Gratitude, Love and Peace are in the air!

Hi Friends:

December is a precious month for me - This Christmas Eve will be the 11th anniversary of when Garrett and I eloped and got married! Our favorite way to celebrate is to decorate our tree with the pups and have a glass of cheer as we snuggle together and gaze at the finished product. It's especially pretty this year. We just finished decorating inside and outdoors at our Connecticut home, when we got snowed in and the lights are glowing through the snow! (check out my facebook photo albums of the pups helping decorate.)

This Christmas Day night at 11:45 pm, we will toast my Mother, Rita, who made her transition 2 years ago. I miss her very much, but her loving energy is so closely surrounding us, as we decorate the tree with her ornaments, and place the village of skaters and lil' houses under the tree - it was one of my favorite things to do with her, when I was little. Mom loved so many things about Christmas - baking (she was a prize winning baker!), the lights, watching us place Baby Jesus in the manger on Christmas morning and giving him shiny pennies, and singing Christmas songs endlessly - guess that's where I get it from...it's no wonder she picked this most precious day to "go home". I feel Mom close, with every note I sing at Christmas, especially.

We're hoping that Garrett's folk, Jane and Al, will come down to spend a few days with us at Christmas - we love to spoil them when they are here - they are the best in-laws in the world - seriously! Luckily, we get to see my Dad, Dennis, quite often, and will see him this week too. Otie and Brandy especially love being with him because once they sit with him, he hates to move and disturb them, so they get lots of attention and cuddles!

Exciting news to end the year with - ONE NIGHT ONLY!

Raissa is thrilled to be a guest of Eric Michael Gillett in his New Year's Eve Performance of "Life of the Party" at the Metropolitan Room. Special guests: Broadway's Raissa Katona Bennett and Melanie Vaughan. Opening act for Eric is comedian Richard Cramer. Musical Director is Don Rebic. $75 cover includes performance, open bar, and midnight champagne toast!

Doors open at 10:15, show begins at 10:45. I hope you'll join us for the countdown and a champagne toast at midnight! Be sure to call the Metropolitan Room at 212-206-0440 for reservations, which are strongly suggested.

As many of you know, in addition to being one of the best performers in the business, Eric is also the brilliant director and co-writer of my shows, and I am so honored he has asked me to share the stage with him, Melanie and Richard. And as you may also know, musical genius Don Rebic is my partner in crime and the musical director/arranger for the BROADWAY JAZZ ON BROADWAY series at the Iridium. (Our next show is 1/27 - more on that next year.) I can't think of a better way to end this year and begin the next, than with these beloved, talented people. And if YOU come, you'll be there, too, with me, my husband, and many close friends.

After the excitement of New Year's is over, I have much to tell you about with the great shows I've seen (or I'm about to see) this month including Susan Winter (you can still catch her last show on 12/23 - go!), Marcus Simeone, Valerie Lemon, Edd Clark/Sue Matsuki, Lennie Watts/Steven Ray Watkins/Scott Coulter, Daryl Glenn, Jenna Esposito, Julie Reiber, and Darren Williams - all at the Metropolitan Room - does that place book the best talent or what? Visit their site or call 212-206-0440 and check out some of these folks - you'll be happy you did.

Many thanks for all the support and love you send my way - I hope you feel it coming right back at you!

Love and light,

Raissa

IT'S A BIG MONTH!

Hi Friends:

It's been a very busy time - hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I wanted to blog about all the great shows I've seen lately, but all I have time to tell you is that if you have a chance to see Miles Phillips, Jason Wynn, Terese Genecco, Maureen Taylor, or Baby Jane Dexter - GO! All of their shows were amazing and they are kind and talented people.

Also, go see MILK with Sean Penn. In light of the Prop 8 debacle, it's frightening to see how far we haven't come, and also how far we have come. It's an important piece of history.

