Andrea Marcovicci
“My View” written by Stephen Sorokoff
Stephen Holden, in his recent NY Times article assessing the state of Cabaret, pointed out that a new chapter will start with this year’s Cabaret Convention. Mr. Holden explained that KT Sullivan, who took over after the death of founder Donald Smith, will have “the tricky mission of attracting younger artists and audiences while preserving Smith’s legacy”.
The first page of that chapter happened last night at The Friars Club. Appropriately, The Friars “Remembering The Oak Room” took place in the legendary Frank Sinatra Dining Room at The Friars Club. The Friars itself represents exactly what Mr. Holden was talking about. The club has an eclectic mixture of older show business luminaries together with the younger entertainment business professionals. This constant rejuvenation that happens at the Friars always results in a continuing, uplifting and happy experience when you are in the club.
Tony De Sare
Friar Bill Boggs & WSJ music expert Will Friedwald hosted the event. Arthur Pomposello, who ran the Oak Room at the Algonquin for many years, recounted the wonderful entertainers who appeared at the Hotel.
Andrea Marcovicci, one of the first performers to be booked in the Oak Room, led off the evening. Barbara Carroll, Eric Comstock, Barbara Fasano, Steve Ross, Mark Nadler and KT Sullivan showed why the Oak Room, as Mr. Pomposello said, “became the best cabaret in the world.” True to KT’s “tricky mission” Tony DeSare and Emily Bergl represented the newer cabaret voices. How fitting it was that Tony DeSare, who Mr. Holden tagged as “the most promising in an unending stream of Frank Sinatra acolytes,” performed in The Frank Sinatra Room right under a picture of Mr. S!
Comstock and Fasano
*Photos by Stephen Sorokoff
Arthur Pompasello
Will Friedwald, Bill Boggs
Posted by Sandi Durell
on October 2, 2012. Filed under Cabaret,Cabaret and Interviews - Sandi Durell,COLUMNS,ENTERTAIMENT.
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