Cory Jamison, Joan Curto, Tom Michael and Dan Stetzel Return to Celebrate the Music of Richard Rodgers

Chicago Cabaret performers Cory Jamison, Joan Curto and Tom Michael with musical director Dan Stetzel, return in their critically acclaimed show "Across a Crowded Room," a celebration of the music of legendary composer, Richard Rodgers on November 11th, and November 13th through 17th at DAVENPORT'S Piano Bar & Cabaret (1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL - 773-278-1830 - http://www.davenportspianobar.com/). Wednesday through Saturday shows are at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 7:00 pm. Cover Charge is $20.00, with a 2-drink minimum.

The premier run of this show played at DAVENPORT'S to sold out crowds and garnered rave reviews. The popular show was then invited to the beautiful ROYAL ROOM at The Colony Hotel (155 Hammond Avenue, Palm Beach, FL - 561-655-5430 x 552) where it again received raves. "Across a Crowded Room" pays homage to the immense contribution Richard Rodgers compositions made to American Popular Music. His career spanned over six decades and includes over 900 songs. His masterful melodies were combined with the lyrical genius of Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein to create some of the most memorable music written for the musical theater. In addition, there will be a special display of Rodgers correspondence and pictures from the private collection of Dr. Tighe Zimmers.

All four of the featured performers have garnered critical acclaim for their individual performances and are some of Chicago's most popular cabaret artists. They are joined by musical director Dan Stetzel who has received numerable accolades for his creation of the songwriter series at Davenports as well as the Songwriter concerts that have become a mainstay of the Chicago Humanities Festival.

San Francisco resident,æCory Jamison, is one of the nation's emerging young cabaret talents, appearing regularly at the Chicago Jazz Festival, the New York, San Francisco, and Chicago Cabaret Conventions, the prestigious Chicago Humanities Festival, as well as at national cabaret rooms.æ Jamison is best known for her critically acclaimed tribute to composer Hoagy Carmichael.æ Her debut CD, "Here's to Hoagy," was listed as the fourth-best jazz CD in 1999 by the Chicago Tribune and sold over 10,000 copies in its first year of release.ææ Her latest show, "Kenton's Cool School; A Tribute to Anita O'Day, June Christy, and Chris Connor" opened at DAVENPORT'S in May and will be the subject of her second CD, due for release in early 2003.

Joan Curto is quickly establishing herself as a top cabaret performer in Chicago. She performs regularly at DAVENPORT'S. Her last show "Unexpressed?", was named one of the top ten shows in Chicago for 2001. Joan has performed in the Chicago Humanities Festival for the last two years. In addition Joan was invited to perform in the first ever THE MABEL MERCER FOUNDATION (160 East 48th Street - #14U, NYC - 212-980-3026 - http://www.mabelmercer.org/) sponsored Chicago Cabaret Convention in March, 2002 and she made her New York debut in April at JUDY'S CHELSEA (169 Eighth Avenue, NYC - 212-929-5410 - http://www.judyschelsea.com/). Joan attended the Eugene O'Neill Cabaret Symposium in 1999.

Recognized as one of the most striking singers to emerge in the last few years, vocalist Tom Michael has been performing across the country to acclaim for the past fifteen years. Appearing in such nightspots as New York's DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 - http://www.donttellmama.com/) and THE TRIAD (158 West 72nd Street, NYC - 212-362-2590), Houston's OVATIONS (2536 Times Boulevard, Houston, TX - 713-522-9801), Chicago's DAVENPORT'S, Toulouse on the Park, POPS FOR CHAMPAGNE (2935 North Sheffield, Chicago, IL - 773-472-1000 - http://www.popschampagne.com/) and CABARET ROOM at the Royal George Hotel (1641 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL - 312-988-9000), he was also invited to sing at the Cabaret Convention in New York's THE TOWN HALL (123 West 43rd Street, NYC - http://www.the-townhall-nyc.org/) in 2000 and 2001, as well as the ASCAP & Chicago Humanities Festival's "Songwriters Now" and "A Woman Wrote That Song" concerts. Tom also participated in the 1995 Cabaret Symposium at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center, and was a feature performer at the first Chicago Cabaret Convention held in 2002 at THE EMPIRE ROOM of the Palmer House Hilton (17 East Monroe Street, Chicago, IL - 312-421-0202), and the PARK WEST (322 West Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL - 312-440-9191 - http://www.parkwestchicago.com/).

Dan Stetzel has musical directed many of Chicago's prominent vocalists. His work in musical theater has been seen both nationally and at many Chicago area venues, and has been recognized multiple times by the Joseph Jefferson Awards. He has performed in many cabaret rooms coast to coast, including DAVENPORT'S, Toulouse Cognac Bar, GENTRY ON STATE (440 North State Street, Chicago, IL - 312-836-0933 - http://www.gentryofchicago.com/), Eighty Eight's, THE CABARET at Odette's (South River Road, New Hope, PA - 215-862-3000 - http://www.odettes.com/), THE PLUSH ROOM at the York Hotel (940 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA - 415-885-2800 - http://www.plushroom.com/), THE GARDENIA (7066 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA - 323-467-7444) and THE CINEGRILL at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA - 323-466-7000). Dan directed, arranged and co-orchestrated Cory Jamison's "Here's to Hoagy" album. Dan is a professor of Musical Theater at Roosevelt University where he teaches a class in cabaret performance.

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