By Lynda Sturner**** Provincetown is the place where whoever you are, you get to be you. Gay, straight, bi or bear, the cabaret scene in town has something for everyone. Walking down Commercial Street, the main drag, music is happening everywhere. Piano bars, Cabarets, restaurants with jazz, blues and bands, buskers singing up and down the street from Town Hall, 260 Commercial Street, to Kiss and Makeup, 244 Commercial Street.
“Ptown Audiences are the best. They give you a standing ovation for just walking out on the stage.” Audra McDonald.
It’s an instant high-energy mutual love affair between performers and audiences.
There are four main venues where Broadway stars share a bill with comics and the best Drag Shows on the planet.
The Art House at 214 Commercial Street has two intimate 100 -seat theatres where audiences get to be up close with stars mostly viewed in big Broadway houses. I saw McDonald play the approximately twenty-six hundred-seat David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. Watching her at The Art House was one of my great all–time experiences.
For tickets log on to www.ptownarthouse.com or go to their on-site box office.
Now in it’s 6th year, Broadway @ the Art House is the creation of Producer Mark Cortale in collaboration with Sirius XM Radio star Seth Rudetsky as host and music director. They’ve been bringing superstars such as Audra McDonald, Patti Lupone, Chita Rivera, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick to Ptown audiences.
Their 2018 Summer Season brings some new voices and old friends back to the Art House. Seth Rudetsky plays with Chess and Les Miserables star Judy Kuhn (July 15 & 16), Rent star Adam Pascal (July 17), two-time Tony Award-winning Christine Ebersole (Grey Gardens and War Paint) (July 19 & 20) and Will Swensen, currently starring Off-Broadway in Jerry Springer, The Opera.
Also appearing with Seth Rudetsky are:
School of Rock’s Sierra Boggess (August 4 & 5)
Liz Callaway (August 12) Merrily We Roll along, Chess, Baby and Cats
Emily Skinner (August 19) Side Show, Billy Elliot and The Full Monty
Stephanie J. Block (August 21& 22) will be playing Cher in the upcoming musical, The Cher Show
Master of the art of song Marilyn Maye with pianist Billy Stritch (August 24-27)
Tony Award-winner for Fun Home, Alice Ripley, in Prescription Songs to Heal a Soul (September 1)
Like the three other venues, the Art house has an abundance of top rate drag shows. Some of these performers have multiple shows, joining other drag stars for double the fun.
Producer Mark Cortale says, “For my 8th and sadly final season at The Art House, the programming is bigger than ever and we will be going out with a bang! I’m proud to be hosting Varla Jean’s 20th Anniversary season as well as welcoming Provincetown newcomers Miss Conception, Brandon & James, Jeremy Jordan and Stephanie J. Block, who will be starring in the title role of The Cher Show this fall on Broadway. The legendary two-time Tony Award-winner Christine Ebersole (War Paint and Grey Gardens) returns for two shows only, for the Broadway @ The Art House series on July 19 and 20. Well-Strung is also back with a fantastic new show called A Night at The Movies. The inimitable Peaches Christ has two hilarious new film parody shows called Hocum Pokem (with Jinkx Monsoon) and The Whining (with Varla Jean), which I think are going to be big hits!”
Miss Conception Forbidden Diznee (Saturdays –Tuesday until September 4.)
Musicians Brandon and James (July 7 & 8)
Mad Scene starring international opera star, Marisole Montalvo directed by Jeffrey Robertson. (Thursday & Friday thru August 31)
All American Boy Steve Grand, (Wednesday – Friday until September 7)
Love Letters by A.R Gurney with Patricia Clarkson and Brian Batt (August 6)
Unitard staring Nora Burns, David Iku and Mike Albo (August 9 &10)
MIDNIGHT @ THE NEVER GET starring Mark Sonnenblick & Sam Bolen, book music and lyrics by Mark Sonnenblick (September 6-8)
Cortale produces series of benefits at Town Hall (260 Commercial Street) for the Sandy Hook Promise.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” winner, Bianca Del Rio Blame It On Bianca Del Rio, plays Town Hall (July 9)
Jeremy Jordon W/Seth Rudetsky (August 13)
Star of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 8, Bob The Drag Queen, (September 2)
Kathy Najimy Lift Up Your Skirt written by and starring Kathy Najimy W/Brian Nash at the piano (September 9)
Crown & Anchor at 247 Commercial Street For tickets go to their onsite box office or call 508 487 1430
For bios and details about times log on to www.onlyatthecrown.com
Producer Rick Murray presents the 2018 Summer Cabaret Series at the Crown & Anchor.
