KAREN MORROW'S SINGERS' WORKSHOP
2025-06-08 18:00 - 22:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Sun., June 8. (Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 8 p.m.): KAREN MORROW’s SINGERS’ WORKSHOP. Karen Morrow, Broadway, TV, and cabaret personality, brings her Singers’ Workshop students, “An eclectic, loving group with many a twinkle in its eye” to share their talents, personalities and songs, with musical direction provided by Greg Schreiner. This season’s participants are Dave Ritchie, Vince McCord, Anne Heger, Diane Jubelier-Light, Kenn Schmidt, Jeannie Hudak, Judi Freed, Daniel McVey, Robert Loitman, Tom Nobles, Maris Clement, Stevie Stern, and Inga Neilsen.

The GARDENIA's OPEN MIKE, with KERI KELSEY, Host
2025-06-10 19:00 - 23:30, 2025-06-17 19:00 - 23:30, 2025-06-24 19:00 - 23:30 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Tuesdays, June 3, 10, 17, & 24. The Gardenia’s OPEN MIKE, with Keri Kelsey, host. Starting at 8:30 p.m., Keri Kelsey hosts a Singers’ Open Mike Night—the best in town, now in its twenty-fifth year. Sign-up, libations, and noshing begin at 7 p.m.

CAROLYN HENNESY
2025-06-20 19:00 - 23:30 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Fri., June 20. CAROLYN HENNESY. After spending last summer exercising her creative theatrical muscles in “The Berkshires and beyond,” Ms. Hennesy has returned to The Gardenia to continue to exercise her musical muscles. The “deliciously vicious” “Penelope Ellis” on the ABC series, Revenge; “Rosalyn” on True Blood; “Diane Miller” on General Hospital (“17 years and counting;”) and “Mrs. Valentine” on Dawson’s Creek, the Emmy-Award-Winning Ms. Hennesy received training at the American Conservatory Theater and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She is also seen on the “big screen” in Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker; Legally Blonde 2; and Terminator 3. She has been a member of The Groundlings, and received the L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Award for “Best Actress in a Play” for her role as Maria Callas in Terrence McNally’s Master Class, presented at the Garry Marshall Theatre. She has received multiple additional awards for her stage work, and has hosted the red-carpet reception for the Daytime Emmy Awards. She has also met success as a writer, having created the popular Pandora children’s book series and the N.Y. Times Bestseller, The Secret Life of Damian Spinelli. Adding to her list of creative accomplishments, she has been exploring her musical side at The Gardenia, with a display of “vocal chops,” well-chosen material that changes with each outing, and performance presentation so compelling, (with pitch-perfect tonality and a belt worthy of Broadway,) that the cognoscenti have taken notice. (To experience Broadway-caliber talent in a living-room-like venue such as The Gardenia is nothing short of thrilling. It’s no wonder that the cognoscenti have taken notice.)

DONN MOLZAHN
2025-06-21 19:00 - 22:30 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Sat., June 21. DONN MOLZAHN, in “Songs My Mother Taught Me…and More.” A stand-out at The Gardenia’s Open Mikes, Mr. Molzahn’s nearly 70 years of voice performance started with solo and choral work as a church musician and choir director and a Bachelor of Music degree, collecting many roles in plays, musicals, and operas along the way. While still in high school he recorded and toured with the Young Americans, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show and Kraft Music Hall Specials. His career has been in education, during which he drew heavily upon his music and performance skills. His show reflects upon moments from his musical life, and features material from The Great American Songbook and Big Bands to the genres of Classical and Musical Comedy, as well as a glancing look at the Sacred repertoire. Musical director is Bob Remstein, with Dori Amarilio and Nate Lite supplementing on guitar and bass; with guests Keri Kelsey, Elliot Zwiebach, and Judy Barrat.

