Jim Caruso and
TheaterMania.com will present
Jule Styne In Hollywood on Monday, May 22 at 7pm. The evening is part of The Spring Season at Birdland, a series of concerts featuring top Broadway performers and songwriters at the legendary club (315 West 44th Street, NYC).
The event will celebrate the PS Classics release of "Jule Styne in Hollywood," a recording of both standards and forgotten gems from Styne's illustrious film catalog, including his 10 Academy Award-nominated songs. Performers from the recording who will be singing in the Birdland concert include
Maria Friedman,
Leslie Uggams,
Norm Lewis, Jeff Harnar, Eric Comstock,
Johnny Rodgers,
Klea Blackhurst, Sara Zahn and The Lascivious Biddies (cast subject to change). The cast will sing Styne standards like "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend," "Some People," "It's Been A Long, Long Time," "I'll Walk Alone," "You Make Me Dream Too Much" and "Put 'em In A Box, Tie 'em With A Ribbon," among many others.
Jule Styne is perhaps best remembered as the composer of such Broadway smash hits as
Gypsy, Funny Girl, and
Bells Are Ringing, but before he turned his attention to the stage, he was one of Hollywood's most prolific tunesmiths. Beginning in 1938, he turned out what collaborator Sammy Cahn called an "almost embarassing" string of song hits, garnering ten Academy Award nominations in the process. With the support of his widow, Margaret Styne, PS Classics has been busily unearthing Styne's rich film catalog. The resulting cd, due out May 23, celebrates the master melodist's extraordinary Hollywood output.
There will be a $30 cover plus a $10 food/drink minimum for the concert. Call 212-581-3080 or visit
www.instantseats.com/birdland for tickets.