The Roundtable with Robert Bannon

Zevely Records and King Kozmo Music, a division of the Jazzheads Music Group, have announced that Karen Mason And All That Jazz! – the singular album from acclaimed Broadway star and concert artist KAREN MASON – is now available on CD and in digital and streaming formats today, Friday, October 25. For this personal new collection, Karen explores the beloved songbook of John Kander and Fred Ebb, the justly celebrated Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning team behind the Broadway musicals Cabaret; Chicago; New York, New York; and beyond. Karen is accompanied on solo piano by her longtime music director, Christopher Denny. The album is produced and mixed by Paul Rolnick with arrangements by Christopher Denny and Barry Kleinbort, who directed the original concert version of the show. Stream or download the album at https://orcd.co/pp80vaq

Karen will celebrate the album with a special concert at 54 Below in New York on Sunday, November 10 and then a run at Davenport’s in Chicago on November 13-16. For ticket information, please visit KarenMason.com.

Karen Mason And All That Jazz! presents Karen’s dazzling take on Kander & Ebb’s songs, which have been lighting up Broadway since the 1960s. Eschewing her typical orchestral accompaniment for subtle yet engaging piano, Karen’s interpretations are the perfect mix of intimacy and excitement. Christopher Denny’s playing, with its myriad shades and colors, sounds like an orchestra in itself. While Mason puts her unique spin on classics like “All That Jazz,” “Maybe This Time” and “A Quiet Thing,” the album also delves into less often performed shows such as The Visit (“Love and Love Alone”), The Scottsboro Boys (“Go Back Home”), and The Happy Time (“The Life of the Party”). In one particularly fascinating twist of fate, Karen gives us the rousing “I’m One of the Smart Ones,” which was originally written for the unproduced show Golden Gate, but ended up making a memorable appearance on Broadway last season in the musical New York, New York.

KAREN MASON has starred on Broadway, Off-Broadway, television, in concert, and in the recording studio. She’s been praised for her “fierce emotion” by The New York Times, her “innate comic ability” by Playbill and her “delightful instrument” by the Daily News. Karen has been called “immensely appealing” by The Chicago Tribune, “a towering talent” by TheaterMania and “a dynamic performer” by Time Out New York.

She is a 14-time MAC Award winner; most recently she was the recipient of the 2019 MAC Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2023 Major Artist Album of the Year, and was honored with the MAC Award for Major Female Vocalist of the Year for six consecutive years. She has also won the 2006 Nightlife Award for Major Female Vocalist and has three Bistro Awards.  

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We just love that Kathryn Erbe! She is a CLASS ACT!

She is best known to television audiences for her starring roles on LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT and OZ, as well as her recurring roles on HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET, THE SINNER, HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, POSE, INVASION, CITY ON A HILL, and the upcoming BLACK RABBITT. Her television films include BREATHING LESSONS, NAKED CITY, and GEORGE WALLACE.

Her feature film credits include WHAT ABOUT BOB?, RICH IN LOVE, THE ADDICTION, KISS OF DEATH, DREAM WITH THE FISHES, MISTRESS AMERICA, ASSASSINATION NATION, NO ALTERNATIVE, THE GOOD HOUSE, RED PILL, 3 BACKYARDS, D2: THE MIGHTY DUCKS, STIR OF ECHOES, and the award-winning short films DON'T PICK UP and THE WRONG ROAD.

Erbe made her Broadway debut in THE GRAPES OF WRATH and has also been seen in A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY, THE FATHER, and THE SPEED OF DARKNESS, for which she received a Tony Award nomination. Her off-Broadway credits include THE MY HOUSE PLAY, DOWN THE SHORE, YOSEMITE, ODE TO JOY, AZAK, CHECKERS, NIKOLAI AND THE OTHERS, and the award-winning SOMETHING CLEAN. She is also an ensemble member of the Atlantic Theater Company and the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, where her appearances include CURSE OF THE STARVING CLASS, MY THING OF LOVE, and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE.

Now she takes all that experience and brings it to ASHES & INK, directed by Alice Jankell. A moving tale about a mother’s unconditional love of her child, ASHES & INK will play for three weeks only at Off-Broadway’s AMT Theater (354 West 45th Street, New York, NY, 10036). Performances begin Wednesday, October 16, and continue through Sunday, November 3. Opening Night is Friday, October 18 (7:00 p.m.). Tickets are $39.99-$49.99 and available at https://ashesink.ludus.com/index.php.

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Twelve diverse Christian leaders find hope and fellowship at a series of boundary-breaking retreats in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Brought together by Michael Gulker of The Colossian Forum, five women and seven men struggle with some of today’s most contentious issues. The divisions between them become apparent and test both their common belief in the universal importance of love and kindness and the bonds they build over the course of a year.

