Here’s a playlist of videos from SONGWRITER IN THE HOUSE, Tom’s solo cabaret debut. There are two full versions of the show, as well as several individual songs:
January-April 2016
Tom Toce Nominated for a MAC Award for Songwriter in the House
Tom was one of only three nominees in the NYC Debut – Male category this year. Tom finished the run of Songwriter in the House at the Metropolitan Room on February 13. Victoria Ordin, writing in Cabaret Scenes, called the show “an entertaining hour of story and song.” It was a pick-of-the-week in Cabaret Scenes in December.
Tom producing Emerging Songwriters from Yale at the American Popular Song Society (formerly the New York Sheet Music Society)
On May 14 at 2 pm, Tom is producing and directing the annual new songwriters event at the APSS. Given all the great talent he encountered producing The Harvard-Yale Cantata, this year’s event will feature new songwriters from Yale, performed by Yale graduates.
Songwriters include Lucy Coolidge, Susan Horowitz, Jennie Litt, Julia Meinwald, Marshall Pailet, Alex Ratner, Zak Sandler, and Tom Toce.
Performers are still being assembled but will likely include Lucie Ledbetter and Megan Loughran.
Produced and directed by Tom Toce, with musical direction by the composers and Jon Delfin.
Tickets for non-members are $15.
Local 802 – Musicians’ Hall, 322 West 48th Street, NYC
Tom Elected to the Board of Directors of Theatreworks/USA
In January, Tom was elected to the Board of Directors of Theatreworks/USA, the prestigious children’s theater company. Tom has a long affiliation with TW, having written three full shows in the late 80s and early 90s. He also contributed songs to the revue WHEN THE COOKIE CRUMBLES. Since its founding in 1961, TW has presented more than 90 Million children and their families with opportunities to enjoy theatrical productions in 49 states and Canada. TW recently re-established its presence in New York City on weekends, with its series at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College.
Coming in September–The Harvard-Yale Cantata II at Feinstein’s/54 Below!
Save the date! Thursday, September 8th at 9:30. The second (annual?) Harvard-Yale Cantata. This one promises to be even more fun than the first one.
October-December 2015
Songwriter in the House at the Metropolitan Room
Songwriter in the House represents veteran cabaret songwriter Tom Toce’s solo debut as a performer. In addition to musical theater and cabaret songs, Tom has always written other songs, in a different style. You can call them acoustic songs, or singer-songwriter songs, or folk-rock songs; if they were easy to pin down, they might have been recorded by now!
All his life, Tom has identified as a songwriter, not a performer. But emboldened by good reviews at open mikes and songwriter camps, Tom is stepping up to the mic and putting on a solo show. Accompanying himself on guitar, with Jon Burr on bass, Tom will take you through an eclectic collection of witty, tuneful, and sometimes moving new songs.
Dates:
Monday, November 23 at 9:30 pm
Saturday, December 5 at 1:00 pm
Monday, December 28 at 7:00 pm
Cover: $20 ($5 off for MAC), two drink minimum
The Metropolitan Room
34 West 22nd Street
New York, New York
212-206-0440
Or visit Songwriter in the House – Tickets
Tom’s musical A Charles Dickens Christmas in concert at Urban Stages
A Charles Dickens Christmas is a delightful holiday musical by Robert Owens Scott (book), Douglas J. Cohen (music), and Tom Toce (lyrics). It is the story of Charles Dickens’s inability to write a happy Christmas story, never having had a happy Christmas himself as a child.
This sophisticated, uplifting family musical will be enjoyed by children and parents alike.
Tickets: $25
Call: 1-866-811-4111
Or visit Winter Rhythms Festival
Dates:
Thursday, December 10 at 7 pm
Saturday, December 12 at 3 pm
Urban Stages
259 West 30th Street
Tom producing The B Side: An Afternoon with Ben Yagoda at the American Popular Song Society (formerly the New York Sheet Music Society)
Ben Yagoda, author of The B-Side: The Death of Tin Pan Alley and the Rebirth of the Great American Song, will present a program focusing on the 1947-’55 period in pop music, post-Great American Songbook, pre-Rock and Roll. The presentation will revolve around Mitch Miller as the personification of the era. Ben will illuminate this transitional period between the Great American Songbook days that preceded it and the rock ‘n roll era that followed, with its superb American writers such as Carole King, Willie Nelson, Burt Bacharach, Brian Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Randy Newman, Paul Simon, and Joni Mitchell.
