LIVE FROM GRAMERCY PARK at The Players with LANCE HORNE -- the new concert series dedicated to presenting the best music and theater stars along with dynamic rising talent -- will take place tonight, May 14 at 9:00 PM.
Lance Horne, the acclaimed composer and performer, will serve as Host and Musical Director. Special guests for this edition will include Valerie Geffner (acclaimed singer/songwriter), Robin De Jesus (In The Heights), Thomas March (award-winning poet), Marcus Monroe (juggler and comedian from La Soiree), Samora Pinderhughes (celebrated jazz pianist), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent), Justin Sayre (The Meeting*) and Alexandra Silber (Master Class).
Brought to you by Michael Barra, Christian Campbell, Lance Horne and The Players Events Committee, LIVE FROM GRAMERCY PARK is bringing a new vitality to this venerable institution for a new generation of performing artists. The event will be recorded for a subsequent multi-camera online video broadcast.
The Players is located at 16 Gramercy Park in Manhattan. Tickets are $25 with upfront VIP $35 seats also available. Visit ThePlayersNYC.com for more information.
THE PLAYERS was founded in 1888 by Edwin Booth, America's pre-eminent Shakespearean actor, and 15 other incorporators (including Mark Twain and General William Tecumseh Sherman). Located in a Greek Revival townhouse facing historic Gramercy Park, modeled after London's famed Garrick Club, The Players was the first American club of its kind. Its purpose is "the promotion of social intercourse between members of the dramatic profession and the kindred professions of literature, painting, architecture, sculpture and music, law and medicine, and the patrons of the arts." Today, leaders from a variety of professions in the arts, business, and commerce enjoy The Players' unique spirit of conviviality and discourse. Edwin Booth's bedroom remains on a top floor of the club, undisturbed since his passing in 1893. 2014 marks the 125th anniversary of The Players.
LANCE HORNE is an Emmy Award winning composer, lyricist, singer, pianist, producer and music director of his own work, as well as collaborating with exciting artists around the world. His debut CD, First Things Last - featuring performances by Alan Cumming, Cheyenne Jackson, Lea DeLaria and more - was recently released. Writing in genres from musical theater to rock, classical stage to film scores and work for television, Mr. Horne maintains an active performance schedule on both US coasts, the UK, and Australia. Mr. Horne co-produced Alan Cumming's debut album I Bought A Blue Car Today (Yellow Sound) and debut at Lincoln Center Songbook. In London he appeared at the keys at the Vaudeville for Notes Unleashed: The Music of Lance Horne. He has also served as Music Director for Alan Cumming, Liza Minnelli, Meow Meow, Justin Vivian Bond, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: Justin Vivian Bond & Carol Channing, Michael Urie and Becki Newton of "Ugly Betty," Courtney Act (Logo TV's "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 6, "Australian Idol"), Amanda Palmer at Sydney Opera House, the NBC Orchestra and performances with Ben Folds, Sandra Bernhard, Jake Shears, Thomas Lauderdale (Pink Martini) and the Portland Symphony, Sydney Dance Company, Pina Bausch's Tanzfestival, Seoul Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, Atlanta Symphony, The Dresden Dolls and opening for/working with Dwight Yoakam, Death Cab for Cutie, Tex Perkins, Adam Lambert, Ann Hampton Callaway and the New York Pops. For American Repertory Theater in Boston, he was co-Music Director and co-arranger for Prometheus Bound by Steven Sater and Serj Tankian (System of a Down) and directed by Diane Paulus. Lance has played Command Performances for President Obama, the First Lady, and Queen Elizabeth with Kristin Chenoweth. His work has been heard at Carnegie Hall, American Opera Projects, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, Toronto's Luminato Festival, and in frequent residencies at Sydney Opera House and Joe's Pub. Projects in in development include the new animated film Bremen, the musicals The $trip and Amandine, contributing material to The Etiquette of Death at LaMama, a marionette show for Macy's and a live event for Sydney Mardi Gras. More information is at www.lancehorne.com.
CHRISTIAN CAMPBELL has been working for over 25 years as an actor, producer and director for film, stage, and television; collaborating on projects throughout Europe, Canada, the United States and Asia. He currently sits on the board of directors for The Players where he has been fostering and producing quality creative content under The Players brand for the past two years. He lives with his wife, America Olivo, in Hell's Kitchen. www.xiancampbell.com
MICHAEL BARRA currently serves as the President of Stageworks Media, a NYC-based stage and film production studio which he launched with private equity partners in 2013. Stageworks Media is focused on developing new plays and musicals for the stage, as well as packaging stage properties for extended lives in film, television, publishing, digital, etc. In addition to the LIVE FROM GRAMERCY PARK series, the company also produces Cynthia Von Buhler's immersive hit "Speakeasy Dollhouse," both the long-running Lower East Side production as well as the latest episode, Speakeasy Dollhouse: The Brothers Booth, at The Player Club. Stageworks Media is also known for its Stageworks Collection of musicals, which are created to be licensed to High Schools and Community Theatres around the globe. Prior to Stageworks, Michael served as a senior executive at both The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, the Disney Theatrical Group in New York as well as the head of Licensing for Tony Award Winning producer Daryl Roth (Kinky Boots). Michael has been a member of The Players since 2005 and currently serves as on the Board of Directors and is a founding member of the Events Committee.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride
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