Luerne Herrera and Jason Wetzel
"The Wetzel and I"
2006
In New York City, there's a dive bar in the village called Marie's Crisis. In that piano bar, nightly, you will find (a) a piano player, (b) a piano and (c) a gaggle of gays and their hags sangin' Broadway songs en masse. It's retardedly amazing. It's so weird at first, but once you get into it, you're addiced, you go at least once a week, slug a few back and join in the My Fair Lady medley. At least I did in 2004.
In Orlando, there used to be a weekly event similar to this (and just as fab) at the Parliament House. It differed slightly. Instead of the entire room singing together, the pianist accompanied brave soloists as the gaggle watched. That pianist was Kelly Richards. This guy was the heart and soul of those nights. He could play anything, in any key and has the smile and charm and heart that makes the whole room feel comfy. The event sadly went away when he got a job that interfered with his availability. (That was the word on the street I was aware of)
Now he's back (YAY!) in the newly refurbished (and newly named) Footlight Lounge at the Parliament House at a new time: 1:30pm on Sundays. They're calling it "Piano Sing-A-Long Party with Kelly Richards." Woo!
Cabaret is kinda "happening" these days in Orlando, is it not? There's this new development at P-House, the long-running monthly "Cabaret Party" produced by Luerne Herrera and Jason Wetzel (see video above), my new bi-annual "A Night With the Girls" charity cabaret and the new "Boys Night Out" charity cabaret. (If I have missed anything, lemme know!) I hope cabaret in Orlando doesn't go the way of swing dancing and parachute pants.