Marilyn Maye and More Set for Johnny Mercer Celebration at O'Neill Center's Cabaret Conference, 8/3

That great incubator for cabaret and musical theater, The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Cabaret & Performance Conference will present a very special evening in tribute to one of America's greatest and most prolific songwriters. Johnny Mercer, "AC-CENT-TCHU-ATE THE POSITIVE", A Johnny Mercer Celebration on Friday, August 3 at 8:00 PM at the O'Neill Center's Dina Merrill Theater.

O'Neill Cabaret & Performance Artistic Director the award winning Michael Bush who just directed to critical acclaim the new musical Himself and Nora at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in July will helm this tribute to one of America's most recognized songwriters.

Singing such unforgettable Mercer tunes as "Moon River", "That Old Black Magic", "Accentuate the Positive" and 25 more Mercer classics will be a company that includes cabaret and musical theater legends and dazzling newcomers. – the timeless Marilyn Maye, one of Andrew Lloyd Weber's great leading ladies, Loni Ackerman, the brilliant singer /songwriter Amanda McBroom, Tony and Drama desk winner Penny Fuller, Tony Award Nominee John Herrera, Jeremiah James and singer –composer-librettist Jonathan Brielle whose new musical Himself and Nora recentlydebuted at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in July to great acclaim and reunites with Michael Bush.

Rounding out the company are Susan Winter, Juniors, Jay Rogers, Brittney Hamilton,Leanne Borghesi and Gretchen Reinhagen. Providing accompaniment for the singers are Tedd Firth, Brad Simmons, Steve Watkins, Louis Tucci, Paul Greenwood, Don Rebic, Beth Falcone and David Gaines.

Admission: $40; $35 (members) Please call the O'Neill Box Office at 860-443-1238 or visit www.theoneill.org for reservations. The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center is located at 305 Great Neck Road, Waterford, Conn.

The Cabaret & Performance Conference (CPC) was re-established in 2005 after a six year hiatus as a dynamic opportunity for performers to work on new projects with the guidance of an accomplished team of professional directors, music directors, and guest artists. The Conference reexamines, redefines and revitalizes the Cabaret art form for the 21st century using a definition of cabaret as "any kind of live performance in an intimate space that breaks the fourth wall." During its intense two-week period, this conference provides hands-on artistic guidance and instruction to a select group of participants chosen by application and invitation, as well as the development of special "Cabaret Theater" projects featuring some of the top names in theatre today.

The O'Neill provides professional faculty (led by Artistic Director Michael Bush, Associate Artistic Director Joel Silberman, and Artistic Associates Penny Fuller, Barry Kleinbort, and Donna Trinkoff) and the resources to support the creation of new cabaret/theater performance pieces. The conference offers its artists individualized attention and the opportunity to interact with other artists who are developing new work, establishing support and camaraderie between participants, guest artists, and faculty.

The Fellows program is a select group of individuals who are provided with an intense course of study under the direction of Barry Kleinbort and Penny Fuller and the support of 4 musical directors. With two classes daily, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, the Fellows prepare for three public performances during the conference, but are also encouraged to experiment and sing nightly at the conference's open mic sessions. Click on the link above to apply for the Cabaret Fellows Program.

Over the last six summers, the Conference has presented over 60 performances including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Ronnie Spector, Grammy Award winner Marcus Hummon, country recording artist Sherrie Austin, and Broadway favorites such as Leslie Uggams, Gregg Edelman, Tony Roberts, Penny Fuller, Gertha Boston, Rita Gardner, Amanda Green, Deven May, Andre DeShields, SuzzAnne Douglas, etc. The Conference has also developed intimate musicals including [title of show] and The Story of My Life, both of which were produced on Broadway.