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A Scene from Kissing the Floor with Christina Bennett Lind (Annie) and Leon Ingulsrud (Paul). Photo by Russ Rowland
Off Broadway
Edward A Kliszus

Kissing the Floor at Theater Row

Kissing the Floor was a well-conceived, powerful dramatization akin to the legendary “sins of the father,” ably expressing the overpowering tragedies of Antigone brought to life in the demise of a family during the Great Depression. It is a profound exploration of human nature, grief, and the destructive consequences of–so many things.

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A Broadway Valentine's Day at 54 Below. From 54Below.com
Cabaret
Edward A Kliszus

A Broadway Valentine’s Day at 54 Below

Tonight’s Broadway Valentine’s Day at 54 Below was an evening of love, song, romance, nostalgia, fine dining, unique beverages, and thematic desserts. The messages of love portrayed were universal, celebrating spiritual beings connected through energy, generosity, compassion, and harmony. As Shakespeare noted in Love’s Labour’s Lost, “When Love speaks, the voice of all the gods makes heaven drowsy with the harmony.”

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Chez Josephine Restaurant Entrance. Photo by Sora Vernikoff
Restaurants
Sora Vernikoff

Chez Josephine

Chez Josephine was the brainchild of Jean-Claude Baker from Burgundy, who named his restaurant after his adoptive mother, Josephine Baker. Baker (born Freda Josephine McDonald was an American-born naturalized French citizen famed as a dancer, singer, and actress.

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Tony Kadleck Big Band at Birdland. Photo by Edward Kliszus
Jazz
Edward A Kliszus

Tony Kadleck Big Band at Birdland

Swinging big band music was hot in Manhattan! From the moment the Tony Kadleck Big Band began their set at the Birdland Jazz Club, we tapped our toes and jumped to a tasteful, tight, polished sound, solid rhythm section, cats burnin’ solos, and sophisticated superb arrangements by trumpeter and band leader Kadleck.

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Sondheim Unplugged at 54Below. PHoto: 54Below.com
Cabaret
Victoria L. Dammer

54 Below Presents Sondheim Unplugged

Rejoicing in the life and musical talent of Stephen Sondheim one year after his passing, 54 Below presented Sondheim Unplugged, a tribute beyond compare that has played repeatedly since 2010.

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Kathryn Farmer Album Cover
Cabaret
Edward A Kliszus

Kathryn Farmer at Swing 46

If the 17-piece Kevin Blanq big band and Kathryn Farmer were not enough to get you in the mood for smooth swinging and dancing, the urbane, bespoke, and suave dancer extraordinaire Manuel Rojas appeared to deliver a dance lesson at 8:30 as a second band, Swing a Delic arrived on stage. With Rojas, it was time to revel in the legacies of Al Minns and Frankie Manning with Lindy Hop, swing outs, tuck-in-turn, jazz, tap, sugar foot walk, breakaway, and swing dance….dum-dee-dum, dum-dee-dum, dum-dee-dum, dum-dee-dum. Revelers thronged to the dance floor as the buoyant and joyous Rojas drew them in.

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Wendy Moten at the Nashville Hall of Fame Museum. Photo from wendymoten.com
Cabaret
Edward A Kliszus

Wendy Moten at Birdland

Wendy Moten ascended to the Birdland stage with a smile and charm that lit up the room. From her first words and the comfortable swing tempo of her first song, All of Me, Moten emerged as a poised, expressive, and consummate artist. She conveyed her passionate insights with a beautiful, clear voice and through her ability to command any genre she desired.

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"L’Amour à Passy" by G.W. Reed, directed by Manfred Bormann. G.W. Reed as Benjamin Franklin, Musa Gurnis as Madame Brillon. Photo credit: Jonathan Slaff
Off Broadway
Edward A Kliszus

L’Amour `a Passy

Benjamin Franklin the man emerged as a frowzy, flawed, and crafty roué, relentlessly attempting to seduce the married Mme Brillon. Franklin deftly engaged and modified his façon de parler and wits to enamor the charming Brillon while also initiating, to no avail, games of chess with personal stakes to tarnish Brillon’s marital honor.

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Bill Charlap, David Wong and Dennis Mackrel at Birdland. Photo credit: Edward Kliszus
Jazz
Edward A Kliszus

The Bill Charlap Trio at Birdland

Charlap is a virtuoso with full command of his musical voice on the piano who, with his fellow artists, lifted spirits and touched hearts. Fitting his artistic soul and imagination, Charlap played with passion, rich cinematic grace, and delicacy. His fiery offerings were an elegant, eloquent creative commentary that created energy and excitement.

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Ann Kittredge at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Photo credit: Edward Kliszus
Cabaret
Edward A Kliszus

Ann Kittredge at the Laurie Beechman Theatre

Kittredge is a songstress of sumptuous romantic energy who possesses a dazzling gift for expressing the rich meaning of songs. She owns a sensitive, delightful facon de parler and freely communicates with the audience with her storytelling.

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