Upright Cabaret Presents THE TROUBADOURS 1/27

Chris Isaacson has announced the performers for UPRIGHT CABARET's AMERICAN ICON SERIES' second show of their 3rd Season, THE TROUBADOURS, starring American Idol's Jackie Tohn, Matt Wolpe (The Buddy Holly Story) Yvette Cason (Dreamgirls, Play On!, Stormy Weather) and Jake Simpson (Star Search Grand Champion, Arena: Born to Rock, Oprah favorite) celebrating the music of Bob Dylan, Carole King and James Taylor! Expect to hear favorites like Blowin' In The Wind, Times They Are A'Changin', Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, Natural Woman, Fire and Rain, You've Got A Friend, and more! Led by Musical Director Gerald Sternbach with the Upright Cabaret band, this highly acclaimed series is now performing at four venues: in Hollywood at the Catalina Jazz Club, in Palm Springs at the Annenberg Theater, at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and Thousand Oaks Scheer Forum Theatre!

L.A.'s Upright Cabaret showcases the "next generation" with this NEW series entitled the "American Icon Series"! Now in its third smash year, these evenings feature stars from American Idol to Broadway singing the #1 hits of our American Music Icons including Diana Ross, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Carole King and more.

Upright Cabaret boasts one of the most extensive and diverse rosters of talent in the country with alumni including Frenchie Davis ("The Voice"), Adam Lambert ("American Idol"), Lea Michele ("Glee"), Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother"), Tony Award® winner Lea Salonga, Grammy® winners Paula Cole and Taylor Dayne plus cast members from over 75 Broadway productions including Wicked, Rent, Jersey Boys and Spamalot.

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS FOR "THE TROUBADOURS"

Jackie Tohn is a New York native and guitar/ukulele-toting singer/songwriter, who has shared the stage with the likes of Grammy Award-winner Jason Mraz and Katy Perry, Sara Bareilles, Ryan Cabrera and many more. In the Top 24 of American Idol - Season 8, Ryan Seacrest dubbed Jackie "Miss Personality" and she was given the honor of opening the entire season. Her vocals, eclectic outfits and fanny-packs left a memorable impression on America, as well as, the judges.

Most recently, Jackie joined the cast of Bravo's TV's "Platinum Hit" where producers showcased emerging singer-songwriters on their quest to become the next big hit-makers. The show was hosted by Grammy Award-winner Jewel and former American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi. All three of Jackie's albums including "The Golden Girl EP" (2005), "Beguiling"(2008), and "Jackie Tohn 2.YO" (2010) have received critical acclaim and are currently available on iTunes.

Matt Wolpe was born in New York but moved to Los Angeles when he was four years old. Growing up in Hollywood, he attended high school at the prestigious Hamilton Academy of Music playing drums in the jazz band and then focusing his talents on acting while performing in many of the school's acclaimed musical productions. He attended both The Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music for Musical Theatre and Songwriting respectively.

After college Matt has had much success as an actor and a songwriter. Aside from being the Bumble Bee Tuna Spokesman for 3 years Matt has done spots for Wendy's and McDonald's. In the theatre community he has performed all over the country in numerous regional productions from Jack in "Into The Woods" at Sacramento's Music Circus to Freddy in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" at The Noho Arts Center. He has also performed at The Kirk Douglas, The Ensemble Theatre, and La Mirada Center for the Performing Arts. You can see him as Guy in the hit web series "Every Other Wednesday" in which he also penned the theme song and original music.

While Matt isn't acting he is writing songs and playing music all around the country. He has written and recorded with such notable artists as Kyle Patrick of the Click Five, Andrew Dixon (Colbie Caillat) and Dustin "Copper" Jensen (Ava Brown Band).He has been seen everywhere from the famous House Of Blues on the Sunset Strip to The Hard Rock Cafe in Boston and everywhere in between. Matt's songs are available on ITUNES and his new Album 4th Fret was just released. Please visit MattWolpe.com for news, concerts, and more info.

Yvette Cason Broadway: Play On!, Dreamgirls. Pasadena Playhouse: The Little Foxes, Stormy Weather, Ray Charles: Live, Play On! (Ovation Award), Sisterella (Naacp Theatre Award). Regional Theatre: Smokey Joe's Café (La Mirada Theatre), Into The Woods (Clo of The South Bay Cities), Ain't Misbehavin (Clo of The South Bay Cities), And The World Goes 'Round (Sacramento Music Circus), St. Louis Woman (Center Theatre- N.Y.), Thunder Knocking On The Door (San Jose Rep.) , Stevie Wants To Play The Blues (Williamstown Theatre Festival). Television: Hanna Montana, Notes From The Underbelly, ER, Alias, Boston Public, Judging Amy, The Parkers, The District, King Of Queens. Film: Dreamgirls (With Beyonce Knowles & Jamie Foxx). Education: Berklee College Of Music, Boston Massachusetts.

Jake Simpson twice (2003 and 2004) won the top honors in the Adult Singer category on CBS-TV's "Star Search" with his powerful high tenor voice and three-octave range. Growing up in Crocker, Missouri, making music has been one of the most important driving forces in Jake's life. His sound has been influenced by Stevie Wonder, Steve Perry, Donny Hathaway, and the classic style of Sam Cooke.

