Studio recording of Songwriter in the House released

On December 1, 2016, Retrograde Music released Songwriter in the House, the studio recording of Tom’s MAC-nominated solo cabaret debut show. In addition to Tom’s lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and ukuleles, the album features Sean Harkness on guitar, Jon Burr on bass, and Justin McEllroy and Peter Millrose. Jon Burr also designed the album cover and mastered the tracks. Peter Millrose was the recording engineer.

Order a copy of the CD or mp3 downloads at CDBaby:

Songwriter in the House at CDBaby

Emerging Songwriters from Yale at the American Popular Song Society (formerly the New York Sheet Music Society)

The May 14 show was a great success. Seven Yale writers (and one guest from Harvard) were featured. In addition to the songwriters who performed, other singers were Sam Bolen, Brennan Caldwell, Sarah Downs, Zina Ellis, Lucie Ledbetter, Megan Loughran, Perry Sook, Megan Stern, and Michael Winther.

This performance represented the annual “new songwriters” event at APSS. The featured songwriters were Lucy Coolidge, Susan Horowitz, Jennie Litt (from Harvard), Julia Meinwald, Marshall Pailet, Alex Ratner, Zak Sandler, and Tom Toce.

The musical direction was by Jon Delfin

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.

For tickets: The Second Annual Harvard-Yale Cantata

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:

Songwriter in the House You Tube page

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Stu Hamstra of Cabaret Hotline Online calls LIVING STANDARDS “one of the most truly exciting shows that I have seen in many a year!”

“This was not just a “class act”, this was a young lady who reminded us all what cabaret is all about! If I was a songwriter, I would indeed be overjoyed to be included and have my song presented so beautifully, so elegantly, so perfectly. And special note to Francesca Blumenthal: I’ve heard heard just about every great cabaret singer perform your classic “The Lies of Handsome Men” but never has anyone done quite the performance as Ms Mulder! The show was entertaining from start to finish. No histrionics, no overdone emotional drama – just beautiful vocals, faithful to the setting of each song! Marissa captured the uniqueness of each lyric and still gave each song her own special style.”

Stu Hamstra review

To which we can only say, what do you mean “one of,” Stu? 🙂