The national tour kicks off at the Paper Mill Playhouse.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

BERNADETTE PETERS
Two-time Tony winner Bernadette Peters has been cast in an upcoming film for Showtime that will begin shooting in Ireland later this month; in Bobbie’s Girl, Peters will co-star with Rachel Ward and Jonathan Silverman. Due to filming, Peters has canceled a few of her upcoming concert dates, including those in Toronto, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Dallas, Texas. The former Song & Dance star has, however, rescheduled her Minneapolis, MN, performances for June 8 and 9 and her Johnstown, PA, performance for June 23. . . The dazzling performer will also make another guest appearance on FOX TV’s “Ally McBeal” on Monday, April 16, and the independent film in which she stars, "Let it Snow" (aka "Snow Days"), will finally be released this August in ten major cities across the country, and will eventually be aired on HBO, too. You can also catch BP next Thursday, April 12 on Channel 2’s “Live at 4” program, where she will promote the upcoming event, “Art for Animals.” And, as if all this weren’t enough, Peters heads back into the recording studio this summer to wrap her golden vocals around the classic songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein for a new solo CD on the Angel Records label. Stay tuned for more details. . .

KAREN MASON
This week, Karen Mason began a lengthy run at Arci’s Place, one of the city’s newest cabaret rooms. Mason, who received much critical acclaim when she was the standby-to-the-stars in Broadway’s Sunset Boulevard, has long been one of the brightest lights on the New York cabaret scene. I recently had the chance to chat with this charming performer, and the Q&A with the talented songstress follows. If you’re in the metropolitan area, be sure to catch Mason in action; you will not be disappointed . . . Arci’s Place is located at 450 Park Avenue South. There is a $30 cover and a $15 food/drink minimum; call (212) 532-4370 for reservations.

KAREN MASON
This week, Karen Mason began a lengthy run at Arci’s Place, one of the city’s newest cabaret rooms. Mason, who received much critical acclaim when she was the standby-to-the-stars in Broadway’s Sunset Boulevard, has long been one of the brightest lights on the New York cabaret scene. I recently had the chance to chat with this charming performer, and the Q&A with the talented songstress follows. If you’re in the metropolitan area, be sure to catch Mason in action; you will not be disappointed . . . Arci’s Place is located at 450 Park Avenue South. There is a $30 cover and a $15 food/drink minimum; call (212) 532-4370 for reservations.

LIZA MINNELLI
For those of you who were unable to attend Liza Minnelli's recent Broadway "comeback" (personally, "I hate that word"), Minnelli on Minnelli, you can enjoy the experience via the live recording of her performance on the new Angel Records release, "Minnelli on Minnelli." Now in stores, the single disc captures the excitement of Minnelli's solo performance, which features both song and the spoken work. Highlights of the recording include a slowed-down, silky reading of "Baubles, Bangles & Beads"; a belty, emotional version of "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?"; the comical "I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore," which features new lyrics by the show's director, Fred Ebb; and a duet with her late mother, the legendary Judy Garland, in Meet Me in St. Louis's "The Trolley Song."

LIZA MINNELLI
For those of you who were unable to attend Liza Minnelli's recent Broadway "comeback" (personally, "I hate that word"), Minnelli on Minnelli, you can enjoy the experience via the live recording of her performance on the new Angel Records release, "Minnelli on Minnelli." Now in stores, the single disc captures the excitement of Minnelli's solo performance, which features both song and the spoken work. Highlights of the recording include a slowed-down, silky reading of "Baubles, Bangles & Beads"; a belty, emotional version of "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?"; the comical "I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore," which features new lyrics by the show's director, Fred Ebb; and a duet with her late mother, the legendary Judy Garland, in Meet Me in St. Louis's "The Trolley Song."

BARBARA COOK
Last week I discussed the Barbara Cook newsletter, and what follows are several quotes from an interesting interview WQEW's Jonathan Schwartz conducted with the Broadway and cabaret star in November 1998. The interview was held just one week before Cook's sensational return to the Carnegie Hall stage.

BARBARA COOK
Last week I discussed the Barbara Cook newsletter, and what follows are several quotes from an interesting interview WQEW's Jonathan Schwartz conducted with the Broadway and cabaret star in November 1998. The interview was held just one week before Cook's sensational return to the Carnegie Hall stage.

BETTY BUCKLEY
This past Sunday, Betty Buckley concluded her acclaimed run in the Hartford Stage Company's production of Tennessee Williams' Camino Real. The evening before, however, BB performed in concert for a gala at the Tilles Center on the campus of Long Island University. I thought you would enjoy reading some quotes from Steve Parks' glowing review in Monday's Newsday:

BETTY BUCKLEY
This past Sunday, Betty Buckley concluded her acclaimed run in the Hartford Stage Company's production of Tennessee Williams' Camino Real. The evening before, however, BB performed in concert for a gala at the Tilles Center on the campus of Long Island University. I thought you would enjoy reading some quotes from Steve Parks' glowing review in Monday's Newsday:

Hello, diva lovers! I'll be out of the office all next week, but you can send e-mails beginning Monday, August 30. Have a great week, and enjoy the diva news. . .

Hello, diva lovers! I'll be out of the office all next week, but you can send e-mails beginning Monday, August 30. Have a great week, and enjoy the diva news. . .

Hello, diva lovers! A lot of news and reviews this week plus a special bonus: Playbill editor Judy Samelson was able to attend the recent star studded Sondheim benefit in San Francisco, and her thoughts on the evening follow. Enjoy!

PATTI LuPONE
There are probably four, maybe five, artists whose recordings I eagerly await, and in that small but stellar group is the Tony and Olivier Award winning actress and singer Patti LuPone. From the moment I heard LuPone wrap her golden vocal chords around Andrew Lloyd Webber's score to Evita, I knew this was one of the unique voices of our time -- a voice with a huge belting range, capable of soaring to the rafters of any theatre as well as tugging at your heartstrings with softer, shaded tones. But what really separates LuPone from many singers is the actress that takes over when she interprets a lyric, whether it's a signature tune like "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" or "Meadowlark" or a gorgeous pairing of pop tunes like "Calling You" or "Get Here." So, it is a bit surprising that LuPone did not release a solo album until 1993, "Patti LuPone Live," a recording of her thrilling Los Angeles concert, which she repeated on Broadway to rave reviews. Fans (this one included) had to content themselves with her wonderful work on such show recordings as The Baker's Wife, Evita, Anything Goes, Les Miserables and Sunset Boulevard, which was released the same year as the aforementioned "Patti LuPone Live."

PATTI LuPONE
There are probably four, maybe five, artists whose recordings I eagerly await, and in that small but stellar group is the Tony and Olivier Award winning actress and singer Patti LuPone. From the moment I heard LuPone wrap her golden vocal chords around Andrew Lloyd Webber's score to Evita, I knew this was one of the unique voices of our time -- a voice with a huge belting range, capable of soaring to the rafters of any theatre as well as tugging at your heartstrings with softer, shaded tones. But what really separates LuPone from many singers is the actress that takes over when she interprets a lyric, whether it's a signature tune like "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" or "Meadowlark" or a gorgeous pairing of pop tunes like "Calling You" or "Get Here." So, it is a bit surprising that LuPone did not release a solo album until 1993, "Patti LuPone Live," a recording of her thrilling Los Angeles concert, which she repeated on Broadway to rave reviews. Fans (this one included) had to content themselves with her wonderful work on such show recordings as The Baker's Wife, Evita, Anything Goes, Les Misérables and Sunset Boulevard, which was released the same year as the aforementioned "Patti LuPone Live."