Free CDs and Reception Set for 'Brel' Audiences, 10/16

On Monday, October 16th, every audience member in attendance at that evening's special performance of the hit musical Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris will be the first to receive complementary copies of the show's new CD, and are invited to a post-performance reception (co-sponsored by Chez Josephine and Camino Sur) at the Zipper Theatre (336 West 37th Street).   The performance is at 8 p.m. and is open to the public. 

"This is our way of celebrating the release of the CD and sharing it with as many Jacques Brel fans as possible," said Dan Whitten, the show¹s lead producer.

The highly anticipated new Off-Broadway recording of the landmark musical (on Ghostlight Records), hits stores officially on November 21st.  Prior to that, the recording will be available exclusively at the Zipper Theatre - home of the hit off-Broadway production and through the show's web site (www.jacquesbrelreturns.com), beginning Tuesday, October 17th.

"The new CD is the first recording of Jacques Brel to be released in America since the beloved original cast recording was issued on the Columbia label in 1968.  That recording remains one of the most enduring show albums of all time.  The new recording of Jacques Brel features 22 numbers from the acclaimed new production, performed by original cast members Robert Cuccioli, Natascia Diaz, Rodney Hicks and Gay Marshall," state press materials. An additional 8 tracks will be available for download on iTunes.  An exclusive track can also be heard on the show's website.

The new recording is produced by Eric Svejcar and Greg Arnold under the auspices of executive producer Dan Whitten and Tiger Theatricals.

Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris is directed by Gordon Greenberg, with music direction by John O'Neill, music supervision by Eric Svejcar, and choreography by Mark Dendy. The musical is produced by Dan Whitten, Bob and Rhonda Silver, and Ken Grossman in association with Tiger Theatricals, and opened at the Zipper on March 27, 2006.

Featuring the current cast that includes Mr. Cuccioli, Ms. Diaz, Ms. Marshall and Jim Stanek, Jacques Brel "transforms Brel's astonishing musical compositions into a theatrical experience that has enthralled audiences for nearly four decades. The original production opened in 1968 at The Village Gate in Greenwich Village and ran for more than four years."

With a cast of four actors and three musicians, the show celebrates Brel's timeless relevance and enduring passions. Translated from the French by American poet Eric Blau and lyricist Mort Shuman ("Save The Last Dance For Me"), the show is "a diverse blend of ballads, tangos, boleros, rock and classics. With raw human emotion, each piece tells a story, examining themes of love, war, adventure, broken dreams, people from all classes, being young, growing old and death...but never forgetting that life, with all its tragedies and complexities, shows us much humor."

The performance schedule is as follows: Monday at 8 p.m., Tuesday at 7 p.m., Thursday at 8 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. & 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.  There are no Wednesday performances.  Tickets are $65-$75 and may be purchased through Telecharge at www.telecharge.com or (212-239-6200).  For more information, please visit www.jacquesbrelreturns.com.