My thanks to performers Julie Reiber, Devin Richards, Ilene Kristen, Lee Summers, Musical Director Don Rebic, Bassist Tom Kennedy, Drummer Joel Rosenblatt and producer Scobar (Scott Barbarino) for an incredible debut of BROADWAY JAZZ ON BROADWAY. It was so successful, that Scott will continue to produce it with Don as Music Director and me, as Hostess! Our next show will be Jan. 27th - keep checking here and my website, http://www.raissa.info/ for more info. We got a great review already at http://www.cabaretscenes.org/ and there was a great interview at http://www.talkinbroadway.com/ if you click the cabaret link!

This Saturday, 11/29 at 4:30 p.m., you'll find me singing in LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND, a benefit performance for Zani's Furry Friends Animal Rescue, at the Metropolitan Room. Sunday, Valerie Lemon is performing her Marvin Hamlish show at the Metropolitan Room at 7 and after that, we'll head to the Algonquin Salon to join co-hosts Peter Napolitano and Bill Zeffiro as they host with the theme, "Around the World". Hope to see some of you there.

Wednesday night, 12/3 at 7 p.m. at the Metropolitan Room, I'll be a guest of Jenna Esposito in her Birthday Bash show! Thursday, 12/4 at 6 p.m., I'll be hosting the Tudor City Christmas Tree Lighting, featuring performers: Scott Barbarino and the Bev-Naps, Scott Coulter, Julie Reyburn, Lennie Watts, Susan Winter, and Musical Directors: David Caldwell, Mark Janas and Steven Ray Watkins - our special guest is SANTA CLAUS! Come join us in the South Park at Tudor City - 41st Street between 1st and 2nd Ave. In the event of inclement weather, we'll hold this in the community room of #5, the Windsor. Come enjoy!

On Sunday, December 14th at 2 p.m., I'll be performing at John Znidarsic's Holiday Songbook Series at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, 111 Amsterdam Ave. just south of 65th Street - phone: 212-870-1630. I'm debuting a special Christmas song called "All I Can Give" that was written especially for me by Composer Mark Janas, and Lyricist, Peter Napolitano! I'm incredibly honored that they have written me a song, and it's absolutely beautiful! For more info on this, go to www.artsandartistsatstpaul.com - their website is not yet updated, but it will be soon.

On New Year's Eve, I'm very excited to be a special guest of my friend, director and Broadway/Cabaret Star, Eric Michael Gillett, in his show, LIFE OF THE PARTY at the Metropolitan Room. Wonderful comedian, Richard Cramer, will be opening for Eric, and Broadway diva, Melanie Vaughan will also be a special guest. The charge is only $75 for the show AND open bar and midnight champagne toast! Better make your reservations now, as the seats are going fast and we'd love to ring the New Year in with our best friends!

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Love and light, Raissa

Raissa hosts at the Algonquin and Iridium this week!

Hi Friends:

I lifted this announcement directly from Peter Napolitano's newsletter- read on:

This SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH from 7 to 10pm, THE ALGONQUIN SALON, hosted by Mark Janas in the lobby of the historic Algonquin Hotel, will be co-hosted by the incomparable Raissa Katona Bennett and her singing surgeon husband, Doctor Garrett Bennett! The optional theme is "DUETS!" Join us as our Salon regulars and surprise guests pair up inunexpected ways. But if you choose to perform "stag", so to speak, that's fine, too! Speaking of two, there are many songs with "two" in the lyric that would fit the theme as well. And if you're a musician, bring your instrument of choice and jam with Mark!

