The 92nd Street Y School of Music announces the inaugural 92NY Cabaret Conference.
This week long intensive in the art form of Cabaret will be led by Tony Winner and Broadway legend Faith Prince, and award-winning cabaret performer and historian Michael Kirk Lane. The two will be joined by acclaimed cabaret musical directors Alex Rybeck and Yasuhiko (Yaz) Fukuoka. The week will also feature acclaimed artists and cabaret professionals: John Bronston, Natalie Douglas, Jeff Harnar, Carolyn Montgomery, Sidney Myer, Tracy Stark, Billy Stritch, and Jennifer Ashley Tepper.
Through a series of thought-provoking discussions and informative sessions, participants will gain valuable insights into the art form of cabaret, empowering them to showcase the most authentic version of themselves on stage.
Be ready to ask questions and dig deeper into your material to sharpen the specificity of your authenticity. Bring songs that reveal the inner YOU. We are pulling off the mask and presenting ourselves through song. This week is focused on delving into the infrastructure of performance. It is the perfect opportunity to refine your craft and take your cabaret skills to the next level!
15 participants will be chosen to sing and work directly with the artists.
Performers interested in working with the artists must complete this short pre-screening form by June 1, 2024. Chosen performers will be notified no later than June 15, 2024.
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Michael Kirk Lane is an award-winning cabaret artist, most recently winning Manhattan Association of Cabaret Awards in both 2022 and 2020. He also was the recipient of the 2018 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Award for Best Cabaret Show. Stephen Mosher of BroadwayWorld Cabaret has called Lane “one of the most popular performers and people working in cabaret today.” Cabaret Scenes Magazine has deemed Lane’s work “musical comedy heaven.”
Beyond his own experience performing in cabaret, Lane’s experience managing two of the city’s most renowne ...
Beyond his own experience performing in cabaret, Lane’s experience managing two of the city’s most renowned cabaret venues (The Laurie Beechman Theatre, Don’t Tell Mama) offers him a unique vantage point and perspective on the art form.
As a teaching artist for over 20 years, Lane has taught all ages from pre-school to retirement homes. In each class he brings the same philosophy to his teaching, no matter the age of the students. “Art, Theatre, and Music are ways for us to connect with our most authentic self, and to explore the world around us.”
Cabaret Conversations
Cabaret Performance: Connecting to Your Lyric
Exploring Cabaret
92NY Summer Cabaret Conference with Faith Prince
Yasuhiko “Yaz” Fukuoka is a Drama Desk and MAC Awards nominated pianist, film composer, arranger, and music producer based in NYC. He also music-directs new musicals and cabaret shows. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Birdland, Festival de Cannes and other venues in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.yahzy.com.
For the past four decades, Faith Prince has dazzled audiences on both stage and screen in a variety of memorable comedic and dramatic roles. She quickly rose to Broadway fame after winning a Tony Award, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance as Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls directed by Jerry Zaks, and has remained one of the most prolific leading ladies working in the American musical theater.
For her Broadway debut in Jerome Robbins Broadway, Ms. Prince was nominated for her first Tony Award and Drama Desk Award, and has since starred in over a dozen Broadway shows: Nick & Nora (Outer Critics Circle nomination), Guys and Dolls, What’s Wrong With This Picture, The King and I, Little Me, James Joyce’s The Dead, Bells Are Ringing (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics nominations), Noises Off, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, A Catered Affair (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics nominations), Annie, and Disaster. Also in New York, she originated the role of Trina in William Finn and James Lapine’s Falsettoland and can be heard on the cast recording. Recently, she originated the role of Valentina in the world-premiere BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical in Chicago.
Equally present on screen, Ms. Prince made her television debut guest starring opposite Pierce Brosnan on the hit series Remington Steele followed by playing Angela Virago in the 1985 film The Last Dragon. She has appeared in numerous films including: Dave with Kevin Kline, My Father the Hero with Gerard Depardieu, Picture Perfect with Jennifer Aniston, Our Very Own, It Had to Be You, Material Girls, and Disney’s TinkerBell and the Great Fairy Rescue.
Faith is perhaps more widely recognized for the many colorful characters she has created on television including recently: Nellie Cantrell on the 2022 Fox series Monarch and Judith Robertson in Emily in Paris, as well as Kristy Swenson in Scream Queens, Elaine Bingum in Drop Dead Diva, Claudia in Spin City, Kelly Knippers in Huff, Modern Family, CSI, Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy, Monk, House, Now and Again and television movies including most recently Dear Christmas for Lifetime.
Audiences can now stream her many live appearances, including performances from The Tony Awards, My Favorite Broadway at Carnegie Hall, and An Evening At The Pops: A Tribute to Jerry Herman (PBS). In addition to the original cast recordings, she has two solo albums A Leap of Faith (DRG, 2000) and Total Faith (Broadway Records, 2013).
