THE
BIG BARRY BIRTHDAY BASH
RETURNS TO DON'T TELL MAMA JUNE 18th
More Manilow Mania as
THE BIG BARRY BIRTHDAY BASH Celebrating the Birthday and Music of
Barry Manilow Returns to Don't Tell Mama on Monday, June 18th, at
7:00 & 9:30 PM
They're
ready to take a chance again! The birthday of Brooklyn-born singer/songwriter
Barry Manilow is a cabaret holiday with "The Big Barry Birthday Bash,
Celebrating the Birthday and Music of Barry Manilow." (Barry's actual
birthday is June 17th). This unabashed bash is back for its third
year at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788
- http://www.donttellmama.com/).
(In the funky dives on the old West Side, there's always something
going down). One night only, on Monday, June 18th at 7:00 & 9:30 PM.
Reservations recommended. Tickets. $12.00 (Dirt cheap! -- Hurry, hurry)
plus a 2-drink minimum. MAC members 1/2 off.
Produced
and hosted by Laura Davis, "The Big Barry Birthday Bash" salutes the
music that the number one adult contemporary artist of all has composed,
arranged and sung for over two decades. The winner of Tony, Grammy
and Emmy Awards, Barry is also the recipient of the 2000 MAC Board
of Directors Award honoring his roots as a musician in the New York
cabaret scene of the 1970s. The "Big Barry Birthday Bash" features
Cornelius Bates, John Flynn, Rosemary Loar, Karen Mack, Nancy McGraw
and Tom Schmid, with this year's special guests James Beaman, Michael
Ferreri, Jeanne MacDonald, Sidney Myer and Chanelle Schaffer. The
lineup of songs includes "Jump Shout Boogie," "Somewhere Down The
Road," "Perfect Isn't Easy," "All The Time" and "One Voice."
Producer Laura Davis, who
is "very out" about admiring Barry Manilow, originated The Big Barry
Birthday Bash in Minneapolis in June of 1996. This tribute to The
Man of Many Modulations -- complete with key changes and cake -- was
successfully reprised for three years. Davis and the show then moved
to New York. Says Davis, "This is our sixth year of presenting what
has become an on-going party. We've had dozens of guest artists, with
songs especially selected for them because Barry's repertoire offers
such a range of songs to do. People have the idea that it will be
a whole evening of power ballads, and are always surprised at the
extent of what Barry has written and what we dojazz, swing, jingles
and even comic numbers. Every year we bring in something different."
The "Big Barry Birthday
Bash" draws on the talents of top-notch performers with a wide range
of musical credits. Tom Schmid, who made his cabaret debut in "Had
It Only Begun" at Don't Tell Mama last fall, is currently on Broadway
understudying the role of Frank Butler in "Annie Get Your Gun," and
has been with "The Big Barry Birthday Bash" since its inception in
Minneapolis. Rosemary Loar has appeared on Broadway in "Chess," "Cats"
and" Sunset Boulevard;" Nancy McGraw has appeared on Broadway in the
original cast of "Nine," off-Broadway in "Godspell," "Forbidden Broadway,"
and "The Heebie Jeebies: A Musical Tribute To The Boswell Sisters."
James Beaman is an actor known for his solo shows portraying both
Marlene Dietrich ("Black Market Marlene" and "Marlene! Alive at The
Caf de Paris") and Lauren Bacall ("By Herself") in addition to his
off Broadway credits in "Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly" and "Whoop-De-Doo!"
Cornelius Bates has played
Chuck Berry in the TV movie "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and has appeared
in New York in "The Prince and The Black-Eyed Pea" (with Stephanie
Mills); Karen Mack received two MAC Awards this year, for Outstanding
Pop R&B Vocalist and Outstanding Song; Jeanne MacDonald earned a MAC
nomination this year for Best Female Solo Recording for her debut
CD, "Company," the title of her current cabaret show at The FireBird;
Michael Ferreri, a singer/pianist, regularly performs at The Townhouse
and recently made his cabaret debut at The FireBird in "Sweet Dreams,"
the title of his debut CD; Chanelle Schaffer, also a singer/pianist,
has entertained internationally as well as on cruise ships, and is
currently the Musical Director for Judson Church. Sidney Myer, who
has appeared in New York productions of "Grandma Sylvia's Funeral"
and "Dressing Room," has received 5 MAC and Back Stage Bistro Awards
and is a regular beloved performer at "The Poole Party." John Flynn,
whose show "John Flynn Sings Wildly Inappropriate Songs," has been
an ongoing hit at Don't Tell Mama, is performing in "The Big Barry
Birthday Bash" the role of Lola, in a somewhat deconstructed version
of the tropical disco drama "Copacabana."
The band is led by Jim
Abbott, currently the first keyboard player/dance arranger at Broadway's
"Aida," and keyboard player for numerous Broadway shows and tours.
Gary Seligson, also with "Aida," and equally seasoned in Broadway
and road shows, is on drums; Owen Yost, who plays for Lesley Gore,
is on bass. Jim Abbott, who is the romantic counterpart of producer
Laura Davis, has worked on "The Big Barry Birthday Bash" for the past
four years. "I'm happy to be a part of this," says Abbott. "I've always
respected Barry Manilow's skill as a musician. And since his talent
gave Laura an appreciation for pianists, I'm grateful for that!" In
"The Big Barry Birthday Bash," Abbott will sing the song "Studio Musician"
appropriately chosen "because I've lived it."
The Big Barry Birthday
Bash offers big fun in this true blue spectacle, touching a cultural
chord in celebrating the canon of Manilow music. He writes the songs.
We sing them.
Visit the wacky website
of The Big Barry Birthday Bash at http://www.tomschmid.com/barry.
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