Produced and directed by Tom Toce, with musical direction by Alex Ratner, performances by Carole J. Bufford, Lucie Ledbetter, Henry Gottfried, and Tom Toce.
Tickets for non-members are $10.
Local 802 – Musicians’ Hall, 322 West 48th Street, NYC
A Charles Dickens Christmas at Winter Rhythms Festival
Concert version of family musical starring Tony Sheldon
A Charles Dickens Christmas is a delightful holiday musical by Robert Owens Scott (book), Douglas J. Cohen (music), and Tom Toce (lyrics). It is the story of Charles Dickens’s inability to write a happy Christmas story, never having had a happy Christmas himself as a child.
Originally produced by Theatreworks USA, the show toured the country for several years, then entered the MTI catalogue, where it has received numerous productions all over the world. Stephen Holden, writing in the New York Times, noted that the show “takes on deeper psychological overtones as it explores the relation between memory and creativity” and found it “uncommonly sober-minded and refreshingly devoid of glitz and overblown sentiment.”
This sophisticated, uplifting family musical will be enjoyed by children and parents alike.
Tickets: $25
Call: 1-866-811-4111
Or visit Winter Rhythms Festival
Dates:
Thursday, December 10 at 7 pm
Saturday, December 12 at 3 pm
Urban Stages
259 West 30th Street
Songwriter in the House at the Metropolitan Room
Tom makes his performing debut in a new cabaret show at the Metropolitan Room
Songwriter in the House represents veteran cabaret songwriter Tom Toce’s solo debut as a performer. In addition to musical theater and cabaret songs, Tom has always written other songs, in a different style. You can call them acoustic songs, or singer-songwriter songs, or folk-rock songs; if they were easy to pin down, they might have been recorded by now!
All his life, Tom has identified as a songwriter, not a performer. But emboldened by good reviews at open mikes and songwriter camps, Tom is stepping up to the mic and putting on a solo show. Accompanying himself on guitar, with Jon Burr on bass, Tom will take you through an eclectic collection of witty, tuneful, and sometimes moving new songs.
Tom Toce is a veteran theater and cabaret songwriter. He won the MAC Award for Comedy Song for “Shalom, Santa” in 2014. He most recently directed, produced, and hosted The Harvard-Yale Cantata at 54 Below. Earlier this year, he directed and produced Mr. Victor’s Cabaret for Hipsters: Songs of the 1990s at the Laurie Beechman Theater. Last year, he produced and hosted MAC Award Winning Songs at Urban Stages and Living Standards, starring Marissa Mulder, at the Metropolitan Room. Hopelessly in Love: The Lyrics of Tom Toce was one of the most successful shows at the Metropolitan Room in 2012 and 2013. The HIL recording was also nominated for a 2014 MAC Award. Tom has written a number of shows for children, and his cabaret songs have been sung and/or recorded by Andrea Marcovicci, Tovah Feldshuh, Maude Maggart, KT Sullivan, and many others. Tom is a two-time Jeopardy! champion (his encyclopedic knowledge of the Great American Songbook helped) and a member of the Jeopardy Hall of Fame, for high score in a single game.
“Tom Toce not only knows how to put over a song, but he seems to be everywhere at once and a master of all trades. (He) did a wonderful job on “This is My Birthday” by Carol Hall (and his own) “Shalom, Santa,” which contains the immortal line my daddy is a lapsed Catholic and my mother is a cultural Jew.” Jerry Osterberg, The New York Sheet Music Society Newsletter
“Mr. Toce has a distinct way with the language and writes lyrics with a twist of humor as he explores life’s universal sufferings. He should be most proud of his work.” John Weatherford, Times Square Chronicles
“The Toce touch with words employs varied techniques and vocabularies while remaining casually conversational and modern.“ Rob Lester, Cabaret Scenes
Dates:
Monday, November 23 at 9:30 pm
Saturday, December 5 at 1:00 pm
Monday, December 28 at 7:00 pm
Cover: $20 ($5 off for MAC), two drink minimum
The Metropolitan Room
34 West 22nd Street
New York, New York
212-206-0440
Or visit Songwriter in the House – Tickets
The Harvard-Yale Cantata at 54 Below!