This Sunday's co-host, Raissa Katona Bennett, is a busy gal! OnTuesday, November 18th, at the Iridium Jazz Club (1650 Broadway, at51st St.), Raissa will be hosting the first in an ongoing seriesproduced by Scott Barbarino of Scobar Entertainment entitled "Broadway Jazz on Broadway with Don and Raissa". Don is the incredible Don Rebic who is the musical director of many notables such as Eric Michael Gillett, KT Sullivan and Karen Akers, plus a ton of Broadway shows up his sleeve. He's joined by Tom Kennedy on Bass and Joe Rosenblatt on Drums to form the Don Rebic Trio who will be jamming with Broadway stars singing Broadway songs in a jazz style. Joining Raissa (Phantom of the Opera) will be Ilene Kristen (Grease, TV's OLTL, Ryan's Hope), Julie Reiber (Wicked), Devin Richards(Tale...Cities, 110 in the Shade) and Lee Summers (Dreamgirls). There will be two sets at 8:30 and 10:30pm. The $25 cover is for both sets, with a $10 minimum for each. MAC and cabaret website members get a$10 discount. For reservations, call 212-582-2121 or visit http://www.iridiumjazzclub.com/.

Here's some important information about the Algonquin Salon you should all know. The Salon is a weekly event in which singers, writers and musicians share their talent with each other and audience members in the lobby of the Algonquin Hotel, an informal, yet elegant setting with a grand tradition of artists gathering to socialize. There is NO COVER AND NO MINIMUM, but we're sure you'll want to liberally order from the hotel's delicious drink and food menu. You DO NOT need to sign up in advance to perform. Just show up and see me, Mark or the co-host to fill out a card. All types of material including spoken word are welcome at the Salon but please keep your selections within the bounds of good taste (no profanity, please) and under five minutes. And do come early to be sure of a good seat and a shot at those $10-off-your-check tickets given out to the first performers of the evening. If you would like to add your name to our list, e-mail me at http://us.mc371.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=algonquinsalon@aol.com. Also, if you have an upcoming event you'd like mentioned (space permitting, of course), let me know that,too.

So join us this Sunday, November 16h from 7 to 10pm for "DUETS!" with your co-hosts Mark Janas, Raissa Katona Bennett and Dr. Garrett Bennett in the lobby of the legendary Algonquin Hotel (59 West 44thSt., between Sixth and Fifth Aves.).

So, that's what Peter wrote - now I'm reminding those of you I've mentioned this to directly to come, bring your show flyers, and let us help you fill your show seats!

Love and light,Raissa

Witchcraft - The New Concerts at Tudor City Greens - a Monster Hit!

Wow - what an incredible week it's been! As I get ready for my return engagement to the Metropolitan Room this weekend, (come see me!) there is so much going on, that I've yet to tell you all how fantastic our second concert at Tudor City Greens was! This is the first time a noon concert was attempted, and even 45 degree weather and gale force winds didn't keep over 150 people from coming to see Broadway and Cabaret's best! Many thanks to MAC, Rob Lester from Cabaret Scenes and Cabaret Exchange and Stu Hamstra from Cabaret Hotline for coming to review us and help spread the word! And Fred Anthony Marco, an amazing singer himself, showed up with his professional camera to document it, as a lovely surprise to us all, which means I can share some photos with you here!

Scot Albertson started us out with his smooth bari-tenor, Broadway diva Sarah Rice charmed us next, and then Lennie Watts, accompanied by the fantastic Steven Watkins, brought the house - uh, sky down, with the audience and performers singing back up for him! I sang next and then Roger Mapes delighted us with two original compositions and played guitar, Sierra Rein and her gorgeous voice had us entranced and Scott Barbarino and the Bev-Naps pulled out all the doo-wop stops! Smoky voiced cabaret star, Mary Foster Conklin showed us how jazz is done, and Broadway and cabaret star, Eric Michael Gillett, wrapped up the day with his powerful performance.

Many thanks to so many: CIBO for once again sponsoring us and for hosting the chilled performers and audience after the show, the Toy Balloon Shop for providing festive balloons and Bob Rendon of PRG sound, for making two round trips from New Rochelle to not only advise us on which sound system to get, but then how to use it! Imagine having the man who designs sound for Radio City Music Hall, come to help us, just because...he's an angel! And speaking of angels, Dr. Garrett Bennett not only provided us with the sound system, but he arranged his schedule to run the sound for us! Although he has a hectic performance schedule of his own, Hector Coris still provided us with posters, programs and press releases, and new MAC board member Jenna Esposito helped with just about everything. Special thanks to MAC volunteer, Bobbie Horowitz for all her help, too! My biggest thank you goes to my musical director, David Caldwell, for playing for us with freezing fingers and then literally running to make his matinee of Forbidden Broadway!

