Tedd Firth News

Though Ervin Drake's 'The Friendliest Thing (Two People Can Do),' from his 1964 hit What Makes Sammy Run?, has been called the first song from a Broadway musical to be directly about having sex, Suzanne Carrico employs no vampy winks or purring vocals as she observes with heightened intellectual interest the unnecessity of foreplaying drinks and dances when a couple in lust could simply get right to it.  (Yes, I just made up two words in that sentence.  Deal with it.)  Her new show at The Metropolitan Room, opening less than three weeks afters winning the MAC Award for Outstanding Debut, is named for this suggestive showtune but the self-described geek cleverly treats the song as a subtext to Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields' 'Welcome To Holiday Inn,' sandwiching the cerebral sexuality between slices of broader, comical pass-making.  This is either the smartest show about sex or the sexiest show about smarts in town.In outstanding company both offstage (Mary Cleere Haran is her director) and on (she's got music director/arranger Tedd Firth on piano and Steve Doyle on bass), Carrico has the kind of sunny, uncomplicated voice that can fill Harold Arlen and Leo Brown's 'Hooray For Love' with perky glee, matched with the kind of acting skill that can explore the dark dramatic longings of Arlen and Johnny Mercer's 'I Had Myself a True Love,' climaxing in an anguished belt that is far more about the woman she portrays than her ability to vocally shine.She calls this her hanky-panky show and most every number has something to do with sex.  There's the sweet simplicity with which she approaches Jimmy Roberts and Joe DiPietro's 'I Will Be Loved Tonight,' where a woman who has gone too long without a lover's touch anticipates how the evening's date will end, and the wry exasperation of 'Toothbrush Time,' William Bolcom and Arnold Weinstein's tense contemplation on why last night's lover is taking so long to get out of the apartment.  She savors the snazzy jazz jauntiness of Michael John La Chiusa's 'The Thief' and turns George Gershwin and B.G. DeSylva's 'Do It Again!' into a lopsided debate between the mind and the libido (guess who wins).The very funny sexpot character song, 'Femininity' (Jay Livingston/Ray Evans), is given an interesting personal twist as she introduces it with some of her own feelings as an adolescent girl surprised by the different way boys would look at her once she started developing.  Her admiration for the romantic passion expressed by Alan and Marilyn Bergman fuels her detailed story-telling in 'Like a Lover' and 'The Island.And for those who believe that hanky-panky is never complete without a bit of cuddling after, she finishes the evening with a very satisfied and satisfying 'Embraceable You' by the Gershwins.

Suzanne Carrico, the 2008 MAC Award Winner for 'Outstanding Debut,' will return to the Metropolitan Room with The Friendliest Thing, in January (7th, 23rd & 24th) & February (12th). The show, directed by Mary Cleere Haran, with Musical Direction by Tedd Firth, features special guest Don Rebic on piano & Saddi Zain on bass. The Friendliest Thing, an evening of provocative music from The Great American Songbook of the past & present, is devoted to matters of a most 'intimate' nature.

Suzanne Carrico, the 2008 MAC Award Winner for 'Outstanding Debut,' will return to the Metropolitan Room with The Friendliest Thing, in January (7th, 23rd & 24th) & February (12th). The show, directed by Mary Cleere Haran, with Musical Direction by Tedd Firth, features special guest Don Rebic on piano & Saddi Zain on bass. The Friendliest Thing, an evening of provocative music from The Great American Songbook of the past & present, is devoted to matters of a most 'intimate' nature.

The 92nd Street Y announces casting for the 2009 season of Lyrics & Lyricists?, the Y's legendary American Songbook series. Polly Bergen, Lucie Arnaz, Tom Wopat and Marilyn Maye are among the storied cast members who will sing the songs of Richard Rodgers, Ira Gershwin, Mel Torm?, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson, David Zippel and others. This is the first season curated by new series artistic director DEBORAH GRACE WINER, and her inaugural line-up of guest artistic directors - MARTIN CHARNIN, DAVID ZIPPEL, ROBERT KIMBALL, REX REED, and BILLY STRITCH.

The 92nd Street Y announces casting for the 2009 season of Lyrics & Lyricists™, the Y's legendary American Songbook series. Polly Bergen, Lucie Arnaz, Tom Wopat and Marilyn Maye are among the storied cast members who will sing the songs of Richard Rodgers, Ira Gershwin, Mel Tormé, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson, David Zippel and others. This is the first season curated by new series artistic director DEBORAH GRACE WINER, and her inaugural line-up of guest artistic directors - MARTIN CHARNIN, DAVID ZIPPEL, ROBERT KIMBALL, REX REED, and BILLY STRITCH.

The West Bank Café announces upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre. The West Bank Café is located at 407 West 42nd. St., at Ninth Avenue.

The West Bank Café announces upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre. The West Bank Café is located at 407 West 42nd. St., at Ninth Avenue.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party and TheaterMania.com, the leading source for exclusive theater information and live-events tickets nationwide, are proud to present ALEX GEMIGNANI, Monday, September 29, 2008.

Drunk with affection for the singer Marilyn Maye, New Yorkers are licking their lips in anticipation of Maye's fifth Metropolitan Room engagement.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party and TheaterMania.com, the leading source for exclusive theater information and live-events tickets nationwide, are proud to present ALEX GEMIGNANI, Monday, September 29, 2008.

Drunk with affection for the singer Marilyn Maye, New Yorkers are licking their lips in anticipation of Maye's fifth Metropolitan Room engagement.

SUZANNE CARRICO, the 2008 MAC Award Winner for 'Outstanding Debut,' will return to the Metropolitan Room with THE FRIENDLIEST THING, for three performances only, Wednesday, July 2nd & 9th & Saturday, July 5th all shows at 7:30pm.

Up and coming singer Suzanne Carrico, the 2008 MAC Award Nominee for 'Outstanding Debut,' will return to the Metropolitan Room with her new show 'The Friendliest Thing', for two special performances, Mondays, May 26th & June 2nd, at 7pm.

Suzanne Carrico, 2008 MAC Award Nominee, will return to the Metropolitan Room on May 26th.

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, continues its Spring 2008 season with the debut engagement of ALEXANDER GEMIGNANI for two nights only on May 5 and 18.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY continues its Spring 2008 season with the debut engagement of ALEXANDER GEMIGNANI for two nights only on May 5 and 18. Mr. Gemignani is currently starring on Broadway in the Roundabout Theater Company's critically-acclaimed revival of Sunday In the Park With George.

Following highly successful performances at Feinstein's & The Reprise Room, RENDEZVOUS…An Evening with Piaf, Brel, Aznavour & Friends will add one additional show at The Reprise Room at Dillon's, on Thursday, April 10th at 7:30pm.

Following a sold-out run this past fall at Feinstein's, Rendezvous…An Evening with Piaf, Brel, Aznavour & Friends will re-open at The Reprise Room at Dillon's on Thursday, March 6 at 7:30PM, for an extended run. Additional performances will be Thursdays, March 13 & 27 at 7:30PM.

Singer / actress / comedienne Joan Crowe will bring her new show, entitled 'Joan Crowe in The Key of Comedy,' to New York's prestigious Metropolitan Room, on three consecutive Thursday evenings at 7:30 PM - March 13, 20 and 27.

Jim Caruso celebrated his birthday with his guests and friends at The Cast Party on Monday, February 4 at Birdland. In attendance were Susan Mosher and John Boswell of Cashino, Michael Winther, Christine Pedi, Julie Garnye and Stephanie D'Abruzzo.