On the Town with Buddy B: Once in Love with Amy

Everyone loves Amy, or so it seemed Wednesday night at the event Once in Love with Amy when the cabaret community came together to benefit the singer, college instructor and New York sweetheart recovering from surgery after being struck by a car that ran a red light.

There were so many amazing performances starting with the benefit's organizer and our night's emcee, Mr Kevin Scott Hall, who opened the evening singing "If I Can Help Somebody." The line-up of love included multiple MAC and Bistro Awards winners; Broadway star Raissa Katona Bennett and Adam B. Shapiro of HBO's The Normal Heart. Mama's manager, Sidney Meyer, even took to the stage to entertain with a camp rendition of the Marlene Dietrich song, "I May Never Go Home Any More." Everybody's favorite cabaret accompanist/musical director, Darryl Kojak was masterfully on piano during most acts involved.

It was wonderful meeting many of these talented people after the show. So many highlights! Amy's Vocal/acting students fom Manhattan College's Wagner School of Music blew everybody away with their fresh-faced Glee-like rendition of selections from Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along.

Cabaret stalwarts Vickie Phillips (singing "Life Story"), Tanyas Holt and Moberly ("Laughing Matters" and Carole King's "You've Got a Friend," respectively), Donna Elliott ("Too Marvelous for Words"), Laurie Krauz's vampish/campish "Send Me a Man," Kailey Wynan's "Brave" and on and on! They showed up with heartfelt love and powerful pipes as part of this epic effort in support of Amy.

Cabaret critic Rob Lester delivered a comic monolog that was hilarious if a bit long-winded.

An amazing night of the stars of NYC cabaret paying homage to a clearly moved and grateful Ms Williams. More photo ops posted below:

Kevin and Vickie Phillips at left. Below: Raissa Katona Bennett, Ron Giles and I, Tanya Moberly, WTC Fans of Amy.