From December 2–19, 2026, our award-winning music festival returns! This year’s Winter Rhythms is “A Tribute To,” with salutes to beloved artists, genres, and more. The festival also includes a special limited engagement of Beth Falcone & Ritt Henn’s Holiday Survival Kit featuring Roosevelt André Credit and Christine de Frece, December 16–19. All proceeds support Urban Stages’ Outreach Program, bringing more than 1,000 free, multilingual performances, workshops, and programs to libraries across all five boroughs of New York City.
All Tickets: $40
Two Shows the Same Night: $70
Wednesday, December 2, 2026
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6:00pm | Champagne & Wine Cocktail Party / The unveiling of Taty Designs’ Portrait in Tribute to our 2026 Artist Luminary Award recipient, Charles Busch7:00pm | An Evening with Jon Weber & Friends: A Tribute to Jazz and New York City Street Music!
Jon Weber is considered to be one of the best and most beloved Music Directors in the city, working with some of the biggest names in the business. Tonight, we experience Jon in his natural habitat…on stage, behind the piano with his encyclopedic knowledge of music. Jon has performed with us many times over the years, so this year, it was decided to invite him to open the festival. He will be joined by some very special jazz musicians and singers representing some of the best music NYC has to offer.
https://www.jonwebermusic.comListen to Jon: https://www.jonwebermusic.com/videos
Thursday, December 3, 2026
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With vocals that have been described as “honey-voiced” and ”“gorgeous,” Kati Neiheisel has performed at The Cutting Room, Don’t Tell Mama, the Duplex, 54 Below, The Green Room 42, Metropolitan Room, Pangea, The Triad Theater, Urban Stages, and Jazz on Main in Mt. Kisco. Kati is a two-time MAC Award nominee and received high praise for the Julie London show that she is presenting this evening. Music Director: Gregory Toroian, Bass: Skip Ward and Drums: David Silliman. Director: Lina Koutrakos.
https://www.katineiheisel.com/
Listen to Kati: https://www.katineiheisel.com/watch/
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Leslee Warren arrived in the Big Apple in pursuit of a stage career. She landed national tours of Titanic and The King and I, and many stock productions including Ragtime, Noises Off, It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, Little Shop of Horrors, Hamlet and The Sound of Music. She has long loved and related to the story of Lena Horne who she pays tribute to in this show, which received high praise and two standing ovations on its debut at Chelsea Table. Music Director: Gregory Toroian, Bass: Skip Ward and Drums: David Silliman. Director: Lina Koutrakos.
https://lesleewarren.com/Listen to Leslee: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JO9YMBzD60s
Friday, December 4, 2026
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Raissa Katona Bennett appeared on Broadway as Christine in Phantom Of The Opera and in Chess, as a benefit for the Actor’s Fund. Her Broadway National Tours include: Cats, A Child’s Christmas In Wales and Parade. As a MAC and Bisto award-winning cabaret artist, Raissa has headlined at: Feinstein’s, Metropolitan Room, Iridium, The Laurie Beechman Theatre, and Green Room 42, and guest-starred at: 54 Below, The Supper Club, Rainbow Room, 88’s, Don’t Tell Mama, Chita’s, The Algonquin, Radio City Music Hall, at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall and Town Hall in the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Conventions. Her TV guest spots include Law And Order: SVU and Unsolved Mysteries. Music Director: Jon Weber.
https://www.raissakatonabennett.com/Listen to Raissa: https://youtu.be/JFJSwyKOZRshttps://circleinthesquare.com/
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The show chronicles the real-life, decades-long epistolary friendship and correspondence between multi-award-winning singer/actress/songwriter/playwright, Mardie Millit—who first reached out to Stephen Sondheim as an awkward, theater-loving teenager after discovering the cast recording of Anyone Can Whistle—and the legendary composer himself. It is a fascinating, true story. Music Director (Mardie’s husband and writing/producing partner): Michael Gavin. Directed by: Eric Michael Gillet.https://www.michaelandmardie.com/
Listen to Mardie: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2193436877577317
Saturday, December 5, 2026
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Once again, another wonderful evening in tribute to some of Broadway’s most famous showstoppers and 11:00 numbers performed by the remarkable young talents of Circle in the Square’s Theatre School’s Musical Theatre graduating class. This show has become one of Winter Rhythms’ favorite residency acts because it’s always a huge crowd-pleaser and usually sells out quickly, so get your ticket soon. Directed by MAC and Bistro Award winner Sara Louise Lazarus. Musical Director: Joe Baker. The cast to be announced soon.