To Buy Tickets
A new cabaret show featuring Harvard songs (written by and performed by Harvard grads) in competition with songs written and sung by Yalies. Cast and guest artists to be announced soon! Musical direction by Madeline Smith. Produced and directed by Tom Toce
Tom is producing and hosting a unique evening at 54 Below, featuring Harvard grads performing songs written by Harvard grads in fierce competition with Yale grads performing songs written by Yalies! Likely showstoppers will include “Songs Unduly Influenced by Tom Lehrer,” “Who You Got? We Got EGOT,” and “Best School Song.” Hard to say whose songs will make the finals, but Harvard’s heavies include Leonard Bernstein, Alan Jay Lerner, and Tom Lehrer, while Yale has Cole Porter, Bobby Lopez, and Maury Yeston. This show is co-produced by Tom Toce (Yale, 1978) and Madeline A. Smith (Harvard, 2014), direct from their recent hit cabaret endeavor Mr. Victor’s Cabaret for Hipsters: Songs of the 1990s. Tom will host and Madeline will be the musical director. Each promises to treat the opposing school’s songs with respect. May the best songs win!
One evening only! September 8, 2015 at 9:30
Buy tickets at www.54below.com
TICKETS & INFORMATION:
(646) 476-3551
254 W 54th St, Cellar, New York, NY 10019
September 8, 2015
Cover charge: $25-35
Premiums: $60
Cover Charge Additional $5 At Door
$25 Food & Beverage Minimum
Show: 9:30p Doors: 8:45p
July-September 2015
The Harvard-Yale Cantata at 54 Below!
Tom is producing and hosting a unique evening at 54 Below, featuring Harvard grads performing songs written by Harvard grads in fierce competition with Yale grads performing songs written by Yalies! Likely showstoppers will include “Songs Unduly Influenced by Tom Lehrer,” “Who You Got? We Got EGOT,” and “Best School Song.” Hard to say whose songs will make the finals, but Harvard’s heavies include Leonard Bernstein, Alan Jay Lerner, and Tom Lehrer, while Yale has Cole Porter, Bobby Lopez, and Maury Yeston. This show is co-produced by Tom Toce (Yale, 1978) and Madeline A. Smith (Harvard, 2014), direct from their recent hit cabaret endeavor Mr. Victor’s Cabaret for Hipsters: Songs of the 1990s. Tom will host and Madeline will be the musical director. Each promises to treat the opposing school’s songs with respect. May the best songs win!
One evening only! September 8, 2015 at 9:30
Buy tickets at www.54below.com
TICKETS & INFORMATION:
(646) 476-3551
254 W 54th St, Cellar, New York, NY 10019
September 8, 2015
Cover charge: $25-35
Premiums: $60
Cover Charge Additional $5 At Door
$25 Food & Beverage Minimum
Show: 9:30p Doors: 8:45p
Tom is again to be a guest judge at the Metrostar Talent Challenge 2015 in July
Tom joins an array of guest judges including his HOPELESSLY IN LOVE pals Peter Napolitano and Marissa Mulder, along with several other cabaret notables. “MetroStar” offers a career-boosting package of prizes and professional encouragements, including a fully produced primetime Met Room engagement and live recording. Marissa Mulder was the 2011 Metrostar winner.
Mister Victor’s Cabaret for Hipsters: Songs of the 1990s at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on June 16th and 17th
To Buy Tickets
A new cabaret show featuring iconic pop songs of the 90s as well as other great songs pulled from the alt-country, folk, and cabaret genres. Starring Kyra Atekwana, Kimberly Hawkey, Stearns Matthews, Justin McEllroy, and Mikki Sodergren. Musical direction by Madeline Smith. Produced and directed by Tom Toce
According to the opening number of MR. VICTOR’S CABARET FOR HIPSTERS: SONGS OF 1990S, if you want to attract young people to cabaret, you can’t do it with Gershwin. You have to win them with music they know and love. This show features some iconic songs from the 90s–by Green Day, Oasis, and Coldplay—as well as some equally wonderful if lesser-known gems from the non-pop world (alt-county, musical theater, and, yes, cabaret). They do write ‘em like they used, if you know where to look!
