Kristin Chenoweth
Some of Broadway’s brightest stars will be on hand for The Drama League’s 28th Annual Musical celebration of Broadway. One of the theater season’s most anticipated events will honor Tony and Emmy Award winning actress Kristin Chenoweth on February 6, 2012 at 7 pm in the Grand Ballroom of The Pierre Hotel. The evening designed by celebrity event planner Preston Bailey supports the educational initiatives of The Drama League Directors Project.

Lucie ArnazBill Irwin
The Nightlife Awards honors NYC’s performers in the worlds of cabaret, jazz and comedy clubs.  This is their 10^th year and the only awards ceremony where there are no acceptance speeches and the honorees perform to show us why they were chosen.

Petula ClarkMid February thru March 2012
Here are some recaps in case you missed the multitude of January shows:
Petula Clark back in New York at Feinstein’s
The 79 year old Ms. Clark is a skillful and artistic legend, as lovely to look at and delightful to listen to as those nostalgic recordings I remember. She’s still got that remarkable “it” factor, albeit keys are lowered a bit, but high notes still in tact, her engaging performance style drawing you right in. She presented a wide range of music, backed by a four piece band. 

“MAKIN’ WHOOPEE: Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn and the Jazz Age.”
               By Linda Amiel Burns
The Lyrics & Lyricist Series at The 92nd St Y’s Kaufman Hall opened its new season on January 7-9 with “Makin’ Whoopee: Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn and the Jazz Age,” a tuneful, toe-tapping concert featuring great singers and songs.  The series artistic director, Deborah Grace Winer, introduced music historian Robert Kimball who served as narrator and producer.  The show opened with the terrific Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks, a renowned 11-piece band who specializes in playing original arrangements from the 20’s & 30’s, playing an overture of the great material that was to come.  The cast couldn’t have been more perfect with Christine Andreas, Jason Graae, Laura Osnes and Howard McGillin, and they made every song a showstopper.

Photo: Barry Gordin
The Negro Ensemble Company presented The Picture Box, a new play by Cate Ryan, Off Broadway at Theater Row. The play, a warm and loving story about the relationship between a caretaker ( a young black man) and the little girl, who lives in the home he watches over, opened last night at the Beckett Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street.

Hamptonites HENRY BUEHL, JOE COHEN, RAY MERRITT and JANET LEHR Support Palm Beach Photographic Center in MAJOR exhibition-thru March.
           Janet Lehr: ArtMkt Recap
Boys Boxing: Albumen Print 1883This week in Palm Beach. The Hamptons' celebrate a host of their finest - Henry Buhl, Joe Cohen, Ray Merritt and Janet Lehr, lenders to FULL OF GRACE, a photography exhibition opening Thursday, January 26th at The Palm Beach Photographic Center, 515 Clematis St. WPB. Pre-opening event kick-off at the Center is a panel discussion Wednesday Jan 25th beginning at 10:30 am, by the photography curators of the Getty Museum, the Norton Museum and Vered Gallery's Janet Lehr. All are welcome - Come early, seating is limited.

         Janet Lehr: ArtMkt Recap
          Ruth Kalb: Photographs
Internationally, the number of millionaires grew by 8.3% to 10.9 million in 2010.  Estimated total of their collective net worth is $42.7 Trillion.  No wonder that art prices at the group of art fairs in Miami, December 2011, were strong, buyers hungry, the dealers happy.

“A Night of Cole Porter”    By Linda Amiel Burns
When Michael Feinstein first heard John Proulx, he booked him immediately for a four-month run playing piano bar at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency and has been his champion ever since saying that “it takes a lot of imagination as well as natural talent to make jazz standards sound fresh and vital.  John sings and plays so beautifully and is an outstanding songwriter as well.  He’s simply a joy to hear.”

Jessica Molaskey, John PizzarelliIn case you weren’t there, here’s a short Cabaret review recap:
Cheyenne Jackson’s Cocktail Hour: Music of the Mad Men Era was “groovy” at Carnegie Hall’s NY Pops Series as Jackson sizzled showing off facets of his sexy baritone and liquid falsetto range, and welcoming Jane Krakowski as special guest. No doubt Idaho produced more than yummy potatoes when Cheyenne came on the scene.

The New York Pops orchestra, conducted by Music Director Steven Reineke, took audiences back to the Mad Men era, when Bossa Nova was new and dance music was smooth and hip. The performance featured guest artist Cheyenne Jackson, star of Broadway, 30 Rock, and Glee, in a cool, swinging program that included “Feeling Good,” “Luck Be a Lady,” and “Sway” at Carnegie Hall.

Photography: Maryann Lopinto