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Grab some cocoa and get out your magnifying glasses! Musical theatre writing duo and rumored cryptozoologists Alara Magritte and Daniel Rosen emerge from hibernation for one night only to present a cozy cabaret of their award-winning original repertoire. Known for “their gift for scoring harmony and pushing the boundaries of subject matter in musical theater,” the pair’s catchy, genre-bending, and femme-centric work has been well received from coast to coast. With spectacular vocals and wonderful original songs, this was one of the most popular shows in Winter Rhythms last year, so we’re bringing them back! Music Director and Cast to be announced soon. www.magritteandrosen.com
Listen to “Bad Woman” from their new show Safe Hands:: https://www.magritteandrosen.com/music--media1.html
Sunday, December 6, 2026
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Celebrating Michael Colby’s 75th Birthday, Urban Stages is proud to present a tribute to Michael by the singers who have sung his songs at Winter Rhythms over all these years. Music Director: Michael Lavine. Director: Eric Michael Gillett.Featuring (Subject to Change):
Nikita Burshteyn • Donna English • Tommy Forlano • Penny Fuller • Alex Getlin • Henry Gregory • Jeff Harnar • Jay Aubrey Jones • Renee Katz • Robert Langeder • John LaLonde • Amy London • Stacie Perlman • Stephanie Pope • Isabel Robin • Steve Ross • Jane Seaman • Daryl Sherman • Beth Seigling • Megan Styrna • Deborah Tranelli • Joshua Turchin • Stuart Zagnit
https://michaelcolby.com/
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The New York Songwriters Alliance was founded by Tom Toce in 2016. Tom is currently the President of the Board of Directors at Urban Stages. The Alliance is a group of professional songwriters who meet twice a month to share songs, success stories, industry opportunities, and to share creative energy. In this show, a group of current regular attendees will showcase their songs. Their songs will be presented by some of the best vocal talent in NY Cabaret. Songwriters and singers to be announced.
Tuesday, December 8, 2026
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Jacqueline Draper, long-time cabaret singer, will be paying tribute to one of her favorite musical composers, Michele Legrand. This show is inspired not only by her love of his music but also by her love of TV and movie themes, for which Legrand wrote over 200 compositions. She has a love of languages, so there will be songs sung in Legrand’s native tongue, French, and there will also be a dance number or two. Music Director: Gregory Toroian. Bass: Skip Ward. Drums: Ron Tierno. Woodwinds: Robbyn Tongue. Special Guest Artist/Dancer: Milo Saidl. Director: Kimberly Vaughn.
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What makes Cabaret different from any other genre of music? Come to this show to find out and to hear several of the singers who work with Lina Koutrakos share their process and stories about how Lina helped them “find” a song. We honor the teacher by honoring the process! Director: Gregory Toroian. Bass: Skip Ward. Drums: David Silliman. Featuring: Margaret Curry, Mary Sue Daniels, Terri Dannenberg, Sean Harkness, Wendy Luck, Susan Mack, Jamie Salzano, Carol Savvas, Marcus Simeone, Deborah Stone, Ann Talman, Gregory Toroian, Elvira Totora and Lina will also sing with a guest appearance by Clearly Now. A Matsuki Production.
Wednesday, December 9, 2026
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Producer of Winter Rhythms, Sue Matsuki, once again shares some of the most amazingly talented performers who are relatively new to Cabaret, but who are all seasoned beyond their years in talent. Tributes will be paid to several iconic performers in this one performance. Music Director: Michael Lavine. Featuring: Alex deSuze (Aretha, Nina & Sarah) / Ava Nicole Frances (Dolly Parton) / Ethan Mathias (to be announced soon) / Can Yasar (to be announced soon). This is a Matsuki Production.
https://www.avanicolefrances.com
https://www.canyasar.com
https://www.ethanmathias.com
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Two-time MAC Award nominee and Broadway World Cabaret/Jazz nominee, Dorian Woodruff is a versatile cabaret and jazz singer, director, writer, and vocal coach. He has had roles in regional productions of Pippin, Les Misérables, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and concert presentations of The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jekyll & Hyde, Phantom of the Opera, Hair, and Cabaret. He has performed in London, Paris, Berlin, Prague, Barcelona, and Rio de Janeiro. One highlight of the show is a once-in-a-lifetime meeting with the people to whom he pays tribute.: Alan & Marilyn Bergman at a tribute concert of their music. Music Director: Ron Drotos. Director: Lina Koutrakos.Listen to Dorian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYoRRBvwGO0
Thursday, December 10, 2026
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Heather Frank is a Washington, DC-based singer/songwriter, cabaret artist and producer/director. She leads the board of the DC Cabaret Network and is a fellow of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.. She has been told many times that her voice was reminiscent of the late Blossom Dearie, a singer she did not know but checked out and here we are because she fell in love with Blossom and so will you! Director: Gregory Toroian. Bass: Skip Ward. Drums: David Silliman. Director: Lina Koutrakos.
https://maestramusic.org/profile/heather-perram-frank/
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Maria Corsaro came to Cabaret several years ago but quickly discovered that it was JAZZ that literally made her heart sing. She sings jazz with a beautiful understanding of the importance of the lyrics, which brought her high acclaim on her debut CD “Love Makes the Changes,” recorded by the magnificent band playing for her tonight. Music Director: Gregory Toroian. Bass: Skip Ward. Drums: David Silliman. Sax/Flute: Mark Fineberg. Director: David Friedman.
