Photo Coverage: LA Upright with Bean, Pettiford 8/25
By: James Sims Aug. 31, 2007
Los Angeles' celebrated Upright Cabaret presented another stellar night of outdoor entertainment at EAT on SUNSET at Gower Studios in Hollywood August 25th with performances from Valarie Pettiford, David Burnham and Shoshana Bean.
After kicking off the show with the Quintet from West Side Story, the Upright audience was greeted a special treat; Lorne Cousin and Steve Sidelnyk of B88, bagpiper and drummer respectively for Madonna's Re-invention Tour. Some of the favorites of the evening included Valarie Pettiford, always stunning, on Sting's "Sister Moon," Ruth Williamson singing "Fifty Percent," about the travails of an extramarital affair, and Tracie Thoms ripping on "Easy," an Audra Mae original with Audra Mae's uncle, Michael Sherwood on the piano. Shoshana Bean threw down some R&B with a performance of Rihanna's Umbrella and then introduced best friend Jenn Gambatese, fresh off her Broadway run as Jane in Tarzan. On hand in the audience were Juilliard alums Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty") and Michael Arden. Arden, out to LA for a visit after wrapping Barbra Streisand's European tour, came to support Bare co-star and current Ozian Jenna Leigh Green as she sang "Still Waiting," from his new musical Easter Rising. Also fresh from their current LA runs, Kristoffer Cusick who is starring as Fiyero and Brandon Louis Matthieus, rushing straight over from Jersey Boys at the Ahmanson. David Burnham, best known as Fabrizio in The Light in the Piazza, came out to promote his recently released album, and James Snyder, starring in the Johnny Depp role in the upcoming Cry Baby, gave us an original from his upcoming album. Another huge treat of the evening - Jennifer Leigh Warren showing up with music and giving us an impromptu performance of "So Blessed," which she created in the original Broadway cast of Big River.
Eric Matthew Ruiz, Talia Thiesfield, Andie Raab, Steve Mazurek, Shane Scheel
Lorne Cousin and Steve Sidelnyk (Madonna's bagpipers)
Shane Scheel and Chris Isaacson
Shoshana Bean with Jason Paige
Danny Hartman, Chris Isaacson, Kristoffer Cusick, Jenna Leigh Green, and Michael Arden
Kristoffer Cusick, Eric Matthew Ruiz, Andie Raab, Talia Thiesfield, Steve Mazurek, and Trapper Felides
(Clockwise) Kristoffer Cusick, Chris Isaacson, Trapper Felides, Jenna Leigh Green, Tracie Thoms, and Jennifer Leigh Warren
Chris Isaacson, Shane Scheel, Jenna Leigh Green, Kristoffer Cusick and Trapper Felides
Eric Matthew Ruiz, Steve Mazurek, Chris Isaacson, Jennifer Leigh Warren, Lorne Cousin, Shane Scheel and Trapper Felides
Brandon Louis Matthieus, Kristoffer Cusick, Eric Matthew Ruiz, Steve Mazurek, Chris Isaacson, and Trapper Felides
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