Babino, Callaway et al. Set for Great Entertainers on Broadway Performance Series; Begins 7/26

The American Theatre Network is proud to announce the launch of Great Entertainers on Broadway, a new summer series of live performances by some of today's most talented and well known stage, television and cabaret entertainers. The series will be presented in late July and early August at the Times Square Arts Center (TSAC) in the heart of New York City's world famous theatre district.

The lineup of star performers includes (in alphabetical order): Christine Andreas, Tony Babino, Liz Callaway, Steve DePass, Rebecca Luker, Donna McKechnie, Mark Nadler, Marni Nixon, Faith Prince and Richard Skipper.

Producer/promoter Herbert G. Goldman, the author of books about Eddie Cantor, FAnnie Brice and perhaps the greatest entertainer of them all, Al Jolson, is presenting the series with the goal of reviving the glamour and excitement of the Big Apple's world famous theaterdistrict and Times Square.

Great Entertainers on Broadway will be presented on eight evenings - Monday through Thursday, July 26, 27, 28 and 29 and Monday through Thursday, August 2, 3, 4 and 5 at 7 PM and 9:30 PM each night - in the TSAC's elegant 300-seat venue (to be renamed the Broadway Emporium for this engagement). Some performers will headline single shows while others will perform both shows on a given night. The performance schedule is as follows:

WEEK ONE
Monday, July 26, at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM - Mark Nadler, the zany comedian, singer, piano player and all-round entertainer, winner of a coveted MAC Award and a regular headliner at the prestigious Oak Room at New York's famed Algonquin Hotel, will perform two different shows on the same evening.

Tuesday, July 27, at 7:00 PM -- Tony Babino, one of today's premier vocalists, is a first class singer-songwriter and recording artist who presents a high energy show featuring past classics to modern day gems. He is proud to be carrying on the traditions of such legendary entertainers as Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.

Tuesday, July 27, at 9:30 PM - Richard Skipper, a critically acclaimed, multi-award winning performer, director and co-producer of the 2010 Bistro Awards, has been spellbinding audiences for years. Richard will be joined by John Fischer on Piano, Steve Bartosik on percussion and Jeff Carney on bass as he presents - for the only time in New York this year! - his critically acclaimed Carol Channing in Concert show, which has been described by Ms. Channing herself as "the first time I have ever been shown with such love, respect and polish. Richard Skipper is a true musical comedy star! He is fabulous as me!"

Wednesday, July 28, at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM - Rebecca Luker, one of the hardest working musical performers, has starred in Broadway productions of Mary Poppins, The Phantom of the Opera, Showboat, The Secret Garden, Something Wonderful, Brigadoon, The Sound of Music and The Music Man in a career dating back to the late 1980's. On television, she has also starred in three PBS music specials saluting Broadway composers and performers - Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II (1995), The Rodgers & Hart Story: Thou Swell, Thou Witty (1999), and My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies (1999).

Thursday, July 29, at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM - Donna McKechnie, the Tony Award winning star of the original Broadway production of A Chorus Line, is regarded internationally as one of Broadway's foremost dancing and singing stars and choreographers. On Broadway, she has also won rave reviews for her stellar performances in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, The Education of Hyman Kaplan, Sondheim -- A Musical Tribute (which she also choreographed), On The Town, Promises, Promises, Company and State Fair, for which she received the Fred Astaire Dancing Awards for Best Female Dancer of the 1995-1996 season. She also has several award-winning cabaret shows that she performs in venues all over the world.

WEEK TWO
Monday, August 2, at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM - Christine Andreas, the multi-talented Broadway musical performer, returns to Broadway this season as Jacqueline in the Olivier Award winning revival of La Cage Aux Folles at the Longacre Theater on Broadway. Fresh off a 55- week national tour of The Light in the Piazza, she has starred in Broadway productions of My Fair Lady, On Your Toes, Oklahoma!, Legs Diamond and The Scarlet Pimpernel, among others. She is also an acclaimed cabaret performer who has entertained in clubs all across the United States and abroad along with her husband and musical accompanist Marty Silvestri.

Tuesday, August 3, at 7:00 PM -- - A singer, composer, poet and master of improvisation, Steve DePass has performed at the White House on four separate occasions. His songs are witty, poignant, satirical, humorous or philosophical, and his ability to improvise and ad-lib is uncanny.
Tuesday, August 3, at 9:30 PM - A gifted musical actress who has sung opera, classical song and appeared in Broadway musicals, Marni Nixon performed on stage screen and television, most recently the animated feature, Mulan, and TV popular Law and Order. Blessed with a magnificent soprano singing voice, she spent year early in her career dubbing the singing voices of such film stars as Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady), Natalie Wood in West Side Story, and Deborah Kerr in the King and I and Affair To Remember. She performs in concert and cabaret venues all over the United States.

Wednesday, August 4, at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM - Tony nominee and Emmy Award winner Liz Callaway, one of the top singer-actresses on Broadway today, has been seen by Broadway audiences in Merrily We Roll Along, Baby, Miss Saigon, The Three Musketeers, The Look of Love and Cats, in which she played Grizabella (singing "Memory") for five years. She has also starred in numerous Off Broadway shows as well as the internationally acclaimed Sibling Revelry with her sister, Ann Hampton Callaway. Her numerous film and television credits include the singing voice of Anastasia in the award-winning animated film, Jasmine in Aladdin and the King of Thieves, and Nala in The Lion King, II. She is an accomplished studio singer and can be heard on more than 35 recordings, including her three solo albums.
Thursday, August 5, at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM - Faith Prince, the multi-award winning musical actress and comedienne, has been dazzling Broadway audiences ever since she swept the major theater awards - The Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Circle Awards - for her performances as Miss Adelaide in the acclaimed revival of Guys and Dolls. Most recently she starred in Broadway productions of The Little Mermaid, A Catered Affair; Bells Are Ringing, Nick & Nora, Little Me and Noises Off. She also has a number of television credits, including appearances on Ugly Betty, CSI and Medium.

Tickets are available at (www.americantheatrenetwork.com) or by calling TicketWeb at 1-866-468-7619. They are also available at the TSAC box office, 669 Eighth Avenue, between 42nd and 43rd Streets. Ticket prices are $60, $55, $50, $45 and $40. The series will benefit the American Diabetes Association and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

There are two Special Discount Packages: The Diva Series and The Gentlemen Series. Diva Series: Buy tickets ($55 regular price) for the six 9:30 PM performances starring Rebecca Luker (July 28), Donna McKechnie (July 29), Christine Andreas (Aug. 2), Marni Nixon (Aug. 3), Liz Callaway (Aug. 4) and Faith Prince (Aug. 5) - and get 20% off the regular price: a $330 value for $264 (plus TicketWeb charge). Gentlemen Series: Buy tickets ($55 regular price) for the three 7:00 PM performances of Mark Nadler (July 26), Tony Babino (July 27) and Steve DePass (Aug. 3) and a get a 15% discount off the total price: a $165 value for $140.25 (plus TicketWeb charge).

Great Entertainers on Broadway is presented by American Theatre Network.

 

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy