Piano Bar

Cabaret Warhorse, RICKY RITZEL was recently honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Cabaret by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets.He has been a fixture on the nightclub and cabaret scene in NYC for over 40 years and his latest venture, RICKY RITZEL’S BROADWAY, received the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020 MAC Award for Outstanding Recurring Series. Ricky has received most Cabaret awards including 23 MAC Awards in 11 different categories. An accomplished solo performer, Ricky has also accompanied such greats as Vivian Blaine,, Varla Jean Merman, Julie Wilson, Lenora Nemetz , Nanette Fabray and Miss Coco. With famed Chicago jazz vocalist Spider Saloff, Ricky created several award winning revues such as "1938", which was recorded on the Kopathetics label, "Porgy & Bess: a Cabaret Concert" and "Ira and Others".. Ricky is half of the kooky "Lounge does Top 40" duo, THE LOUNGEOLEERS with 5 CD's on the Emenar label. He can also be seen as SCARY MAN who comes on to Christian Campbell in the film "TRICK". Ricky has been seen in Las Vegas as Jimmy Durante in "Stop the Music!" with Sharon McNight as Sophie Tucker and toured with Leslie Anderson for 5 years performing every known work they could find by Johnny Mercer in 4 different revues. He is also proud to have served as the first Artistic Director for cabaret at the premiere season of the Gettysburg Festival ,and is on the Advisory Board of Directors for the Manhattan Association of Cabarets, of which he was President from 2006 2009.

Michael Isaacs is MAC nominated singer, songwriter, musician and actor who is based in NYC. Originally from New England, Michael attended Berklee College Of Music and then went right to work in the clubs of Boston and Providence. His first performance in NYC was at the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem. The performance went so well, he was featured on “It’s Showtime At The Apollo” two times. Throughout Michael’s career he has had the opportunity and pleasure to open for Roberta Flack, Jose Feliciano, Bobby Short, Ronnie Spector and Neil Sedaka. Even Rip Taylor did a set with him! He was also privileged to sing two duets with Neil, at Neils request, with Michael on the piano. Proud member of SAG/AFTRA.

CLARE COOPER is a singer/songwriter/multikeyboardist and musical director. A graduate of Berklee College of Music and the New School’s Creative Arts Therapy program, she is an awardwinning songwriter with two CDs, “Northern Drive” and “Valentine.” Composer of musical comedies “How To Marry A Divorced Man” and "Desperation," (book and lyrics by Bryan Leys), "Poultrygeist The Musical" (book and lyrics by June Rachelson Ospa and Steve Mackes) and "Mose's Mother Said What?" (book and lyrics by Fran Handman). Theater credits include “Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding,” “Jaws! The Musical,” Fringe Festival favorite “Urban Momfare,” “Memphis,” "Fifth Avenue" and “Honeyland.” TV credits include “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and AMC’s “Into Character.” Musical director/arranger for cabaret shows at Don’t Tell Mama, The Duplex, Rose’s Turn, The Triad and Laurie Beechman Theater.

Joe Regan is a fixture on the Piano Bar and Cabaret scene in the Metropolitan area, appearing in piano bars and cabaret rooms, as well as on international river cruises and Resorts in Key West, Florida, and Provincetown, Mass. He was part of the inaugural Show at the outdoor Brookside Cabaret Stage at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn NJ. He opened for Steve Ross at the 75th Anniversary of the Chrysler Building, and has been nominated numerous times as Outstanding Piano Bar Instrumentalist by the Manhattan Association of Cabaret. (MAC Awards) He is also a teaching artist at The Paper Mill Playhouse and the Performing Arts School at The MAYO Performing Arts Center in Morristown.He currently performs regularly at Don’t Tell Mama Piano Bar in NYC, 16 Prospect in Westfield, NJ, and The Carriage House At the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn NJ.

British American singing pianist Alexandra Frederick plays the Wednesday “Happy Hour” at Don’t Tell Mama’s. Alex lends her “lush vocals and jazzy vibe” to The American Songbook, Broadway, swing, classic pop, Brazilian Bossa, French cabaret and Italian favorites, and sings in several languages! A 2025 MAC Award nominee, Alex also plays regularly at The Townhouse and Da Marino piano bars, and at Westchester Marriott. Recent performance highlights include a seasonal residency at the iconic Empire State Building, entertaining at the exciting new Drai Supper Club, and a Television special on RTVI US. Alex has cruised the high seas with Carnival and Princess. She is available for all kinds of public and private events in the New York area and beyond. Visit her at Alexjazz.com.

