UPRIGHT Cabaret celebrated Mothers' Day with a night full of love and care May 11 at La Boheme restaurant in West Hollywood, putting on another fabulous night of intimate and unique live performances from some of Los Angeles' most talented singers.
Following last month's two-year anniversary, UPRIGHT producers Chris Isaacson and Shane Scheel, along with musical director Trapper Felides, welcomed a new member onto the monthly stage, as Broadway star Shoshana Bean (Wicked, Hairspray) joined with show regular Leslie Odom Jr. to bring the house down. Another legit marvel making an appearance at May's show was Ken Page, who aside from appearing in the recent film adaptation of "Dreamgirls," originated the role of Old Deuteronomy in the long-running Broadway musical Cats. A cast member of the new Broadway revival of Grease, Lindsay Mendez, also dropped by to sing a tune.
Along with the well-known stars that are frequently found belting on UPRIGHT's stage, many of the usual gang filled the night with heart and soul, including Bree Bruns, Jill Marie Burke, Dawn Cherie Scheel, Talia Thiesfield and the now regular singer-songwriter Audra Mae. Ben Toth and Michael Sherwood also contributed on the piano.
Not only has Mae garnered standing ovations and critical praise at UPRIGHT, but her being the great niece of singing legend Judy Garland has sparked the theme for next month's cabaret show. On Friday, June 8, UPRIGHT will pay homage to Garland with a night devoted to songs the star so famously performed throughout her career, also kicking off L.A. Pride 2007. "The UPRIGHT performers will be taking those Judy Classics that you have listened to over the years and putting their own spin on them," according to Isaacson.
For more information and selected audio and video clips, including performances by Shoshana Bean, Leslie Odom Jr., Jake Simpson, Ken Page, Audra Mae and Talia Thiesfield, visit www.myspace.com/uprightcabaret or www.uprightcabaret.com. La Boheme is located at 8400 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. For recommended table reservations, call 323-848-2360.
Photos by Greg Burmann.
Shoshana Bean
Shoshana Bean
Shoshana Bean
Leslie Odom Jr. and Shoshana Bean
Leslie Odom Jr. and Shoshana Bean
Leslie Odom Jr
Ken Page
Ken Page
Lindsay Mendez
Brent Kyle and Audra Mae
Tim Draxl
Samantha Shelton
Jason Paige
Jason Paige
Bree Bruns, Dawn Cherie Scheel, Jen Malenke and Talia Thiesfield
Bree Bruns
Talia Thiesfield
Jake Simpson
Julie Garnye
Michael Lavine (Bush is Bad)
Jonathan Zenz (Bush is Bad)
Roger Ainslie (Bush is Bad)
Jill Marie Burke and Jonathan Redford
Jill Marie Burke and Jonathan Redford
Trapper Felides
Raya Yarbrough
Chris Isaacson, Stefanie LaRue (The LaRue Foundation www.myspace.com/cancerwarrior) and Shane Scheel
Chris Isaacson, Ken Page and Shane Scheel
Phillip Roberts, Chris Isaacson and David Thomas
Audra Mae, Bianca Ferrari Caruso, Jake Simpson, Brett Wheeler (UPRIGHT Sound Engineer), Jill Marie Burke, Chris Isaacson and Julie
Garnye
UPRIGHT Cabaret
Note from UPRIGHT's Producers: Birthday? Anniversary? From Out-of-Town? Let us know that you are coming to the show and we will give you a shout-out from the stage on the night you visit UPRIGHT Cabaret! Email us at: fromthestage@uprightcabaret.com.
Scheduled performance dates of UPRIGHT Cabaret are at 10 p.m. on June 8 (Tribute to Judy Garland) and 22, July 13 and 27, August 10 and 24, September 7 and 21, October 12 and 26, November 9 and December 7 (Night Divine – The Christmas Show).
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