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THE AFTER PARTY CELEBRATES AFTER THE MAC AWARDS

THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER (407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909 - http://www.westbankcafe.com/theater/schedule ) is pleased to announce a special edition of THE AFTER PARTY, an informal social gathering for the theatrically inclined. On Tuesday, May 1st beginning at 11:30 pm, hosts Brandon Cutrell (MAC & Bistro Award winner) and Alysha Umphress (XL Star and 2007 MAC nominee), as well as Ray Fellman (Captain Louie and Musical Director of the 2007 MAC Awards) at the piano, and award-winning vocalist Lisa Asher (MAC winner and 2007 MAC nominee ) present a very special addition to their usual Friday night weekly party in the heart of Manhattan's theatre district. The mic is always open (only rule: your selection must be from a musical!).

For this special evening the special guest will be the amazing Karen Mason, who is receiving the MAC Board of Directors Award that evening on behalf of her remarkable accomplishments in New York Cabaret. Karen will be on hand to sing a few numbers and hang out with friends and fans.

There is no cover charge and no minimum. There is a full bar and bar menu available, and reservations are not necessary for this event.

Karen Mason has appeared on Broadway in Mamma Mia!, Sunset Boulevard, Jerome Robbins' Broadway and Torch Song Trilogy. Her Off-Broadway credits include And the World Goes 'Round and Carnival, and she has also been seen on the small screen in "Law & Order" and "As the World Turns." A seven-time MAC Award-winning performer, Mason has charmed audiences at Carnegie Hall, Rainbow & Stars, Davenport's and L.A.'s The Cinegrill. Her solo recordings include "The Sweetest of Nights," "When the Sun Comes Out," "Better Days," "Not So Simply Broadway" and "Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!"

Brandon Cutrell is a Bistro Award and two-time MAC Award winner. New York credits: Broadway By The Year at Town Hall, The 2nd Annual Broadway Unplugged at Town Hall, Pippin (with Ben Vereen and Rosie O'Donnell), La Gioconda at TheatreSource, David Friedman's King Island Christmas, and Liz Swados' Waiting For Lefty. National: Theatre of the Stars, Goodspeed Musicals, the Human Race Theatre and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. For nearly two years, Brandon was the original host of the MAC Award nominated show, Mostly Sondheim. In December of 2005, Brandon made his debut in the world-famous Oak Room at The Algonquin Hotel. In June of 2006, Brandon made his solo debut at Feinstein's, New York's legendary nightclub on Park Avenue. Currently, Brandon can be seen every Friday night at The Laurie Beechman Theatre on 42nd Street as the host of The After Party, a weekly open-mic, musical theatre soiree. Brandon's self-titled debut cd will be released on June 4th, 2007 at Feinstein's.

Alysha Umphress, a recent graduate of The Boston Conservatory, made a splash last year at the Chelsea bar, XL, winning their American Idol-type competition, XL Star. She recently opened for Diana Krall at the Fujitsu Jazz Festival, soloed along side Carlos Santana at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium and performed with the Boston Pops. Regional roles include the Witch in Into the Woods, Trina in Falsettos and Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress. Alysha is the recipient of two Bay Area Theatre Critics Awards for her work in Rags and FAB! She has belted out the National Anthem for The Oakland A's, San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings and San Jose Sharks. She is the proud recipient of a 2007 MAC Award nomination for her Outstanding Jazz Vocalist.

Lisa Asher's critically acclaimed one-woman show, Stranded in the Moonlight, recently completed a successful run at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, were she was hailed by audiences and critics alike, and garnered the 2007 Nightlife Award for Outstanding Female Vocalist. Lisa made her national television debut in a solo vocal performance on the Emmy Award-winning The Rosie O'Donnell Show, at the insistence of the show's musical director, John McDaniel. Ms. Asher is the recipient of a MAC (Manhattan Association of Clubs & Cabarets) Award for Outstanding Vocalist, as well as the Back Stage Bistro Award for her solo work in cabarets in New York. Her critically acclaimed debut CD, Let The Mystery Be, was nominated for a MAC Award for Recording of the Year, and her recent release Lisa Asher, Live at the Duplex, is available in stores nationwide. Lisa has appeared as a featured vocalist and actress in numerous concert and theatrical venues around the country. Recently, she appeared with Tony nominated songwriter/singer Craig Carnelia (Sweet Smell of Success, Imaginary Friends) at a sold out concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Recent theatrical credits include starring in the world premiere of two new musicals: I Married Wyatt Earp at The Bristol Riverside Theater and Almost Heaven . . . Songs and Stories of John Denver at the Tony Award-Winning Denver Theatre Center Company. Lisa has toured nationally with the Broadway show, The Who's Tommy and performed in the Off-Broadway hit, Woody Guthrie's American Song which received a Drama Desk Nomination for Best Musical.

Ray Fellman recently made his Off-Broadway debut when he was handpicked by Stephen Schwartz to musical direct his off-Broadway musical, Captain Louie. Other Musical Director credits include The Tutor by Wood/Gerle (59 E. 59th), Reluctant Pilgrim (The Barrow Group), Blood Drive: A Musical Triptych by Sheinkin/Derfner (workshop at the O'Neill Theater Center) and Amahl and the Night Visitors (national tour directed by David Aiken). Ray has been seen behind the piano in The Storefront Theatre's New Mondays (with Bill Russell and Emily Skinner), No Reservations (starring Brandon Cutrell with special guests Karen Mason and Shoshana Bean), Broadway Downtown (with Kristy Cates) and We Miss Nancy: The Storefront Sings Lamott (with Liz McCartney). He has also served as accompanist for Utah Festival Opera Company, The Opera Company of Brooklyn, Mid America Productions at Carnegie Hall (with John Rutter) and A Yuletide Celebration with the Indianapolis Symphony starring Judy Kaye. As a singer, Ray has sung with some of the finest opera companies in the country, including Florida Grand, Glimmerglass and New Orleans operas. Ray holds degrees in piano and voice from the Indiana University School of Music. Ray is the proud recipient of a 2007 Bistro Award on behalf of his work for The After Party.