Ann Hampton Calloway & More Set for Richmond CenterStage's 2015-16 U.S. TRUST Life is a Cabaret Series

Richmond CenterStage today announced the return of its acclaimed U.S. TRUST Life is a Cabaret Series: A Celebration of the American Songbook for its fifth season.

This exciting series will begin on Friday, October 16 with soul musician Brian Owens and The Deacons of Soul in Richmond CenterStage's Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse. For each intimate performance, patrons will be seated at cabaret tables where they'll enjoy food and beverage service while enjoying some of the best the jazz and Broadway world has to offer right in the heart of Downtown Richmond.

This season's schedule will include performances on Friday and Saturday evenings.

"All of us at Richmond CenterStage are excited to present this series of performances in our Downtown Complex for a fifth season," said Kathy Strawn, Chair of Richmond CenterStage's Board of Directors. "The U.S. TRUST Life is a Cabaret Series offers world-class entertainment right here in Downtown Richmond. We are delighted to welcome this year's eclectic lineup to our venues and share these unique performance experiences with our audience."

Season subscriptions for this series are available by calling 804.592.3400, and single tickets are available at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849), online at richmondcenterstage.com or at any Richmond CenterStage Box Office.

The lineup for the 2015-16 season includes:

BRIAN OWENS

Brian Owens and The Deacons of Soul

Friday, October 16, 2015, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 17, 2015, 7:30 p.m.

Performance in Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse

Brian Owens and The Deacons of Soul experience invites audiences to partake in a show combining the original, the beloved and lesser-known to deliver an event that simultaneously honors the past and attends to the present and future. Owens and The Deacons of Soul perform original selections from his growing catalog with a mix of soulful favorites by predecessors including Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers. Brian Owens and The Deacons of Soul performance is about "preservation; it's a matter of upholding the tradition of true soul music that is so desperately needed in our culture today."

CONNIE CHAMPAGNE

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas: An Evening with Connie Champagne as Judy Garland

Friday, December 11, 2015, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 12, 2015, 7:30 p.m.

Performance in Rhythm Hall

What's Christmas without Judy Garland? Banish the Bah-Humbug and get yourself into the holiday spirit with an evening of holiday cheer the Garland way with Connie Champagne! Champagne is an award-winning actress whose performances as Judy Garland have wowed audiences from coast-to-coast. Renowned for her uncanny ability to conjure up the sound and spirit of Garland, Champagne sings carols and classics made famous by the stage and screen icon, along with some of the unexpected and often wacky gems Champagne's famed for creating. New York Times critic Neil Genzlinger described Champagne's performance as Judy "a subtle masterpiece of parody and homage." Don't miss this holiday favorite!

GEORGIA ROGERS FARMER

Lies My Martini Told Me

Friday, February 12, 2016, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 13, 2016, 7:30 p.m.

Performance in Rhythm Hall

Join local cabaret artist and domestic goddess, Georgia Rogers Farmer as she celebrates love! The evening of songs and stories with Georgia is funny, poignant and pleasantly unexpected. Her cabarets include an eclectic mix of songs - ranging from standards, to Broadway, to popular music. This will be a fun-filled evening that you won't forget!

ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY

Diva Power

Friday, April 8, 2016, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 9, 2016, 8:00 p.m.

Performance in Rhythm Hall

Ann Hampton Callaway presents a soaring celebration of the legendary ladies who helped shape the soundtrack of our lives - Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Anita O'Day, Edith Piaf, Etta James, Carole King and Joni Mitchell. In this rare intimate setting, Callaway's one woman show takes a personal look at the iconic women who were trailblazers in music and whose careers, voices and songs helped to shape Callaway's artistry. Selections include Over the Rainbow, People, How High the Moon, Tenderly, La Vie En Rose, The Folks Who Live On the Hill, and A Case of You.

** All Cabaret Artists Subject to Change