Jeff Harnar

Harnar's family relocated often when he was a child, living in California, Chicago and elsewhere. During this period of his life he was "dreaming and planning for a career in musical comedy".^[1] He transferred from Southern Methodist University to New York University.^[1] Harnar's early hopes of Broadway roles were met with scarce opportunities, so he transitioned to cabaret.^[1]

Harnar has performed for over four decades^[2][3][4] at cabaret venues in New York: the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, Feinstein's 54 Below,^[5] Feinstein's at the Regency,^[6] The Firebird Cafe,^[7] The Ballroom,^[8] The Russian Tea Room,^[9] the Laurie Beechman Theatre, and Birdland;^[10] in Los Angeles and San Francisco: the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel^[11] and the Plush Room at the York Hotel;^[12] and The Pheasantry^[13] in London.

Harnar has collaborated with cabaret, jazz, and musical theatre artists including KT Sullivan,^[14] Liz Callaway,^[15] Nicholas King,^[16] Nicole Zuraitis,^[17]MOIPEI Trio,^[18] Jon Weber,^[19] Sondra Lee,^[20] Clint Holmes,^[21] Sally Mayes,^[22] Gabrielle Stravelli,^[23] Julie Wilson,^[24] and The McGuire Sisters (opening act).^[25]

Directing cabaret, he has worked with Tovah Feldshuh,^[26] Rita Gardner,^[27] Dawn Derow,^[28] Josephine Sanges,^[29] Renee Katz,^[30] Margo Brown,^[31] Judi Mark,^[32] Anna Bergman,^[33] Becca Kidwell,^[34] and Ari Axelrod.^[35]

Reviewer Stephen Holden commented that while Harnar fit the mold of Robert Morse, the dearth of Broadway musical comedy roles led to Harnar's emulating Michael Feinstein instead.^[36] In 1991, Holden observed Harnar's evolution from an overly emotive performance style to a more controlled manner with both comic and lyrical strengths.^[37] When Harnar performed Vincente Minnelli's songs, Holden perceived Harnar's pop baritone as a "hybrid between Larry Kert and Johnny Mathis".^[38] In 2008, Holden added that Harnar and Cole Porter were a "perfect fit", while Harnar's earlier performance of Cy Coleman's songbook showed their stylistic differences.^[39] In Harnar's 2013 show, Holden identified a tone of self-lacerating critique and a style of humor that was "lightly dusted with arsenic", versus Harnar's more chipper manner in decades past.^[40] Holden noted that Harnar's 2014 performance with KT Sullivan subverted gender roles, bending familiar songs to "reflect the era of same-sex marriage, gender fluidity and the dissolution of traditional roles".^[41]

Regarding Harnar's performance of Sammy Cahn's songbook, Liza Minnelli reportedly said “I wish Sammy could have heard this; he would have loved it. I certainly did.”^[42]

Harnar has won MAC Awards (Manhattan Association of Cabarets) for best male vocalist, major male artist, celebrity artist, outstanding revue, major recording, and best director.^{[43][44][45][46][47]} He received Bistro Awards for best newcomer, best male vocalist, outstanding show, outstanding revue, and best director.^[48][49][50]

Harnar has won five BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards as a performer and two as a director.^[51][52] He was awarded the Mabel Mercer Foundation Mabel Mercer Award in 2022,^[53] received the Donald F. Smith Award in 2015,^[54] and received the Noël Coward Cabaret Award in 2012.^[55] He became the National Honoree of the Chicago Cabaret Professionals in 2022.^[56]