Stepping Out

Come to the cabaret!

Acclaimed vocalists perform at annual festival in Long Beach this weekend

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Musical Delights

Cabaret Festival
The sounds of the Great American Songbook return to the Long Beach Public Library this weekend, the venue for the City by the Sea’s annual Cabaret Festival, now in its 13th year. The festival, presented by Artists in Partnership and the Long Beach Public Library, celebrates the enduring legacy of cabaret, with performances by renowned local and New York City-based vocalists. Festivalgoers can get a behind-the-scenes peek at up-and-coming performers when local aspiring singers participate in a “master class” workshop that kicks off the performance schedule on Thursday. The festival lineup features Anita Gillette, a veteran of the Broadway stage, and Rita Gardner, acclaimed as the original Girl in “The Fantasticks.” Also enjoy performances by jazz vocalist Veronica Swift, accompanied by renowned musical director Ted Firth at the piano; singer-songwriter Bobby Belfry, a 2014 and 2015 MAC Award winner; and vocalist Pamela Lewis, among others.
Thursday through Sunday, May 14-17. All performances are free. Long Beach Public Library, 111 W. Park Ave., Long Beach. For more information and performance schedule, visit www.aip-arts.org.

In Concert

Perfectly Frank: Celebrating a Century of Sinatra
The “Chairman of the Board” is always in style. His legacy lives on through Sal Viviano, a favorite of the Broadway stage, when he brings his tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes to the Madison Theatre. Viviano pays homage to Sinatra’s enduring songbook by singing the crooner’s famous hits including “Come Fly with Me,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” “My Way,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” and, of course, “New York, New York.” The dynamic, multi-talented performer, who has graced the Broadway stage for decades, since his 1984 debut in “The Three Musketeers,” feels a special connection to Sinatra and demonstrates that in his exhilarating interpretation of the Sinatra’s timeless hits.
Sunday, May 17, 3 p.m. $45-$55. Madison Theatre, Molloy College, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or www.madisontheatreny.org.