Michael Garin News

Happy Thanksgiving Day, Cabaret Fans! Here's some breaking news you can discuss and debate in between courses at tonight's dinner: It's the final nominees for the 2015 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards. This year, the cabaret editors and writers at BWW have cited 116 nominees (including duos and variety show/recurring series producers) in 14 categories. In addition, this year six performers or musicians have been cited for special “Editor's Choice Awards,” led by veteran New York cabaret stars Karen Mason and Mark Nadler who have been named “Performers of the Year.”

"If I get my sh*t right, you're gonna move," Michael Garin declared from the Metropolitan Room piano, energy crackling through every fiber of his compact form as he leaned into the microphone. On September 28, Garin opened his new show, A Punch In The Mouth, banging out a muscular, unexpected boogie-woogie 'Habañera' arrangement of 'Surf Carmen' (Bizet-Kern, arr. Garin). A 1992 Drama Desk winner (for the show Song of Singapore), Garin often performs with his 'tattooed ex-ingenue' wife Mardie Millet, but tonight she sat in the audience, leaving Garin to fend for himself. For the next hour, Garin held court at the keyboard, reeling off his show biz stories, teaching music theory, and wandering into emotional family history. 

A PUNCH IN THE MOUTH is a musical memoir full of blatant exaggerations, out-and-out lies and a for-real ghost story. It's the adventures and misadventures of Drama Desk winner Michael Garin.

Fox Searchlight Pictures announced today that National Geographic Channel has joined forces with Fox Searchlight Pictures for the global theatrical release of Academy Award winner Davis Guggenheim's upcoming feature documentary HE NAMED ME MALALA

On Monday, April 27, Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland was the place to celebrate Andy Propst's new book, 'You Fascinate Me So: The Life and Times of Cy Coleman.' Scroll down for photos from the concert!

It's not exactly a secret that cabaret has for decades been a world dominated by female entertainers. Sylvia Syms, Julie Wilson, Margaret Whiting, Karen Akers, KT Sullivan, Karen Mason and myriad others have assumed the top notches of the art form. But, perhaps, men might be taking their place among the front lines and a perfect example this past week were the shows from cabaret veterans Kevin Dozier and Frank Torren.

New York cabaret audiences have for years been blessed with extremely entertaining performing marrieds like John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molasky, Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, and Michael Garin and Mardie Millett. But after experiencing the thoroughly enchanting October 8 performance from Amanda McBroom and her husband George Ball at 54 Below (there was a second performance on October 14), it's difficult to imagine a cabaret couple more compelling. In short, the Balls were having a ball and, ultimately, so did their audience.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

A grassroots movement to name Michael Garin poet laureate of Manhattan (or at least 54th Street) will hold a rally in Madison Square Park this Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Garin, the Drama Desk winning composer, pianist, singer, actor and all-round bon vivant, has created a viral sensation with his daily Facebook poems promoting his performances at Bill's Food & Drink, The Monkey Bar and other venues. A collection of these poems, Get Shameless or Stay Fameless: The Facebook Doggerel of Michael Garin, is currently available on Amazon. Mr. Garin has been a mainstay on the late-night music scene in New York for decades.

Craving a show after the show? 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, is expanding its popular late-night series with fresh faces and hot new performances to keep the party buzzing into the wee hours. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th St., 54 BELOWwelcomes you to loosen your tie and embrace the night at its upcoming events, featuring no cover charges and low minimums:

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher is the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," and more:

For those craving a show after the show, stop by 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. Loosen your tie and enjoy as Broadway's nightclub expands its late night series. JoiningTuesday nights' popular Backstage with Susie Mosher are three new late night events featuring bright and upcoming New York talent:

With its funny, sexy and sentimental book by master craftsman George Abbott and a catchy and clever score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, Damn Yankees is a textbook example of the kind of big and brassy musicals that made Broadway's Golden Age glitter.  Paper Mill's terrific new production is packed with boisterous comic performances and, as the song says, miles and miles and miles of heart.

Yank!, which played the York Theatre Off Broadway in the 2009-2010 season and previously announced a Broadway transfer for 2010-11, has now set its sights on a 2012-13 debut.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY, by Pearl Cleage, is set as the second production of the 2011 - 2012 season. Pasadena Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps is also confirmed to direct the production. BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY will replace the engagement of Pastoral which was to have starred Angela Bassett this fall. Performances begin November 1, 2011 and the production will play through November 27, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino).

Broadway veterans Brandi Burkhardt and Robert Torti are set to lead the upcoming Pasadena Playhouse reading of SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE. The duo joins previously announced Marissa Jaret Winokur, who will play Becky in the project.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY, by Pearl Cleage, is set as the second production of the 2011 - 2012 season. Pasadena Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps is also confirmed to direct the production. BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY will replace the engagement of Pastoral which was to have starred Angela Bassett this fall. Performances begin November 1, 2011 and the production will play through November 27, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino).

If Mike Nichols and Elaine May ever had a routine about two theatre geeks discussing their favorite unsuccessful musicals, it probably would have resembled the kind of banter that goes on between Jennifer Tepper and Kevin Michael Murphy as creators/producers/hosts of the concert series, If It Only Even Runs A Minute.  Monday night's edition, their seventh, was my third visit to their collection of one-nighters where musical theatre well-knowns and not so well-knowns join music director/pianist Caleb Hoyer to sing selections from underappreciated and/or forgotten musicals between quick histories of each production by Tepper and Murphy.  Frequently, original cast members will be on hand to give first-person accounts of the bumpy roads to opening night.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director), in association with David Shor, announced today that the world premiere of SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL is set to complete the previously announced 2011 - 2012 season.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director), in association with David Shor, announced today that the world premiere of SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL is set to complete the previously announced 2011 - 2012 season. Performances begin June 12, 2012 and the production will play through July 15, 2012 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino).