SOOO MUCH VARIETY AT THE OCTOBER OPEN MIC

My GOODNESS! Where to begin? There was such a huge range of songs and antics at the DC Cabaret Network’s Open Mic at The Black Squirrel this past Monday, it will be difficult to fit it all in! Led by this month’s music director of many talents, Jeff Hamlin, our audience got to hear him sing, as well as play; such a treat! Our usual host, Steven Cupo, was a little hyperactive, but seemed to make folks laugh and move the proceedings along. Once again, Jill Parsons, who has her own Open Mic at Shaw’s Tavern on Wednesdays, filled in as sound goddess and all-around roadie. Thank you, Jill.
The night started off with a “lesson” in cabaret with the coincidence of Steven and Heidi Mayer planning to sing the same song. Turning it into an example of interpretation, Steven and Heidi sang back-to-back, showing that re-interpreting material is a stronghold concept when performing cabaret. For variety, Ron Squeri celebrated Italian Heritage Month by offering two Italian classics and 90 year old Everard Cupo sang “Stardust” like he was 30. We even had two duets in the evening: Maureen Kerrigan and Joel Snyder singing “Married” from the musical “Cabaret” and new-comer, Michael Shea, combined voices with our own Jeff Hamlin in a Barbra Streisand/Judy Garland classic. (You will just have to figure out for yourselves which one was which). Shannon Polly sang a very funny song about the “joys” of summer stock while Michael Miyazaki’s take on “Nothing” from “A Chorus Line” called “Something” was hilarious. And speaking of reinterpreting a song, Maureen Kerrigan’s fresh look on “Send in the Clowns” is one for the books. Everyone was so clever with bringing in so much new material and also giving us a new, fresh take on some old favorites.
If you weren’t there, you missed a great, great night. If you want to be part of the fun, please join us at our next Open Mic on Monday, November 14 at 8:00; Howard Breitbart will be music director and Tracy Simpson will be our lovely hostess. SO, come on down to the party!

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF PARTICIPANTS AND THE SONGS THEY SANG:
Steven Cupo – I’ll Be Seeing You (traditional)
Heidi Mayer – I’ll Be Seeing You (up tempo)
Ron Squeri – O Sole Mio
Maureen Kerrigan & Joel Snyder – Married
Marcia Kass – The Man I Love
Michael Shea – Moondance
Michael Miyazaki – Something
Christy Trapp – I Wish You Love
Joel Snyder – I Hold Your Hand in Mine
Shannon Polly – A Summer in Ohio
Heather Frank – Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Maureen Kerrigan – Send in the Clowns
Everard Cupo – Stardust
Heather Frank – It’s Bad for Me
Michael Shea & Jeff Hamlin – Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy
Michael Miyazaki – You Mustn’t Be Discouraged
Maureen Kerrigan – At Last
Shannon Polly – Stars and Moon
Ron Squeri – Santa Lucia
Michael Shea – Out Here On My Own