SINGERS FORUM today announced the production of SHOWSTOPPERS, directed and hosted by Eric Michael Gillett.
The event is a benefit for the Singers Forum Actors Equity Scholarship Program, which offers members of Actors Equity Association affordable vocal lessons. SHOWSTOPPERS will play a one night only at The Laurie Beechman Theatre (Downstairs at West Bank Café 407 West 42nd St. between 9th & 10th Avenues). The performance is March 5, 2012 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $35-$50, must be purchased in advance, and on sale at http://bit.ly/showstop. The Singers Forum is a 501 (C) (3) organization and a portion of the ticket price may be tax deductible.
The evening will celebrate the many successes of the Singers Forum Actors Equity Scholarship Program during this past year. Since its inception, the Scholarship Program has offered heavily subsidized vocal technique lessons to members of Actors Equity Association. The goal of the program has been to provide affordable vocal technique to those who often need it most and can least afford it. The program has expanded from the initial 12 scholarships in its first semester to a fund that supports 60 ongoing scholarships. The instructors in the program are all Broadway veterans and include Melanie Vaughan (Sunday in the Park With George, Parade, et. al.), Bradley Dean (A Little Night Music, Spamalot), Teri Ralston (Company, A Little Night Music), John Capes (Les Miserables), and Eric Michael Gillett (Sweet Smell of Success, The Frogs, Kiss Me Kate). Musical director for the event is widely respected accompanist and arranger, Jeff Cubeta, who is currently musical director for Nothing To Lose But Your Heart/The Songs of Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty for La Tanya Hall and Eric Michael Gillett at Feinstein's at Loews Regency.
The AEA Scholarship Program is especially proud of Kaitlyn Davidson, who is currently in rehearsals for her Broadway debut in the new Gershwin musical, Nice Work If You Can Get It, starring Kelli O'Hara and Matthew Broderick.
SHOWSTOPPERS features Kevin Early (Death Takes a Holiday, Seven Deadly Sins, A Tale of Two Cities, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Les Miserables) and stars the Broadway-bound Kaitlyn Davidson (Nice Work if You Can Get it) plus Paul Binotto (Currently starring in Ionescapade off-Broadway at the York Theatre, Broadway's Starlight Express, Dreamgirls, et. al.), Stephen Mitchell Brown (currently starring as 'Rochester' in the regional premiere of Jane Eyre), Julia Cook (National Tour Mama Mia), Venessa Diaz, Chris J. Handley, Danielle Herbert (Recently starred in Walnut Street Theatre's Aspects of Love), Eva Kantor (Hairspray, Anne of Green Gables), Jeremy Lawrence (Upcoming Baltimore Center Theatre's Into the Woods), Daniel Marconi (Mary Poppins), Matthew McGloin, Jose Restrepo (Grease), Lynn Ross (OBR: The Sick Boy, The Midnight Zone, The Glass House), James Seol (A Naked Girl on the Appian Way), Stephanie Summerville, Maxine Stewart(North Shore's King and I), Sally Swallow (OBR: Joseph...Technicolor Dreamcoat), Scott Tucker (National Theatre of Great Britain: The Light Princess).
