabaret performer."

The Convention will conclude Nov. 8 with For Edythe, With Love, a tribute to Edythe Kenner, "a great, good friend to The Mabel Mercer Foundation who cherished cabaret, its stars and songs." Those scheduled to salute the late Kenner include Adam Alexander, Klea Blackhurst, Sidney Myer, Mark Nadler, Craig Rubano, KT Sullivan and Wesla Whitfield. The final performance will also feature the presentation of the Paul Laurence Award to Myer "in heartfelt and ongoing appreciation for the continual caring, compassion and camaraderie he unfailingly exhibits as performer, purveyor, and long-time cabaret producer and entrepreneur."

Jazz at Lincoln Center is located in Manhattan at Broadway and 60th Street. For ticket information visit www.mabelmercer.org.