Inspiring and provocative, LEAP OF FAITH explores whether we can disagree and still belong to each other in a divided world. Woah! Yes! Deep!

Director Nicholas Ma joins us to talk all about it! Nicholas is an award-winning director, writer and producer based in Brooklyn. He produced the documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? about the life of Fred Rogers, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and most recently the WNBA documentary Unfinished Business, which premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.

His feature directorial debut, Mabel (San Francisco International Film Festival, 2024), which he co-wrote with Joy Goodwin, was awarded the Sloan Prize. Previously, he directed the award-winning short documentary Suite No. 1, Prelude (New York Film Festival, 2019). 

Now In Theatres!

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WE LOVE ANDY! Broadway icon Andy Karl, who is set to make his highly anticipated return to the New York stage this month in the new Michael R. Jackson musical, “Teeth,” at New World Stages. Andy joins the production as ‘Pastor Bill O'Keefe’.

Following its sold-out, extended run at Playwrights Horizons, “Teeth” will live on at New World Stages. Based on the cult classic film, the show is a fierce, rapturous, and savagely entertaining new musical crackling with irrepressible desire and ancient rage – a dark comedy conjuring the legend of one girl whose sexual curse is also her salvation. Dawn O’Keefe is an evangelical Christian teen with a powerful secret not even she understands – when men violate her, her body bites back. That’s not a metaphor.

Andy Karl is a three-time Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner known for his Olivier Award-winning, Tony-nominated role as ‘Phil Connors’ in “Groundhog Day” which played on Broadway, at London’s Old Vic and Melbourne's Princess Theatre. He was previously seen in the Broadway revival of “Into the Woods” and leading the Broadway musical “Pretty Woman.” He earned back-to-back Tony Award nominations for 2014’s “Rocky” and the following year’s “On the Twentieth Century.” Additional Broadway credits include “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” “9 to 5,” “Legally Blonde,” “The Wedding Singer,” “Jersey Boys,” and “Saturday Night Fever.” On television, Andy is well known for his fan-favorite role on “Law & Order: SVU” as ‘Lieutenant Mike among others. On film he appeared alongside Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton in the feature film “And So It Goes,” directed by Rob Reiner, and Christina Ricci in “Here After.”

We talk about "Teeth," his career, & so much more!

For Tickets: www.teeththemusical.com

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You may not know this, but I, Robert, moved to Detroit two months ago! Yes I sure did! I am still here to talk to all your favs, but I have fallen in love with the history and culture (& My husband) all here in the 313! So I have been seeing a lot of shows with www.BROADWAYINDETROIT! I love it! Makes it feel like home! So when "MJ" was coming to town, I knew it would be special! MJ is MoTown & MoTown is MJ!

So direct , pinch me, from the steps of Hitsville USA, the cast of "MJ THE MUSICAL" Is here! MJ rolls into the Fisher Theatre in Detroit til November 3rd! Tickets are almost sold out so grab them at BROADWAYINDETROIT.com!

I had the chance to chat with Jamaal Fields-Green (Michael Jackson,) Devin Bowles (Joe Jackson,) & Josh A. Dawson (Tito Jackson) about bringing this show to Motown means! We talk their health, honoroing Michael and Tito, and what they expect the audiences to bring to the theatre! The answer is ENERGY!

Get ready! Can you feel it? MJ Is Here!

For Info & Tickets: BroadwayInDetroit.com or MJTheMusical.com

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CelloVoci – the newly formed classical-crossover group starring internationally renowned cello and vocal duo BRANDEN & JAMES, along with powerhouse singer/songwriter EFFIE PASSERO from “American Idol” and Postmodern Jukebox – has announced that their debut album Happy Days is available in digital formats and on CD is OUT! The album’s first single, an epic version of the chart-topper “The Prayer,” was released last month. Two “Behind the Music” videos that explore the song are available on the CelloVoci YouTube channel, youtube.com/@CelloVoci.  

Since forming during the pandemic, the trio has toured extensively around United States, along with several cities in Mexico. CelloVoci will embark on a new branch of the tour through 2025 and beyond, including upcoming dates in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Chicago, IL; Plymouth, MA; Milton, DE; and more. For the full calendar, visit CelloVoci.com.

From the soaring opening medley – the trio’s bravura take on the legendary Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand duet, “Happy Days Are Here Again” and “Get Happy” – to the closing track, Happy Days is a musical tour-de force. Other ingenious combinations, such as their haunting blend of the Latin standard “Bésame Mucho” with the Eagles’ evergreen “Hotel California,” create a special sonic interplay which allows you to hear these beloved songs as if for the first time.