“Paddy on the Piano,” is a highenergy pianist, vocalist, and entertainer performing across the tristate area at piano bars, cabaret venues, and parties of every kind. Wellversed in classic rock, pop, soul, and standards, Patrick's trademark exuberance and colorful wardrobe are only outshone by his considerable ability at the keyboard. In addition to his weekly appearances at Don’t Tell Mama Piano Bar & Cabaret and the Duplex Piano Bar, Paddy brings joy and music regularly to senior living communities, community centers, hospitals, and dozens of New York City schools. Follow @paddyonthepiano on Instagram and Facebook and try to keep up!

When Nate Buccieri —@NateontheKeys— isn’t singing behind the piano in oodles of NYC piano bars and clubs, he is traveling with his music around the world! Singer/songwriter, improv artist, music director, and piano man, Nate boasts an enormous repertoire of pop, Broadway, and standards. He’s always happy to field a request, jump on a writing project, sit at the helm as musical director, or just make a tune up on the fly!

James Scheider is an actormusician, music director, and composer/arranger based in Manhattan. He originated the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in the 2006 premiere reading of Million Dollar Quartet at Village Theatre, also playing the role in the Chicago cast, preBroadway, and he played the role on the 1st National Tour. James made his Broadway debut in the original Broadway cast of Million Dollar Quartet. He is a resident singer/pianist at Don’t Tell Mama and Mimi’s Piano Bar and a guest artist at The Duplex, Stonewall, and The Townhouse

Gerry Dieffenbach is a singer, songwriter, pianist and musical director. He has received numerous awards over the years including two consecutive Songwriters Guild of America President's Awards, Bistro Award for outstanding musical direction, and 2 MAC Awards as a club pianist. He has accompanied and collaborated with performers as varied as Margaret Whiting, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Petula Clark, Joan Rivers, Karen Mason, Eric McCormack, and... oh, Taylor Swift. His original songs have been recorded and performed on concert and cabaret stages by many artists.

Kevin Howery (he/him) is a pianist from Littleton, Colorado. He resides in New York with his fiancée and cat, where he works as a pianist and an organizer for public lectures. Kevin is also a doctoral candidate at the University of Cologne in the philosophy department. When he is not on the keys or writing his thesis, Kevin is usually spending time with friends, boring them with Greek etymologies.

William TN Hall Britishborn and based in New York, William TN Hall is an awardwinning composer and musical director. His musicals include Methtacular! (OffBroadway, Time Out New York Critic’s Pick) and Songs for a More Funnier World (NYMF Award Winner). He cowrote and arranged BUSTED: The Musical for Bianca Leigh and has composed commissioned work for Tony winner Nikki M. James. A threetime MAC Award and BroadwayWorld Award winner, and a proud alumnus of the BMI Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop, William tours worldwide with singer Anne Steele.

Steven Wenslawski is a pianist, singer, actor, and music director with extensive performance experience. Onstage he appeared in the first national tours of Monty Python’s Spamalot, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Fosse. Additional tours Tommy Tune’s Doctor Dolittle, and Cabaret with Roundabout Theater Company, in which Steven performed in both the cast and the band, playing clarinet, sax, keyboard and accordion. Internationally he sang and danced in a tour of the Duke Ellington revue Sophisticated Ladies. Regional productions include shows for the Kennedy Center, Sacramento Music Circus, Theater Under the Stars, Ogunquit Playhouse, North Shore Music Theater, and more. In NYC he has performed in multiple editions of Broadway Backwards and Broadway Bares, the play Nothing But Trash at Theater for the New City, the preBroadway workshop of Never Gonna Dance, and more. For his work in piano bars, Steven has been nominated for both MAC awards and a Broadway World Award. His recordings include both original works and covers, and can be heard on all streaming platforms.

JD Smurthwaite has been a full time musician for over four years in NYC. He has logged over 7,000 hours performing request shows all over the city, and can be seen often at Don’t Tell Mamas, as well as every Sunday and Tuesday at Brandy’s Piano bar. Follow his insta @jdpiano_ to see where he’s playing

Dynamic pianist and vocalist blending 16+ years of classical chops with bold, highenergy performances. Catch Noel live at Manhattan’s top piano bars, internationally with major cruise lines, or streaming on Spotify.