One of the highlights of Jake's life was when he was invited to perform on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." The show, which first aired on June 8, 2004, was one of Oprah's favorites, as she surprised Jake by bringing out his idol, the legendary Stevie Wonder, to duet with Jake on Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely."

The surprise thrilled Oprah so much that she included it on her 20th anniversary DVD box-set. In 2006, Jake produced and recorded an all new CD, the holiday themed "Star of Wonder." To bring his holiday music to the masses, Jake then went on to a holiday tour with pianist, Jim Brickman. Critics raved about Jake's "blue-eyed soul" and his "Amen"-inducing rendition of "O Come All Ye Faithful." Since then, Jake has gone on to write, produce, and record a brand new album of his very own! The CD prophetically entitled "My Song" has garnered positive reviews and is gaining radio airplay throughout the U.S. and Europe.

In 2008, Jake recorded vocals with American Idol Finalist David Archuleta for Archuleta's new album. Jake also recorded various tracks with Grammy Award-winning Songwriter Desmond Child for Grammy Award-nominee Adam Lambert's debut album. Recently, Simpson starred in the new show Arena: Born to Rock which features the all-star hits of arena rock bands like Journey, Foreigner, Van Halen and more. He will headline a multi-city tour in Fall 2012. His albums are available on iTunes and CD Baby.

ABOUT Chris Isaacson AND THE "UPRIGHT CABARET" SERIES

Kicking off their 3rd Season, UPRIGHT CABARET, the pre-eminent Los Angeles hot spot for the next generation of world-class entertainers, brings its unique brand of cabaret entertainment to La Mirada, Thousand Oaks, Palm Springs and Hollywood!

This "young impresario" has created, produced and promoted over 450 events since forming his company in 2004.

From small clubs to major theatres, Isaacson has produced some of the most influential stars of his generation including Adam Lambert (American Idol), Lea Michele (Glee, Spring Awakening), Neil Patrick Harris (CBS's How I Met Your Mother & ABC's Doogie Howser, M.D.), Grammy Award-nominee Natasha Bedingfield, 3x Grammy Nominee Taylor Dayne, Grammy-winner Paula Cole and more.

Isaacson is also creator/founder of LA's renowned Upright Cabaret which has been redefining the cabaret milieu for a new generation of audiences in Los Angeles since 2005. Upright Cabaret seeks to celebrate old style cabaret while simultaneously turning it on its ear, bringing young Broadway and young Hollywood together in a live setting. Isaacson produces concerts and events under the "Upright Cabaret" banner including the successful "American Icon Series" which plays La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and the Annenberg Theatre in Palm Springs, his critically acclaimed concerts "Shoshana Sings Streisand" starring Shoshana Bean, "Stephen Schwartz: Making Good" featuring Wicked creator/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, "Eden Espinosa: Me" starring Eden Espinosa and "New York's Finest: The Leading Men of Broadway" starring Tony Award-winner Levi Kreis, Tony Award-nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, American Idol's Ace Young and David Burnham with NBC's The Voice star Frenchie Davis under the direction of Tony Award-nominee Sam Harris at the Ford Amphitheatre.

This past summer, Isaacson produced Broadway sensation Jennifer Leigh Warren in the new show entitled "Diamonds Are Forever: The Songs of Dame Shirley Bassey" at the Renberg Theatre directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, and presented the West Coast debut of Saturday Night Live star Ana Gasteyer in "Elegant Songs from a Handsome Woman" at Catalina Jazz Club.

Most recently, Isaacson produced the 9th annual Summer Concert Series at The Grove in Los Angeles and The Americana at Brand in Glendale, CA starring guitar phenomenon Orianthi, Grammy Award-winner Richard Marx, NBC's The Voice star Frenchie Davis and Blake Lewis, Country super-group Lonestar, Latin Music Icon Sergio Mendes and the debut of Isaacson's new show entitled "Arena: Born To Rock" starring 2x Star Search Grand Champion Jake Simpson with special guest American Idol finalist Syesha Mercado. His concerts have been featured on Access Hollywood, EXTRA, ABC's On The Red Carpet, KTLA 5 Morning News, the L.A. Times and New York Post. Please visit www.ChrisIsaacsonPresents.com

THE THIRD SEASON'S SHOWS INCLUDE:

THOUSAND OAKS at SCHEER FORUM THEATRE

THE TROUBADOURS • January 27, 2012 • 8:00PM
Music of Bob Dylan, Carole King & James Taylor

RHYTHM IN THE NIGHT • May 5, 2012 • 8:00PM (Cinco de Mayo)
Music of Gloria Estefan, Santana & Ricky Martin

VIVA LAS VEGAS! • June 15, 2012 • 8:00PM
Music of Elvis Presley, Elton John & Cher

Ticket prices for Upright Cabaret's American Icon Series' are:
$29 - $49 with group discounts available.

Tickets to these extraordinary shows are now available by calling the Box Office at 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.