Gurland, Robbins, Etc. to Perform at the Laurie Beechman

The West Bank Café has announced upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre.  

It was recently announced that The Laurie Beechman Theatre is the recipient of nine 2007 MAC (Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets) Awards. Its nominees include: Lisa Asher (Female Vocalist), Marcus Simeone (Male Vocalist), Jean Brassard (Male Debut), Scott Nevins (Cabaret Comedy), Southern Comfort (Vocal Duo/Group), The Music of Steve Marzullo (Musical Comedy Group), Steven Lutvak (Singer/Songwriter), Phil Geoffrey Bond (Director) and Alysha Umphress (Female Jazz Vocalist). The annual awards will be presented on May 1, 2007.

The line-up follows.  Please note there is a $15 food and/or beverage minimum at each performance, with the exception of The After Party. All major credit cards are accepted.

The After Party
Every Friday from 10:30pm to 2am
No cover, no minimum
"We continue our weekly open-mic schmoozefest for the theatrically inclined, hosted by iron-lunged Brandon Cutrell and Alysha Umphress, with Ray Fellman at the keys and Lisa Asher behind the bar (her pour is as ferocious as her belt). Come hang and belt out a showtune or two. No cover, no minimum."

"An Evening of Short Musicals"
Fridays, April 6, 12, 20
$12 cover
The debut of three short musicals on our stage, all written by students of NYU's Musical Theatre Writing program.

And He Made a Her
Fridays, April 6, 13, 20 at 9pm
Thur, April 26 at 9pm
$15 cover
"Adam isn't at all happy with the turn of events in Doric Wilson's And He Made a Her, a satirical view of humanity's first couple. The comedy opened to great success at the Caffe Cino in 1961, where it, in the words of playwright Robert Patrick, 'helped establish the Cino as a venue for new plays, and materially contributed to the then-emerging concept of off-off Broadway.' And He Made a Her was the first off-off-Broadway play to move Off-Broadway (Cherry Lane, 1962), and to make it onto the regional circuit. It also established Doric Wilson as a 'major new playwriting voice in American theater' (producer Richard Barr, New York Post, 1962)."

"Voices From the Great White Way"
Mondays, April 9, 23, 30 at 7pm
$20 cover
One night only concerts from some of our favorite Broadway divas. The series kicks off on April 9 with Nikki Renee Daniels (Les Miserables), continues on April 23 with Kristy Cates (Wicked) and concludes on April 30 with Farah Alvin (Nine).

"Scott Nevins in Celebutaunt, or Don't You Know Who I Think I Am?"
Wednesday, April 11 at 7pm
Saturday, April 14 at 7pm
$15 cover

"Fresh on the heels of his MAC nomination, Scott Nevins returns to our stage for a reprise of his well-received solo comedy show."

"David Gurland: D-GUR in Concert '07"
Sunday, April 15 at 7pm
$16 cover
"The multi award-winning and out gay vocalist is presenting his most ambitious performance series to date- The DGUR Concert Series: the third Sunday of each month. The fourth performance of this series on April 15th will celebrate the female singer/songwriters of the past three decades, featuring special guests Julie Reyburn, Scott Coulter, Christine Norrup and Musical Director Steven Ray Watkins."

Jeff Martin
Sunday, April 15th at 9:30pm
$5 cover
"The star of Disney's stage version of the smash hit, High School Musical, takes to our stage for a one night only concert of covers mixed with his original tunes."

"Jana Robbins: One Hell of a Ride: The Songs of Cy Coleman"
Wednesday, April 18
$20 cover
"Broadway veteran Jana Robbins celebrates her birthday on our stage with a revamped version of her acclaimed show, 'One Hell of a Ride: The Songs of Cy Coleman.' Directed by Eric Michael Gillette."

"Jackie Draper in Michel, Mandel … and Dave (and other men in my life)"
Sunday, April 22 at 5pm
Friday, April 27 at 7pm
$15 cover
"Launching the celebration of her fifth year of doing shows, Jackie muses (musically) about some of the influential men in her life with a wide variety of songs in English, French and Spanish by Michel (Legrand), (Johnny) Mandel … and Dave (Frishberg) as well as other favorite song-writers (including  Porter, Arlen,  Trenet, Shire, Pizzarelli). She is joined on stage by Jazz musicians Gregory Toroian (Music Director, at piano) and Eivind Opsvik (on bass). Special appearance by guest (hot) Latin dancer Franklin Ayala. Directed by Helen Baldassare."

Yale School of Drama Alumni Performance
Sunday, April 22 at 8pm
$15 cover
"Current Yalies join forces with Yale alums who have made names for themselves on Broadway as composers and performers."

"Moving Forward, Looking Back"
Monday, April 23 at 9:30pm
$11 cover
"An encore presentation of a new musical revue by Michael Mahler, conceived by Michael Mahler & Jessica Redish. To hear songs from the show, please visit: www.myspace.com/m4ward."
 
Mel & El: This Show Rhymes
Thursday, April 26 at 7pm
Friday, April 27 at 9pm
Sunday, April 29 at 7pm
$12 cover
"Mel and El think their show is hilarious. Come judge for yourself as they debut ten original songs, including Nice Jewish Boys, Black is Slimming and Fagnet."

"Aviva: Songs for Carmen"
Sunday, April 29 at 9:30pm
$15 cover
"Audrey 'Aviva' Babcock celebrates the release of her new CD on Global Perspective records. Casting old styles in a new light, Aviva fuses Flamenco, Classical, Electronic and Arabic music, singing in Ladino, a form of Castilian Spanish spoken by the Jewish people of Spain. Songs for Carmen will be the first release from the young opera singer, who has performed at NYC Opera and is the winner of both the George London Award and the Fritz Lavinia Jensen Foundation Award. www.aviva-music.com."

The West Bank Café is located at 407 West 42nd. St., at Ninth Avenue. For reservations, please call 212.695.6909, between the hours of 12pm and 8pm.

Photo of Jana Robbins by Mark Rupp