The Crown & Anchor has two theatres, the larger being the Paramount and the Cabaret Room, the smaller. In addition, the Wave bar is home to some of the best piano bars in town.
Bobby Weatherby amazes audiences (Thursday–Sunday in the Wave Bar) and it’s the place to go for a rousing show tune sing-along. From 9pm to closing, Weatherby plays a non-stop tour de force. By the time he gets to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America,” audiences are on their feet singing with tears rolling down their faces.
In addition, Doug Repetti plays contemporary music (Sunday –Tuesday from 9:30 on and James Brosseau “The Voices of Ptown” plays the Great American Song Book with guest artists, singer songwriters, Clyde Shelby, Devin Marchany and Chev Hardy.
Bear Week is big in Ptown. People love the Bears. There’s none sweeter than these big hairy men. They come to play and party spending money and tipping well. From July 7–July 15, they go to pool and dance parties, beaches and leather events.
The Crown & Anchor welcomes Bears with series of parties and dances with guest D.J’s. The highlight of the week is the annual Fireman’s Ball, with all proceeds going to Ptown’s volunteer fire department.
Log on to www.onlyatthecrown.com for a complete list of these special events.
Impresario Rick Murray says, “The 2018 season is especially exciting because we’re bringing back some of our most acclaimed artists as well as offering fresh names who are quickly becoming Provincetown favorites. The Crown & Anchor’s ongoing commitment is to present diverse and exciting full concerts by America’s most acclaimed performers at Provincetown’s premiere venues, with first-rate production values.”
At the Paramount Theater:
Bear Week favorite, Matt Alber (July 9 & 10)
Lucy Arnaz, Broadway star and director, “I Got the Job!” Songs from My Musical Past for one night only (July 23)
Singer Seth Sikes does his favorite divas (July 24)
Telly Leung, currently starring in Aladdin (August 5)
Satirist sensation Randy Rainbow (August 6 & 7 & August 13 & 14)
Ryan Rafferty in the Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of Martha Stewart (August 12-14)
Comic and Oscar Award writer Bruce Vilanch (August 17 & 18)
Rent star Anthony Rapp ((August 25)
Jekyll & Hyde star Linda Eder (August 27& 28)
Thirsty Burlington, Thirsty’s Cher Show at the Cabaret Room (August 15)
All Summer Long:
Dina Martina Crème de la Dregs in the Cabaret Room until September 15 (Wednesday–Saturdays)
Star Boys: a Sci Fi Burlesque Show with full frontal nudity for mature audiences only. (Thursday–Sunday)
Times differ, log on to www.onlyatthecrown.com
Stand up storyteller and Star of NPR’s “Snap Judgment,” James Judd, is in the Cabaret Room with his show Funny Stories (Wednesday–Saturday until August 5)
BenDelaCreme in the Cabaret Room with Inforno-A-Go-Go (Wednesday–Sunday until August 6)
Beautiful drag queen Mona Mour in No Refunds in the Cabaret Room (Thursday–August 30)
The Pilgrim House 336 Commercial Street Reservations 508 487 6424 www.pilgrimhousetown.com
The Pilgrim House has a storied history of entertainment. First opened in 1810, David Thoreau was one of its guests. In the 1960’s, the Madeira Room presented singers and comedians such as Lily Tomlin, Kaye Ballard and Judy Garland. Phoebe Otis was a singing bartender there. In 1990, when a fire destroyed the building, Donald R. Edwards rebuilt it and re-opened it as Vixen, a popular woman’s dance bar with a large pool table in the front room. In 2011, new owners, Diane DiCarlo and Jean Leszcynski, did a one million dollar update and called it The Sage Inn. They sold it last year and the new owner brought back the original name, The Pilgrim House.
Here’s the lowdown:
The front is home to The Landing Bistro Bar, a farm to table restaurant and a large rectangular theatre with flexible seating in the back room.
