by Milton W. Hamlin - SGN A&E Writer

Seattle's Kabaret Kids & Klub (officially the Pacific Northwest Cabaret Association) is focused on New York this week, where an incredible trip down memory lane highlighted the spring cabaret season: 'Remembering Mabel & Bobby: The 45th Anniversary of the Legendary Concert at The Town Hall,' on May 16.

As the song sort-of says, 'The song, the show has ended, but the melody, the memories linger on ...' On May 19, 1968, the historic Town Hall in midtown Manhattan was the setting for the legendary dual concert by America's leading cabaret performers of the era, Mabel Mercer and Bobby Short. Last night the prestigious Mabel Mercer Foundation (MMF) - the Holy Grail of cabaret - commemorated the 45th anniversary of that incredible, never-to-be-forgotten evening.

'Remembering Mabel & Bobby ' was the cabaret event of the year - maybe the decade. New Yorkers bought their tickets weeks ago but the cavernous Town Hall still had select seating available. It recently was the site of the Liza Minnelli/Alan Cummings benefit concert (an already legendary event).

Featured performers included Joyce Breach, Eric Comstock, Natalie Douglas, Barbara Fasano, Lauren Fox, Eric Yves Garcia, Clint Holmes, Tanya Holt, Andrea Marcovicci, Karen Mason, Marissa Mulder, Karen Oberlin, Rex Reed, Lumiri Tubo, Tamara Tunie, Iris Williams, and Larry Woodward, who interpreted numbers from the Mabel/Bobby songbook including 'Here's to Us,' 'Looking at You,' 'Remind Me,' 'Down in the Depths on the 90th Floor,' 'The Folks Who Live on the Hill,' 'I'm Throwing a Ball Tonight,' 'These Foolish Things,' 'Both Sides Now,' 'Bojangles of Harlem,' and 'Time Heals Everything.' The evening was hosted by KT Sullivan, of whom more will be said in a moment.

YOU SHOULDA BEEN THERE
'What?' cries the 'Dear Reader' this scribe is always addressing, 'SGN thinks I should have flown to New York on 14 hours' notice???' Well, that is what frequent-flier miles are for.

Mabel Mercer went to that Great Cabaret in the Sky years ago. She may never have visited Seattle.

Bobby Short - a Seattle Symphony and Jazz Alley frequent visitor - went too soon. But he and Mabel were surely together Thursday night, looking down at their concert with all of us mere mortals.

How many Kabaret Kids were there? It's impossible to tell. But, the Pacific Northwest Cabaret Association, which raised $100 for the highest level of membership, is the first and only regional cabaret group to join the MMF. Plans are, indeed, afoot for an Emerald City delegation to swoop into the MMF's October convention and 'take over.' Watch this space for details.

Now that 'dear Donald,' who founded the MMF in honor of his longstanding friendship with the legend herself, is at the Great Cabaret in the Sky with Mabel and Bobby and Eartha and Seattle's Rick and Marge, the MMF is now headed by KT Sullivan, a charming, talented, beautiful cabaret star and all-around great gal. She was Lorelei Lee in the only on-Broadway revival of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and the madam in Sting's revival of The Threepenny Opera on Broadway.

For information on the Pacific Northwest Cabaret Association, contact the incredible Arnaldo! at arnaldo@dragchanteuse.com. For info on the Mabel Mercer Foundation, visit www.mabelmercer.org, e-mail info@mabelmercer.org, or call (212) 980-3026. by Milton W. Hamlin - SGN A&E Writer

Seattle's Kabaret Kids & Klub (officially the Pacific Northwest Cabaret Association) is focused on New York this week, where an incredible trip down memory lane highlighted the spring cabaret season: 'Remembering Mabel & Bobby: The 45th Anniversary of the Legendary Concert at The Town Hall,' on May 16.

As the song sort-of says, 'The song, the show has ended, but the melody, the memories linger on &' On May 19, 1968, the historic Town Hall in midtown Manhattan was the setting for the legendary dual concert by America's leading cabaret performers of the era, Mabel Mercer and Bobby Short. Last night the prestigious Mabel Mercer Foundation (MMF) - the Holy Grail of cabaret - commemorated the 45th anniversary of that incredible, never-to-be-forgotten evening.

'Remembering Mabel & Bobby ' was the cabaret event of the year - maybe the decade. New Yorkers bought their tickets weeks ago but the cavernous Town Hall still had select seating available. It recently was the site of the Liza Minnelli/Alan Cummings benefit concert (an already legendary event).

Featured performers included Joyce Breach, Eric Comstock, Natalie Douglas, Barbara Fasano, Lauren Fox, Eric Yves Garcia, Clint Holmes, Tanya Holt, Andrea Marcovicci, Karen Mason, Marissa Mulder, Karen Oberlin, Rex Reed, Lumiri Tubo, Tamara Tunie, Iris Williams, and Larry Woodward, who interpreted numbers from the Mabel/Bobby songbook including 'Here's to Us,' 'Looking at You,' 'Remind Me,' 'Down in the Depths on the 90th Floor,' 'The Folks Who Live on the Hill,' 'I'm Throwing a Ball Tonight,' 'These Foolish Things,' 'Both Sides Now,' 'Bojangles of Harlem,' and 'Time Heals Everything.' The evening was hosted by KT Sullivan, of whom more will be said in a moment.

YOU SHOULDA BEEN THERE
'What?' cries the 'Dear Reader' this scribe is always addressing, 'SGN thinks I should have flown to New York on 14 hours' notice???' Well, that is what frequent-flier miles are for.

Mabel Mercer went to that Great Cabaret in the Sky years ago. She may never have visited Seattle.

Bobby Short - a Seattle Symphony and Jazz Alley frequent visitor - went too soon. But he and Mabel were surely together Thursday night, looking down at their concert with all of us mere mortals.

How many Kabaret Kids were there? It's impossible to tell. But, the Pacific Northwest Cabaret Association, which raised $100 for the highest level of membership, is the first and only regional cabaret group to join the MMF. Plans are, indeed, afoot for an Emerald City delegation to swoop into the MMF's October convention and 'take over.' Watch this space for details.

Now that 'dear Donald,' who founded the MMF in honor of his longstanding friendship with the legend herself, is at the Great Cabaret in the Sky with Mabel and Bobby and Eartha and Seattle's Rick and Marge, the MMF is now headed by KT Sullivan, a charming, talented, beautiful cabaret star and all-around great gal. She was Lorelei Lee in the only on-Broadway revival of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and the madam in Sting's revival of The Threepenny Opera on Broadway.

For information on the Pacific Northwest Cabaret Association, contact the incredible Arnaldo! at arnaldo@dragchanteuse.com. For info on the Mabel Mercer Foundation, visit www.mabelmercer.org, e-mail info@mabelmercer.org, or call (212) 980-3026.

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