Faith can frequently be seen in concert and her symphony appearances include Boston Pops, Utah Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Cincinnati Pops, and Philly Pops, and Sydney Opera House and the Adelaide Music Festival with Anthony Warlow.
Born in Georgia and raised in Virginia, Faith received a BFA in musical theater from University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music before moving to New York and making her professional debut in Scrambled Feet, a revue at The Village Gate Theater. She then succeeded Ellen Greene as Audrey in the original New York and Los Angeles productions of Little Shop of Horrors. In 2009, Ms. Prince was honored by her alma mater with an Honorary Doctorate of Performing Arts.
Lillias White: Sing the Authentic You! A Cabaret Performance Workshop
Alex Rybeck is a music director, composer, arranger and pianist, best known for his work in concerts and cabarets, on recordings, and in the theater. Broadway credits include Merrily We Roll Along (directed by Hal Prince), Grand Hotel (directed by Tommy Tune), and others. Among the many artists he has worked with are such legends as George Abbott, Roberta Peters, Marni Nixon, Eartha Kitt, The McGuire Sisters, Julie Wilson, and Kitty Carlisle Hart ...
Alex Rybeck is a music director, composer, arranger and pianist, best known for his work in concerts and cabarets, on recordings, and in the theater. Broadway credits include Merrily We Roll Along (directed by Hal Prince), Grand Hotel (directed by Tommy Tune), and others. Among the many artists he has worked with are such legends as George Abbott, Roberta Peters, Marni Nixon, Eartha Kitt, The McGuire Sisters, Julie Wilson, and Kitty Carlisle Hart. He has also enjoyed meaningful collaborations with Faith Prince, Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway, Jane Olivor, Melissa Errico, Karen Mason, Sharon McNight, Jeff Harnar, Donna McKechnie, Jason Graae, Lee Roy Reams, Tovah Feldshuh, Rita Gardner, Roslyn Kind, Amanda McBroom, and many, many others. His original song “What a Funny Boy He Is” was recorded by the late Nancy LaMott. He has received numerous awards and honors (MAC, Bistro, Nightlife, Billboard, and Broadwayworld.com) as music director and songwriter. As a highly sought-after coach, he has taught master classes in NYC, L.A., and DC, as well as at Yale, Harvard, Northwestern, Queensland Conservatorium (Brisbane) and the New Zealand Singing School. As a highly sought-after coach, he has taught master classes in NYC, L.A., and DC, as well as at Yale, Harvard, Northwestern, Queensland Conservatorium (Brisbane) and the New Zealand Singing School.
Yasuhiko “Yaz” Fukuoka is a Drama Desk and MAC Awards nominated pianist, film composer, arranger, and music producer based in NYC. He also music-directs new musicals and cabaret shows. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Birdland, Festival de Cannes and other venues in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.yahzy.com …
Pianist-singer Billy Stritch has been a presence on the New York and national nightclub scene for nearly four decades. He began his career in Houston, Texas, where he formed the vocal trio Montgomery, Plant and Stritch. The trio performed all over New York and Europe from 1983 until they disbanded in 1990. A chance meeting with Liza Minnelli in March of 1991 resulted in her asking him to create vocal arrangements for the record-breaking extravaganza Liza Stepping Out at Radio City Music Hall. In addition to his 25-year collaboration with as accompanist and opening act for Liza, Billy recently toured with the legendary Tony Bennett as Tony’s pianist and musical director. A solo entertainer in his own right, he has performed his own shows in concert halls and nightclubs across the country. He also hosted and curated tributes to Mel Tormé, Peggy Lee and Cy Coleman for 92NY’s Lyrics and Lyricists series.
Billy serves as music director for such leading vocalists as Linda Eder, Christine Ebersole, Melissa Manchester, Linda Lavin and Melissa Errico with whom he won Best Swing/Big Band Show by the readers of BroadwayWorld. The website also recently named him Outstanding Musical Director for the fifth time and his 2022 birthday show at New York’s famed Birdland Jazz Club was named Outstanding Vocal Jazz Engagement of the year. He is the co-writer of the chart topping Grammy-winning song “Does He Love You” recorded by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis. Lightning struck twice for this song as a new version was released in 2021 by Reba and the legendary Dolly Parton. When Billy is not on the road, he is the pianist for Jim Caruso’s Cast Party open mic night every Monday at New York’s legendary Birdland Jazz Club and he and Jim hold forth on selected Sunday nights at Bemelmans’ Bar in Manhattan’s fabled Carlyle Hotel. During Covid, he created his own weekly Facebook live-stream show Billy’s Place, a series of 65 weekly episodes celebrating the Great American Songbook with songs and stories from his varied career. Billy has recorded five solo CDs and his latest CD release Billy’s Place (Club44 Records) is a collection of his favorite songs from these online concerts. Follow Billy on Instagram @billystritch.
