88 stories by "Michael Barbieri"
In an African patterned maxi dress and leonine wig, the fabulous Monét X Change made her way through the audience, hilariously shouting"yes, SHOUTING the opening chant to "The Circle of Lif…
Every so often I'll see a performer who makes me remember why I fell in love with cabaret back in the day. Phyllis Pastore's show, The Last 30 Years, at Pangea, was a warm, funny evening of…
In her recent show at the Triad Theater, Francesca Loeber proved, as the old saying goes, that big things often do come in small packages! Born and raised in New Jersey, Loeber, also known a…
Desmond Child may well be the most famous songwriter of whom you've never heard. But even if you don't know his name, you definitely know his music. Known as one of the music industry's bi…
With the move of "RuPaul's Drag Race" to VH1, this reality competition is reaching more drag fans than ever before. The art of drag has definitely become a global phenomenon! Here in New Y…
Picture this: you're sitting at a little table surrounded by friendly music lovers. In front of you there's a smart cocktail or a nice glass of wine. A lone accordionist in a newsboy cap app…
Three fantastic voices and one masterful guitar! What else do you need for a perfect evening of cabaret? With their show, Clearly Now, the moment Lina Koutrakos, Sean Harkness and Marcus S…
I first read the news on Facebook. My good friend, Kimlee Hicks, had put up a post asking "So, where were you on New Year's?" Kimlee is a fabulous singer who happens to be one of the barte…
When it comes to David Bowie, Raquel Cion wears her heart on her sleeve"the sequined, bugle-beaded sleeve of her fabulous Bowie-inspired couture! Her show, Me and Mr. Jones: My Intimate Rela…
Okay! I'll admit it! I have been BariToned!!! Yes, BariToned is a fabulous, farcical trio of large and in charge baritones whose deliciously campy show, Damsel in Distress, celebrated the…
At one point in Cynthia Crane's most recent turn at Don't Tell Mama, she reminded us that she's a saloon singer. And while she is certainly one of the best interpreters of those smoky barroo…
I've been a fan of Meg Flather for many years. I first encountered her as part of a duo called Leather & Flather, where she sang with singer/pianist Christian Daizey. During my days as a t…
I caught Ira Lee Collings' show Naked From the Neck Up recently at Don't Tell Mama. What can I say? There really aren't superlatives superlative enough to describe this wonderful show and …
The music rose up! The lights began to flash and strobe! We heard the thunderous sounds of "Ride of the Valkyries" from Die Walküre, the second of the four operas in Richard Wagner's Der Ri…
For those of us of a certain generation, the songs of Linda Ronstadt burn brightly in our memories. In her show Heart Like a Wheel: A Tribute to the Music of Linda Ronstadt, the wonderful Ri…
Running in Place, the title of Sierra Rein's show at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, might very well be a misnomer, because from what I saw and heard, she is a charming, energetic performer who…
With his infamous offstage sigh, Steven Brinberg's Simply Barbra hit the stage at The Green Room 42 and proved that his loving, yet often wicked impersonation of Ms. Streisand has as much st…
Look! Up on the stage! He's a singer! He's a drag queen! He's a fabulous, former gay porn star! With so much talent on display, Anita Procedure's breakout show "Adult Performer," at the L…
There are very few singers in cabaret as good at interpreting the songs of Alan and Marilyn Bergman as Marieann Meringolo; her show Between Yesterday and Tomorrow at the Beach Cafe was proof…
C'mon and hear! C'mon and hear the music of Irving Berlin. And Jerome Kern! And Hoagie Carmichael! And Jimmy Van Heusen! Peter and Will Anderson's fantastic Songbook Summit series at Sy…
Spencer Day is a multi-faceted gem of a performer. When I went to see his show at The Green Room 42, I was expecting an evening of jazz. What I discovered was a charming singer-songwriter,…
Barb Jungr and John McDaniel's show 1968 " Let the Sun Shine In at Joe's Pub, was a hip and trippy tribute to that momentous year. But Jungr and McDaniel were the perfect guides, so there w…
What do you get when you bring together MAC Award winner Amy Wolk and panelists from the worlds of Broadway, cabaret and television, telling outrageous and often hilarious stories about thei…
One of the most talked-about new TV series to hit the airwaves this season is "Pose," the fierce, flamboyant and unabashedly honest drama set in the world of the Harlem drag balls of the 198…
Who doesn't love a witch, a bitch or a diva?! Let's face it"when it comes to stage, screen and music, we all love the bad girls and the flamboyant, over-the-top superstars, because they're …
