It's rare that I give up a source/venue, but the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts deserves huge kudos for presenting renowned cabaret performer Steve Ross in a program featuring treasures from the library's music division.
It's impossible to list every Broadway show, every song title, every performer presented on Monday night. Here's a sampler. Some you'll know, some you may want to Google—I'm a Yahoo! search guy, myself.
Musicals: Tenderloin; Redhead; Foxy; Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen; The Fig Leaves Are Falling; (whew!) Skyscraper; Golden Rainbow; Maggie Flynn—the list goes on. Literally.
Composers/Librettists: Bock & Harnick; Dorothy Fields, Albert Hague; Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse; Ervin Drake; Noel Coward; Matt Dubey; Kander & Ebb—the list goes on. Literally.
So, here's the thing. Is Steve Ross the best piano player/singer/cabaret song stylist out there? Maybe yes, maybe no. Is he a force to be reckoned with? Definite yes. There were at least 17 vocalists involved, so individual props will not be forthcoming. I did, however, read all the bios, and I'll quote my favorite one: "PATRICK MONAHAN likes to sing good songs." 'Nuff said.
This was a well-thought-out program with very good planning (room for a bit of improvement) and the type of programming that adds a great deal to this crazy quilt that is New York. Not just New York of the Algonquin/Oak Room/Feinstein's, etc., but the New York where 250 people can experience an astounding performance and learning experience through the NY public library system.
Major-league congratulations.
CM
p.s. As Mr. Ross said, "We haven't even begun with Off-Broadway."
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