The GARDENIA's OPEN MIKE, with KERI KELSEY, Host
2025-07-01 19:00 - 23:30, 2025-07-08 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-15 19:00 - 23:30, 2025-07-29 19:00 - 23:30 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Tuesdays, July 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29. The Gardenia’s OPEN MIKE, with Keri Kelsey, host. Starting at 8:30 p.m., Keri Kelsey hosts a Singers’ Open Mike Night—the best in town, celebrating its 25th Anniversary in July. For those for whom Gardenia history may be of interest: the first Gardenia Open Mike was conducted by MaryJo Mundy and the late Clifford Bell on July 11, 2000. Clifford Bell’s involvement soon fell by the wayside. In 2008, Keri Kelsey and MaryJo Mundy were co-hosts, and Keri Kelsey assumed solo hosting duties in 2009. There have been no other hosts. Sign-up, libations, and noshing begin at 7 p.m.

GUMBO CABARET
2025-07-17 19:00 - 23:00, 2025-07-18 19:00 - 23:00 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Thu., & Fri., July 17 & 18. GUMBO CABARET. “Cross Pollination” benefits all, resulting in “healthy” populations…and in-breeding leads to stagnation or worse.
In May, a coterie of Gardenian Angelenos were treated to an exceptional show brought from “Away,”—in this case, New Orleans—in the form of “Gumbo Cabaret,” comprised of Kelly Dixson, Rebeca Leigh, and Harry Mayronne, who weaved traditional and New Orleans jazz together with the Great American Songbook and contemporary pop to bring a taste of The Big Easy” to Los Angeles. Included in their offerings was “The Oldest Profession,” (Cy Coleman and Ira Gasman, from The Life,—rarely heard in L.A.,) sung by Kelly Dixson with a power and intention that would have made Lillias White proud. Coupled with an appearance by a Tennessee Williams marionette, their show introduced fresh and worthy material generally overlooked by the L.A. cabaret scene. This group deserves national recognition and underscores the idea that exceptional talent can be found in the most insular of places…“exposure” is the key to discovering it…this immediate repeat booking allows the joy of discovery to be brought to a wider audience.

MON DAVID
2025-07-19 19:00 - 23:00 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Sat., July 19. MON DAVID. Winner of the 2006 London International Jazz Competition, Mr. David’s spectacular vocal prowess has been recognized by JazzTimes Magazine’s Christopher Loudon, who said, “Every once in a rare while a singer arrives clear out of the blue and knocks you out. Such a revelation is Mon David.” Don Heckman of the International Review of Music has marveled at “a remarkable voice able to leap octaves in a single bound combined with a world class scat singing style,” and jazz critic Roger Crane has written, ”Like Mark Murphy, whose singing he at times resembles, David can swing you into bad health and then turn around and break your heart with a ballad.” Among several multi-award-winning albums to his credit, Coming True (Freeham Records) was voted one of the Top 10 jazz vocal CD’s of 2009 by JazzTimes. “…a smooth vocal quality reminiscent of Tony Bennett without a rasp, [David] has a penchant for playing with vocal sounds a la Bobby McFerrin and the ability to scat and sing in his native Tagalog.”—Marcia Hillman, All About Jazz, New York. “…a vocal technique that is ingenious, swinging, daring in places; cool in others.”—Brick Wahl, LA Weekly. And this from Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene: “A major jazz vocalist who can sing any type of music with credibility, creativity, heartfelt emotions, and wit.” But perhaps the most effective, albeit understated, endorsement comes from our own discriminating Tom Culver, who turned to us, and nodding in Mr. David’s direction, stated simply, “You know…that guy’s really good.”

The GARDENIA's OPEN MIKE, with KERI KELSEY, Host
2025-07-22 19:00 - 23:30 | CA

ANAïS ST. JOHN
2025-07-31 19:00 - 23:00 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Thu., July 31. ANAïS ST. JOHN. Holding a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of New Orleans, Ms. St. John follows in the footsteps of her father, alto saxophonist Marion Brown, by singing jazz and headlining hotels in New Orleans. Her cabaret shows have won “Big Easy Awards” in New Orleans for “best cabaret,” and she performs every Saturday night at the Bombay Club in the heart of the French Quarter. She again joins pianist/marionettist Harry Mayronne, with whom she created “Lulu White—Queen of Storyville” and “Josephine Baker: From Creole Goddess to Siren of the Resistance.” Their weekly livestreamed “Porch Fests” have received a Proclamation from the New Orleans City Council. This show completes the not-to-be-missed Gardenia July visitation from the best of New Orleans cabaret.

