Mary Testa and Michael Starobin Perform Clasically Speaking At Laurie Beechman 9/20

Two-time Tony Award nominee Mary Testa will perform her latest one-woman show, "Classically Speaking," at the Laurie Beechman Theatre (407 West 42nd St.) with two-time Tony winner Michael Starobin on piano, two nights only. September 20 at 7:00pm and 27 at 9:30pm. There is a $25 cover charge, with a $15 food/beverage minimum.

Ms. Testa characterizes the evening as "all about life philosophy and the classics: Shakespeare, Chekhov, and classics of all kinds." The evening will feature new music, with familiar tunes peppered throughout. She will include songs by William Finn, Michael-John Lachuisa, Annie Lennox, and more.

Mary Testa made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Barnum in 1980. Since then, she has sung the works of some of Broadway's most noted composers, including Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Kander and Ebb. She received Tony nominations for her roles in revivals of On the Town and 42nd Street, four Drama Desk Award nominations, and an Obie Award. She was recently seen on Broadway in the latest revival of Guys and Dolls, as well as the hit musical Xanadu. Not only has Mary Testa been a star of the stage, she has been in television and film. Some TV/Film credits include: Nurse Jackie, Eat Pray Love, Electric Company","Bounty Hunter","Four Single Fathers", "Life on Mars", "Cashmere Mafia", "Waterfront," "Whoopi," "Cosby," "Sex and the City," "Linc's," "Witness to the Mob," "Law & Order," "City Kids," and numerous others.

She will be joined by noted orchestrator, arranger and musical director Michael Starobin. Mr. Starobin has orchestrated for films such as Nine, A Christmas Carol, In and Out, Once Upon A Mattress, Pocahontas, Goofy Movie, South Pacific, Cinderella, and several more. Mr. Starobin has won two Tony Awards, one for his orchestrations of Sondheim's Assassins, and another for the Pulitzer Prize-winning hit Next to Normal, now in its second year on Broadway. He is an astounding eight-time Drama Desk Award nominee, having won in 1984 for his orchestrations of Stephen Sondheim's Pulitzer-winning Sunday in the Park with George, and is currently working on orchestrations for the world premiere of William Finn and James Lapine's Little Miss Sunshine at La Jolla Playhouse.

"Classically Speaking" will play at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd St., on September 20 at 7pm and 27th at 9:30 pm. Tickets are $25 with a $15 food//beverage minimum (full menu available). For reservations, please call The Beechman at 212.695.6909.
www.beechmantheatre.com

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi