"A Cabaret Festival" Honors Two LA Cabaret Impresarios

Festival Productions and CABARET WEST (http://www.cabaretwest.org/) will present "A Cabaret Festival," a three hour musical extravaganza featuring 24 of the leading vocal talents on today's National and Los Angeles cabaret scene, co-hosted by producers, Deborah Downey (Cabaret Artist; "Scared Straight, Another Story; " Producer for Festival Productions) and Les Traub (President of Cabaret West), honoring Cabaret Impresarios, J.D. Kessler of THE CINEGRILL at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA - 323-466-7000) and Tom Rolla of THE GARDENIA (7066 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA - 323-467-7444), benefiting the Society of Singers with a special video greeting from Cabaret Legend, Andrea Marcovicci, on Sunday, December 8th, at 2:00 pm for One Performance Only, on the Main Stage of the historic EL PORTAL THEATRE (5269 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA). Unreserved tickets are priced at $20.00 each; cocktails and light snacks will be available for purchase. Tickets may be purchased by calling Tickets LA at 323-655-TKTS (323-655-8587), or by mailing a check payable to Cabaret West to P.O. Box 16176, Beverly Hills, CA 90209-2176.

Musical Direction and Accompaniment will be provided by David Moscoe (Noted Jazz and Recording Musician) and Ron Snyder (LA Weekly's Musical Director of the Year for 2001 for "Pinafore! " and DramaLogue Award-winner for "The Ballad of Little Mikey, " both at the Celebration Theatre; Musical Director for Jim Bailey).

Cabaret Artists scheduled to appear include:

Neile Adams (Original Broadway Casts of "Kismet, " "Pajama Game; " "This Could Be Night")

Eileen Barnett (Original 3 Broadway Cast of "Nine")

Karen Benjamin (Los Angeles Cast of "Phantom of the Opera") and Alan Chapman (Noted Songwriter and Popular Morning Host on his Nationally Syndicated Show on KUSC-FM)

Cindy Benson (Original Broadway Casts of "Les Miserables" and "CATS; " Original Off-Broadway Casts of "Nunsense" and "Eating Raoul ")

Anne Kerry Ford (Broadway productions of "Annie," "The Threepenny Opera," "Jekyll & Hyde")

Jason Graae (Cabaret Performer of the Year 2000 - LA Weekly Awards and Robbie Awards in Los Angeles and Bistro Awards in New York City; Original Broadway Cast of "Falsettos," "A Grand Night for Singing," "Stardust," "Snoopy" and "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?;" Original Off-Broadway Cast of "Forever Plaid")

Corky Hale (Renowned Pianist and Jazz Harpist who has appeared with Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Billie Holiday, Liberace, Mel Torme, Harry James, Ray Anthony, Jerry Gray, Tony Bennett, Bjork and George Michael, to name a few)

Ray Jessel (Co-Composer/Lyricist of the Broadway musical, "Baker Street; " last lyricist to work with composer Richard Rodgers; Writer/Producer of "Head Of The Class")

Jane A. Johnston (Broadway Casts of "Happy Hunting," "The Cradle Will Rock," "Wonderful Town" "Company;" OffBroadway Cast of "The Boys From Syracuse")

Lee Lessack (Award-Winning Cabaret and Recording Artist and Owner of LML Music (http://www.lmlmusic.com/), an independent record label)

Maude Maggart (Cabaret Singer who has toured with Michael Feinstein and appeared with Andrea Marcovicci)

Peisha McPhee (Noted Cabaret Performer and Teacher)

Karen Morrow (Emmy Award and Theatre World Award winner; Recorded the Original Concept Album of Jerry Herman's latest musical, "Miss Spectacular; " Original Broadway Casts of Tony Award-winning, "Drood," "I Had A Ball," "Joyful Noise," "I'm Solomon," "Music, Music," "The Selling of the President," "The Grass Harp," Off-Broadway Cast of "The Boys From Syracuse")

Stacy Sullivan (Christine in the Los Angeles Premiere of "Phantom of the Opera")

Elmarie Wendel ("3rd Rock From The Sun, "Original Broadway Cast of "Little Mary Sunshine").

In addition, there will be a special segment of the show saluting Cabaret Open Mics featuring the vocal talents of:

Amanda Abel (Broadway Cast of "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, "Late Nite Comic, " Off-Broadway Cast of "Forbidden Broadway").

Michael Taylor Gray who originated the roles of Benny/Miss Iona Traylor in the multi-award-winning original Los Angeles run of "Southern Baptist Sissies."

Keri Kelsey, 1994 Rose Bowl Parade and Former Ring Mistress for The Big Apple Circus.

Les Michaels, host of Open Mic Mondays at THE LOUNGE at VERMONT (1714 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA - 323-662-6263).

MaryJo Mundy, known for her appearances at The Gardenia, "Mundy on Tuesday."

Wayne Sutton, leading cabaret performer in San Francisco and Host of San Francisco's "Cabaret Spotlight" at JOHNNY FOLEYS IRISH HOUSE & CELLAR (243 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco, CA - 415-954-0777)

In addition, there will be other special surprises at this special event!!!

For further information about the event visit the websites: http://www.debdowney.org/ or http://www.cabaretwest.org/.

Festival Productions is a new production company dedicated to presenting new and upcoming cabaret talents, as well as established veteran performers. Cabaret West is a local organization dedicated to serving the cabaret community on the West Coast. The Society of Singers is an organization whose mission is to help professional singers who face financial, medical, family or other crises and to provide scholarships to university students in the vocal arts.

 

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