https://www.mariacorsaro.com/Listen to Maria: https://www.mariacorsaro.com/album
Friday, December 11, 2026
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Aaron Lee Battle is an acclaimed New York City-based singer, actor, and cabaret artist known for his velvety vocals and performances across prominent Manhattan venues. He is a recipient of the Backstage Bistro Award for Outstanding Vocalist and has won the Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) Hanson Award. He frequently performs at celebrated New York cabaret and performance spaces like 54 Below, Birdland, and the West Bank Café. His stage credits include appearing off-Broadway in Captain Brassbound's Conversion with Project Shaw. Music Director: Jono MainelliListen to Aaron: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnzdlaqNUOI
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Janice Hall is a singer-actor equally comfortable in the worlds of opera, theater, and cabaret. After a stellar beginning in the opera world, which included appearances in major roles at the Houston Grand Opera, New York City Opera, and the Washington National Opera, as well as in Germany and Europe, she also performed as Violetta in the New York City Opera’s Emmy-winning telecast of La Traviata in the "Live from Lincoln Center" series on PBS. Janice has broadened her scope to include theater and cabaret appearances. Janice received both a Bistro and a MAC Award for her first solo show: Grand Illusions: The Music of Marlene Dietrich. As one of our original acts, we are very excited to have Janice back at Winter Rhythms in her Tribute to Kurt Weill. Music Director: Matthew Martin Ward
https://www.janicehallsinger.com/theatre-cabaretListen to Janice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vseNZUfDNg&t=26s
Saturday, December 12, 2026
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Broadway stars and real-life couple Nicolas Dromard and Desirée Davar bring their award-winning song, dance, and romance to Winter Rhythms with A Broadway Holiday. In celebration of this year’s “A Tribute To…” theme, the evening pays tribute to the timeless magic of White Christmas, the glamour of the MGM movie musicals, Hollywood’s legendary song-and-dance stars, and classic Broadway. Filled with beloved holiday favorites, dazzling tap, laughter, and old-school glamour, it’s Christmas, Broadway style. Music Director: Gillian Berkowitz.
https://nicanddesi.comListen to Nic & Desi: : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGQn4Ff-570
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Lizzie West is an American singer and songwriter. She busked in the subways of New York City and traveled across the United States before recording her debut album, Holy Road. She released the single "19 Miles to Baghdad" in 2004 during the Iraq War. Her second album was I Pledge Allegiance to Myself. Other albums/song collections include: WEST, The Tumbleweed Cabaret, Lizzie and Baba, The Legend of G.E. Fox, and more. So what happened to Lizzie that led her to step back from life as a major recording artist, feted by the likes of Leonard Cohen, and become a “homestead mom”? And…why is she coming back to music now? Join us to meet this fascinating lady! In tribute to all the recording artists who persevere! https://lizziewest.com/Listen to Lizzie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo6ESoPge-c
Sunday, December 13, 2026
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Rebecca Watts is an NYC-based pianist, singer, arranger, and music director. In February 2026, she made her New York City solo debut at the Triad Theater with her show, Songs of Love and Freedom. The performance specifically celebrates the classic singer-songwriters who rose to fame playing at the legendary Troubadour venue in West Hollywood, California. Her repertoire includes rich vocal-forward arrangements of famous tracks by iconic artists associated with that West Coast folk and rock era. Featuring: Lead Vocals/Piano: Rebecca Watts. Music Director/Trumpet: Richard Garretson. Music Coordinator/Guitar: Sean Harkness. Bass: Evan Gregor. Drums: Dan Aran. Vocal/Piano: Billy Blair. Vocals: Grace Peňa.
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Cast to be announced.
Urban Stages Board President Tom Toce will close the 2025 Winter Rhythms festival with an eighth edition of Songs of Hope. This show will feature some of the best performers working in NYC cabaret. We always need hopeful songs, now more than ever. Performers to be announced.
Beth & Ritt's Holiday Survival Kit, Dec 16-19
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Wednesday, December 16 | 3pm
Thursday, December 17 | 7pm
Friday, December 18 | 7pm
Saturday, December 19 | 3pmBeth Falcone & Ritt Henn first brought their joyous and soulful seasonal offering to Winter Rhythms in 2016. This year marks their 10th anniversary; to celebrate, they’ll be joined by their good friends, HSK alumni Roosevelt André Credit (Metropolitan Opera/ Broadway) and Christine de Frece (BroadwayWorld Award Winner). Together, they serve up original and originally-arranged songs and stories from around the globe, honoring the winter solstice and the return to light. Let them sing you safely through the season, from Diwali to Lunar New Year and all that’s in between, including Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, with songs in French, Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), German, Sanskrit, merry olde English and more! The HSK team just recorded 10 tracks that they’ll be releasing as part of the celebration, and after the show there will be a Nog-&-Grog party, with joviality provided by Bibi the Elf. Happy Diwanukkwanzmas to one and all!