Marilyn Maye to Make Guest Appearance in WINTER RHYTHMS Tonight

Urban Stages, in association with producer/director/lyricist and Director of Musical Programming Peter Napolitano, is proud to announce that cabaret legend Marilyn Maye will kick off the Holiday Season for WINTER RHYTHMS 2014 on Thursday, December 4 at 7PM only with a special appearance in Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: The Songs of Hugh Martin, a centennial celebration of the Hollywood and Broadway songwriter best known for Meet Me in St. Louis and Best Foot Forward. Marilyn Maye joins Eric Comstock, Barbara Fasano, Minda Larsen, Marissa Mulder, Sigali, Melissa Ritz, Molly Ryan, Dan Levinson, Deborah Silver, Gabrielle Stravelli and the vocal group Duchess in an evening conceived and hosted by Wall Street Journal columnist Will Friedwald. Musical Director for the evening will be Tedd Firth.

Marilyn Maye is a cultural and musical treasure. Her entire life has been committed to the art of song and performance. After working as a professional singing performer since she was 15 years old, she was "discovered" by Steve Allen during her eleven-year engagement at the Colony in Kansas City. He presented her many times on his national television show. From those appearances came an RCA recording contract. She has appeared 76 times on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson," the record for a singer. Perhaps the simplest Marilyn Maye accolade came after one of her show-stopping appearances on the show, turning to his audience of millions, Johnny Carson said, "And that, young singers, is the way it's done." Her place in popular music history was assured when The Arts Council of The Smithsonian Institution included her RCA recording of, "Too Late Now" to include in their significant album of the 110 Best American Compositions of the Twentieth Century. Ms. Maye has seven albums recorded on the RCA label and 34 singles include the first hit recordings of "Cabaret;"and "Step to the Rear,". She recorded "Step to The Rear" as the national commercial theme for Lincoln Mercury. Her album of great ballads, "The Lamp Is Low", arranged and conducted by Peter Matz, is considered a classic. Her "Take Five" is noted as 'timeless' by jazz reviewers. Stephen Holden wrote in The New York Times "She has more voice and stamina than most singers half her age. Her voice is full and rich and perfectly in tune, and she displays a voluptuous enjoyment of singing. She is a symbol of resilience." Her many symphony concert appearances around the United States include; Philly Pops, Peter Nero conducting, Phoenix Symphony, Doc Severinsen conducting, Florida Philharmonic, Omaha Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Tulsa Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Des Moines Symphony and other orchestras. The Carnegie Hall appearance with the New York Pops honoring Stephen Sondheim was reviewed as follows: "And speaking of star power, it was the lady billed as Special Guest of the evening who brought along the biggest keg of drama dynamite, the performer who got the biggest hand; she was sent out to take a rare second bow. She had the audience at her feet and then on its feet with their standing ovation" In 2013 Ms. Maye made her 2nd appearance at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops Orchestra and received that same standing-ovation reaction when she sang the tribute to the composer, Frank Loesser. Maye recorded the album, "Marilyn Maye Sings All Of Hello, Dolly", with liner notes by composer, Jerry Herman, which is released as a CD. Marilyn's recordings on compact disc include, "Rapport," "The Singing Side of Life," "Maye Sings Ray (Charles)," and "Super Singer." In the Wall Street Journal last year, Will Friedwald wrote, "When going to hear Marilyn Maye, you'll find on one side of the room are the Broadway and cabaret people, who tend to like their singing big and theatrical, with a lot of drama and stage presence. On the other side is the jazz crowd, who want everything hip and cool and understated. Ms. Maye is the only pop-song diva working today who can satisfy both crowds at once." Stephen Holden, New York Times, wrote "As Marilyn Maye threaded her way from the stage through a packed house of cheering admirers at the end of Friday's opening-night performance of 'Mercer, The Maye Way,' I overheard comparisons to Judy Garland's 1961 concert at Carnegie Hall. You can sense a similar electric connection between singer and audience".

Urban Stages is presenting their sixth series of musical evenings, WINTER RHYTHMS 2014, through Sunday, December 14th only, at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue). WINTER RHYTHMS 2014 has been selected as a Critic's Pick by Time Out NY. This award-winning series benefits Urban Stages' acclaimed Outreach Program, which brings over 300 free "arts in education" presentations to libraries and schools throughout the five boroughs.

Tickets are $25 per show (unless otherwise noted). A special $60 package enables you to see any three shows (except opening, closing, and open mic nights; subject to availability, call 212-421-1380). Tickets may be purchased on www.smarttix.com or 212/868-4444. For complete schedule information, visit urbanstages.org.

Other highlights of the twenty show schedule include Tony Award winner Len Cariou, Rita Gardner (The Fantasticks) and 54 Below's Phil Geoffrey Bond in an evening of excerpts from one-person plays and musicals (December 8); New World Waking a song cycle by multi-award-winning composer/lyricist Steve Schalchlin (The Last Session) (December 6); Furthermore: Excerpts from New Musicals by award-winning songwriters including Beth Falcone (Wanda's World) and Sara Wordsworth (In Transit) (December 7); Barry's Jazz Jam featuring the acclaimed Barry Levitt Trio with guest vocalists including Hilary Kole and Michele Bautier (December 10); Broadway by Guitar featuring arrangements of classic and contemporary show tunes by celebrated jazz guitarist/recording artist Sean Harkness with special guests including Karen Akers, Karen Oberlin and Janice Hall (December 11); an evening of MAC Award-winning songs hosted by lyricist Tom Toce with Julie Gold (December 12); The Lovers, The Dreamers, and Jim, a celebration of the life and works of Jim Henson in honor of the 45th birthday of "Sesame Street" with Adam B. Shapiro (HBO's The Normal Heart), Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Avenue Q) and more (December 13).

Winter Rhythms will close on December 14th with From All of Us To All of You: Seasonal Songs and Disney, Too! This has become the traditional holiday closing concert and a favorite of audiences, mixing holiday standards with songs from Disney movies. Drama Desk Award winner Jim Brochu will host this year's version, featuring Clint Holmes, Stacy Sullivan, Janice Hall, David Vernon, Sue Matsuki, Edd Clark, Mary Lahti, Helena Grenot, Joanna Morton Gary, Nick Levin, Gretchen Reinhagen, Lennie Watts, Doreen Montalvo and more, with Matthew Martin Ward as Musical Director: ($40, includes Gala Closing Champagne Reception with the Artists).

Photo by Walter McBride