Darius De Haas at 'The After Party' Tonight

The Laurie Beechman Theatre, located within The West Bank Café (407 West 42nd St.), is pleased to continue our Friday night soiree, "The After Party." Now going strong it's second year, "The After Party" is billed as "a weekly schmoozefest for the theatrically inclined." Every Friday from 10:30PM until the wee hours, pros from Broadway and aspiring stars alike belt it out on the stage of The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Join hosts Brandon Cutrell (MAC & Bistro Award winner) and Alysha Umphress (XL Star), Ray Fellman (Captain Louie) at the piano and Lisa Asher (Nightlife Award Winner) for this weekly party in the theatre district. There is no cover charge for this event. Come and sing yourself as the mic is always open, or sit back and enjoy a cocktail with friends. Located just blocks from the Great White Way, you never know who might drop in.  

Friday, December 7, "The After Party" welcomes Obie Award-winner Darius de Haas, who will perform a few numbers as only he can. 

Darius de Haas has appeared in the Broadway productions of Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Carousel, Rent, The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm, Marie Christine, Hair and Dreamgirls (the 20th Anniversary performance for the Actors Fund).  His Off-Broadway credits include the title role in Music-Theater Group's Running Man, for which he won the Obie award, Saturn Returns (Public Theater), and Gregory in The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (Playwrights Horizons).  Darius has performed regionally and internationally in Children of Eden (Cain/Japheth, Papermill Playhouse), Cry The Beloved Country (Absalom, Goodman Theater, dir. by Frank Galati), Once On This Island (Daniel, 1st National Tour) and I Was Looking At The Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky (David, dir. by Peter Sellars).  His film work includes the features Anastasia, Malcolm X, Martin and Orloff, and Chicago (soundtrack).  TV appearances include "Fire at Keaton's Bar & Grill" (BBC), "My Favorite Broadway – The Love Songs," and "Only Heaven."  Darius has been a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall (Cincinnati Pops w/ Erich Kunzel), London's Royal Festival Hall, Lincoln Center, National Symphony Orchestra and Buffalo Philharmonic w/ Marvin Hamlisch, Orchestra of St. Lukes, The New York Festival of Song, Disney Concert Hall (w/ The Los Angeles Master Chorale) and with The Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV).  He was a special guest and opening act for Vanessa Williams on her recent tour around the country as well as in Egypt and Japan.  For Lincoln Center's American Songbook Series, Darius created two widely acclaimed solo concerts celebrating the music of composer Billy Strayhorn and Stevie Wonder.  He is featured on several recordings including his award winning solo debut CD, Darius de Haas: Day Dream, Variations on Strayhorn is on PS Classics.  Darius will perform his show, "Wonder: The Songs of Stevie Wonder" on Monday, December 10, at New York's Birdland.  Please visit his website, www.dariusdehaas.com.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located downstairs, within The West Bank Café, 407 West 42nd St. at 9th Avenue.   There is a full bar and bar menu available, and reservations are not necessary for this event. "The After Party" highly recommends audience members arrive early.  Seating is first come, first serve.  Priority seating may be given to those who wish to order from the menu and/or the bar.

Photo: Darius de Haas