Williamson, Douglas and Fuller Take Cabaret Shows to Birdland in Nov.

Birdland will present, direct from the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center's Cabaret and Performance Conference under the new artistic leadership of Michael Bush (Director of Artistic Production for Manhattan Theatre Club), Ruth Williamson, Suzzanne Douglas and Penny Fuller in their brand-new cabaret theatre evenings--all of which will be held this November.

The three shows were developed and premiered this past summer at the esteemed Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, CT, where they played to standing-room-only audiences. 

 

On Tuesday, November 1, 2005, stage and screen actress Ruth Williamson (La Cage aux Folles, The Music Man, Epic Proportions) will headline Pure Heaven: The Music of Kay Thompson, recreating the music performed by the acclaimed vocal arranger from MGM's Golden Age, including numbers from her famous '50s nightclub act with the Williams Brothers.

Pure Heaven: The Music of Kay Thompson is directed by Michael Bush, with musical direction by Olivier nominee Dana P. Rowe and musical supervision by Joel Silberman. Cabaret Conference artist Brent Winborn will offer a special guest performance.

 

On Tuesday, November 15, 2005, Suzzanne Douglas, award-winning actress of stage, screen and television (How Stella Got Her Groove Back, "Promised Land," Cinderella at Paper Mill, upcoming Hallelujah, Baby revival), will headline Lucky to Be Me, a celebration of the music of jazz great Abbey Lincoln (Sydney Poitier's co-star in For Love of Ivy), and the inspiration she had on shaping Douglas's identity as a performer.

 

Lucky to Be Me is directed by Ted Sod and musical direction by Dr. Guy Ramsey. Cabaret Conference artist Jim Speake will offer a special guest performance.

 

On Tuesday, November 22, 2005, Emmy Award-winner and Tony-nominee Penny Fuller (Neil Simon's The Dinner Party, A New Brain, Applause, "The Elephant Man") will make a rare appearance in the world of cabaret to perform an evening of both theatre songs and popular music.

 

An Evening with Penny Fuller is directed by Barry Kleinbort with musical direction by David Gaines. Cabaret Conference artist Nancy Lee Bach will offer a special guest performance.

 

The Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center's 2005 Cabaret and Performance Conference Highlights Series is produced by Michael Bush and Alexander Fraser.

 

All performances begin at 7 p.m. at Birdland (315 West 44th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). Tickets are $25 plus a $10 food/drink minimum. For reservations, please call 212-581-3080 or visit www.instantseats.com/birdland.  For more information, visit www.birdlandjazz.com.