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DGUR CONCERT SERIES ENDS JULY 12TH WITH SALUTE TO THE GIRLS

David Gurland concludes his celebrated run of performances of the DGUR CONCERT Series on Thursday, July 12th at 7:00 pm at THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER (407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909 - http://www.westbankcafe.com/theater/schedule ) with a salute to the Girl Singers and Songwriters from the 1990's and 2000's. Musically Directed by Steven Ray Watkins the show features cabaret superstars and multiple MAC and Bistro Award winners Lisa Asher, Julie Reyburn, and Scott Coulter. This show was originally scheduled for April 15th but was postponed due to illness.

The last 17 years of popular music has provided our culture with some of the greatest female vocalists and finest female songwriters in music history. Among the vocalists' and songwriters under consideration to be potentially represented: Kelly Clarkson, Macy Gray, Amy Grant, Celine Dion, Annie Lennox, Bonnie Raitt, and more.

David Gurland, who hails from New York City, has won a place as one of the most formidable openly gay singers in New York's music scene. Channeling cabaret experience and instincts into his pop/rock shows, Gurland merges talent, presence and humor, into an unforgettable entertainment experience. Gurland's accolades include 5 MAC Award nominations, the MAC/Hanson Award, a Gay and Lesbian American Music Award Nomination, and three Bistro Awards, one of which recognized his first CD, released in 1999 to rave reviews. Critics have raved about both Gurland's voice and his stage manner. David has been seen at BB KINGS, The Cutting Room, The Bitter End, Town Hall, CB's Gallery, The Living Room, The Duplex, and The Metropolitan Room, as well as out of town venues like Odettes in New Hope, The Gardenia in LA, the Manor in NJ and Twiggs in San Diego.

Lisa Asher has appeared as an actress and featured vocalist in numerous theatrical and concert venues around the country. Ms. Asher is the recipient of a MAC Award, as well as a Back Stage Bistro Award for her solo work in cabarets in New York. Her critically acclaimed debut CD, Let the Mystery Be, and was nominated for a MAC Award for Recording of the year. Lisa's newest CD, Lisa Asher Live at The Duplex, was just released and is a faithful recording of her highly successful show that enjoyed a lengthy run at the famed Greenwich Village nightclub, The Duplex. Ms. Asher has performed numerous times for the Mabel Mercer Foundation's Cabaret Conventions in San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Chicago and at Town Hall in NYC and was featured as part of their 20th Anniversary Gala performances at Lincoln Center last October. Lisa is currently working with James Williams Productions (JWP) on an off Broadway show entitled Last Call featuring the music of CMA award winning songwriter Victoria Shaw.

For his work in cabaret, Scott Coulter was awarded both the 2001 Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs (MAC) Award as well as the 2001 Bistro Award for Outstanding Male Vocalist. He received a 1997 Bistro Award for the revue "Get Your Tickets Now!" and his debut solo show won the 1998 MAC Award for Male Debut. Coulter's self-titled debut CD won the 2003 MAC Award for Outstanding Recording. Scott has appeared at Town Hall in both the 1949 and the 1953 editions of the popular "Broadway by the Year" series. Currently, he is touring with composer Stephen Schwartz, Liz Callaway and Debbie Gravitte in the revue "Stephen Schwartz & Friends."

Julie Reyburn's Recent credits include Town Hall Cabaret Festival, The Laurie Beechman Theater with her one woman cabaret show, Everybody's Song and part of Phil Bond's theatre piece The Cat which will be back at the Beechman in May. Recently named among the 2005 Best of Boston - Top 10 Cabaret by Edge Magazine, Julie is also a 2005 Nightlife Award Finalist for Outstanding Female Vocalist. She is a 2 time MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs) Award Winner, Backstage Bistro winner and the first ever Nightlife Award recipient for Outstanding Female Vocalist in 2003. As a member of Actor's Equity, recent credits include; Heaven Knows at The York Theatre, War Brides at The York Theatre, The Broadway Musicals of 1940 at New York City's Town Hall, The AtrainPlays at Neighborhood Playhouse, Falsettos for Storefront Theatre Company and in the award winning musical Africa & Plumbridge at the NY International Fringe Festival. Recordings include: The Broadway Musicals of 1940 (Bayview Records), Heaven Knows - Cast Recording, War Brides - Cast Recording and her debut solo CD, Fate is Kind (Original Cast Recordings).

Steven Ray Watkins has been playing the piano for 38 years, and has been working professionally as a performer and musician for 34 years. As an actor he has appeared in "The Last Session," "Jesus Christ Superstar," and in the national tours of "Big," "Singin' in the Rain," and "Showboat." As a musician, he has worked as a session player, as a musical director and vocal director in the theater, and most frequently as an arranger and musical director in the New York City Cabaret circuit. He has worked with such names as Patti LuPone, Karen Mason, Louise Pitre, Amanda McBroom, Lennie Watts, Georgia Osborne, Natalie Blalock and Sharon McNight, among many others, and has received two Bistro Awards and a MAC award.

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