The Ziegfeld Society Presents SOPHIE TUCKER: IN PERSON

The Ziegfeld Society of New York City presents Cheryl Ann Allen in Sophie Tucker: IN PERSON. The much acclaimed one woman show was written, orchestrated and directed by Ian Finkel, and features Joel Martin on piano. The event will take place at Lang Recital Hall, Hunter College (69th Street between Park and Lexington Avenue), at 3:30pm on Saturday, November 12th.

 

Sophie Tucker: IN PERSON is an original musical comedy-drama that uses the songs that she made famous, including "Some of These Days", "They'll Be Some Changes Made," "After You've Gone", "My Yiddishe Momma" and others, combined with personal anecdotes to tell the story of the beloved entertainer who gained fame as "The Last of the Red Hot Mamas". Sophie Tucker was a Jewish immigrant who rose from her humble beginnings to featured billing in Vaudeville, starring on Broadway, a series of MGM films in the 1930s and 1940s, and international fame on television and nightclub stages throughout the world. In a career that spanned the first half of the 20th Century, Sophie Tucker challenged stereotypes of age, size and gender and one historian has labeled her "a feminist of pop culture." She was also the inspiration for Bette Midler's iconic character, Sophie.

Cheryl Ann Allen has been immersed in show business her entire life. She has toured the world, sharing nightclub and concert stages in the United States and Europe with such stars as Jackie Mason and Rodney Dangerfield, and her vocal talents can be heard on numerous recordings. Currently Ms. Allen is also touring in her autobiographical show I'm a New Yorker. Sharing the stage, as Sophie Tucker's longtime accompanist and confidante, TEd Shapiro, is award-winning pianist, composer and arranger Joel Martin. MR. Martin has performed his innovative Jazzical compositions [a combination of classical music and jazz], around the world, and this past year toured as pianist/collaborator with Grammy Award winning opera singer Kathleen Battle, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jaimoe of the Allman Brothers. On November 13th he will join Ms. Battle in an historic return concert at The Metropolitan Opera. He is currently producing Jazzical Rocks!, the 8th CD recording in his Jazzical series, featuring the Jazzical Symphony Orchestra.

Writer, orchestrator and director Ian Finkel is regarded as The World's Greatest Xylophone Virtuoso. He has appeared with and written for such stars as Ginger Rogers, Tito Puente, Larry Gatlin, Martin Mull, and Madeline Kahn. The son of late stage and television star Fyvush Finkel, he has collaborated with Philip Glass and has heard his works performed by numerous orchestras such as the American Symphony Orchestra and the Little Orchestra Society. Mr. Finkel has performed in and written for films including the Oscar nominated Rainbow Wars, Love Laffs, Woody Allen's Radio Days, stage shows including Michael Feinstein on Broadway, Sid Caesar Show at the Village Vanguard and on Broadway, Second Avenue to Broadway, Fyvush Finkel Live, Read-a-thon with the Sesame Street Players. His recordings include the Grammy Award winning Songs from the Neighborhood, It's Up To All Of Us, Sophie Tucker In Person, and television shows such as Nick at Nite Music of Vic Mizzy (Adams Family, Green Acres). He is also the author of the novels Three Is The Charm, Sex Stories My Wife Told Me, Transmutation Blues and Vaudeville 1922.

Coming up next, The Ziegfeld Society will present as its first annual gala fundraiser an original musical, Ziegfeld Follies of the Air: The 1934 Live from Broadway Broadcast Revue, written and directed by Associate Artistic Director and Tony nominee Walter Willison (Grand Hotel, Pippin, Two By Two), with musical direction and arrangements by TZS Executive Producer and Co-Founder Mark York (Jim Dale's onstage sidekick and accompanist in Just Jim Dale, and musical coordinator for the legendary Broadway songwriter Jerry Herman), featuring an all-star cast of Broadway favorites, at The Cutting Room on December 18TH. The Ziegfeld Society's eight season continues with Call On Dolly: A Brief History of Dolly Gallagher Levi on Stage and Screen, hosted by Richard Skipper, on February 25th.

All proceeds benefit The Ziegfeld Society of New York City, a not-for-profit organization that aspires to enlighten, entertain and educate current and future generations of theatergoers and young artists about the legendary performers, songwriters and creators of our vast musical theater heritage. The Ziegfeld Society's monthly performances feature Broadway stalwarts performing alongside young up-and-coming artists. as well as presentations by authors and screenings of lost film and television musicals.

Tickets are $23.00 for general admission, $15.00 for seniors, and $10.00 for students and can be purchase on line at theziegfeldsociety.com or by calling 917-371-5509. All contributions are tax deductible. For more information visit theziegfeldsociety.com.