Happy Saturday, everyone!
Boy, time flies when you're...busy! It seems like I was just sitting down at my computer to write last week's article, and here I am again! It's been another busy, entertainment-packed week, beginning with the Algonquin Salon on Sunday evening! As usual, the lobby of the Algonquin Hotel was filled with fabulous folks and terrific entertainers, including Deb Berman, Sean Harkness, Ray Jessel, Erin Cronican, Dana Lorge, and the fabulous guest co-hosts of the evening, Christine Pedi & Matthew Ward! The optional theme of the night was "Comedy Tonight," and most participants did their best to stick to the theme, which made for a fun, lighthearted evening of entertainment!
Monday evening, it was over to Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland for ANOTHER talent-packed evening! Unfortunately, I had to leave a little early, but I had a great time while I was there - seeing the likes of Hilary Kole (who just opened for Jamie Cullum at the Toronto Jazz Festival), Patrick Oliver Jones (who recently returned from playing the role of Enjolras in Les Miserables at the Actors' Playhouse in Florida), Eric Millegan (of TNT's Bones), and virtuoso violinist Aaron Weinstein, among others, made for quite a night!
On Tuesday, I had another performance of my show Jenna Esposito Sings Connie Francis at the Metropolitan Room, and as soon as that was over, my band and I hightailed it to Tainted Blue, a Times Square recording studio that periodically produces concerts which they record live. I had done one of the concerts in April, and was pleased to be a part of this past Tuesday evening's lineup as well! Also on the bill were Susan Winter and Deb Berman (unfortunately, I had to miss both of them, as I was still at the Metropolitan Room), as well as Karen Mack & Michael Holland, a.k.a. Gashole! I did get to catch their performance, and as always, I found them highly enjoyable! Gashole is one of my favorite cabaret acts in the city - unique, fun, and slightly irreverent, Gashole is also plain ol' great entertainment! Karen and Michael are both very talented vocalists, and they have a penchant putting together fantastic medleys of well-loved pop tunes from the '70s through the '90s. They're performing Saturdays at The Duplex from next week (July 18th) through August 1st - if you have a chance to catch them, I'd highly recommend it...I know I'm going to do my best to see them!
Wednesday evening found me at Tudor City Greens for a marvelous outdoor concert featuring Raissa Katona Bennett (who produces the TCG concert series), Eric Michael Gillett, Spider Saloff, Julie Reyburn, Daryl Glenn, Ricky Ritzel, Nina Hennessey, and Philip Chaffin. It was a simply gorgeous evening, and over 300 people stopped by to listen to the beautiful music floating through the air! Each performer did 2 songs each, and there was something for everyone - from the jazzy renderings of Spider Saloff to Ricky Ritzel's comedy, to the more musical-theatre sounds of Nina Hennessey and Raissa Katona Bennett. The next concert in the series is on Wednesday, August 5th at 6 p.m. The concerts are completely free, although attendees are encouraged to contribute a freewill donation to support the Tudor City Greens!