Pianist/Music Director/ Arranger/Bandleader/SingerSongwriter, Tracy Stark is a 15-Time MAC Award winner, in the categories of Music Director, Piano Entertainer, and 2X Song of the Year. She is also a Bistro Award winner for Music Direction, a Broadway World winner for Music Direction, and has won Cabaret Hotline’s Songwriter of the Year Award …
Pianist/Music Director/ Arranger/Bandleader/SingerSongwriter, Tracy Stark is a 15-Time MAC Award winner, in the categories of Music Director, Piano Entertainer, and 2X Song of the Year. She is also a Bistro Award winner for Music Direction, a Broadway World winner for Music Direction, and has won Cabaret Hotline’s Songwriter of the Year Award.
Tracy has worked with Sarah Dash (Labelle), Lesley Gore, Phoebe Snow, Karen Black (2 Golden Globe, Academy Award Nominee), Nona Hendryx (Labelle), Randy Jones (Village People), Barb Jungr, Brenda Braxton(Tony Nominee), Justin Elizabeth Sayre, Eric Millegan (Bones), Tonya Pinkins (Tony Winner), Nathan Lee Graham (Grammy Winner), Alice Ripley (Tony Winner), Alexis Michelle (RuPaul’s Drag Race) and hundreds of other rock, jazz, and broadway vocalists.
She stays busy creating and music directing 75-100 different shows per year, in addition to her ongoing work as music director for the Eugene O’Neill Cabaret Conference for the past 11 years. And is also music director for the Provincetown Cabaret Festival.
Carolyn Montgomery is a multi MAC, Bistro and Nightlife award winning singer/songwriter, who has performed in major venues across 36 states, Montreal and London. In 2017, she co-founded the American Songbook Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization that promotes and preserves classic American musical legacies …
Carolyn Montgomery is a multi MAC, Bistro and Nightlife award winning singer/songwriter, who has performed in major venues across 36 states, Montreal and London. In 2017, she co-founded the American Songbook Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization that promotes and preserves classic American musical legacies (Jazz, Musical Theatre and the American Songbook, old and new) through education programs, senior enrichment, live events, and Cabaret Scenes magazine. As the Executive Director as well as the Director of Education and Outreach, Carolyn creates programs that reach thousands of public school students annually, across all five boroughs of New York City. She employs some of New York’s finest entertainers as instructors. She partners with some of New York’s most underserved communities, nurturing their students with music.
Carolyn lives on the West Side of Manhattan with her son Eli and a Jack Russell terrier named George.
Natalie Douglas, called “extraordinary” and “a true force of nature” by Clive Davis of The Times (UK), is a thirteen-time MAC, two-time Backstage Bistro, Margaret Whiting Award, and Donald F. Smith Award winner whose portrait hangs on the legendary Birdland Wall of Fame, where she has also created over 75 shows, most notably her “TRIBUTES” residency …
Natalie Douglas, called “extraordinary” and “a true force of nature” by Clive Davis of The Times (UK), is a thirteen-time MAC, two-time Backstage Bistro, Margaret Whiting Award, and Donald F. Smith Award winner whose portrait hangs on the legendary Birdland Wall of Fame, where she has also created over 75 shows, most notably her “TRIBUTES” residency. She has brought concerts and workshops around the world and is an expert instructor for the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, the Sullivan Foundation, the Cayman Arts Festival, and the Mabel Mercer Foundation where she is also Education Director. She can be seen currently in the multi-award-winning documentary, Sloane: A Jazz Singer, commemorating one of her heroes, Carol Sloane, in domestic and international film festivals. Natalie’s smash brand new Club44 Records CD entitled Back To The Garden, including singles, “Begin The Beguine,” “Trust In Me” and “You’ll Never Know” is available on all digital streaming platforms and on her YouTube channel: nataliedouglasmusic. For more info: www.nataliedouglas.com.
