On NJN2: Friday, November 27 - Thursday, December 3, 2009
@ 5:00 pm • 11:00 pm
State of the Arts presents a quartet of great cabaret performers, past, present, and future, including forever-young Barbara Cook, an exclusive with the late Bobby Short, four-time Tony winner Audra McDonald, and rising star Peter Cincotti in Come to the Cabaret.
We see the forever-young Barbara Cook at work at Feinstein's at the Regency--in a segment taped before the death of Wally Harper, her musical partner for more than 35 years. Cook’s many fans say she’s the greatest singer alive today – and quite a few critics agree. In the 1950s and ‘60s, she was Broadway's favorite ingénue – think "Candide", "The Music Man", and "She Loves Me." Now in her late 70s, Barbara Cook has added warmth and wisdom to the sweetness and light. Her career has spanned stage, film and concert hall, as well as intimate cabaret settings such as Feinstein’s, where State of the Arts producer Amber Edwards met up with Cook to learn more about her career and some of her favorite songs.
Soprano Audra McDonald made history as Broadway's first three-time Tony Award winner under the age of 30 for her performances in Carousel (1994); Master Class (1996), and Ragtime (1998). McDonald won her fourth Tony in 2004 for her portrayal of Ruth Younger in a revival of "A Raisin in the Sun." Born in Berlin, Germany in 1970, McDonald grew up in California where she began her life in theatre at a young age as a way to counteract her diagnosis as "hyperactive." After attending Juilliard, McDonald quickly rose to stardom, with acting, musical theatre, and singing credits to her name. Join State of the Arts producer Amber Edwards as we visit the singer/actress in rehearsal for a one-woman show.
A new kid on the block, Peter Cincotti is already a headliner. State of the Arts producer Eric Schultz talked to the jazz pianist, singer, and composer when he was a 20-year-old sophomore at Columbia University prior to a Jazz Room concert at William Paterson University. Since then, the major performing career predicted has arrived – Cincotti’s second release, “On the Moon” (2004) debuted at #2 on Billboard’s jazz charts. Jazz great James Williams says "he's the real thing, an incredible talent." Cincotti has appeared in films, television, and is now the “face” of Zegna’s Sartorial & Couture collection. Cincotti says, "The songs I sing are all about love." He picks music he feels in his heart, songs with lyrics that touch him personally.
State of the Arts producer Amber Edwards presents a tribute to the late Bobby Short--the standard bearer for them all--captured in a thoughtful and expansive 1989 interview. Throughout his career, which included a 35 year engagement at the Café Carlyle, Short remained devoted to the "great American songbook" – songs by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, the Gershwins, Billy Strayhorn, and Harold Arlen, among others. One of ten children, Short began singing in church but quickly went on the road, reaching New York City when he was only 12. Known for his “impeccable singing” as well as his elegant style and high-profile social life, Bobby Short died on March 21, 2005 at age 80.
See Amber Edwards’ entire uncut interview with Bobby Short from 1989 Part 1 Part 2
Bobby Short
Amber Edwards interviewing Bobby Short in his NYC apartment (1989)
On NJN2: Friday, November 27 - Thursday, December 3, 2009
@ 5:00 pm • 11:00 pm
Preview
Hear Audra sing "Ain't it the Truth" from her CD "Audra McDonald - Happy Songs", with a big band led by Music Director Ted Sperling
