COOKIE'S CORNER to Welcome Guest Star Shana Farr to the Laurie Beechman, 1/27

Cookie's Corner, an ongoing party celebrating life and new talent, hosted by Cookie Stark, Eric Michael Gillett's newest discovery, will feature special guest star, 2012 Julie Wilson Award Winner Shana Farr.

Directed by Eric Michael Gillett, with musical direction by Jeff Cubeta, the premiere performance is set for Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 3pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42 Street. Reservations: 212.695.6909. Cover charge $20, Food/drink minimum $15. $5 discount to members of MAC, Singers Forum faculty and students, HB Studio members.

At 80 years young, Cookie has entered the business called "show." She is today's hostess with the mostest on the ball! Some people spend a lifetime singing...others wait a lifetime to sing. The latter applies to Cookie, and now she's going at it full throttle.

Myra Chanin of Times Square Chronicles had this to say about Cookie Stark: "Regrets? I have only one. That Cookie wasn't a singing octogenarian between 1956 and 1962 when Steve Allen or Jack Parr would have made her a household word. Watch for Cookie to go viral!"

Shana Farr, winner of the 2012 Julie Wilson Award from the Mabel Mercer Foundation. Out now is her debut album "Out Of The Shadows." Shana is a gifted songstress praised by critics at the Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Backstage, and Cabaret Scenes, among others. www.shanafarr.com

Featuring:

Jodi Beck, actress/singer/songwriter. Already in her young career, she has played Aldonza in "Man of La Mancha," Meg in "Brigdaoon," and leads in both "Bye, Bye Birdie" and "Dames at Sea." www.jodibeck.com

Chris J. Handley has appeared in theater companies in Manhattan and elsewhere, in productions of "The Producers," "Singing in the Rain," "Hello Dolly," "She Loves Me," "The Pajama Game," and more. He has been featured on the web series "Empire" and has produced and written the web comedy "This Just In." Chris recently traveled and performed up and down the MIssissippi River on the American Queen steamboat. www.chrisjhandley.com

Eva Kantor has played roles such as Penny in "Hairspray" and the title role in the national tour of "Anne of Green Gables." In the spring, she will be debuting her first solo show, "The Way I Am," under the direction of Eric Michael Gillett, with musical direction by Don Rebic. www.evakantorsings.com

Lynn Kearney appeared on Broadway as Grace Farrell in the original production of "Annie." Lynn has been featured at LaMama. On television Lynn appeared on "All My Children" and "Edge of Night," In cabaret she has worked with the icons - Jan Wallman, Sidney Myer of Don't Tell Mama's, and Eric Michael Gillett. www.lynnkearney.com

The show has been directed by Eric Michael Gillett, known as an actor, singer, and director. He is also about to open in his own new cabaret adventure at 54 Below entitled "Careless Rhapsody: The Lyrics of Lorenz Hart," beginning February 4, 2013. For more information, please see 54below.com. www.ericmichaelgillett.com

Musical director Jeff Cubeta is a vocalist, songwriter, and pianist. He has musical directed numerous shows for Eric Michael Gillett. Watch for the announcement of a solo show of all his original music. www.jeffcubeta.com

This special variety series will appear every other month with the next performance scheduled for Sunday, March 24 at 3pm. Guest star and performing artists will be announced shortly.