CABARET
NEWS
PENNSYLVANIA & WASHINGTON D.C.
PITTSBURGH CABARET SERIES OPENS WITH STEVEN SCHWARTZ/LEE LESSACK
Cabaret Pittsburgh kicks off its 2007/2008 season of national artists
with a double-bill of Stephen Schwartz, Carnegie Mellon University alum
and composer of the hit Broadway musical "Wicked," along with his Los
Angeles colleague, cabaret artist and entrepreneur, Lee Lessack. Both
artists will perform individually and together on Friday, August 31st
in the symphony room of the THE RENAISSANCE PITTSBURGH HOTEL (107 Sixth
Street, Pittsburgh, PA - tkts: 412-394-3353 - http://www.proartstickets.org/
) at 7:30 and 9:30 pm. They will also participate in a two-part master
class on September 1st which begins with Schwartz in the morning, followed
by lunch-by-lottery, and Lessack in the afternoon.
Schwartz, a native of New York City, studied piano and
composition at the Julliard School of Music while in high school,
and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a BFA in Drama.
His first major credit was the song for the play Butterflies are Free,
after which he then went on to write the music and lyrics for Godspell,
Pippin, The Magic Show, The Baker's Wife, and Children of Eden. He
contributed songs to the musical Working, which he also adapted and
directed - winning the Drama Desk Award as best director, and also
contributed songs to the Off-Broadway revue Personals. He then ventured
into film collaborating with composer Alan Menken on the scores for
the Disney animated features Pocahontas - for which he received two
Academy Awards and a Grammy, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Schwartz,
most recently known for his Broadway hit musical Wicked, runs the
ASCAP musical theatre workshops in New York and Los Angeles. He serves
on the ASCAP board and is a member of the Council of the Dramatists'
Guild.
Lee
Lessack, a native of Philadelphia, moved to Los Angeles in 1996 and
founded LML Music with a catalog of over 70 recording artists and
performers. Lessack, who attended the American Academy of Dramatic
Arts, has toured extensively in the United States and Europe and has
released four albums. His most recent album, In Good Company, features
duets with such notables as Michael Feinstein, Maureen McGovern, Amanda
McBroom, Ann Hampton Callaway and Stephen Schwartz. More recently,
Lessack established a new full-service concert and theatrical production
company Spot-On Entertainment.
In conjunction with the Riverview performance, Schwartz
and Lessack will be participating in the Inspiring Artists Series
- master classes and forums that connect the national artists with
local talent for growth, development, and networking. On Saturday,
September 1st they will offer a day-long event starting at 10:00 am
with a Stephen Schwartz master class entitled "Connecting the Singer
to the Songwriter." A free lunch-by-lottery with the artists will
be held from 12:00 to 1:00 pm for 20 people, chosen by lottery, who
purchase the day pass for $60. The afternoon session begins at 1:00
pm and is led by Lee Lessak, founder of LML music distribution and
the newly created Spot On Entertainment, entitled "Marketing and Distributing
your Individual Talent." These events are made possible thru support
from The Heinz Endowments, Laurel Foundation and Pittsburgh Cultural
Trust, can be free to students as part of a special $45 annual subscription
to Cabaret Pittsburgh or purchased individually for $30 (to observe)
or $60 (to participate, upon selection).
The 2007/2008 Friday Riverview Series expands from four
evenings to seven to present national artists between August 2007
and April 2008. Schwartz and Lessack are followed by Karen Akers on
September 28th, who makes her Cabaret Pittsburgh debut after an engagement
at The Algonquin's legendary Oak Room. Singer/songwriter Amanda McBroom,
best-known for her composition of "The Rose," joins us November 9th
with musical support by returning Pittsburgh native Michele Brourman.
2008 kicks-off with jazz singer Welsa Whitfield on January 11th, Robert
Cuccioli on February 15th, KT Sullivan on March 21st, and Mel Carter
on April 18th.
The Riverview Series subscription prices start at $280
plus tax, and premium pricing begins at $320 plus tax for seven evenings.
A full student subscription for the entire Riverview Series is $80
plus tax, and a special annual student Cabaret Pittsburgh package
incorporating all three programs is $45 plus tax Πthe price of one
cabaret ticket. Finally, overnight cabaret hotel packages for two
at the four-diamond Renaissance Hotel are available for $199 plus
tax and can be purchased by calling 1-866-454-4400.
BACK
TO THE CABARET NEWS INDEX
Back
to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE Home Page
Event listings
are provided for the information of users only. They are not provided
with the intention that users rely upon the information therein for
any purposes. Accordingly, Cabaret Hotline Online, and/or Stuart V.
Hamstra shall under no circumstances be liable for any loss or damage,
including but not limited to loss of profits, goodwill or indirect
or consequential loss arising out of any use of or inaccuracies in
this information. All warranties express or implied are excluded to
the fullest extent permissible by law.
If
you would like to receive a free e-mail subscription to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE,
please e-mail cabarethotline@svhamstra.com
and place the single word "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line. Note:
Your subscription will be sent to the e-mail address you subscribe from - and
please include your real name along with the city where you live.
NOW
YOU CAN JOIN CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE!