All of these amazing people helped us raise funds to keep the Tudor City Greens growing, and we are so grateful to all the Greens volunteers who braved the cold to help with it all, especially, Julie Warshaw, President of the Greens, board members Brian Thompson and Anne Stoddard.

THE NEW CONCERTS AT TUDOR CITY GREENS - TAKE TWO!

Hi Friends:

This Wednesday, Oct. 22nd at noon, join us at the South Park of Tudor City, which is located at East 41st Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue, for our second (and final till the springtime) concert of this series,

produced in association with MAC. Post show reception at CIBO (41st and 2nd). Hosted by Raissa Katona Bennett and Starring from the world of Broadway and NYC Professional Cabaret: Scot Albertson, Scott Barbarino and the Bev-Naps, Raissa Katona Bennett, Mary Foster Conklin, Eric Michael Gillett, Roger Mapes, Julie Reyburn, Sarah Rice, Lennie Watts and Sierra Rein!

Bundle up and come out and join the fun!

Love and light,

Raissa

Wasn't Takin' a Chance - Jenna's a sure thing!

Tuesday, Oct. 7th was such a busy day. First, we met with CIBO, our sponsor for the Tudor City Greens Concert series. They agreed to keep up their sponsorship and even offered a dinner for two to add into our free raffle! They were thrilled with our first line up of talent, and are excited to see this months performers on 10/22 at noon.


Then 4 of us from Tudor City, headed to the Metropolitan Room to see Jenna Esposito in her show, "Takin' A Chance On Love". They had seen Jenna in the Tudor City Greens concert, and wanted to see more. As my blog title says, we weren't takin' any chance - Jenna was terriffic. Backed up by a combo that included her musical director/guitarist dad, Fortune Esposito, Jenna "sparkled" through a fantastic set of old favorites and standards, with a fresh twist of arrangements, and a stunning soprano/mix voice. Jenna is our new favorite "girl singer"! You better call for reservations at 212-206-0440 right now, to catch her last show on Sunday night, Oct. 12th at 7 pm.



We were home in time for the debates, but after such a positive show from Jenna, I couldn't stomach the negative rhetoric, and I headed off to the Iridium to catch Mary Foster Conklin at 10:30 pm. I'm usually in bed by then, and as exhausted as I was, within minutes of Mary taking the stage, I didn't want to be anywhere else. Her smoky contralto wove it's way around a versatile set that included delightlfully obscure to well known jazz, and number that I believe was written by Clifford Odetts. I wish I had thought to get the titles from her, because another favorite that night had lyrics with "cinnamon and clove" in it, and I just loved it. I guess you'll just have to catch her yourself and see if she'll sing it for you. Mary is being featured in our next Tudor City Greens concert at noon on 10/22, so come and ask her it!

Not a bad way to spend a day, right? Great lunch at CIBO, a sweet soprano and a sultry contralto. We didn't even need a dessert topping....

Love and Light,
Raissa

Taking my show to Unity of Birmingham!

Hello Friends!

Garrett and I are excited to be returning to Birmingham for our annual visit. This time, there's more exciting news. I'll be performing one of my cabaret shows and I hope if you live in the area, that you'll all be able to come - one night only!

RAISSA KATONA BENNETT in
"IT'S POSSIBLE"
DAVID CALDWELL -MUSIC DIRECTOR
ERIC MICHAEL GILLETT - DIRECTOR
THURSDAY OCT. 2nd - 7 pm.

