Brian Stokes Mitchell Guests at Bucchino & Friends at Birdland 3/9

Jim Caruso's Cast Party presents John Bucchino & Friends in concert, as part of the Nightlife Award-winning series Broadway at Birdland. The event will take place on Monday, March 9 at 7pm.

Noted songwriter and pianist John Bucchino will present an intimate evening of his work, with Broadway stars singing his songs and praises. Joining John will be Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ann Hampton Callaway, Brian Lane Green, Daisy Prince, Justin Paul, Benj Pasek, Jessica Phillips, Lucas Steele, Jamison Stern, Joan Almedilla, Jacqueline Hester and cellist Yair Evnine. Bucchino and friends will perform songs from the composer's CDs "Grateful," "It's Only Life," and "On Richard Rodgers' Piano," as well as material from his recent Broadway show A Catered Affair.

John Bucchino's collaboration with Harvey Fierstein, A Catered Affair, was recently seen on Broadway at The Walter Kerr Theater. He has written songs for the musicals Urban Myths and Lavender Girl, a piece included in 3HREE, an evening of short musicals compiled by Harold Prince, which had productions in Philadelphia and Los Angeles. It's Only Life, a revue of his songs directed by Daisy Prince, premiered at New York's Summer Play Festival and was presented in a concert version at Lincoln Center. He has also written the songs for the Dreamworks animated film JOSEPH, KING OF DREAMS from which "Better Than I" won the 2000 Video Premiere Award for best song. Some recordings of his work are: GRATEFUL, THE SONGS OF John Bucchino (an RCA Victor CD and companion songbook), SOLITUDE LESSONS (another collection of original songs), ON Richard Rodgers' PIANO (solo piano interpretations of Rodgers songs on the composer's own Steinway), and the PS Classics release of IT'S ONLY LIFE. In September 2003, Harper Collins published an illustrated children's book, based on John's song, called GRATEFUL, A SONG OF GIVING THANKS as part of their Julie Andrews Collection. The book includes a CD of a newly recorded version of the song, sung by Art Garfunkel, and is a winner of the Parents' Choice Gold Award.

John Bucchino's songs have been recorded and performed by Judy Collins, Barbara Cook, Michael Feinstein, Art Garfunkel, Patti LuPone, Yo-Yo Ma, Audra MacDonald, Liza Minnelli, Deborah Voight, The Boston Pops, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, and many others in venues that include Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, The Hollywood Bowl, The Sydney Opera House, and The White House. He has been honored as recipient of The Johnny Mercer Songwriter Award (1997), The Songwriters' Fellowship Award (1998), The ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award (1998), The Second Stage Constance Klinsky Award (2000), The Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Commendation Award (2000), The Jonathan Larson Award (2001), The Kleban Award (2001) and the first annual Fred Ebb Award (2005).

Broadway at Birdland, 315 West 44 Street, NYC
Reservations: 212-581-3080 www.BirdlandJazz.com
$25 cover charge, $10 food/drink minimum

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.