Bright Lights, Big City with Wilson, Martin, Scott and More Released April 2005

January 13, 2005…On the 20th Anniversary year of Jay McInerney's novel "Bright Lights, Big City," Sh-K-Boom Records has announced that they will release on CD Paul Scott Goodman's rock-and-roll opera "Bright Lights, Big City" starring Patrick Wilson, Jesse L. Martin, Sherie Rene Scott and other stars of stage and screen in April 2005.

Bright Lights, Big City originally premiered at The New York Theatre Workshop in 1998. Having appeared as an actor in an early workshop of the show and with great love of the music and the story, Kurt Deutsch, President of Sh-K-Boom Records, contacted Paul Scott Goodman about reworking the show for a concert version of the musical at The Guggenheim Museum as part of their Works and Process program last year. They took this opportunity to rework the essence of what the musical was by grounding the story, adding music, new orchestrations, and cutting characters and songs. As a result the concert was an overwhelming success in its new incarnation when it premiered at the Guggenheim.

"Bright Lights is a powerfully revealing expose of the times and tensions of a poignant time in our history," said Deutsch, President of Sh-K-Boom Records. "It was a time where the boundaries of madness and enlightenment were often blurred by the fast and loose pace of the 80's. This story has remained a modern classic read by millions. Its humanity is just as relevant today as it was 20 years ago and Paul's musical truthfully captures the voices, era, and the soul that is Bright Lights, Big City."

Paul Scott Goodman says, "I read BLBC in the summer of '96.The immediate connection I felt with the novel was obviously tied in with my own arrival in NYC from Scotland in '84 coupled with my intimate experience of toilet stalls, narcotics and getting fired. Beyond that however, the story dealt with love and loss and seemed to me intensely human."

Once in the studio they were able to further refine the album and story. Neither Paul nor Kurt ever had anyone else in mind to portray the lead role of Jamie, than the person who originated it, Broadway and film star, Patrick Wilson ("Phantom of the Opera" and Emmy and Golden Globe nominee for "Angels In America" Broadway's THE FULL MONTY, OKLAHOMA – and was in the original NYTW performance of "Bright Lights Big City").

"Bright Lights" remains one of the closest shows to my heart, says Patrick Wilson. "I was surrounded by incredible people in both the original production and in the recording. Everyone can relate to the character of Jamie...grappling with his past, scared of his future, destroying the present. But it's a hopeful ending, and one that can finally be listened to on demand!"

With Patrick set, the rest of the cast fell into place. Jesse L Martin ("Law and Order" and the original cast and film of RENT) plays Tad, Sherie Rene Scott (the upcoming DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, AIDA and co-founder of Sh-K-Boom Records) is Vickie and Sharon Leal (ABC'S "Boston Public") plays Amanda. Rounding out the cast are Christine Ebersole (Tony award winner 42nd STREET), Gavin Creel (Tony nominee THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES), Eden Espinosa (BROOKLYN), Celia Keenan Bolger (LITTLE FISH and 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and Anne Marie Milazzo (original cast of "Bright Lights").

Sk-K-Boom Records is excited about the future theatrical possibilities. Currently, productions are being discussed worldwide, as well as plans for a movie musical. "Bright Lights, Big City" will be released in stores in early April, 2005 and exclusively on it's own website beginning March 1, 2005 at www.sh-k-boom.com.

About Sh-K-Boom

Sh-K-Boom Records has emerged as a preeminent independent record label that is changing the way society views the Broadway and Pop music scene. Since its inception in 2000, Sh-K-Boom has successfully built up a repertoire of artists who have the freedom to experiment with other forms of music, create albums from their heart, and provide an environment where creativity and artistic integrity thrive. Its President, Kurt Deutsch has received critical acclaim and notice for his ability to give artists the freedom to develop their own music and be successful at it by selling records. From doing soundtracks, concert albums, to traditional CD releases of original music, the label has been championed for its efforts in profiles that appeared in USA Today, to the NY Times, Billboard, Los Angeles Times and more. In 2004 Sh-K-Boom garnered its first Grammy nomination for its involvement with the "Great Joy" Christmas CD with the Broadway Inspirational Voices. The label represents such artists as: Adam Pascal, Sherie Rene Scott, Alice Ripley, Broadway Inspirational Voices, the cast recordings of Amour, The Last Five years, Debbie Does Dallas…In 2004 Sh-K-Boom launched a new division called Ghostlight Records for more traditional vocalists and musical theatre cast recordings. In 2004 Ghostlight released Finian's Rainbow, The New Moon and a solo by Christine Ebersole and Billy Stritch. Sh-K-Boom' s upcoming releases include the "Bright Lights Big City," the Actors Fund of America concert version of "Hair," Billy Porter "At the corner of Broadway and Soul"….Sh-K-Boom records is based in New York City and for more information on the label please visit www.sh-k-boom.com.