The American Popular Song Society’s Gala Celebration

By Andrew Poretz …

The American Popular Song Society (“APSS”) held its second annual Gala Celebration at the off-Broadway venue Theater555, honoring cabaret legend Marilyn Maye with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The stars were not only aligned on Monday evening, they were all in the same place, with some of the best and brightest Broadway, cabaret and jazz performers paying respects to the Marvelous Marilyn Maye in stories, songs and comedic pieces.

Under the musical direction of host Michael Lavine and produced by APSS Board members Sandi Durell and Marilyn Lester, this fabulous event, the night after the Tony Awards, boasted a number of Tony winners and nominees.

Mr. Lavine and the various other accompanists were supported by bassist Steve Doyle and Daniel Glass. The Theater555 stage held a set from an unspecified upcoming production, which lent an odd sense of Andy Hardy having provided a barn for the proceedings.

After Mr. Lavine’s brief opening remarks, Broadway and cabaret star Melissa Errico arrived at the stage dressed in a stunning wine-colored velvet gown, more for her next appearance at Town Hall later in the evening. With Michael Lavine on piano, she sang “Hurry! It’s Lovely Up Here” from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. It was clearly quite lovely up there.

Supported by pianist Isaac Hayward, Tony winner Debbie Gravitte (Jerome Robbins’ Broadway) declared that her medley “could have been written for Marilyn Maye,” singing “Lulu’s Back in Town” and “You Took Advantage of Me.”

Pianist Tom Judson supported drag icon Charles Busch, who appeared as himself. Understatedly dressed in a black suit over a black tee, Mr. Busch performed a surprisingly poignant rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” that turned the song into an emotional soliloquy. His timing was exquisite. “I really don’t know life… at all.” Stunning.

Karen Mason, accompanied by her longtime musical director Christopher Denny, announced to Ms. Maye, “For you, my darling, I wore party heels!” While singing “Just In Time,” she quipped, “I found my Maye” (instead of “way”).

The irrepressible Julie Halston can probably do nothing but read the phone book on stage and get big laughs with her inimitable delivery and devastating timing. Rather, she read an unintentionally funny passage from Joan Crawford’s autobiography – a section on parenting – that had the audience in paroxysms of laughter.

Brilliant jazz pianist Bill Charlap asserted there has never been a greater singer than Marilyn Maye before bringing up his famous mother, Sandy Stewart, for “After You,” playing it as a dirge-like ballad, sung as something of a eulogy for a lost love.

The great Tovah Feldshuh had a masterful turn with her funny mashup of “You Make Me Feel So Young” and “Forever Young,” sometimes throwing in vocal changes like operative notes here, a Durante impression there. She joked, “That’s right, girls, keep your hair natural … like mine! (It is dyed brown).

Young cabaret star Mark William performed “The Marvelous Marilyn Maye,” a Larry Kerchner song written for the occasion. Mark threw in a Maye-style high kick, to laughter.

Pianist Alex Rybeck introduced cabaret star Jeff Harnar – the pair celebrated 40 years of musical partnership the next night. Mr. Harnar cheekily recited Ms. Maye’s commandments to never turn your back to the audience while moving the mic stand and to never sit down – both of which he promptly did. The dapper Harnar sang “Too Marvelous For Words” with some special lyrics.

Broadway star Liz Callaway, with Rybeck, called Ms. Maye her “she-ro,” stating, “Never underestimate the power of a good medley,” before performing a bravura medley that included “Make Your Own Kind of Music, “Sing, “Do-Re-Me” “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing,” and even Benny Goodman’s “Sing, Sing, Sing,” with Daniel Glass following the iconic Gene Krupa drum rhythm. For the last one, she humorously sang “Don’t know all the words to this, just try to sing like my sis” (the scatty Ann Hampton Callaway).

Tony winner Karen Akers (Nine) sang a lovely waltz on “Love Has Found Me Once Again,” a song given to her by Lew Spence.

Marilyn’s protégé, the beautiful “Saxy Susie” Clausen, who only played sax before coming under Ms. Maye’s tutelage and added singing to her toolbox, joined pianist David Pearl for a sprightly “Jazz Baby.”

Pianist Mark Janas was originally scheduled to accompany Len Cariou who could not make it. Mark told a marvelous anecdote of how, when they worked together in Hello, Dolly! in the 1980’s, Ms. Maye convinced composer Jerry Herman to okay a special addition to the title song that she wrote herself. He’s convinced Herman never realized he hadn’t wrote it! Mark then performed a song parody, “Hello, Marilyn!”

The hilarious Susie Mosher sang Cole Porter’s “It’s All Right With Me” in her zany, over-the-top style that included something of a Martin Short dance.

Singer Stacy Sullivan noted that backstage at Carnegie Hall, “Marilyn Maye and Billy Stritch taught me how to twerk.” She sang the Peggy Lee hit “Fever,” featuring Steve Doyle.

The amazing Sidney Myer, a performer who gets big laughs just by opening his mouth to say “Good evening,” came up for another Peggy Lee classic (written with Paul Horner), a stunning rendition of “Angels On Your Pillow” that induced tears.

Jazz chanteuse Catherine Russell proved she could make even cleaning supplies sound hot when she joined the excellent pianist Sean Mason on “A Porter’s Love Song to His Chambermaid” (Andy Razaf/James P Johnson),. “You could be my oil mop and I could be your oil,” she sang.

“Long-haired genius” pianist Ron Abel accompanied Jamie deRoy – who won two Tony Awards on Sunday, one for Parade and one for Leopoldstadt – on David Buskin’s hysterically funny “Jews Don’t Camp.”

David Pearl accompanied Ms. Maye’s student Marci Kraft on “Razzle Dazzle” (Chicago) with special lyrics.

Actor and playwright Jim Brochu came out in a creamsicle-colored jacket. “I wore this jacket last year,” he noted, “But that was 75 pounds ago!” He pulled it off to reveal a pink jacket that fit his newly svelte frame. He performed “Hooray for Marilyn Maye” with special lyrics.

Broadway great Lee Roy Reams told the crowd, “You must have the strongest bladder in New York!” before reading a warm note sent from Chita Rivera to Marilyn Maye. Accompanied by Alex Rybeck, he channeled Carol Channing. “Women peak at different times. Marilyn is peaking at 95. Shirley Temple peaked at 8!” Mr. Reams sang a lovely rendition of “Don’t Blame Me,” with the verse.

Christine Pedi of Forbidden Broadway fame did a funny routine about Ms. Maye being a “badass rock star” before bringing the house down by performing “I Will Survive” in the voices of Eartha Kitt, Bette Davis, Joan Rivers, Carol Channing, Katherine Hepburn and Ethel Merman.

At long last, with a room full of bladders at the bursting point, Sandi Durell and Linda Amiel Burns presented Ms. Maye with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms. Maye closed the show with words of thanks and a master performance class with her signature medley of “Secret of Life” and “Here’s to Life” – her voice beautiful and strong. Brava!

At that, the entire audience walked one block to the Hotel Yotel for the party, schmoozing and photo ops.

The American Popular Song Society’s Gala Celebration took place on June 12 at Theater555, 555 West 42nd Street between 11th and 10th Avenue (https://theater555.venuetix.com). For information visit: www.APSSinc.org

Photos: Conor Weiss except where indicated

Featured Image: Cynthia Reitman