To Buy Tickets
Tom Toce is a veteran theater and cabaret songwriter. LIVING STANDARDS, a show he created for cabaret star Marissa Mulder, was one of the hits of the 2014 season. HOPELESSLY IN LOVE: THE LYRICS OF TOM TOCE was one of the most successful shows at the Metropolitan Room in 2012 and 2013. Tom’s song “Shalom, Santa,” won the 2014 MAC Award for best special material. He previously received another special material nomination as well as one for best CD for HOPELESSLY IN LOVE. Tom is a two-time Jeopardy! champion (his encyclopedic knowledge of the Great American Songbook helped) and a member of the Jeopardy Hall of Fame, for high score in a single game.
Jan-Jun 2015
Mister Victor’s Cabaret For Hipsters: Songs of the 1990s
If you want to attract young people to cabaret, you can’t do it with Gershwin. You have to win them with music they know and love. This show features some iconic songs from the 90s—by Green Day, Oasis, and Coldplay—as well as some equally wonderful if lesser-known gems from the non-pop world (alt-county, musical theater, and, yes, cabaret). They do write ‘em like they used to, if you know where to look!
Two evenings, June 16 (T) and June 17 (W) both at 9:30
$25 cover and a $20 food/drink minimum
Buy tickets at www.LaurieBeechmanTheatre.com
Call 212-695-6909 for information only
Starring Kyra Atekwana, Kimberly Hawkey, Stearns Matthews, Justin McEllroy, and Mikki Sodergren. Musical direction by Madeline Smith. Produced and directed by Tom Toce
Tom reprises the Mac Award Winning Songs show at the New York Sheet Music Society
May 9 saw another performance of Mac Award Winning Songs, starring Lianne Marie Dobbs, Minda Larsen, Kristoffer Lowe, Sidney Myer, and Devon Lavinia Yates, under the musical direction and accompaniment of Tracy Stark. Marcus Simeone and Mary Liz McNamara were guest performers, performing their own MAC Award winning songs. Tom directed and produced–and also sang two numbers, Carol Hall’s “This Is My Birthday” and his own MAC Award winning song “Shalom, Santa,” co-written with Doug Cohen.
Tom’s song wins the Producer’s Choice Prize in the Dirty Little Songs competition
Dirty Little Songs is a wonderful cabaret show starring Carolyn Montgomery-Forant, Eric Michael Gillett, and Jay Rogers. The show features–guess what?–dirty songs, and in January they announced a dirty song competition. Tom had such a song, written a few years ago with the composer Joseph Thalken for a musical that never got off the ground. “He Leaves His Deposits With Me” did not win the competition, that distinction went to Amy Wolk and Will TN Hall’s “The Brit Song.” But Tom and Joe’s song took the “producer’s choice” prize and will be featured in subsequent performances of Dirty Little Songs.
September-December 2014
Tom directs two shows at Urban Stages Winter Rhythms Festival
On December 5, Marissa Mulder reprised LIVING STANDARDS, produced and directed by Tom Toce. Another performance of this cabaret jewel, featuring contemporary standards by living songwriters.
On December 12, Tom presented a new show, MAC AWARD-WINNING SONGS. In this show, Tom continues his commitment to the “Living Songbook” with a selection of songs that have won cabaret’s highest honor. The wonderful cast was Lianne Marie Dobbs, Tom Gamblin, Minda Larsen, Kristoffer Lowe, Sidney Myer, and Devon Yates. Guest songwriters performing were Julie Gold, Barry Kleinbort, Sue Matsuki, Mary Liz McNamara, Andrew Sotomayor, Tracy Stark, Tom Toce, and Jason Wynn. Tracy Stark was also the musical director. Produced, directed, and hosted by Tom Toce.
Tom performs at the Metropolitan Room in the Guinness Book of World Records event
Tom performed three songs starting at 5:30 am on Sunday, January 4, 2015. The show, which began the previous Thursday, ended after 60 hours at 7 am, just 1 1/2 hours after Tom’s performance.
Adam Shapiro performed one of Tom’s songs, “Say You’ll Remember,” co-written with Adam Shapiro, during his set on Saturday.
This show established a new world record for the longest live variety show.