Tony Nominee Karen Akers to Kick Off Urban Stages Winter Rhythms 2012, 12/4

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Urban Stages, in association with producer/director/lyricist Peter Napolitano, announces a series of musical evenings entitled WINTER RHYTHMS 2012, beginning on Tuesday, December 4 and running through Friday, December 15, 2012 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street). Tickets are $25 per show (both shows in one night, $40). Beer and wine will be available for a $3 donation. Tickets may be purchased on www.smarttix.com or 212 868-4444.

WINTER RHYTHMS 2012 marks the fourth year that Urban Stages has brought noted musical artists to its stage during the holiday period. Proceeds from this critically acclaimed musical series helps to fund Urban Stages’ On Tour Outreach Program, bringing over 300 FREE “arts in education” presentations to libraries and schools throughout the five boroughs.

The celebrated cabaret entertainer and Tony nominee Karen Akers will open WINTER RHYTHMS 2012 at Urban Stages on Tuesday, December 4 with her acclaimed tribute show to the songs of Cole Porter entitled Anything Goes: Karen Akers Sings Cole Porter with musical direction by Don Rebic. This special Patron’s Night Performance will be followed by dinner at Seven Resturant. Tickets are $125.

Other performers to present solo/duo shows in the series are Tony winner Adriane Lennox with Broadway veteran Andrea Frierson, jazz vocalists Mary Foster Conklin and Cleve Douglass, cabaret artists Julie Reyburn, Susan Winter, Marissa Mulder and Erin Cronican, Broadway and television veteran Carole Demas with special guest Paula Janis, multi-instrumentalist Sean Hagerty and singer/songwriter Lora-Faye Whelan.

Musical theatre is represented by performances of songbook revues and excerpts from new American musicals including “The Songs of Douglas J. Cohen”, Peter Napolitano’s “Songs From a Wedding, a Penthouse, and a Pinocchio,” featuring Tony nominee Robert Cuccioli; Mary Liz McNamara’s “The Good Girl in Concert”; “Smile On My Face: The Songs of Richard Eisenberg”; and “Hopelessly in Love: The Lyrics of Tom Toce”.

Special one night only group performances include musical director/pianist Bill Zeffiro’s “Birthday Tribute to Frank Sinatra” hosted by TV personality Bill Boggs with a cast of cabaret notables, Emmy Award winner Glen Roven’s “Poetic License” with TV/stage actor David Garrison, opera star David Okulitch and others to be announced, musical director/pianist Barry Levitt’s ”Jazz Jam” with vocalists Kat Gang, La Tanya Hall and Gabrielle Stravelli; “Very Special Material,” an evening of the songs of Sean Harkness, Nicholas Levin and Tracy Stark; and a special closing night concert, “From All of Us to All Of You: Seasonal Songs and Disney, Too.”