Hellos and hugs filled Rose Theater as cabaret fans and performers from across the country gathered for the festive opening night of the 22nd Annual Cabaret Convention. Missing, however, was one major figure: at the show’s start, when producer/host Donald Smith would have greeted everyone, a message from him was read noting that he was out working on a cabaret act with his “old pal Beth Israel.” Stepping in to emcee the evening with sparkle and charm: Andrea Marcovicci.

Among a top lineup of stars, several stood out: Barbara Carroll, with her elegant jazz piano variation on “My Funny Valentine”; Sandy Stewart and Bill Charlap performing a smoky “Two for the Road”; Christine Andreas, gloriously singing “I Love Paris” and “La vie en rose”; KT Sullivan tossing off a French chanson as the droll Colleen McHugh translated it into New York street talk; Liz Callaway singing “Another Hundred Lyrics,” a whirlwind takeoff of Sondheim songs with lyrics by Laura Mayer; Sidney Myer (pictured), with his double-entendre “When I Grow Up” (“The G-Man Song); Craig Rubano, striding the stage, unmiked, singing “When Day Is Done”; Steve Ross performing “Time”; and, closing the show, the glamorous Emily Bergl, performing the Peggy Lee hit, “Is That All There Is?,” with composer Mike Stoller in the audience.

The evening included the presentation of two awards: the Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in Cabaret to young Jennifer Sheehan, and The Mabel Mercer Award to Broadway and cabaret star Karen Mason, who was unable to attend.

Peter Haas
Cabaret Scenes
October 20, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org