The GARDENIA'S OPEN MIKE, with KERI KELSEY,Host
2025-08-05 19:00 - 23:30 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Tuesdays, Aug. 5, 12, 19, & 26. The Gardenia’s OPEN MIKE, with Keri Kelsey, host. Starting at 8:30 p.m., Keri Kelsey hosts a Singers’ Open Mike Night—the best in town, now in its 26th year. Sign-up, libations, and noshing begin at 7 p.m.

DOLORES SCOZZESI
2025-08-10 18:00 - 22:00 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Sun., Aug. 10. Doors open for dinner at 6p. Show is at 8p. DOLORES SCOZZESI.
Making her start “years ago, when Budd Friedman’s Improv sprinkled singers between its comedy acts,” Ms. Scozzesi studied with The Groundlings and with J.D. Lewis and Aaron Speiser. As “an actress who sings,” she was cast in Paul Horner’s award-winning musical revue, Suddenly This Summer, for which critics described her as “an arresting presence, smokily dramatic…a blend of intelligence and passion.” Piers Ford, in reviewing her CD, Jazz is a Special Taste, enthused, “It’s the voice that grabs you to begin with. A rich contralto with edge, snapping from molten serenity to a predatory growl in a single phrase, and a timbre that makes you want to place your hands on the speakers just so you can capture something of its individuality. She switches easily between the ominous and the edgy.” In addition to A Special Taste, her second CD, Here Comes the Sun, has also received widespread airplay. Her photo has graced the cover of The Los Angeles Jazz Scene, she received the Jazz Living Legend Award in 2017, and she received the Jexxa Award in 2021 for her contributions to Jazz. She is very proud of the two singles she released more recently: “Flor de Lis,” (“Upside Down,”); and Raye/dePaul’s “You Don’t Know What Love Is.”
Ms. Scozzesi has become one of the most compelling voices in the local jazz/cabaret scene. Her contralto has a unique timbre that demands that attention be paid, and she fearlessly chooses the most interesting material to share.

The GARDENIA'S OPEN MIKE, with KERI KELSEY, Host
2025-08-12 19:00 - 23:30, 2025-08-19 19:00 - 23:30, 2025-08-26 19:00 - 23:30 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States

NIC CHAMBERLAIN
2025-08-23 19:00 - 23:00 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Sat., Aug. 23. NIC CHAMBERLAIN. Although he lived in Southern Utah his entire life, Mr. Chamberlain has performed all around the U.S. and Canada for over a decade, and moved to Southern California in June, 2018. In 2016 he recorded a debut album of original material, playing all of the instrumentals as well as singing all of the vocals. He describes his songs as “Roots music,” “equal parts rock and old country.” Known for his expertise with guitar, mandolin, and banjo, and even a “punishing force behind the drum kit,” he is perhaps most remembered for his “high and lonesome” vocals. His Gardenia debut a few years ago turned heads and gave notice that a major talent was emerging, armed with original material not only lyrically compelling and melodically and harmonically interesting—but also commercially “accessible,”—a creative combination rare to find wrapped up in a single individual. Even his style is rare for, albeit perfect for, The Gardenia, with moments recalling Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Dylan, and even John Denver, but infused with a rock sensibility suitable for this millennium.

