Daniels and Schmidt to Host 'New Voices,' May 14

New Voices' Monday Night series, created by composer Scott Alan, continues May 14th, 7PM, at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre. The show will be hosted by New Voices alumni, Nikki Renee Daniels and Sara Schmidt, both of whom took part in the very first New Voices concert. Barbara Anselmi returns as musical director.

The evening will feature New Voices making its Broadway Debut, and will include stars such as Les Miserables' Jeff Kready, The Pirate Queen's Jennifer Waiser, Tarzan's Natalie Silverlieb, Wicked's Brian Crum and Beauty and the Beast's Connor Gallagher.

In addition to hosting, Daniels and Schmidt will sing a tribute to Celebrated Guest Composer Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hide). Wildhorn will accompany the singers on selections from his songbook. 

In 1999, Wildhorn became the first American composer in twenty-two years to have three shows running simultaneously on Broadway: Jekyll & Hyde (written with Leslie Bricusse), which received two Tony nominations; The Scarlet Pimpernel (written with Nan Knighton), which received four Tony nominations; and The Civil War (written with Jack Murphy & Gregory Boyd), which received two Tony nominations. These shows continue to be seen in productions around the country and throughout the world. Wildhorn also wrote additional songs for Broadway's Victor/Victoria (written with Leslie Bricusse) and was recently represented on Broadway by Dracula: The Musical (written with Don Black & Christopher Hampton). He was also a Producer and Co-Creator for Harlem Song, the first open-ended theatrical run at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY.

Other projects include: Camille Claudel (written with Nan Knighton) which played at Goodspeed Opera's Norma Terris Theatre in 2003 and yielded the song "Gold," heard at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, UT; Waiting For The Moon (written with Jack Murphy), based on the lives of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, which had its world premiere in July 2005 and will be presented at the North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh, NC, USA in July 2007; Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (written with Gregory Boyd & Jack Murphy); Mitsuko (written with Shuichiro Koike); Excalibur (written with Jim Steinman and Gregory Boyd); a modern adaptation of Carmen (written with Jack Murphy and Norman Allen); a rock-n-roll adaptation of Alice In Wonderland; and Bonnie and Clyde (written with Don Black).

Daniels has appeared on Broadway in Lestat (Eleni); Aida (Nehebka); Nine (Renata); Little Shop of Horrors and The Look of Love.  She has appeared at New York City Opera in Porgy and Bess (Clara).  Regional work includes Belle in Beauty and the Beast at North Shore Music Theatre and Sacramento Music Circus; Sarah in Ragtime at North Shore Music Theatre and Celia Vane in Dorian at the Denver Center.  

Schmidt has appeared on Broadway in Jersey Boys (Francine and Others), Brooklyn, and Dance of the Vampires. Off-Broadway credits include Fame on 42nd Street, and The Fantasticks. Tours include Fiddler on the Roof. Regional work includes productions at Williamstown, Guthrie, TUTS, MUNY, and NSMT.

There is a $12 music charge and a two-drink minimum.  For reservations, call (212) 255-5438 or visit www.theduplex.com.
 
Photo of Nikki Renee Daniels by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.