Gay Marshall Brings PIAF: QUEEN OF HEART To Feinstein's 6/5-26

By: May. 19, 2011
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post, will continue its Spring 2011 season with the debut of Billboard "World Music" artist Gay Marshall in June for two concerts. Marshall will perform her critically lauded show - "Piaf: Queen of Heart" - on Sundays, June 5 and June 26 at 8:30 PM. "Piaf: Queen of Heart" is based on Marshall's CD, Gay Marshall Sings Piaf, La Vie l'Amour. Joining Marshall will be Musical Director Tracy Stark on piano, Hiroko Taguchi on violin, Mark Wade on bass, Bill Schimmel on accordion and Jim Pederson on cello.

Marshall's Piaf is a departure from the traditional perception of Piaf as a tragic icon; she interprets the beloved French icon as a versatile powerhouse of heartwarming and heartbreaking emotion, full of personality and humor. Her passionate and unique interpretation, enhanced by her extensive research of the French icon among Piaf's friends and collaborators, has made her a favorite of French ex-pats in New York. Marshall was the subject of an NPR profile on "Weekend Edition" with Francophile host and Peabody Award winning journalist, Scott Simon. "Piaf was so much more than 'the poor thing,'" Marshall told Simon, "she's much more magic than tragic."

Marshall weaves her own English adaptations of known ("L'Accordeoniste" and "La Foule") and rare ("The Lady From Pigalle") material with the original French, creating and experience as evocative for non-French speakers as those who parlez-francais. Her previous engagements of "Piaf: Queen of Heart" have drawn international audiences to their feet every night, and landed her on Time Out New York's "10 Best" Music list. Their critic Adam Feldman called it "A heart-tugging discovery" and "a jewel."

Marshall played DiAna Morales in A Chorus Line on Broadway and created Grizabella in the French production of Cats. She lived and worked mainly in Europe after she married the French photographer, Jean-Louis Blondeau (Man On Wire). Marshall re-captured the attention of New York audiences with her performance in The Zipper Theater's revival of Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris. Charles Isherwood wrote of Marshall in The New York Times, "To hear her sing Brel's despairing "Ne Me Quitte Pas" is to experience Brel's art in its purest and most persuasive form."

"Piaf: Queen of Heart" features original arrangements for quintet by Marshall and Paul Bevan which are a modern take on a classical theme. Of Gay's 2010 performances BistroAwards.com wrote, "Marshall fiercely inhabits every song." Cabaret Scenes described her as "mesmerizing," and wrote, "Gay Marshall amazes at every turn as she embodies the passion, spirit, joy, humor and tragedy of Piaf."

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY will present Gay Marshall and her show "Piaf: Queen of Heart" for two shows only on Sunday, June 5 and Sunday, June 26. All shows have a $30.00 cover, with $50.00 premium seats available, and an additional $25 food and beverage minimum. Jackets are suggested but not required. FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY is located at 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street in New York City. For ticket reservations and club information, please call (212) 339-4095 or visit us online at feinsteinsatloewsregency.com and TicketWeb.com.



Videos