Jenna Esposito invited eleven cabaret performers to participate in her birthday party at the Metropolitan Room in New York City on December 3, 2008. Julian Yeo and Miles Phillips led singalongs on "Makin' Whoopee" and "White Christmas." Maureen Taylor, Cynthia Crane and Raissa Katona Bennett did fully-acted torch songs. Steven Ray Watkins swung on "Merry Christmas Baby," Scott Coulter crooned a sensitive "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and Lennie Watts did an emotional "Celebrate Me Home."

Hector Coris stated he hated Christmas, singing deadpan "What I Don't Want For Christmas," a funny list of unwanted Christmas gifts. Songwriter Ray Jessel recalled the Great Depression and did his hilarious Shirley Temple song. Sue Matsuki talked about her Japanese husband leading into "Haiku." Comic Danny Leary told of his funny Irish-Mexican family youth. Rob Langeder rocked on Louis Prima's "Jump Jive and Wail" and Music Director Fortune Esposito did his favorite Sixties ballad, "Purple Haze."

In the spirit of the holiday Jenna herself sang a sexy "Santa Baby," a plaintive "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" and a dramatic non-holiday song, Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me To the End of Love." Her final song was even more appropriate, an optimistic "Tomorrow" from Annie.

Joe Regan, Jr.
Cabaret Scenes
December 3, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org