Brad Ellis, Eli Brueggemann & More Set for CABARABIA at LA's NoHo Arts Center, 8/5

By: Jul. 27, 2012
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Producer Clifford Bell (www.Cabarabia.com) brings an eclectic collection of the best of the best working in the Cabaret Scene-Brad Ellis of 'Glee' and 'The Glee Project', recent Emmy nominee for his work on Jason Segel's Muppets Song on 'Saturday Night Live', Eli Brueggemann, the newest musical director, composer and arranger on 'SNL' (www.elibmusic.com), Joanne Tatham, direct from 'Feinstein's At Loews Regency' in New York, with a preview of her new show 'CINEMA NYC: Music From Movies Made In Manhattan' (www.joannetatham.com), Kid Hollywood, a hot new up and coming band generating a lot of buzz (www.kidhollywood.net), and a special appearance by singer-songwriter Sarah White (soundcloud.com/sarah_white), on Sunday, August 5 at 8 p.m.

Click HERE for tickets.

Brad Ellis, long regarded as one of the most respected and sought after composers, arrangers and musical directors in the Broadway community, is currently enjoying a newfound fame as the on-camera pianist on the hit television series Glee. Following a particularly eventful three day period, MR. Ellis and the cast of Glee performed on Oprah, at The White House for the Obamas, and broke ratings records with 'The Madonna Episode.' In addition to his continuing role on Glee, MR. Ellis can be seen coaching in the 'Special Features' of the DVD Release of Disney's animated Beauty and the Beast. Long before Glee, MR. Ellis was renowned for his clever and instantly recognizable arrangements for such shows as Forbidden Broadway, Forbidden Hollywood, Whoop-Dee-Doo, and the Christmas edition of Forever Plaid known as 'Plaid Tidings.' He has arranged and orchestrated for the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Philadelphia Symphony and the CD Unexpected Dreams - Songs from The Stars, featuring members of the LA Phil to benefit Music Cares, which supports music programs in the LA schools. In concert, and on CD, MR. Ellis has worked with Billy Joel, Angela Lansbury, Kristin Chenoweth, Scarlett Johansson, Patti LuPone, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Ariana Grande, and Jeremy Irons, to name but a few.

ELI BRUEGGEMAN, the newest Musical Director/Composer of 'Saturday Night Live', has just received his first Emmy nomination for writing, with Seth Meyers and John Mulaney on Jason Segel and the Muppets' opening number 'I Can't Believe I'm Hosting SNL'. The formerly Los Angeles based Mr. Brueggemann, has long been a force in the diverse music scene for his stage and recording work with Matthew Morrison, Men At Work frontman Colin Hay, Latin-Funk legend, Mandrill, jazz trombonist George Bohannon, and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, a tribute to his versatility and skill.

JOANNE TATHAM is a favorite of audiences from her native New York to her adopted home in Los Angeles. Following the release of her acclaimed debut CD 'Making Light', Ms. Tatham has appeared frequently in top LA clubs like Catalina's, Vibrato, The Baked Potato and The Cinegrill; at the Annenberg Theater and as a regular guest with the Desert Cities Jazz Band in Palm Springs; and in New York she has appeared at The Town Hall, The Duplex, The Triad, and Feinstein's at Loews Regency.

Equally at home in the worlds of Jazz and the Great American Songbook, Ms. Tatham has appeared in several of the prestigious Mabel Mercer Foundation Cabaret Conventions. Ms. Tatham is currently at work on a second album with legendary pianist/arranger/producer Clarence McDonald, whose work with the artists Bill Withers, Ray Charles, James Taylor, Hall & Oates and others has resulted in some of the most iconic recordings of our times.
The Washington Post has hailed her 'exceptionally beautiful voice... reminiscent of the pop balladeers of the late '50's and early '60's, but with a fine-drawn intensity and shimmering vibrato that are all her own'; while Penthouse Magazine has urged: 'If you get a chance to see Joanne Tatham perform live, get moving! She's something you won't want to miss.'

CLIFFORD BELL, known affectionately as 'Lawrence of Cabarabia', is one of the leading producer/directors in the fields of Cabaret, Concerts, and One Person Shows. As a thirty year veteran of the Los Angeles nightclub scene, Clifford has been most identified in the past with the legendary Cinegrill at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and currently at the popular MBar in Hollywood, and the prestigious Catalina Jazz Club.

Aside from his work in Los Angeles and New York, Clifford has collaborated on concert tours with several acclaimed artists, most recently Katey Sagal and Peter Gallagher. Clifford also co-created the successful touring show 'Direct From Broadway' starring Tony Award Winners Debbie Gravitte ('Jerome Robbins' Broadway') and Michael Maguire ('Les Miserables'), with his frequent collaborator Lara Teeter ('On Your Toes').

In venues large and small, Clifford has written and directed variety performances featuring icons like Bill Cosby, Colin Powell, and Michael Eisner at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, or long running plays like 'Shattered Secrets', Libbe S. HaLevy's powerful look at the lives of survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

In addition to producing, directing, and booking live performances, Clifford has also produced several popular cabaret CDs including Betsy Ann Faiella's breakthrough 'Can I Be Frank?', Lee Lessack's eponymous debut CD, and Eileen Barnett's 'Live At The Cinegrill'. Recently the Senior Vice President of Artists & Repertoire for the prestigious Broadway oriented label Fynsworth Alley, Clifford is most proud of discovering young Judy Butterfield, the seventeen year old San Francisco sensation and producing her debut CD 'Judy Sings Judy: Live From The Empire Plush Room' and her first studio recorded CD 'How Long Has This Been Going On?'

Aside from the nightclub scene, Clifford has directed several one person shows in theatrical settings. Beth Lapides, (of 'UnCabaret' fame) looked ahead to the end of the Mayan Calendar in '100% Happy 88% Of The Time'. Joan Hotchkis celebrated aging and sexuality in the long running 'Elements of Flesh: Or Screwing Saved My Ass'. Deborah Pearl brought to life an array of interconnected female vocalists in the smash hit 'Chick Singers'. Comedian, phone psychic and '976-STUD', Paul Jacek shared intimate memories in the critically acclaimed 'Secrets Of A Beverly Hills Shampoo Boy'. Juliette Marshall's hilarious and touching 'Shift Happens:A (Piece Of) Work In Progress', has just completed a series of performances throughout Southern California at The Odyssey Ensemble Theatre, Edgemar Center Of The Arts, Highways Performance Space, and The Santa Monica Playhouse.

Always seeking new ways to discover, develop and present new talent, Clifford has created the popular showcases 'The Cabarabia Spotlight', 'In With The New: An Evening Of Up And Coming Singer/Songwriters', 'Mundy On Tuesdays', the venerable open mic at Tom Rolla's Gardenia, 'The Alley Sessions', a series of private performances being filmed for documentary release, and, as of February 2012, Open Mic Mondays at The MBar in Hollywood.

Clifford recently began a new program called 'AP Cabarabia' which is a performance workshop designed for teens.

 

 



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