Lisa Jason to Bring BULLIED TO BEAUTIFUL to the Met Room

Internationally acclaimed, jazz and cabaret venue The Metropolitan Room welcomes back Lisa Jason in "Bullied to Beautiful." Featuring Ryan Shirar, musical director, arranger and piano, Sean Harnkess, guitar, Peter Sachon, cello, and Mike Lunoe on cajon.

Jason spent her childhood years being relentlessly bullied after moving to a small town in Massachusetts. She found sanctuary in the music of the 1970s, which helped her to escape the world outside.

Ryan Shirar's original arrangements of such hits as "Rainy Days and Mondays," "My Heart Belongs to Me," and "Cats in the Cradle," add the color and texture to Lisa's story as she paints a picture of her, at times, heartbreaking journey, and brings the issue of bullying, which continues to be a major problem around the world, back into the forefront.

Part of the proceeds of this show will go to benefit "NO BULLY" which is a US=based social change organization that trains schools how to activate student empathy to stop bullying and cyberbullying. This show is dedicated to the memory of cabaret icon Dana Lorge.

The concert is set for Saturday, August 27th, 2016 at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street. Show at 7, doors at 6:15 p.m. General admission: $20, plus a 2 drink minimum. Purchase tickets at metropolitanroom.com or call 212-206-0040.

About Ryan Shirar Musical Director/Arranger - Ryan Shirar is a NYC-based music director who works as a pianist, arranger, acting/singing coach, conductor, and producer. As orchestrator, Shirar has collaborated with Sheena Easton, Mickey Thomas (Starship), MercyMe, The Broadway Boys, Broadway Chamber Players, Virginia Opera, American Pops Orchestra. He is principal orchestrator for The American Pops Orchestra and has written for Calgary, San Francisco, New Jersey, Dubuque, Hartford and West Michigan Symphonies. Shirar also serves as music director and orchestrator for singer Maxine Linehan and co-produced, arranged, and performed on her album, Beautiful Songs. In May, Shirar made his international orchestral conducting debut at the prestigious Theatre Du Chatelet (Paris) with Maxine Linehan's show, What Would Petula Do? He tours with Broadway Pops International and performs frequently at Carnegie Hall with Manhattan Concert Productions, 54 Below with numerous Broadway performers, and the Aspen Music Festival as guest artist. He is also music director and orchestrator for The Four Phantoms. Ryan received his Masters in Orchestral Conducting from CCM.