Jimmy James returns to Provincetown and The Pilgrim House in DIVAS ARE FOREVER! His voice can turn on a dime. One minute he’s Barbra Streisand and the next Judy Garland, then on to Marilyn Monroe and before you know it, you’re listening to Elvis and Liza followed by Billy Holiday and ending with the best Bette Davis impression ever. (June 29-September 3, every night but Wednesday at 10pm).
When you come upon Miss Ridgefield zipping around Commercial Street on her little motor scooter, barking her show with her large hair and big glasses, you know it’s summer in Ptown. Her show, Born Again, runs Wednesday–Sunday until Labor Day.
Esera Tuaolo, “Mr. Aloha,” played football for 5 NFL teams and after retiring in 2002, came out as Gay, becoming a strong advocate for LGBT and human rights. He was a contestant on “The Voice” and while eliminated from the final rounds, he found a new career as a singer. (Friday, Saturday and Sunday–September 3).
IMPROVINcetown (July 7)
Sam Morrison, Hello Daddy – One Man’s Journey to Cure Heterosexuality (July 9-11)
Ben Rimalower, whose Patti Issues was awarded the 2013 Bistro Award for best solo play, is a theatre director, writer, producer and performer (July 16 @ 7)
Ben Rimalower Bad With Money (July 16 @ 9)
Speakeasy Night With Zoe Lewis and The Bootleggers (July 17 & September 4)
Poppy Champlin Poppy’s Poppppin n Rocking Comedy Show (July 18-20)
Joe Rosa The Joan Rivers Tribute Show The Bitch is Back! (July 23-25 & July 30–August 1)
Sandra Bernhard Sandemonium (July 23 & 24)
Paige Turner Drag Me to the Top (July 30-August 1)
Lee Squared: An Evening with Liberace & Peggy Lee (August 2-4)
Baloney, San Francisco’s Gay All -Male Revue (August 5-9)
Brian Justin Crum (August 11-16)
Miss Coco Peru The Taming of the Tension” (August 10–28)
3’S Company If You Can’t Beat Em Join Em (August 20-29)
Zoe Lewis & Lucy Wainwright Roche (October 7 & 8)
THE POST OFFICE CAFÉ 303 Commercial Street 508 487 0006 For times and bios log on to www.postofficecabaret.com
The Post Office Café is one of the top four legendary cabaret spaces in Ptown. The 2018 season features two “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winners, comedienne Trixie Mattel and Raja: Masque. There are two performance spaces. The first one is a long theatre. Up a flight of stairs, it reminds me of the former Provincetown Playhouse in New York City. The second one is in the downstairs cafe, open to the street.
Liza Lott in Minnelli: The Legend. She has a big brassy glorious voice. She not only looks like Liza and sings like Liza, she captures her spirit. It’s almost as if Liza has crept into her body and captured her soul. (Tuesdays–August 28)
Male Call: Student Bodies, an all-male dance group (July 4–September 9, Tuesday–Sunday)
Suzanne Westenhoefer Girl Splash (July 17-22)
Aurora Sexton Let them Eat Cake: Diary of A First Lady (July 18-September 9)
Alexis Michelle, New York City’s top theatre queen (August 24 & 25)
Sherry Vine (September 6-8)
Kris Francis, Adult Humor that Will Offend Everyone” (Thursday–Sunday in the Cafe)
But there’s also more, much, much more. Restaurants with piano bars such as:
Waydowntown – live music and bands – 265 Commercial Street
Tin Pan Alley Piano Bar – 269 Commercial Street
Bubalas By the Bay – 165 Commercial Street. (508-487-0773)
There are others that are just piano bars like The Gifford House 9 Carver Street (508-487-0688), where actors and musicians go to hangout on that big beautiful wrap-around porch.
The Grotto Bar is the place to be on Friday nights at 11pm -1am where Scream Along With Billy features Billy Hough on piano and vocals and Sue Goldberg on bass. 186 Commercial Street – (508-487-7555)
In the next Ptown Buzzz, Lynda Sturner will tell you more about Hough, Goldberg and Family Week.
So Come to the Cabaret in Ptown, where every night is magic time.
