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DIVA TALK: "Nancy LaMott—Live at Tavern on the Green" Plus Audra at the Rose and Ute at the Carlyle
By Andrew Gans
14 Jan 2005
DIVA TIDBITS
Despite a bout with the flu that forced the cancellation of her Jan. 6 concert, four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald seemed in high gear at her Jan. 8 concert at the Time Warner Center's new Rose Theatre. McDonald's concerts marked the opening of the seventh season of Lincoln Center's acclaimed American Songbook series, and the four time Tony Award winner ventured into somewhat new territory for her Songbook weekend, exploring the works of more contemporary writers like Randy Newman, Rufus Wainwright, John Mayer and Elvis Costello. However, she also included tunes from several of the composers she has championed throughout her career: Michael John LaChiusa, Ricky Ian Gordon and Adam Guettel. McDonald, who sipped Gatorade throughout the intermissionless 90-minute concert, was backed by a ten-piece band that featured musical director Ted Sperling on piano. Among the songs she interpreted were "When Lola Sings," a tune Michael John LaChiusa wrote especially for the occasion; Randy Newman's "Last Night I Had a Dream" and "I Think It's Going to Rain Today"; Rufus Wainwright's "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" and "Damned Ladies"; Adam Guettel's "Life Is But a Dream"; Jane Kelly Williams' "Wonderful You"; John Mayer's "My Stupid Mouth"; Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach's "God Give Me Strength"; Nellie McKay's "I Wanna Get Married"; Jonathan Larson's "Hosing the Furniture"; Jessica Molaskey and Ricky Ian Gordon's "Cradle and All"; Stevie Wonder's "Happier than the Morning Sun"; Dan Lipton's "Where Would I Be Now"; Joe Raposo's "Bein' Green"; and Laura Nyro's "Tom Cat Goodbye." At Saturday evening's performance, McDonald returned for two encores: a glorious version of Bock and Harnick's "When Did I Fall in Love?" and an unmiked version of John Bucchino's "It Feels Like Home" that she sang in honor of the beautiful new theatre space.
Ute Lemper, who made her Broadway debut in Chicago, premieres her new cabaret act at New York's Café Carlyle tonight (Jan. 14). Entitled Blood & Feathers, the concerts will be presented at the posh nightspot through Feb. 26. About her new show, Lemper recently said, "[Audiences] should prepare to be taken on a ride through the joints of Berlin, Paris and New York to catch the spirits of poets and provocateurs, to hear stories between war and peace, to move from temptation to serenity, all decorated with blood and feathers!" Lemper also added, "Pirate Jenny will meet Edith Piaf and both will tell stories of lost love, betrayal, politics and revenge in the year 2005 — the scene is New York, the club is glamorous, but the stories are true!" Cabaretgoers can expect to hear works by Weill, Brecht, Hollaender, Brel, Prevert, Sondheim and Kander and Ebb. Lemper will offer a few of her own compositions as well. Cafe Carlyle is located within the Carlyle Hotel at Madison Avenue and 76th Street. For reservations call (212) 570-7189; visit www.thecarlyle.com for more information.
Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching! E-mail questions or comments to agans@playbill.com.
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