CHICAGO'S FIRST-EVER CABARET CONVENTION OFFERS LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL MUSIC PERFORMERS

TO BE HELD MARCH 14th THROUGH 17th, PRESENTED BY THE MABEL MERCER FOUNDATION

(New York, NY) For four remarkable days and nights in March, Chicago becomes the world's preeminent center for the Great American Popular Song when The Mabel Mercer Foundation (http://www.mabelmercer.org/) and Executive Director, Donald F. Smith, proudly present the First-Ever Chicago Cabaret Convention. More than two dozen leading local performers will join internationally-acclaimed cabaret singers in a series of unprecedented musical events from Thursday, March 14th through Sunday, March 17th, all designed to bring to audiences the immediate, intimate, and direct impact of this happily unique entertainment art form.

THE EMPIRE ROOM of The Palmer House Hilton (17 East Monroe Street, Chicago, IL), PARK WEST (322 West Armitage, Chicago, IL), and THE CASINO (195 East Delaware Place, Chicago, IL) (among other venues) play host to this incomparable new music festival as Chicago's own foremost interpreters of classic song share their stages with artists specifically traveling to the city from New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and London. Among others due in Chicago for the Cabaret Convention are Julie Wilson, Polly Bergen, Lilianne Montevecchi, Andrea Marcovicci, Steve Ross, Karen Mason, Karen Akers, Jeff Harnar, Wesla Whitfield, Billy Stritch, and Celeste Holm.

Each of the five major presentations of the Chicago Cabaret Convention is a completely different show; ticket prices vary per performance but range overall from $25.00 to $75.00. During the weekend, there will be additional local events produced in conjunction with the celebration, as well as two "satellite" performances free to the public.

The Mabel Mercer Foundation was created in 1985 as a not-for-profit arts organization which perpetuates the memory of the legendary singing artist Mabel Mercer by stimulating and promoting public interest in classic American song and the art of cabaret performance. Although this is The Foundation's first Cabaret Convention in Chicago, they have produced 12 extraordinarily successful similar events in New York since 1989, as well as three conventions in San Francisco. They debut a festival in Palm Springs in 2003 and are negotiating future celebrations in London and Sarasota. In addition to The Mabel Mercer Foundation, sponsors for the premiere Chicago Cabaret Convention include The Middlemas-Petska Foundation, The Palmer House Hilton, and American Airlines.

Smith, founder and Executive Director of The Foundation, concurs and notes the ever-burgeoning relevance of cabaret entertainers. "At one time, this kind of performing was seen as the stronghold of the kind of American popular song written by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin and their associates. Now it takes on further importance: cabaret has also become the only place that contemporary songwriters (those who write today in the non-rock tradition) can be heard and showcased."

The Mabel Mercer Foundation is the sole arts organization in the world addressing the presentation and preservation of such performance and song. As such, their most recent Cabaret Convention in Manhattan garnered ticket requests from 31 states, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and New Zealand. Although the performances took place less than six weeks after the events of September 11th, there was not a single cancellation among those traveling to New York for the concerts.

Chicago has long enjoyed a glowing reputation for its receptivity to the arts, especially music and song. It is thus singularly appropriate that three such diverse locales will showcase the major events of the Cabaret Convention. THE EMPIRE ROOM of The Palmer House Hilton has passed beyond local legend to its unique status as the classic (and classically beautiful) performance room that showcased for many years the foremost and original international superstars of entertainment. PARK WEST remains firmly ensconced as the home of diverse musical performances; with the First-Ever Chicago Cabaret Convention, the music to be heard there returns to its foundation in Great American Popular Song. And THE CASINO reigns supreme in its decades-old reputation as Chicago's most elegant and warmly-enveloping private social club.

For additional information about the Mabel Mercer Foundation and the Chicago Cabaret Convention, please contact their headquarters in New York at 212-980-3026 or write to them at:

THE MABEL MERCER FOUNDATION
Attn.: Donald Smith, Executive Director
160 East 48th Street - #14U
New York, NY 10017

http://www.mabelmercer.org/

PERFORMER/PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE, VENUES, PRICES, AND TICKET ORDERING INFORMATION

The artists listed below are scheduled to appear subject to their availability. As indicated, seating is limited, and advance tickets are required; each venue will also provide a cash bar.

