Alan Cancelino: News

Hey! Check us out in Montreal October 15-20 at Sky Cabaret on St Catherine Street.

and so begins a new season of theatrical endeavors..
First in the list-
"What's The Point?!" is going to be playing in Montreal October 16-20th as part of the 2008 International Theater Festival!

My cabaret "What's the Point?" opened tonight at the Know Theatre in Cincinnati Ohio!

"What's the Point?!"... has been licensed by the KNOW Theatre in Cincinnati Ohio to play for 16 performances.

The regional debut is scheduled for July 18th.

"What's the Point?!" has just been booked for 6 weeks starting September 4th at the Reprise Room in NYC.

We've taken out a couple of songs and are putting in 5 NEW Hot numbers!

Just found out that "What's the Point?!" will be playing in the Montreal International Theatre Festival...aka "The Harvest" festival in Montreal. October 18-21

ok... so I'm playing catch up on here... aside from doing rewrites for What's the Point?!- I have been busy writing a new musical... "Flake Of Snow" with Mark Garcia. It's a beautiful piece and pretty much sung through and is keeping me busy.

Fresh, fast, fun and funny, a modern version of the intimate topical musical reviews that lit up New York’s nightlife in grander days, What’s the Point? is a must-be-there destination for cabaret-goers. Cancelino’s music served the amusing lyrics, in a range of appropriate styles—the sprightly “That’s Why We Love The Zoo” could have been lifted straight from a 1950s variety show, complete with charming choreography executed by Coris and Garrigan; “E.Harmony-Dot-Com” sported humorous Fred Waring harmonies; and the Latin-inflected “Telenovela” hit exactly the right note.

Jennie Litt Cabaret Exchange



Fresh, fast, fun and funny, a modern version of the intimate topical musical reviews that lit up New York’s nightlife in grander days, What’s the Point? is a must-be-there destination for cabaret-goers.



Peter Haas Cabaret Scenes



The right music married to funny lyrics is crucial. It can’t be just serviceable or upstage or work against the timing of the jokes, and composer Alan Cancelino gets it, providing appealing melodies and can pour out pastiche when called for. The styles of music are varied, with musical comedy razzamatazz, bounce, crispness, and a bit of that knowingly works against type-- the words are caustic and complaining and the music stay country corn with a plaintive twang.


Rob Lester Theaterscene.net



Hector Coris and Alan Cancelino give the ailing form of "topical musical revue" a shot in the arm with their new show "What's the Point? .

Duncan Pflaster BroadwayWorld.com


Collette Black directed briskly, and if she’s the one who thought of a physical joke during a love song to a flight attendant, she’s got a good eye. That song, by the way, has a memorable melody, which doesn’t happen often in revues. But composer Alan Cancelino shows, like Franklin Shepard, he’s ready to ink (and Inc.) himself a Broadway show contract.


Peter Filichia Theatermania.com

Well, the cabaret show I wrote music for is ending its 7 week run. It was a totally positive and fun experience and Hecot (lyricist) and I are currently writing new material to bring it back bigger and stronger this summer or fall!

I'm back from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand... and the holidays.. reheasing and scoring like mad for my cabaret "What's the Point" opening Feb 18 at Dillion's reprise room.

Last night we had our first group rehearsal for the cabaret. Hector Coris, Patrick Garrigan and Eadie Scott will be performing in it and based on what I've heard so far... it should be a smashing success!

What started as a long weekend, turned into a week, and then a week and a half.. I must admit, It was hard to leave Ptown even after all that... The weather was beautiful, we had a great place on the water... and it was totally therapeutic to just relax and live a real life outside of our filthy, hectic, overcrowded, overpriced city we call home. It's no wonder so many writers took refuge there over the decades.
We went to a couple of great Halloween parties with last minute costumes supplied by the local marine supply store. On our way home, we stopped by my family's place where they had a Birthday dinner for me that was great and are now back in NYC to celebrate Halloween and my Birthday...again!

I'm pretty caught up on my work so it looks like we're taking a long weekend in Ptown. Besides the great fall weather and Lobster! it will do my hand some good to " take a break".

That's what my physical therapist has suggested... well at least until my hand gets better... But how does a composer and piainst work without their hands? And without a huge budget to hire someone to play as I dictate?

well.. the fun part is over... for a little while anyway.. I love writing new songs...really love it... love it so much that alot of times I will hear a melody the first time I read a lyric... through other sittings with my new melody, I develop harmonies and struture and tinker with it until... whammo! a new song... well like I said, that part is done, which means it's now time for the part I hate... writing out the music.. fortunately I work in Finale so it makes it a little less taxing.. but since I enter the music in real time, and with my hand still not working properly.. it really sux... so if I'm grumpy for the next month or so.. you'll know why.

and not writing, well I Iied. I have been writing.
About 19 new songs for my cabaret, that is now planned to Feb 18, 2008! Keep an eye out for demos soon to be released in cyberworld.

too few parts... Last night we had auditions by invite for our cabaret "What's the point?" Even though we selected who we would like to audition, it was a hard choice because everyone did a great job. New York is filled with such great young talent, it's really unfortunated there are always so few parts to offer.

my newest piece. Les Minoques.

A new solo piano piece that builds into a four section composition based on a single theme that repeats and overlays in a quantitative intervals. Take a listen... it's in my music section.

Summer is ending and that means its time to get back to writing. Actually, I've spent the summer refamiliarizing myself with my classical side. And playing... well at least until the accident.. but enough about that..

A week ago-I was struck by a car while crossing in a crosswalk. I know.. it sux... especially 'cause I got hit on the side and my hand is fucked up. It happened so quickly, I didn't realize how hard I had been hit til I woken up black and blue, with pain and unable to move my hand. I have been seeing doctors and therapists... all hoping for the best.