Sunday, August 10

Meanwhile, back in hot, smelly civilization, publishing salaries are perhaps still “plateauing,” as evidenced by Random House editor Rakesh Satyal, who we have learned moonlights as a cabaret singer. “Cabaret is intrinsically New York, and publishing is a very New York experience, so when you put them together, it’s a well-matched pair,” Mr. Satyal said. “You think there’s such a wide chasm between you and the people who do it for a living, but New York cabaret is so welcoming.” Mr. Satyal used to perform with well-known Harper publisher Jonathan Burnham, but a job change put the kibosh on that: “He’s now my boss—it was coincidental. It wasn’t orchestrated—it would be very bizarre, as amazing as he is.” Mr. Satyal’s oeuvre has included Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” (despite the fact that he is “Indian and slight,” he noted), Fiona Apple and Rufus Wainwright, but tonight he turns his attention to musical theater. “I’m a sucker for the old shows, but there’s going to be songs from the newer musicals, too. You can’t do musical theater cabaret without Les Mis.” “Nor without Xanadu!” says our Big Cheese Editor.

[Rakesh Satyal and Jesse Elder’s Musical Theater Cabaret, Don’t Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, 7 p.m., 212-757-0788]

mbryan@observer.com