Christina Bianco, John Bolton, Christiane Noll and More Set for AN EVENING WITH FRANK LOESSER at Schimmel Center

On Saturday, October 29 at 7:30pm, the American Showstopper series will celebrate the works of Frank Loesser whose astounding career as composer, lyricist, and librettist earned him the reputation as one of Broadway's most versatile writers.

Guys & Dolls and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying were Loesser's top Broadway hits, each winning multiple Tony Awards and generating numerous Broadway revivals, each with long runs. How to Succeed... won Loesser the Pulitzer Prize. His contributions to the Great American Songbook include "Luck be a Lady" "Heart and Soul," and "Baby, It's Cold Outside."

American Showstoppers is celebrating its fifth year at the Schimmel Center. Under the baton of Fred Barton, the American Showstoppers series has celebrated the work of eight celebrated American composers and lyricists over the years, including Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jerry Herman, and Richard Rodgers. Each concert in the series has included a full 14 piece orchestra and a cast of Broadway's finest singers and dancers.

Fred Barton (Orchestrator/Conductor/Producer) is currently musical director and pianist for the off-Broadway smash Spamilton. He is an acclaimed composer, lyricist, orchestrator, conductor and actor. His arrangements are played regularly by the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall and major symphonies around the country. He debuted in New York as the original arranger/pianist for Forbidden Broadway.

Christina Bianco captured international acclaim as a YouTube sensation with her diva impression videos, gaining over 23 million views, and appearances on the The Ellen Degeneres Show and The Today Show. She has played to sold-out crowds across the US and UK, with extended runs at London's Hippodrome, Royal Albert Hall's Elgar Room, and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Christina is a two-time Drama Desk Award nominee for Forbidden Broadway and Application Pending.

John Bolton recently starred on Broadway in Dames at Sea, and is about to return in the highly-anticipated Anastasia. He is best known for his acclaimed performance as The Old Man in A Christmas Story: The Musical both on Broadway (for which he received a Drama Desk nomination) and on tour. He was featured in the all-star Guys & Dolls concert (also at Carnegie Hall) and with the NY Philharmonic at Lincoln Center. TV work includes roles on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Blue Bloods, Boardwalk Empire, The Good Wife and 4 seasons as Bruce Caplan on Gossip Girl.

Damon Kirsche has played a long list of leading musical theatre roles from coast to coast. He can be seen as Civil War era performer Harry McCarthy in Ted Turner's epic Gods and Generals and gadfly talent scout Ranny Sanson in the TV series LA Confidential. He recently appeared in Jerry Herman's Dear World, starring Tyne Daley. Recordings include The Ziegfeld Follies of 1936. Training: Juiliard.

Jesse Luttrell critically acclaimed vaudeville/burlesque musical revue BAWDY ran at Stage72/The Triad from 2009 to 2015. Select theatrical credits include: Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Emcee in Cabaret, Frank-n-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, and both Munkustrap and Rum Tum Tugger in Cats.

Karen Murphy Career highlights include the 2010 Broadway revival of A Little Night Music, Mary Poppins (National Tour), a Drama Desk Nomination for My Vaudeville Man; Zombie Prom (Encore Taking Off Award) and Forbidden Broadway in New York and Tokyo. Additional Broadway credits include 42nd St., Titanic, 9 to 5, and National Tours of White Christmas, The Wizard of Oz, and Les Miserables.

Christiane Noll Broadway/Tour: Chaplin (Drama Desk nom), Ragtime (Tony & Drama Desk nom, Helen Hayes award), Urinetown (Ovation award), and Jekyll & Hyde (FANY award) Film & TV: The Sound of Music Live, The King & I (Singing Anna). Other: 1776 (Encores), Closer than Ever (Off-Bway Alliance award), The New Moon (Encores), Lincoln Center "American Songbook Series." Five solo CDs.

Scott Thompson (Director/Choreographer) has directed and choreographed Broadway's brightest talents in over 100 productions nationwide. Scott founded Austin Musical Theatre and won Critics' Awards for many productions, including Oliver! (with Stephanie J. Block), Man Of La Mancha (with Kevin Gray and Ken Page), and A Chorus Line (with Paige Davis). Scott directed and choreographed the HBO documentary film Cathouse: The Musical, and his production of Sweet Charity won the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and Best Choreography. Scott's production of Dames At Sea won the prestigious San Francisco Theatre Critics Award for Best Director, Best Choreographer, and Best Musical.

John Preator appeared as one of 32 finalists on season 3 of FOX television's global phenomenon, American Idol, alongside Fantasia Barrino and Jennifer Hudson. Regional theatre credits: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy), Les Miserables (Marius), and Oklahoma! (Curly) Currently, John can be seen around the country as part of a three-man tribute concert to Michael Bublé: Shades of Bublé.

Michael Walters will play a leading role in the forthcoming Broadway Musical The Honeymooners. Michael has played roles in over 75 musicals in regional theatres all over the US, including Max Bialystock inThe Producers, Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof and Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys And Dolls to name a few. Michael is recognized for his spot-on impersonation of the legendary Jackie Gleason, with the blessing of the Gleason estate.

Schimmel Center is located in the heart of Downtown Manhattan at Pace University. At the Schimmel Center, it is our mission to present internationally acclaimed artists in the fields of dance, cabaret, music, comedy, lecture, world music and dance and family programming. We strive to provide affordable tickets allowing all patrons access to the high quality talent in the intimate setting of the Schimmel Center auditorium. Patrons enjoy performances as they've never seen or heard them before. By participating in our programming, you contribute to the rich culture of arts and education that we hold so dear in downtown Manhattan. For more information, visit SchimmelCenter.org.

Schimmel Center is located at 3 Spruce Street, Manhattan; conveniently located near the new Fulton Center and just blocks from One World Trade Center. For additional information and up-to-the-minute updates, contact the Schimmel Center Box Office at (212) 346-1715.