$25 adults/$12.50 students

All proceeds benefit the "Soar Together" project
Q & A and reception follow the show
PRESENTED AT UNITY OF BIRMINGHAM - 2803 HIGHLAND AVENUE
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED - 205-251-3713

When we get back, I'm performing in a benefit in New Haven, CT - here's that info:

Bethesda Lutheran Church is proud to present: “ Broadway Babes With a Twist”
A cabaret to benefit the Merry Milford Musical Theatre. A new adaptive theatre arts program designed to enhance the lives of children with special needs through music, theatre and the arts offered through the City of Milford Recreation Department Adaptive Programs.

Hosted and produced by local Milford resident, Kristin Huffman this cabaret will be an exciting and glamorous evening of Broadway songs…with a twist…performed by stars from the Broadway, cabaret and opera stages. Come celebrate life, with a twist!

Huffman, who starred on Broadway in the Tony award winning revival of Company, heard about Debra Marchese and her desire to start a theatre troupe for children with special needs. After talking with Marchese, Kristin called her Broadway and performer friends who were more than willing to help in this important theatrical adventure to benefit this worthy cause. Those performers include:

Raissa Katona Bennett – Broadway & National: Phantom of the Opera - “Christine Daae”, Chess, with Josh Groban. Cats, “Jellylorum/Griddlebone, Parade -“Lizzie Phagan”.

Cailan Rose – Broadway: Miss Saigon – “Tam”

Kristin Huffman – Broadway: Company – “Sarah”

Maureen Hamill – Cabaret Star: Tavern on the Green & Helen's – NYC, The Fairfield Theatre Company, The Westport Country Playhouse, founder of Hamill Productions.

Mary Jo Duffy - Broadway & International: Senator Joe – “Liberty”, Showboat – “Magnolia”.

Randye Kaye - CT radio personality at STAR 99.9, & WSHU

Janine Ziegler - Professional dancer with her own specialty hula dance troupe, Kahana Hula

Katrina Yockey – Broadway & National: Company, Cabaret, Sweeney Todd – “Pirelli”.

Candy Benge – NYC and Regional Professional Actress/Singer

Maggie Astrup - Professional Opera singer

Dana Rhondel - Professional dancer and visual artist.

Musical Direction is provided by David Harris.

There will be refreshments and a free will offering at the end of the exciting show.

Location: Bethesda Lutheran Church. 305 Saint Ronan St New Haven, CT
Time: Oct 11th, Saturday. Doors open at 6:30. Show starts at 7:00.

Please RSVP to 646-342-3200 as there are only 250 seats available.

If you live in either area, please come and support these worthy causes.

See you back in NYC soon!

In love and light,

Raissa

The New Concerts at Tudor City Greens - HUGE SUCCESS!

I'm not at a loss for words - I have too many! Wednesday night was a tremendous success. At previous concerts, people came and went throughout the night - well, Wednesday they came, AND DID NOT GO! There has never been such a turnout - over 250 people. What was exciting, is that about 1/4 were from the cabaret world, and the rest were not! This means we ARE hitting a totally untapped cabaret audience - most attending, signed up for our mailing list! Thanks to MAC for producing this in association with us. As one person said to me, "Can you imagine the additional audience we'll get, when the UN is not in session, and we have normal foot traffic!" Yes, I can imagine it. And still, we were packed. A normally quiet audience, the crowd at Tudor City that night hollered and whooped throughout the entire show. They were blown away. We are hopeful that the increased attention will result in generous donations to Tudor City Greens. The Greens are private parks, privately funded, that we keep open to the public, unlike other "keyed" gardens, such as Grammercy Park. Although we have a lot of beautiful trees, we've noticed there's no money growing on them, and funds are always needed to keep the parks beautiful and open to all. In fact, the majority of visitors to the parks, are the people who work in the area, and take their lunches there. The TCG website will be up soon, but in the meantime, if you wish to make a tax deductible donation: Tudor City Greens, Inc., 5 Tudor City Place, Box 1 - E, NYC 10017.

