COOK SINGS COLEMAN AT MAMA'S IN JUNE
Singer Russell Cook brings his show "The Music of Cy Coleman: Why
Try To Change Me Now?" to DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC
- 1-212-757-0788 -
http://www.donttellmamanyc.com/
) on Monday, June 11th and Tuesday, June 19th, both shows at 7:00
pm. This is a return of his successful engagement at The Metropolitan
Room in January. The show is directed by multiple MAC Award winner
Barbara Fasano. Musical direction is by David Epstein.
"The Music of Cy Coleman: Why Try To Change Me Now?"
is an utterly unscientific look at some great Broadway and jazz
standards. Often called "Broadway's jazziest composer" with musicals
like Sweet Charity and City of Angels, Coleman also wrote pop hits
like Witchcraft and The Best Is Yet To Come recorded by the likes
of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole. With lyrics by some
of the greats: Carolyn Leigh, Dorothy Fields and Peggy Lee.
An Ohio boy born and raised abroad, Russell smoothed
the cultural shifts with his lifelong love of music and theatre.
Though lacking a piano, he scheduled home piano lessons at age 8
before breaking the news to his mother. Broadsided, she decided
to invest in a piano. Her son became a classical student and went
on to study with the Royal Conservatories of Toronto and London.
When college time arrived, he lived in the United
States for the first time and majored in Drama and Theater Arts.
Shooting for his big dream, he came to New York City and embarked
on an actor's life: sometimes riches, usually rags in theater, soaps
and commercials.
In the 90s he made the switch to a more "sensible"
career, but something was missing. What to do? For Russell, the
answer was not a return to acting but to another, even less "sane"
pursuit, singing. "Singing, particularly cabaret, always thrilled
the pants off me, both as a performer and as audience member. So
I decided to go for what seemed like the most important thing in
the world to me."
Since his return, Russell has performed as a singer
in NYC venues ranging from The Encore and Danny's Skylight Room
to The Metropolitan Room and Florence Gould Hall. His shows have
included "Two Ships That Collide In The Night" with Jennifer Pade,
"Simple Joys" and now "The Music of Cy Coleman: Why Try To Change
Me Now?"
There is a $15 with a 2-beverage minimum.
$7.50 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
If
you would like to receive a free e-mail subscription to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE,
please e-mail