JASON GRAAE
2025-08-29 19:00 - 23:00, 2025-08-30 19:00 - 23:00 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Fri. & Sat., Aug. 29 & 30. JASON GRAAE. A Broadway veteran (A Grand Night for Singing; Falsettos; Stardust; Snoopy; and Do Black Patent leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?) Mr. Graae also has Off-Broadway credits, including the original cast of Forever Plaid; Olympus on My Mind; All in the Timing; and Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, for which he received a Drama Desk nomination for “Best Actor in a Musical.” Having originated the role of Houdini in the L.A. production of Ragtime at the Shubert, he went on to win an Ovation Award for Forbidden Broadway Y2KLA. He played “Benny” in Guys and Dolls and “Marcellus” in The Music Man at the Hollywood Bowl. He was a guest soloist twice for the Boston Pops, for 5 ½ years he was the voice of “Lucky, the Leprechaun” for Lucky Charms Cereal, and he has recorded over 65 CD’s. The New York Times had this to say: “Nowadays, probably no other performer could infuse [that song] with the manic mischief that Jason Graae, a frisky clown with a real tenor, pumped into it….” And from the Oakland Tribune: “I laughed so hard I choked on my 2-drink minimum!”

The GARDENIA's OPEN MIKE, with KERI KELSEY, host
2025-09-02 19:00 - 23:30, 2025-09-09 19:00 - 23:30, 2025-09-16 19:00 - 23:30, 2025-09-23 19:00 - 23:30 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Tuesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30. The Gardenia’s OPEN MIKE, with Keri Kelsey, host. Starting at 8:30 p.m., Keri Kelsey hosts a Singers’ Open Mike Night—the best in town, now in its 26th year. Sign-up, libations, and noshing begin at 7 p.m.

ANDREA MARCOVICCI and MAUDE MAGGART
2025-09-07 18:00 - 22:00 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Sun., Sept. 7, at 8 p.m. (Door opens and dinner service begins at 6 p.m.) ANDREA MARCOVICCI and MAUDE MAGGART return for the final season of their monthly Gardenia “residency” following their “summer off,” with “Movie Magic,” their tribute to “music in the movies,” guaranteed to “pluck the magic twanger” of cinephiles of all ages.
Frequently introduced as “the Queen of Cabaret,” (and parenthetically retiring from singing soon,) Ms. Marcovicci transformed the “cabaret genre” in the ‘80’s, has created over 35 solo nightclub acts at The Gardenia, and holds the record—an unprecedented 25 seasons—at the celebrated Oak Room of The Algonquin Hotel—as well as the distinction of being the Oak Room’s final performer there before its closing. She has combined forces with Maude Maggart, considered by many to be Marcovicci’s heir apparent, who can boast her own cabaret beginnings at The Gardenia a half generation later. Our favorite endorsement of Ms. Maggart comes from Jim Bruce: “If you have not yet heard Maude Maggart sing, I envy you the moment of discovery because there is nothing quite like the very first time you realize what a talent she is. Then again there is also nothing quite like every single time after.”
The shows they share at The Gardenia are becoming legendary, and the time to “catch them” is now.

TOM CULVER
2025-09-20 19:00 - 23:00 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Sat., Sept. 20. TOM CULVER. Catching the discriminating ear of the incomparable chanteuse par excellence Marilyn Maye at a Gardenia Master Class a few years back, Ms. Maye made of Mr. Culver a “special project,” taking his already finely honed talent for delivering lyrics, melody, tonality, and rhythm to even greater heights, such that his own shows have become veritable Master Classes themselves in how to present the genius of popular music of the last century, bringing these elements together to create the yet-to-be-surpassed Great American Songbook. As an added bonus, Mr. Culver has authored They Did It With Their Clothes On, a first-hand peek behind the curtain at the wardrobe/costuming trade supporting the Hollywood entertainment industry during its most fascinating era. This is how it was done.

MIHO
2025-09-27 19:00 - 23:00 | The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90046, United States
Sat., Sept. 27. MIHO. Born and raised in Yokohama, Japan, Mihoko Kido, of Korean ancestry, dreamt as a child to become a Broadway singer/dancer, but fealty to the desires of her parents led her to a career on Wall Street for 20 years…then to a drastic career change as an oncology RN. In 2016 she joined Howlett Smith’s jazz vocal workshop and reclaimed her passion.
A standout at The Gardenia’s Tuesday Open Mikes, Miho made her solo show debut at the Gardenia in 2019, and we are very pleased to host this return engagement.
