Remember the last time you actually enjoyed dinner theater? Or how about when a Tony award winning star sang at your house?
Me either.
However, this is exactly the experience available nightly at the New York institution: the Cafe Carlyle. Opened in 1955, Café Carlyle is a legendary cabaret venue offering a truly intimate setting that allows both artist and audience to engage with one another. In short: seeing a show in this manner feels like a private performance rather than a concert.
The list of performers is a who's who's of the classic New York and Broadway circuit. When I attended a show back in December, it was the hilarious Tony Award-winning, Laura Benanti that serenaded us as we dined, but you simply can't go wrong with any of the incredibly talented performers on the schedule.
Those who have previously performed include Sutton Foster, Judy Collins and Woody Allen, a regular on Monday evenings, as well as Isaach Mizrahi, Jill Kargman, and many, many more.
Coming up this month is Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Joan Osborne from February 28 – March 11. Joan Osborne is a multi-platinum recording artist whose career was jumpstarted with the great success of her major label debut album, Relish. The album produced the massive MTV and international smash single, “One of Us.” The New York Times praised her Café Carlyle debut featuring the songs of Bob Dylan, and called her a “fiercely intelligent, no-nonsense singer-songwriter.” At Café Carlyle, she will be joined by an acoustic accompaniment.
The shows typically begin at 8:45 p.m and last around 70-90 minutes, depending on the artist. For more information and for a full performance schedule visit, Cafe Carlyle.