Harrison is thrilled to be a part of the wonderfully talented team of pianists at Don't Tell Mama. Harrison is a multidisciplinary artist with skills and experience in Music Direction, Electronic Music Design, Orchestration, and much more. Harrison is an Electronic Music Designer and Supervisor for Strange Cranium Productions, leading projects On and Off Broadway. Design credits include The Lost Boys, The Queen of Versailles, The Great Gatsby, The Last Five Years, Floyd Collins, Purple Rain, JOY, Saturday Church, and more. As a Music Director, Harrison has worked across the country, including serving as music director for the U.S. National Tour of Shrek the Musical. You can see more of Harrison's work on his Instagram: @harrisonrothmusic

Dan Pardo is a NYCbased music director, pianist, arranger, and educator. He made his Broadway debut in 2015 with Amazing Grace at the Nederlander and has worked offBroadway at St. Clement's, the York, MCC, Lucille Lortel, New Ohio, and St. Luke's. Workshop highlights include Come from Away at NAMT and Found at the Atlantic Theatre Company. Some regional favorites are Company (starring Aaron Tveit) at Barrington Stage, Fun Home at the Weston Playhouse, How to Succeed at the 5th Avenue Theatre, and The Fantasticks at the Cape Playhouse. Dan recently conducted the acclaimed production of Little Shop of Horrors at the Ogunquit Playhouse, starring RuPaul's Drag Race star Latrice Royale. He was on staff for three years at Goodspeed Musicals; also, John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch and Documentary Now! Presents Coop: Original Cast Recording, for Netflix. In between theatrical projects, he teaches at Harlem School of the Arts, entertains at the top NYC piano bars, and has a weekly residency at the Edison Hotel in Times Square with his wife, Chrissy. In the world of Cabaret, he helmed three acclaimed shows last year, Still Going Strong: 60 Years of Hello Dolly! with Richard Skipper, What A Man! Goldie Dver Sings Anthony Newley, and Nina & Sarah & Aretha & Alex with Alex DeSuze. Dan and Chrissy also recently sold out their duo debut at Chelsea Table and Stage, Dreams Don't Come True in Pennsylvania.

Ken Kruper is a NY based performer, composer, and music director. Most recently, he was a performer at the dueling pianos bar JellyRolls on the Walt Disney World Boardwalk. He has written music and lyrics for musicals that have been featured in the NYC Fringe Festival and the New York Musical Festival and has music directed shows for theaters and universities throughout the NY area.

If there was an award for the longest commute to play piano at DTM Happy Hour, Eden Casteel might win it; she lives in southern Rhode Island but loves to come in and play! When Eden hosts Happy Hour, expect her to play your favorites, make up songs on the spot, and lead the cheers as singers stroll by on the way to perform in the back rooms. Her cabaret show “Kahn Artist: Madeline And Me,” directed by Tony Award winner Faith Prince, has been seen all over the USA, including 11 shows at DTM (so far). A popular, reliably hilarious dueling pianist in New England, Eden is a regular piano bar player and open mic host in Boston, Provincetown, Providence, and even online. She’s also a recovering opera singer. edencasteel.com @edencasteelmusic

Patrick DeGennaro is a multiaward winning singer/songwriter here in NYC. He has headlined at The Green Room 42, Birdland and The Iridium and has been named outstanding vocalist by MAC, Bistro, and Nightlife Awards. Known for his classic Rock & Roll sound Patrick’s music can be heard on all major platforms and his videos can be seen on YouTube. www.patrickdegennaro.com

Danny K Bernstein is an awardwinning composer, lyricist, book writer, piano bar goofball and crossword puzzle constructor. His works include the musicals Far From Canterbury and Wings (book, Music, Lyrics) as well as Jungle Jim: A Musical Wildlife Adventure (music, Lyrics). 2020 Ebb Award finalist, 2019 Kleban Award Finalist for Bookwriting, 2019 and 2017 Jonathan Larson Grant Finalist, and 2015 FringeNYC Best Musical. Creator of ’The Playbill,’ a musical theaterthemed yearlong crossword puzzle suite consisting of a standard meta puzzle and a cryptic meta puzzle every month follow on crossbars.org/dannykbernstein and on IG: @dannykbersntein for more! He’s an Aries, with a Libra Rising with an “always down to sing early 2000s throwbacks at 2 AM” moon.