Bumping up the profile of this whole event, was the donation of colorful balloons from the TOY BALLOON SHOP, here at #5 Tudor City Place, and the fantastic new logo and graphics, posters, flyers and programs, courtesy of Hector Coris. Everyone just said, "How can I help - What can I give?" and then went overboard to help us make this a success. At the post show party, our sponsor, CIBO was very generous with drinks for performers and press - we packed their bar area, and they are very pleased to be partnering with us on this exciting new cultural event - as they put it, there's really nothing like this in NYC right now - a regularly planned free community cultural event with rotating stars from the world of Broadway and Cabaret! Patrons from the concerts told me that they couldn't wait to read their programs and visit the websites of the performers.

I'd like to say that this exceeded my wildest dreams, but I have pretty big dreams. Everyone that I respect, said the programming was flawless - I agree. How can you lose when you start out with gorgeous Darren Williams entering the beautiful park singing "All the Sounds of the Earth Are Like Music...", with the entire company joining in on "Grand Night For Singing"? Follow that with Broadway and Cabaret Star Eric Michael Gillett, and then a grown man, comedian, Richard Cramer, dressed as a butterfly. People couldn't believe that Catherine Overfelt and Maria Moncada were newcomers, so powerful were their presentations. Hector Coris had the crowd in the palm of his hand, and Jenna Esposito made them melt. Rosemary Loar had them alternately transfixed and then dancing in the aisles, uh, gravel. And they seemed to like me, too! None of it would have been possible, without our incredibly talented Musical Director, David Caldwell, who rushed over from his regular gig as Musical Director of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, to play for us.

All of the volunteers for the event were indispensable - especially my husband, Dr. Garrett Bennett, TCG president Julie Warshaw, secretary Anne Stoddard, and friends Tom Vaughn and Paul Tuite. They made it possible for me and the performers to head right to CIBO for the post show "meet and greet", which is so important in keeping sponsorship and our new audience. And if it weren't for Eva Swan from VOCALEASE, lending us a sound system, only the front few rows would have heard us!

We are so grateful to the press for turning out to help us spread the word of this new performing opportunity: Sandi Durrel from Cabaret Scenes, Rob Lester from Cabaret Exchange (and other publications), Roy Sander - critic at large, and the intrepid Maryann Lopinto, who took over 300 photographs that she will get posted and give to us. THANK YOU ALL!

Ok, next stop for me is Birmingham, AL, where I perform my cabaret show, IT'S POSSIBLE, as a fund raiser for Unity of Birmingham, on Oct. 2nd. See you there!

Brandy Alexandra Bennett turns 14!

Hi. My name is Brandy Alexandra Bennett. Two days ago, September 17th, was my 14 birthday! I wanted to write to you all then, and tell you my story, but I hadn't learned how to blog yet. Mom and Dad adopted me on November 24th, 2001. They researched what kind of dog was best for their lifestyle and decided on the fabulous breed, Toy Fox Terrier (that’s me!) They knew how many homeless dogs there were in the world, so rather than buy a new one from a puppy store or a breeder; they went to the American Toy Fox Terrier Rescue website. Did you know that out of 49 recognized AKC breeds, 42 have rescue sites?
And did you know that most dogs in shelters are purebreds? Dad likes to tease me and say that new, I would have cost them $1500 or more, but that used, I was free! They also say I am a priceless Princess.
There is usually nothing wrong with the dogs that end up at shelters. Usually it’s a problem on the human end: a new baby, not enough research before getting a dog, a major life change, etc. In my case, I was well loved by my original family, but they had to enter housing that didn’t allow me to go with them. I ended up in a kill shelter in CT! I was terrified there, but luckily, a kind Veterinarian Technician who did small dog rescue, brought me home and posted me on the American TFT rescue site. (www.atftc.com/rescue) Because I was 7 years old at the time, I was considered a tough placement, because people think older dogs will die soon. Hah! What craziness, Mom and Dad say! In fact, they call me "skittely-do-dah-dog" because I'm still so peppy. And smaller dogs age slower than larger dogs - about 4.6 years for a dog my size. (You do the math - it's hard enough for me to type with one paw while I snack on my kibble with the other.) Middle age and senior dogs are usually well trained, calmer and anxious to relocate to a loving home. Mom and Dad said that the day I came to live with them, we became a family. They couldn’t believe that not only did I have no “issues”, but that I came complete with circus tricks! We 3 were so happy as a family, that we wanted to help other pups and began to work with other small dogs that needed fostering along the way to their new homes. In fact, Mom became a dog trainer, so that she could help rescue and shelter dogs become more adoptable – she used to be the Tri-State rescue co-coordinator for ATFTC and still volunteers with both the ASPCA (http://www.aspca.org/) and the Humane Society (http://www.hsus.org/).
I gotta tell you, I like having most of my foster siblings here for awhile, and I know how important my job is, showing them how to act like a proper pup, but I usually like having Mom and Dad back to myself once they find new homes. HOWEVER – I have recently made an exception and agreed to have a new little brother, Otie. He'll be 5 years old next month and he's a real cute tri-colored, apple-head chihuahua. So now we are a family of four! Actually, all though he was a bit of a pain when he first came, now he helps me out a lot, since I've become hard of hearing. Otie is sure to let me know, when it's time to bark. Otie will write to you when it's his birthday - he's still learning to blog - understandable, he's younger.