Thursday, March 14th, 8:00 pm at THE EMPIRE ROOM of The Palmer House Hilton (17 East Monroe Street, Chicago, IL): A black-tie opening-night gala celebration limited to 200 patrons (@ $75.00; limit two tickets per person). The performance features Karen Akers, Klea Blackhurst, Barbara Carroll, Jeff Harnar, Lynn Loosier, Andrea Marcovicci, Colleen McHugh, Tom Michael, Georga Osborne, Greta Pope, Steve Ross, Spider Saloff, David Staller, Billy Stritch, KT Sullivan, Julie Wilson, and Larry Woodard.

Friday, March 15th, 8:00 pm at PARK WEST (322 West Armitage, Chicago, IL): Limited to 700 patrons (@ $40 for assigned seating and $25 general admission; no limit on number of tickets per order). The performance features Karen Akers, Richard Rodney Bennett, Barbara Carroll, Claiborne Cary, Eric Comstock, Tovah Feldshuh, Lynn Loosier, Andrea Marcovicci, Becky Menzie, Tom Michael, Audrey Morris, Georga Osborne, Judy Roberts, Steve Ross, Spider Saloff, Billy Stritch, Wesla Whitfield, and Julie Wilson.

Saturday, March 16th, 8:00 pm at PARK WEST (322 West Armitage, Chicago, IL): Limited to 700 patrons (@ $40 for assigned seating and $25 general admission; no limit on number of tickets per order). The performance features Christine Andreas, Yanna Avis, Polly Bergen, Anna Bergman, Dina Joy Bird, Joyce Breach, Joan Curto, Malcolm Gets, Justin Hayford, Celeste Holm, Cory Jamison, Nan Mason, Amanda McBroom, Patty Morabito, Mark Nadler, Daryl Sherman, David Staller, Libby Whittemore, and Carol Woods.

ALSO Saturday, March 16th, 8:00 pm at THE CASINO (195 East Delaware Place, Chicago, IL): Limited to 160 patrons (@ $40; limit two tickets per person). "Everything The Traffic Will Allow: The Sass and Songs of Ethel Merman," Starring Klea Blackhurst in her acclaimed one-woman celebration of the musical magic of The First Lady of the Broadway Musical.

Sunday, March 17th, 3:00 pm at PARK WEST (322 West Armitage, Chicago, IL): Limited to 700 patrons (@ $40 for assigned seating and $25 general admission; no limit on number of tickets per order). The performance features Judy Barnett, Chris Calloway, Jennifer Chada, Mary Foster Conklin, Brian De Lorenzo, Baby Jane Dexter, Natalie Gamsu, Rita Gardner, Linda Hoffman, Karen Mason, Lilianne Montevecchi, Daryl Nitz, Phillip Officer, Craig Rubano, Denise Tomasello, and Lumiri Tubo.

Tickets for the preceding events are available only by mail, and requests must be received by Friday, March 1st; no phone or fax orders will be processed. Remuneration must be made by check (payable to The Mabel Mercer Foundation) or by The American Express Card (please include card number and expiration date).

Orders, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope should be directed to:

Alyce Finell
Finell Enterprises
301 East 79th Street
New York, NY 10021

For further ticket information, please call 212-980-3026 or 212-980-3109.

In addition: There will be a special 45-minute concert by KT Sullivan and Larry Woodard at 12 noon, Thursday afternoon, March 14th, and a multi-performer presentation from 1 pm until 5 pm on Saturday afternoon, March 16th. Both shows will be given at THE RANDOLF CAFE & CASSIDY THEATER of The Chicago Cultural Center (78 East Washington Street, Chicago, IL); these are free of charge and open to the public. For information, contact Peter McDowell (312-744-7097).

Both DAVENPORT'S (1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL - 773-278-1830 - http://www.davenportspianobar.com/) and GENTRY ON STATE (440 North State Street, Chicago, IL - 312-836-0933 - http://www.gentryofchicago.com/) will also present special musical entertainers and programs in conjunction with the Chicago Cabaret Convention. Please contact these venues for their respective performance schedules and times.

 

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