Showcasing skills beyond her remarkable singing ability, Passero performs an original composition, the melodic and heartfelt ballad “Simply Happy.” The trios enters the rock arena with an emotionally charged medley of “Chasing Cars,” from the Irish/Scottish band Snow Patrol, and Amanda McBroom’s delicate movie theme “The Rose.” The album concludes with an unusually plaintive “You Are My Sunshine,” as Effie’s lovely vocal dovetails exquisitely with Branden’s “Over the Rainbow” – bookending this collection with another iconic Judy Garland song.

Moving beyond the typically stiff and stentorian traps of the classical-crossover genre, CelloVoci’s extraordinary musicianship and uncommon musical pairings deftly showcase the group with power and sensitivity. Their premiere album Happy Days is set help launch them to even bigger stages around the globe.

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Shyla Lerner is a actor's actor. She has been on these stages for a minute! All that work and the time has come: it is Shyla's Broadway Debut! She is making it in the classic that is "Our Town!" She is so talented and fun! Wait til you hear her story!

About "Our Town:" In Wilder’s timeless tale of a small town, a stage manager narrates the daily lives of its locals, depicts a childhood friendship turn into marriage, and sets the stage for magnificent truths of what it means to be alive. Don’t miss this strictly limited engagement of an essential American classic. Now in performances at the Barrymore Theatre.

OUR TOWN features a cast of 28 actors, including Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory, The Boys In The Band), Katie Holmes (All My Sons, Batman Begins), Zoey Deutch (Netflix’s Set It Up), Ephraim Sykes (Ain’t Too Proud), Billy Eugene Jones (Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch, Fat Ham), Richard Thomas (To Kill a Mockingbird, The Waltons), Michelle Wilson (Sweat), Julie Halston (Tootsie), and Donald Webber, Jr. (Hamilton).

For Tickets: www.ourtownbroadway.com

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We love WP Theatre! The mission, the work, and what is on their stage is amazing!

There is a new play there that you must see! It is running til 10/27 and I want you to grab a ticket!

DIRTY LAUNDRY is here! The chorus is here! Mary Bacon, Sasha Diamond, & Amy Jo Jackson is here!

What is it all about?

After the woman who unites them dies, three people grapple with love, loss, lust…and household chores. Meanwhile, a spin cycle of voices pings with questions: are you still a daughter when your mother dies? Are you still the other woman when the first woman is gone? And maybe more importantly–how do you clean all that Dirty Laundry?

Grab tickets at www.wptheatee.org

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Today we are talking The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show at The Duke on 42nd Street at the NEW 42 Studios (229 West 42nd Street) with creator and director, Jonathan Rockefeller, who closely worked with the book’s author Eric Carle on the production before he passed away. He is a visionary who does amazing things with puppets, music, and stories we all love!

The show is a theatrical recreation of Eric Carle’s beautifully imaginative stories, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show features a menagerie of enchanting puppets during a magical 50-minute show that faithfully adapts four of Eric Carle’s beloved books for the stage. The production will feature stories that haven't been seen in 10 years including The Artist That Painted a Blue Horse, Mr. Seahorse, The Very Lonely Firefly, and of course, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Dream Snow will be added to the story rotation for the first time in New York City during the holiday season.

The production uses over 75 hand-crafted puppets to bring the beloved Eric Carle stories to life that were created at their in-house puppet studio, The Rock Shop. The puppets are designed to faithfully reflect Eric Carle’s original illustrations, providing a vibrant and engaging visual experience. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show has done over 4000 performances in 350 cities globally and has been performed in 19 different countries.

For tickets & info: www.hungrycaterpillarshow.com

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We love Rob Huebel! He is a comedic genius!

Rob Huebel has won hearts as part of the hit series Transparent, his memorable performance in I Love You, Man, and roles on Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, 30 Rock, and The Office. He is a frequent collaborator of fellow comedians Paul Scheer, Will Arnett and Rob Riggle, and most recently was a regular on HBO’s acclaimed show The Sex Lives of College Girls.

With a background in improv, some of Huebel’s early career was working as a sketch actor on shows like Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and voice acting on Bob’s Burgers and American Dad. He has also appeared in many critically acclaimed films such as The Descendants, Keanu, Despicable Me, Little Fockers and more. Huebel has Emmy nominations for his work on Michael Moore’s series The Awful Truth and the series Childrens Hospital.

Rob Huebel is here to discuss his new dramatic comedy feature, ALL HAPPY FAMILIES, co-starring Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother), Emmy Nominee Becky Ann Baker (Girls, Ted Lasso), Chandra Russell (South Side), the late John Ashton (Beverly Hills Cop), Ivy O’Brien (Manchester By The Sea), Antoine McKay (Empire), David Pasquesi (Veep), Colleen Camp (Clue), and Grammy-winning musician Rodney Crowell.

This powerful and funny feature is a must see for this Holiday Season! On Demand, from the comfort of home starting on October 18th! Do not miss it!

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