On Saturday March 14, at 8 PM, the Riverdale Y will present a quartet of internationally known jazz performers. Nicki Parrott, jazz bassist and vocalist is making her second appearance at the Y. She will be joined by Derek Smith, the world's most recorded commercial/jazz pianist; Randy Sandke, noted trumpeter, composer and arranger, whom The Wall Street Journal dubbed 'the greatest trumpeter nobody knows'; and Joe Ascione, who has joined the three in concert on his birthday!
Ms. Parrott, who plays regularly with legendary Les Paul at Manhattan's Iridium Club came to New York from her native Australia in 1994 on an Arts Council Grant to study with acclaimed bassist Rufus Reid. She has performed all over the world with jazz greats like Ken Peplowski, Bucky Pizarelli, Skitch Henderson and Warren Vache. She appears at major jazz festivals throughout the US and abroad and is a favorite on the cruise ship circuit. She also plays Klezmer music and appeared at the Riverdale Y last year with noted Klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals as well as touring Europe with David Krakeur.
Randy Sandke has also appeared in clubs and festivals worldwide and is known for his virtuosity. He has recorded over 20 albums with musicians ranging from Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway and Dick Hyman to Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Art Garfunkle and Barbara Carroll. His work has been heard on the soundtracks of many well known films including five Woody Allen pictures. As a composer he has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and his works have been featured at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fischer Hall; more than 50 of his compositions have been recorded.
The Cedar Lake Theater in West Chelsea will come to life on Friday, January 23 with a thrilling evening of dance to benefit Dancers Responding To AIDS (DRA), a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA). Hosted by Tony Award winning choreographer Rob Ashford, this gala event guarantees to be a soul-stirring showcase of the best and brightest from today's varied dance landscape with performances by American Ballet Theatre, Battleworks, Broadway's 'Billy Elliott,' Camille A. Brown, Dresden Ballet, Les Ballet Grandiva, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The program will also feature the world premiere of TITLE by choreographer Chase Brock performed by NYCB principal Tiler Peck.
The Cedar Lake Theater in West Chelsea will come to life on Friday, January 24 with a thrilling evening of dance to benefit Dancers Responding To AIDS (DRA), a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA). Hosted by Tony Award winning choreographer Rob Ashford, this gala event guarantees to be a soul-stirring showcase of the best and brightest from today's varied dance landscape with performances by American Ballet Theatre, Battleworks, Broadway's 'Billy Elliott,' Camille A. Brown, Dresden Ballet, Les Ballet Grandiva, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The program will also feature the world premiere of TITLE by choreographer Chase Brock performed by NYCB principal Tiler Peck.
The York Theater Company presents the Developmental Reading Series
GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK
BOOK BY MELBA THOMAS, MUSIC BY DAVID FRIEDMAN, LYRICS BY MURIEL ROBINSON
Based on the wonderful short story by Grace Paley, set on Manhattan's lower east side during the era of the Yiddish theatre, Goodbye and Good Luck tells the story of Rosie Lieber, whose life is upended and set on a new track when she loses her job in a sweatshop because she wants to sit by a window. Her search for her 'window' leads to a job as cashier at a famous Second Avenue theatre and a livelong involvement with its charismatic and considerably older star. This is the story of an 'ordinary' girl who makes 'extraordinary' choices that lead to a life full of surprises, twists and turns.
Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, is proud to announce the cast of its upcoming world premiere production of Jim Henson's classic holiday favorite Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, adapted for the stage. Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas will run December 7, 2008, through January 4, 2009, at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut.
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 10th Anniversary season with the return of the club's founder Michael Feinstein for an exclusive engagement from December 2 - 30. Musical Director John Oddo will lead a 17-piece band featuring Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, Jim Saporito on drums, and David Finck on bass.
Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, is proud to announce the cast of its upcoming world premiere production of Jim Henson's classic holiday favorite Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, adapted for the stage. Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas will run December 7, 2008, through January 4, 2009, at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut.
Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. announced today that the national tour of the smash hit musical Dreamgirls will premiere at the legendary Apollo Theater (253 West 125 Street) in November 2009, for a limited engagement.
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 10th Anniversary season with the return of the club's founder Michael Feinstein for an exclusive engagement from December 2 ? 30. Musical Director John Oddo will lead a 17-piece band featuring Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, Jim Saporito on drums, and David Finck on bass. This September, Michael sold out a week at the club celebrating his new CD 'The Sinatra Project.' By popular demand, he will bring back the great romantic songs performed by 'Ol' Blue Eyes' and combine them with seasonal classics into the new program 'The Sinatra Holiday Project.' Antonia Bennett, the acclaimed vocalist, will be his special guest for the run. All shows take place at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).
On November 17, 2008 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm NYS Arts will present their fall gala at Manhattan Penthouse, honoring some of the greatest legends of our time.
Four Time Emmy Award winning actress Valerie Harper stars as Tallulah Bankhead in the Pre-Broadway Engagement of Looped , a new comedy by Matthew Lombardo and directed by Rob Ruggiero. The production (direct from its sold out World Premiere at The Pasadena Playhouse) arrives at The Cuillo Centre for the Arts, prior to a Broadway bow in Summer 2009. Tony Award winning actor Jarrod Emick co-stars.
On November 17, 2008 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm NYS Arts will present their fall gala at Manhattan Penthouse, honoring some of the greatest legends of our time.
The Chicago Jazz Orchestra took on a big challenge - honoring the work of the late, great Ella Fitzgerald and they met it with imagination, class, great music and sass. The result was an almost perfect afternoon hearing some of jazz's' great songs interpreted by three of today's most gifted jazz singers - Spider Saloff, Dee Alexander and Frieda Lee.
Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, is proud to announce the cast of its upcoming world premiere production of Jim Henson's classic holiday favorite Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, adapted for the stage. Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas will run December 7, 2008, through January 4, 2009, at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut.
Today, an Equity casting notice was put up for a revival of the musical Dreamgirls. According to the notice, rehearsals will begin September 21, 2009 with performances starting in early November 2009.
LEA DELARIA - the acclaimed singer, actress, comedian and author who is currently guest starring on ABC-TV's 'One Life To Live' - will celebrate hernew CD, The Live Smoke Sessions, with two nights at the Manhattan jazz club Smoke (2751 Broadway, between 105th and 106th Streets) on Monday, September29 and Monday, October 6 at 8:00 PM and 9:30 PM. Please call (212) 864-6662or visit www.smokejazz.com for tickets.
On Sunday, October 19, 2008, Jeff Lindberg's Chicago Jazz Orchestra celebrates its run as Chicago's oldest professional jazz orchestra in continuous operation by presenting its blockbuster concert, Exquisitely for Ella: A Songbook Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, featuring three of Chicago's greatest singers: 'Chicagoan of the Year' Dee Alexander; CJO vocalist Frieda Lee; and cabaret singer Spider Saloff.
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 their 10th Anniversary season with the return engagement of MARY CLEERE HARAN from October 7 - 18. The world premiere of her new show 'Mad For Manhattan' will celebrate Mary's adopted city through songs from the Golden Age of Broadway and Hollywood. All shows are at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).