Jeff Harnar is a multi-award winning concert and recording artist. His most recent albums are the Cy Coleman tribute A Collective Cy (2023) orchestrated and conducted by Alex Rybeck, and I Know Things Now: My Life in Sondheim’s Words, (2022) orchestrated and conducted by Jon Weber (both on PS Classics). On July 26, 2024 PS Classics will release a remastered, reimagined update of Jeff’s long out of print Sammy Cahn All the Way …
Jeff Harnar is a multi-award winning concert and recording artist. His most recent albums are the Cy Coleman tribute A Collective Cy (2023) orchestrated and conducted by Alex Rybeck, and I Know Things Now: My Life in Sondheim’s Words, (2022) orchestrated and conducted by Jon Weber (both on PS Classics). On July 26, 2024 PS Classics will release a remastered, reimagined update of Jeff’s long out of print Sammy Cahn All the Way, featuring several new tracks, in conjunction with a release engagement at 54 Below July 26 and 27. Carnegie Hall appearances include both the Cole Porter and Noel Coward Centennial Galas. PBS concerts include The 1959 Broadway Songbook with Alex Rybeck, American Songbook: Sondheim with KT Sullivan. Awards include multiple MAC, Bistro and Broadway World Awards, the 2022 Chicago Cabaret Professionals National Honoree Award and The Noel Coward Foundation Cabaret Award. Jeff is also a Broadway World, MAC and Bistro Award winning Director. www.jeffharnar.com
Sidney Myer is the quintessential example of New York Cabaret. He has been a Cabaret Booking Manager for almost four decades at iconic clubs like Don’t Tell Mama, Rose’s Turn and Panache. Artists he has presented have gone on to careers on Broadway, Television, Motion Pictures; become the Star Search $100,000 Grand Prize Winner, the highest jackpot winner in Lotto history, receive multiple Emmys, Grammys, Tonys, Oscars and a Pulitzer Prize …
Sidney Myer is the quintessential example of New York Cabaret. He has been a Cabaret Booking Manager for almost four decades at iconic clubs like Don’t Tell Mama, Rose’s Turn and Panache. Artists he has presented have gone on to careers on Broadway, Television, Motion Pictures; become the Star Search $100,000 Grand Prize Winner, the highest jackpot winner in Lotto history, receive multiple Emmys, Grammys, Tonys, Oscars and a Pulitzer Prize. In 2009, he was featured above the fold in the cover story of The Sunday New York Times Arts & Leisure Section with the Headline: “Saviors Of The American Songbook.” Theater: Off-Broadway: Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral, Dressing Room, Split Ends, Irene (Kaye Playhouse-25th Anniversary Revival); Edinburgh Fringe Festival La Gran Scena Opera Co.; Beauty and the Beast (Theatre By The Sea). Off-Off-Broadway: Times Square Angel with Charles Busch, The Boys in the Band, Laughing Wild, The Ball, Midnight At The Never Get. Film: 20th Century Fox’s Headin’ For Broadway. Television: Seasons 1 & 2 of the 5-Time Emmy Award-winning After Forever on Amazon Prime. Celebrity Interviewer on Cable’s Broadway Beat & Cabaret Beat and Nancy Lamott’s DVD I’ll Be Here With You. Commercials for RCA Victor and New York Lotto. Radio: Regular on The Joey Reynolds Show. He's entertained from New York to San Francisco to London. Recipient of MAC, Broadway World, Backstage Bistro, Mabel Mercer Foundation's Cabaret Classic & Paula Laurence awards. DVD: Sidney Myer: Live At The Beechman.
Jennifer Ashley Tepper is the Creative and Programming Director of 54 Below, a position she has held for over a decade. At 54 Below, Tepper has curated or produced over 6000 shows. Tepper is the co-creator of the Bistro Award- winning concert series If It Only Even Runs A Minute, celebrating underappreciated musicals …
Jennifer Ashley Tepper is the Creative and Programming Director of 54 Below, a position she has held for over a decade. At 54 Below, Tepper has curated or produced over 6000 shows. Tepper is the co-creator of the Bistro Award- winning concert series If It Only Even Runs A Minute, celebrating underappreciated musicals, and conceiver and director of The Jonathan Larson Project. She was the historian consultant on the film, tick, tick... BOOM! As a writer, Tepper has authored four volumes of The Untold Stories of Broadway book series, which have been called an “inspiring Must-Read” by NBC New York and occupied the #1 spot on Amazon’s Bestsellers List in Broadway & Musicals. Her work as a theatre historian also encompasses acclaimed talks and events, including at TEDxBroadway, BroadwayCon, The Museum of Broadway, Thespian Festivals, and more. She is the producer of the musicals Be More Chill, Broadway Bounty Hunter, and Love In Hate Nation, projects that are part of a decade-long collaboration with the group known as Joe Iconis & Family. Her other Broadway credits include [title of show], The Performers, Godspell, Macbeth, and The Parisian Woman.
John Bronston was recently music director of Outer Critics Circle Award Winner for Outstanding Off Broadway Musical, The Harder They Come (Public Theatre). Previously he was the associate music director of A Man of No Importance (Classic Stage Company) …
John Bronston was recently music director of Outer Critics Circle Award Winner for Outstanding Off Broadway Musical, The Harder They Come (Public Theatre). Previously he was the associate music director of A Man of No Importance (Classic Stage Company), was a sub keyboard player and Music Direction Fellow at Tina on Broadway, and was the musical director for the National Tour of Hair. He is the creator, music director, and producer of the cabaret series Creating In Color, dedicated to producing concerts of classic musicals with predominately Black casts.
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