Doug Williford to Bring THE BEST IS YET TO COME to Metropolitan Room, 1/14

By: Dec. 19, 2013
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Doug Williford splashes onto the New York cabaret scene with his newest show The Best Is Yet To Come at The Metropolitan Room (24 West 22nd Street) January 14, 2014 at 7:00 pm.

A member of the Bistro Award-winning quintet Uptown Express, Mr. Williford has shaped a solo show that brings together jazz, pop and musical theater hits and hidden gems to tell a story of growing up, moving on, finding love, and loving life in New York City. Williford and renowned, award-winning musical director James Followell will present songs by Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, Stephen Sondheim, John Bucchino, William Finn, Matt Alber and more in this personal, fast-paced, funny, and moving show.

Tickets to The Best Is Yet to Come range from $20 to $115 and may be purchased in advance at www.metropolitanroom.com. There is a two-drink minimum.

Doug Williford made his New York cabaret debut 20 years ago with Uptown Express, the Bistro Award-winning quintet, in their show For The Boys featuring Rachel York. A lot has happened in the intervening years. Mr. Williford made a move to South Florida, where he performed in numerous regional Theater Productions, including Wonderful Town, Falsettos, Blood Brothers, Just A Kiss (world premiere), 5 Course Love, Barefoot Boy With Shoes On, Streamers, The Normal Heart, and The Rocky Horror Show. He also mounted two solo cabaret shows--Take Me Back and This Moment--and directed shows for the Miami Gay Men's Chorus. Since returning to NYC, Mr. Williford has been seen off-Broadway in Rosenkrantz and Guidenstern Are Dead. He has also had TV roles in the soaps One Life to Live and As The World Turns, in the HBO film Recount, and was a regular on The Onion News Network's web and IFC network productions. On the big screen, he appeared in The Other Woman. Little known fact: Mr. Williford's hand is featured in the Art of Shaving ad campaign. These days, Doug is happy to be performing again with Uptown Express. Their most recent recent show, I've Got a Feeling played to sold out audiences at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Musical Director and pianist James Followell has worked as a musical director, accompanist and arranger with many Broadway and cabaret luminaries including KT Sullivan, Sharon McNight, Karen Mason, Ann Hampton Callaway, Kristin Chenoweth, Jeff Harnar, Shauna Hicks, Karen Akers, Martin Vidnovic, The Incomparable Hildegarde and Jennifer Sheehan in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Zankel Hall, The Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and most recently at Feinsteins at the Loews Regency,The 2013 Savannah Music Festival and the Carmoor Cabaret, with Ms. Sheehan.

Mr. Followell's theater credits as musical director include the Off-Broadway production of Jerry Herman's Showtune (vocal and piano arrangements) and The Best of Times (featured pianist/vocalist) at the Vaudeville Theatre in London's West End. He also served as musical director/pianist for the Off-Broadway hit, Forever Plaid, and toured with its first national company. He served in these capacities in the Buffalo Studio Arena, Cleveland Playhouse and Jupiter Maltz productions of the sequel, Plaid Tidings, directed by Stuart Ross. He was the conductor/pianist for the international tour of Little Shop of Horrors in Stockholm and Hamburg.

Mr. Followell, who resides in New York City, received the Dick Gallagher Award from the Mabel Mercer Foundation for outstanding work as a cabaret musical accompanist and arranger. He also was the musical director, pianist and arranger for the Street Y's Lyrics &.Lyricist's tribute to Ms. Mercer. James also is the founding musical director and vocal arranger for an all male vocal quintet, Uptown Express, which has been performing for many years.



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