Writers Celebrate Sondheim at 54 Below on Sunday Sept. 25th @ 7 and 9:30 pm www.54Below.com
Birdland Theater will present singers Stacy Sullivan and Todd Murray in the new show “I’m Glad There Is You – The Musical Romance of Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee” on Monday, October 31 at 8:30 PM. When Frank Sinatra passed in 1998, journalists from around the country clamored for a statement from his lifelong friend and collaborator Miss Peggy Lee. A few days passed before Miss Lee summed up her thoughts with five words only, “I’m glad there was you.” Over 40 hit songs from The Great American Songbook are represented in this show, all woven around anecdotes and insider history from their remarkable music careers and devoted friendship that spanned almost 60 years. www.birdlandjazz.com
With over 2000 performances in the role of Raoul in Phantom of the Opera, Hugh Panero debuts first solo concert at 54Below on October 5 & 6 @ 7pm. His powerhouse pipes will regale audiences with songs and stories he’s known for . . . and some shows he was never in! Joseph Thalkin musically directs; Hugh’s long-time friend Richard Jay-Alexander helms the show. www.54Below.com
“Mod Hollywood! Tunes from a Town Without Pity” marks the NYC debut for Jo Brisbane on November 5 @ 3 pm and November 7 @ 7 pm at Don’t Tell Mama following its sold-out summer debut at The Provincetown CabaretFest. “Mod Hollywood!” is a campy romp through movies songs from the 1950s and 1960s. Movie music is a huge part of our collective songbook and many of its most cherished tunes were written for the silver screen as theme or character-driven songs. Brisbane is directed by the multiple award-winning duo, Lennie Watts and Tracy Stark. Brisbane frequently performs in musicals at Cape Cod venues, including The Provincetown Theatre, Cotuit Center for the Arts, and Cape Rep Theatre. Jo will also be part of the upcoming “Ladies Who Brunch” series at Boston’s Club Café. Her original holiday spoof “Hope for the Holidays” (based on the original character of Hope Henderson) has developed a cult following, and an expanded version is in the planning stages. www.donttellmamanyc.com
Carry On starring Cindy Firing and Josephine Sanges will be at Don’t Tell Mama on Oct. 15 @ 8pm and Oct. 16 @ 7 pm. with John M. Cook on piano. Two singers from different cities hatch a cross-promotion plan and end up becoming friends while navigating distance, disease and duets! Together they explore the myriad ways one carries on – whether traveling light, feeling wary, or making merry. Accomplished storyteller, Cindy Firing, brings her “impressive vocals, megawatt energy and heart” while award-winning Josephine Sanges delivers “grace, class and lush vocal stylings” with her “strikingly rich and radiant voice.” www.donttellmamanyc.com
Celia Berk has released her new album, Now That I Have Everything. Music Director/Pianist Tedd Firth revives the classic format of the Nat King Cole trio with bassists David Finck and Jay Leonhart and guitarist Matt Munisteri, along with percussionist Rex Benincasa on several tracks. Now That I Have Everything is available digitally on Apple Music (with an exclusive digital booklet), Spotify, Amazon Music and Pandora and in CD format on Amazon. Produced by Tedd Firth and Grammy® and Tony® Award-winning sound designer Scott Lehrer, Now That I have Everything features the kinds of hidden gems by great songwriters that are Celia’s trademark. In his liner notes for Now That I Have Everything, author and journalist Will Friedwald writes: “Celia Berk is technically a singer, but somehow the term ‘singing’ sounds too impersonal to describe what she does. To me, it’s more like she’s sharing these songs, in the most direct and intimate way.”
