Cabaret Convention Plays Jazz at Lincoln Center Beginning Oct. 7

By Andrew Gans
October 7, 2009

The 20th Annual Cabaret Convention — which salutes the best of New York cabaret — kicks off its three-evening run at Jazz at Lincoln Center in Manhattan Oct. 7 with a performance titled Celebrate! Celebrate! Celebrate!

The evening, which will include the presentation of the Dick Gallagher Award to Eric Michael Gillett, features the talents of The Accidentals, Mary Cleere Haran, Wesla Whitfield, Marilyn Maye, Carole Bufford, Barbara Carroll Sidney Myer, Karen Mason, Nicolas King, Andrea Marcovicci, Amanda McBroom, Christine Andreas and award recipient Gillett.

All in the Family is the title of the Oct. 8 performance, which will boast the talents of Adam, Batyah, Kerry and Sheera Ben-David; Ann Hampton, Liz and Shirley Callaway; Eric Comstock; Tony DeSare; Kevin Dozier; Barbara Fasano; Nicole Henry; Beckie Menzie; Tom Michael; Mark Nadler; Will and Anthony Nunziata; Elizabeth, Stacy and KT Sullivan; and Maria Teece. Sheera Ben-David will receive the Julie Wilson Award during the Family night.

The convention will conclude Oct. 9 with Music Heals. In addition to the presentation of the Mabel Mercer Award to "A Very Special Artist," the concert will feature the vocals of Karen Akers, Baby Jane Dexter, Natalie Douglas, Jeff Harnar, Phillip Officer, Barbara Rosene, Craig Rubano, Catherine Russell, Daryl Sherman, Jennifer Sheehan, Marlene VerPlanck and Julie Wilson.

All shows begin at 6 PM. Tickets are priced $20, $50 and $100.

The Rose Theater is located at Frederick P. Rose Hall within Jazz at Lincoln Center at Broadway and 60th Street. For more information about the upcoming convention, visit www.mabelmercer.org or call (212) 980-3026.

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Produced by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, the first annual Cabaret Convention was mounted in 1989. Since that time similar events have been produced in Chicago, Palm Springs, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Donald F. Smith is executive director of the Foundation.