This Is Your Night! Russ Weatherford

This Is Your Night! Russ Weatherford

Metropolitan Room, NYC, May 12, 2015

Photos by Maryann Lopinto for Cabaret Scenes

It was a night filled with song and joy, laughter and tears. Family, friends and colleagues gathered together to honor photographer, playwright, actor, teacher and man-about-town Russ Weatherford for his support of the cabaret community and his years in show business. Hosted by Metropolitan Room’s Managing Partner Bernie Furshpan, the packed-to the rafters crowd was treated to a nearly three-hour event boasting 29 well-wishers. Ian Herman was the musical director for most of the performers. From Bernie’s biography of Russ (including a slide show of photos of him through the years, which opened the festivities) to Carole J. Bufford’s roof-raising “The House of the Rising Sun” to Valerie Lemon’s moving “I Believe” to Barry Kleinbort’s hilarious and touching tale of how he and Russ met, to Eric Rudy’s (Russ’s husband) emotional “The Impossible Dream” and even a recorded greeting and song from Marilyn Maye and Billy Stritch (with Marilyn’s trademark special lyrics, professing her love for and desire to marry Russ), the love and respect was evident. Here are those who entertained the crowd, in order of appearance:

 

 

 

Tags: Aaron Morishita, American Songbook, Barry Kleinbort, Bernie Furshpan, Billy Stritch, Bob Blume, Broadway Musicals, Cabaret, Cabaret Reviews, Cabaret Scenes, Carole J. Bufford, Christel Ibsen, Clubs, Composers, Crooner, David Austin, Dean Regan, Elizabeth Sullivan, Eric Michael Gillett, Eric Rudy, Great American Songbook, I Believe, Ian Herman, Jamie deRoy, Jay Rogers, Joanne Furshpan, Joe Sirola, Joseph Macchia, Karen Akers, Karen Oberlin, Karen Wyman, Kristine Mills, Larry Kerchner, lyricists, Marilyn Maye, Marya Coburn, Maryann Lopinto, Merrill Stone, Metropolitan Room, Musicals, Nancy Opel, Natalie Douglas, Nightclubs, NYC, Popular Song, Raissa Katona Bennett, Randie Levine-Miller, Reviews, Russ Weatherford, Sandi Durell, Scott Siegel, Shana Farr, Show Tunes, Sidney Myer, Singers, Songbook, songwriters, Standards, Supper Clubs, The House of the Rising Sun, The Impossible Dream, This Is Your Night, Tom Waters, tribute show, Valerie Lemon, Venues, Vocalists

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