(EXPERIENCE MAGAZINE) — Hollywood, California — Sunday, April 28th, 2024 — Live from the Catalina Jazz Club for a sold out, one night only performance was the OUR NAME IS BARBRA‘s 26th Annual get together. This was a benefit for Project Angel Food. Clifford Bell from Cabarabia Productions is the producer and director of the event. This event has been going on for 26 years! It’s a musical celebration of Barbra Streisand’s life. Some of the star performers included; TERI RALSTON, MICHAEL MAGUIRE, JASON GRAAE, ANASTASIA BARZEE, KERRY O’MALLEY, KIRBY TEPPER, NITA WHITAKER, GREGG MARX, JULIE GARYNE, KAREN BENJAMIN & ALAN CHAPMAN. The amazing backing band was; Alexander Frank on bass and Tom Bowe on drums.
This event is sometimes referred to as the Barbrathon. Each performer has to choose a song that Barbra Streisand has recorded in her career. So many amazing people got up and sang one. Here’s a listing of the songs.
– NITA WHITAKER singing “Everybody Says Don’t,” Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim from “Anyone Can Whistle,” accompanied by Pianist David Scott Cohen with Band
– DANA MELLER singing “I’m The Greatest Star” (In Russian)/”Don’t Rain On My Parade,” Music and Lyrics for both songs by Bob Merrill and Jule Styne from “Funny Girl,” accompanied by Pianist David Scott Cohen with Band
– MICHAEL MAGUIRE singing “Somewhere” and “Something’s Coming,” Music and Lyrics by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim from “West Side Story,” accompanied by Pianist Gerald Sternbach
– MARY FISHER, AIDS and Social Justice Advocate, Renowned Artist, Best-Selling Author, Global Philanthropist and Board Member speaking on behalf of PROJECT ANGEL FOOD, the beneficiary of this concert.
– KAREN BENJAMIN, Singer & ALAN CHAPMAN, Singer/Pianist in a Mash-Up including the songs “Guilty,” Music and Lyrics by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb/”Music That Makes Me Dance,” Music and Lyrics by Bob Merrill and Jule Syne from “Funny Girl”
– JASON GRAAE, Oboe and ANASTASIA BARZEE, Flute performing “Pavane in F-Sharp Minor, Opus 50” written by Gabriel Fauré, accompanied by Pianist Gerald Sternbach
– ANASTASIA BARZEE singing “Losing My Mind,” Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim from “Follies” accompanied by Pianist Gerald Sternbach
– KIRBY TEPPER singing “I’m Mandy Patinkin, So It’s Okay,” Music and Lyrics by Kirby Tepper accompanied by Pianist Michael Collum
– GREGG MARX singing “Pure Imagination,” Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” accompanied by Pianist Michael Collum with Band
– SHAWN RYAN singing “Napoleon,” Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Yip Harburg accompanied by Pianist Kelly Park.
– TERI RALSTON singing “Send In The Clowns, “ Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim from “A Little Night Music,” accompanied by Pianist Gerald Sternbach.
– KERRY O’MALLEY singing “Ladies Who Lunch,” Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim from “Company” accompanied by Pianist Gerald Sternbach
– GLENN ROSENBLUM singing “Look At That Face,” Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd,” accompanied by Pianist David J. Kaminski with Band
– ANGELO DIVINO singing “The Nearness of You,” Music and Lyrics by Hoagy Carmichael and Ned Washington accompanied by Pianist David J. Kaminski
– JULIE GARNYE signing “On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever),” Music and Lyrics by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner from “On A Clear Day,” accompanied by Pianist David J. Kaminski with Band
– MARK ARTHUR MILLER singing “God Bless The Child,” Music and Lyrics by Arthur Herzog Jr. and Billie Holiday, accompanied by Pianist Peter Smith with Band
– MARK ARTHUR MILLER and DANA MELLERsinging “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” Music and Lyrics by Neil Diamond and Marilyn and Alan Bergman, accompanied by Pianist David Scott Cohen and Bassist Alexander Frank
– MICHAEL J. LIBOW singing “It Had To Be You,” Music and Lyrics by Isham Jones and Gus Kahn, accompanied by Pianist David Scott Cohen with Band
– NITA WHITAKER singing “He Touched Me,” Music and Lyrics by Milton Shafer and Ira Levin from “Drat! The Cat!,” accompanied by Pianist David Scott Cohen with Band
– SHAWN RYAN singing “Down With Love,” Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Yip Harburg accompanied by Pianist Kelly Park with Band
– PATRICIA CANALE singing “The Man That Got Away,” Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and Oscar Hammerstein II from the 1954 film, “A Star Is Born,” accompanied by Pianist David Scott Cohen with Band
– KATRINA AGUILAR singing “A Piece of Sky,” Music and Lyrics by Michel Legrand and Marilyn and Alan Bergman from “Yentl,” accompanied by Pianist Michael Collum with Band
– FOURPLAY! (CLIFFORD BELL, MARY PAT BOWE, ANDREA PRESS AND KELLEY YEAROUT) singing “Enough Is Enough,” Music and Lyrics by Paul Jabara and Bruce Roberts, accompanied by Pianist Michael Collum with Band
This event was a lot fun and there was a lot of great singing all evening. Everyone came together to enjoy a show of cabaret and Broadway tunes while raising money for Project Angel Food. We look forward to next year!
