The New York Cabaret Convention 2016

The Mabel Mercer Foundation's 27th annual cabaret fest brings together some of the genre’s top artists to celebrate the Great American Songbook. Performers of note at the October 18 gala opening, hosted by KT Sullivan, include Christina Bianco, Carole J. Bufford, Robert Creighton, Natalie Douglas, Barbara Fasano, Eric Yves Garcia, Karen Oberlin, Vivian Reed, T. Oliver Reid, Kim David Smith and this year's Mabel Mercer Award winner, Maureen McGovern. The October 19 show, devoted to songs by Stephen Sondheim, includes Jeff Harnar, Andrea Marcovicci, Karen Akers, Raissa Katona Bennett, Sally Mayes, Donna McKechnie, Marissa Mulder, Sidney Myer, Sarah Rice and Steve Ross. Rex Reed hosts a salute to the late Sylvia Syms on October 20, featuring Joyce Breach, Ann Hampton Callaway, Barbara Carroll, Tedd Firth, Marilyn Maye, Billy Stritch, Carol Woods and Tom Wopat. The convention wraps up on October 21 with a tribute to Broadway greats Sheldon Harnick and Charles Strouse, hosted by Klea Blackhurst and featuring Eric Comstock, Scott Coulter, Liam Forde, Penny Fuller, Anita Gillette, Marieann Meringolo, Shawn Ryan and Amra-Faye Wright.