The annual New York City Cabaret Convention -- conceived, launched, and brilliantly sustained for the past 23 seasons by The
Mabel Mercer Foundation -- has honored many specific people and events across the past two decades. Legendary performers, composers, lyricists, and their anniversaries have all had their day and their due as the Convention grew in visibility, stature, and acclaim.
This year, the 23rd Cabaret Convention, October 17-19 at Jazz at Lincoln Center/Frederick P. Rose Hall, continued the extraordinary levels of entertainment provided by Smith and his compatriots, as well as provided happy, personal memories of the Mercer/Smith coalescence upon which the Foundation plans to thrive in the future.
Check out photos from closing night below!
The premiere Donald F. Smith Award is made possible by the generosity and dedication of Adela and Larry Elow. In Smith's name, they have pledged an annual $5,000.00 grant for the next three years in encouragement of a cabaret artist who embodies the passion, talent, glamour, and dedication to presentation and the Great Popular Songbook beloved and championed by Mr. Smith and exemplified by Ms. Mercer. Similarly, The Noel Coward Award is being offered (for the third consecutive year in 2012) in conjunction with the London-based Noel Coward Foundation, who provide a $5,000.00 grant to a recipient whose outstanding ability and performance flair typify the individual, personal versatility of its namesake.
Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff


Rose Hall Jazz at Lincoln Center

Jim Caruso, Sidney Myer, Lee Roy Reams

Carole J. Bufford

Jim Caruso & KT Sullivan

Karen Mason

Nicolas King

Daniel Fabricant

Karen Mason, Yael Gelman, Christine Andreas

Nicholas Adler


KLea Blackhurst

Donald F. Smith Award Winner KLea Blackhurst & KT Sullivan

Lee Roy Reams

Lee Roy Reams

Lee Roy Reams

Carole J. Bufford

Carole J. Bufford

Nicolas King

Nicolas King

Beckie Menzie

Beckie Menzie & Tom Michael

William Blake

William Blake

William Blake

Karen Mason

Karen Mason

Karen Mason

Mabel Mercer Award Winner Christine Andreas and Karen Mason

Christine Andreas & Karen Mason

Christine Andreas

Christine Andreas

Christine Andreas

Craig Rubano

Craig Rubano

Sidney Myer

Sidney Myer

Sidney Myer

Natalie Douglas

Natalie Douglas
Mark Hartman

Jim Caruso

Jim Caruso

Jim Caruso & KLea Blackhurst

Jim Caruso & KLea Blackhurst

Jim Caruso

KLea Blackhurst
