This fall the peripatetic Eric Michael Gillett, who is known for being equally at ease behind the scenes as in front of the footlights, will be a whirlwind of activity. Again. The multi-threat singer, director, actor, circus veteran, and teacher gets things rolling with the world premiere of "Widescreen," his new solo show at Feinstein's at the Regency that will be seen in an exclusive two-night engagement Tuesday September 1 and Wednesday September 2, both at 8:30pm.
Starring Gillett and featuring Nina Kaneko, and Kelly McDonald, with Jeff Cubeta on piano and
Matt Wigton on bass, "Widescreen" marries songs from and about the movies that bring to light the silver screen's ability to both deceive and tell the truth. This cinemascopic mixture of fantasy and hard reality with well-known and obscure songs from films and musicals about the movies features the arrangements of
Don Rebic. For reservations call 212/339-4095.
With Rebic as music director, Gillett teams up once again with
Karen Akers, directing the cabaret star's new act at the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel. "Akers Sings Porter," which runs for four-weeks from September 22 to October 19, is Gillett's 3rd collaboration with Akers overall, having directed her last two Oak Room stands, "Simply Styne," and "Move On."
In a string of dates at Feinstein's at the Regency, several other prominent and up-and-coming female artists whom Gillett nurtures as director will play high-profil e one-nighters -
La Tanya Hall on September 14,
Valerie Lemon on October 11 and
Raissa Katona Bennett on October 19.
Also in October -- on the opening night of the
Mabel Mercer's 20th Cabaret Convention, at Rose Hall/Jazz at Lincoln Center on Wednesday October 7 at 6pm -- Gillett will come out from behind the curtain to take a bow when he receives the 2009
Dick Gallagher Award for his many contributions to the cabaret art form, both as a performer and director.
He switches hats once again in November when he reprises "Best of My Love," his well-received cabaret act from earlier this year, at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. When Gillett's warm-hearted and touchingly candid assessment of his own love life returned to The Metropolitan Room for a sold-out run in January, The New York Times aptly pointed out the "vocal kinship to
Johnny Mathis" of Gillett's "lusty pop tenor," while praising his "unstinting personal honesty." "Best of My Love" plays on consecutive nights, Thursday through Saturday, November 19 to 22, all at 7:30pm. For reservations and ticket info, call 360/753-8586. ("Best of My Love" is also scheduled to play at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center - NJPAC -- on March 6, 2010, at 7pm and 9:30pm.)
In acting news, the affable Gillett, who often plays sensitive and sensible character roles on television and the stage (his Broadway credits include "Kiss Me, Kate," "Sweet Smell of Success" and "The Frogs"), shows his range in "The Third Testament," a religious thriller in which he plays a psycho bad guy in a leading role. The film, from Magdaline Pictures, releases in the winter of 2010.
As a unique climax to Gillett's very interesting year, The Big Apple Circus has recently appointed Gillett to direct the 2010/11 edition of the highly acclaimed and ground-breaking one-ring circus experience. Gillett, who was for twelve seasons a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey ringmaster, is looking forward to his big-top return, not only for the opportunity to conceive an eye-popping new show, but also for the chance to assemble a team of designers and artists, many from the
Theatre World, who would bring a fresh perspective to this vint age American art form. The Gillett-directed edition of The Big Apple Circus, premieres at Lincoln Center in October, 2010.
For more information visit
www.ericmichaelgillett.com.
