Open Mic Night, January 18, 2020

January 18th, 7:00-9:00 pm, $10 Cover

Doors open at 6:30 pm.  Sign-up for those who wish to perform is from 6:30-6:55 pm.  You must sign up by 6:55 to perform.  Once the show starts we may not be able to accommodate additional performers.  Bring music printed out in your key, and Kenneth will accompany you at the piano for your moment at the microphone.  Comedians, poets, writers and musicians are all encouraged to perform!

Some snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.  After the event, we will move the party to a nearby restaurant/bar for a special 2 for 1 drink offer

Featured Enerainer: JOSEPHINE SANGES

JOSEPHINE SANGES is the 2019 winner of the MAC Award for best female vocalist and 2017 recipient of the prestigious Margaret Whiting Award. Her recent album, Finding Beauty-celebrating singer/songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway (CD Baby, Amazon, iTunes) earned the 2018 LaMott/Friedman Award. “Never distancing herself from the listener, Sanges holds her own with grace, class, and lush vocal styling. She is a rising artist who is on her way and will make her own mark." (John Hoglund-Cabaret Scenes.) Having appeared at Carnegie Hall, Town Hall and Rose Hall, this marks her fifth appearance at the Cabaret Convention. www.josephinesanges.com

RAISSA KATONA BENNETT appeared on Broadway as “Christine Daae” in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and in the First National Tours of CATS, PARADE, A CHILD’S XMAS IN WALES.  Recently, she appeared in her hometown of Norwalk in FUN HOME as “Helen” and STEEL MAGNOLIAS as “Truvy” at Music Theatre of CT, and on TV’s “Law and Order SVU”. Headliner: Feinstein’s, (with Mark Janas as her MD) Metropolitan Room, Iridium, Beechman Theatre & Don’t Tell Mama. Guest star: Carnegie Hall, Rose Hall/Lincoln Center, Town Hall, 54 Below, Algonquin’s Oak Room, Rainbow Room. Raissa was thrilled to be the first special guest of one of her favorite Musical Director’s and singing partners, Kenneth Gartman, at the Unity Open Mic several years ago. For 9 years, she hosted a non-profit concert series which she created, THE CONCERTS AT TUDOR CITY GREENS, devoted to the “greening” of city spaces. Raissa will be bringing her Jerome Kern Cabaret show to MTC’s Hot Summer Nights series this summer and hopes to bring her brand new cabaret show to the Magnolia Room this fall. She has 3 Solo CD’s on LML Music Label at Amazon & iTunes. www.raissakatonabennett.com

MARK JANAS is the founder and host of SALON, New York’s most award winning open mic. Mark was a friend and protégé of Leonard Bernstein and conducted in two International Bernstein Festivals.  He earned a Bachelors Degree from Indiana University and a Masters Degree from Rice University and has conducted the 1st & 3rd National Tours of Les Miserables, the Houston Symphony, and was assistant to Bernstein with the New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony.  Mark is currently on faculty at Manhattan School of Music, is a member of the Advanced BMI Music Theatre Workshop, and his original song Come Home, won the 2009 MAC Award for Song of the Year. He received the 2002 Bistro Award for Musical Direction and has recently music directed and toured with Kathleen Turner new show, FINDING MY VOICE.  Along with Barry Kleinbort, he also helped create Len Cariou’s “BROADWAY AND THE BARD” show for it’s New York run and two tours. He has also arranged and music directed for Raissa Katona Bennett, Julie Reyburn, and for many other cabaret and Broadway artists.