Otie and I have had some great adventures together, meeting celebrities, having a country AND metropolitan home - it's all the more amazing when you consider we both could’ve been on death row (shudder)!

First official blog

Hi Friends:

Well, it only took me 4 months from when I created this blog, to actually post something on it! I was so inspired by Jenna Esposito, and she told me it was easy - we'll see! There's just too much computer stuff to learn all at once. You can also find me on Facebook - I did actually learn that quickly, but then they changed it on me! Alas...

How busy are we all these days? Be careful what you pray for is right! I have been so busy with so many performing/producing/hosting projects and I mentioned this to a good friend who said, "Well, it is harvest time. We're harvesting from all the seeds we planted in the spring." It's true.

One of the most exciting "harvests", are the concerts I'll be hosting in Tudor City. My hero is Hector Coris, who asked if he could do anything to help with the concerts (see belowector Coris). I was smart enough to say yes, and he has designed amazing posters, flyers, programs and press releases! And he's gonna sing for us too! How blessed can you be?
So, along with Hector, I'm busily preparing for our NEW CONCERTS AT TUDOR CITY GREENS, which I'm producing in association with MAC, and to benefit the Tudor City Greens. The concert is sponsored by CIBO! These are private parks that are privately funded, yet open to the public, so we hope to get some lovely donations. Nonetheless, these concerts are free to all. They also provide an opportunity for the performers to increase their audience base, from a completely heretofore untargeted audience. So often we sing at open mics that cost us a cover and 2 drink minimum to sing to a group of our peers. While these are great opportunites, I wonder how much we really increase our audiences?

So, come to the Tudor City Greens on Tudor City Place and 42nd Street, between 1st and 2nd Ave, this Wednesday, 9/24 at 6 pm. (rain date is 9/25) A reception to mingle and meet the performers follows at CIBO restaurant, 41st and 2nd. And just look who's performing: ERIC MICHAEL GILLETT, RAISSA KATONA BENNETT, ROSEMARY LOAR, JENNA ESPOSITO, HECTOR CORIS, DARREN WILLIAMS, RICHARD CRAMER, CATHERINE OVERFELT, and MARIA MONCADA! They're all from the world of Broadway and/or award winning NYC Cabaret and Comedy. Come help us make this a success, and there will be more opportunities for all in the future! Many thanks to Scott Barbarino and Ruth Kurtzman from the MAC board of directors, for their help, too. And, from the board of Tudor City Greens, many thanks to Anne Stoddard, Julie Warshaw, Sherry Halperin, and all the volunteers of the Greens.

There's a lot more going on, but let's see if I can actually make this post work, and I'll do another soon!

Love and Light,
Raissa