photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Jason Cozmo & Daniel Lincoln
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On August 11, Cherry's proprietors Jacqué Piazza and Donna Bianco turned the Cherry Lane Café into a piano bar, happily recalling, for some of us, the days when former owners Meryl Facterman and Lois McIntosh had pianist Vernon Larsen and, before him, Frankie Piano, leading sing-a-longs on the premises. This was the night of the first Show Tune Sing-a-Long, to be held weekly, on Wednesdays at 10 p.m., hosted by Jason Cozmo, who came as Liza Minnelli, with singer-songwriter-pianist Daniel Lincoln at the keyboard, and featuring singing staff members Dan Schlageter and Adam Carman AKA Renée Flaming, and any others present who want to sing.

On the first night, there were solos, duets, and sing-a-longs, featuring the aforementioned individuals and Jody Wood, Ken Woodhouse, and myself, among others. Dan and Adam sang songs from "Les Misérables" ("I Dreamed a Dream" and "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," respectively), Jody sang songs from "Big River" and "Once on This Island," and Ken and I, selections from "Kiss Me, Kate" ("Where Is the Life that Late I Led" and "So in Love," respectively). Jason performed Liza specialties "Ring Them Bells" and "Maybe This Time." Jody sang duets with Ken (from "Godspell"), Adam, and Daniel, and we all sang music from "Mame," "Hello Dolly," "Grease," and "Chicago." "South Pacific," "West Side Story," "Finian's Rainbow," "My Fair Lady," "The Little Mermaid," "Avenue Q," "Jekyll and Hyde," "La Cage aux Folles," and music by the Gershwins and Rodgers and Hart were also on the agenda.

Some of those who joined us for the songfest were Bella and Ivanna Cocktail, Porsche and DJ Chuck McTague, and Joe Saporito.