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An impeccable musical storyteller presents a letter-perfect evening of musical storytelling, by Stephen Mosher Oct. 11, 2021   There was an actress during the first part of the last century that legend tells was the greatest stage actress of her day. People who saw her on the stage vowed that hers was the performance they, […]

Rochester-and the JCC in particular-is the perfect location to debut this piece… by Colin Fleming-Stumpf Oct. 8, 2021   After 18 long theatre-less months, Rochester’s JCC Centerstage Theatre is once again welcoming audiences indoors (various performances were held over the summer at the more COVID-friendly outdoor Dawn Lipson Canalside Stage). And what better way to […]

The Songs Of Leonard Cohen by Bobby Patrick Aug. 27, 2021   Strength Under Control Is A Deceptive Power To Hold An Audience With, And This Lady’s Strength Lies In The Most Understated Of Storytelling. Heigh-Ho, My Merry Rainbow Tribe! Bobby Patrick, your RAINBOW Reviewer here. Putting the silent T in cabareT to bring you […]

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Alix Cohen in Playing Around Amy Beth Williams’ appreciation of Leonard Cohen emerges in her choice of mostly lesser known, often complex songs earnestly performed. Unlike many vocalists today, she’s aware of what she’s singing/saying. Appealing renditions of “Bird on a Wire” and “Sisters of Mercy” (starting a capella) […]

SALON Returns to Don’t Tell Mama by Ricky Pope Aug. 23, 2021   In the 19th century, groups of artists would often gather at the home of an aristocratic patron to discuss literary and artistic themes for the purpose of collective enlightenment. It was a free exchange of ideas between the artistic class and the […]

Bruce Sabath in ‘Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish.’ Credit Provided Familiar faces are the theme of the JCC CenterStage’s 45th season, with one now-familiar issue to deal with as well: the pandemic. “Audiences are coming back,” artistic director Ralph Meranto said, following a summer of outdoor events at the JCC CanalSide Outdoor Stage. “By […]

There’s no seven year itch at Don’t Tell Mama. The people still love Ricky Ritzel’s Broadway night. by Stephen Mosher Aug. 4, 2021   In 1985 Great Performances on PBS presented a television special titled “The Best of Broadway” that featured Tom Bosley hosting a treasure trove of performers from the American Musical Theater performing […]

Kendra Cunningham is a Great Storyteller by Ricky Pope Jul. 30, 2021   I came from this big Irish Catholic co-dependent family. So we weren’t rich. We didn’t have trust funds. We barely had trust. The search for trust seems to be the persistent theme of most of Kendra Cunningham’s stories. She confided in us […]

POSTED ON JUL 1, 2021 IN MUSIC REVIEWS By Sandi Durell How can life at Don’t Tell Mama ever be the same if it wouldn’t include award winning Ricky Ritzel’s Broadway? Well . . . it can’t and so he’s back!!! June 25th marked 15 months of a moratorium on performances, shows and the sociability of combining our […]

Cabaret Staple Ricky Ritzel Returns to Don’t Tell Mama by Ricky Pope Jun. 27, 2021   If you want to see a rarely performed musical from the past you have two options. You can either wait for the folks at Encores to get around to the show you love, or you can visit the Lincoln Center Library. Alternatively, […]