Jason Graae to Headline Encompass Grand Cabaret Gala, 6/29

Join Encompass for this spectacular one night only benefit event in a unique Tribeca penthouse with a grand outdoor terrace featuring panoramic NYC views, to take place at 66 Leonard Street, New York, NY 10013 (between Church Street & Broadway) in the penthouse of Mr. Chip Seelig. In addition to an evening of great entertainment, guests can also expect savory hors d'oeuvres and enjoy wines from Mr. Seelig's private collection.

Ticket prices begin at $250 and may be purchased online at www.encompassopera.org or via phone at 718-398-4675. Visa/MC/AMEX or checks will be accepted for payment. Directions by train to 66 Leonard Street: 1 train to Franklin Street or A, C, E to Canal Street.

Jason Graae starred on Broadway in A Grand Night For Singing, Falsettos, Stardust, Snoopy!, Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?, and Off-Broadway in Forever Plaid, Olympus On My Mind, All In the Timing and Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh. He is the recipient of a Drama Desk Nomination, the L.A. Drama Critics Award, the Ovation Award and many more. His acclaimed one-man show has been seen all over the country in such venues as Rainbow & Stars and Birdland in New York City (hailed as one of New York's Top Cabaret Shows for the Year by Time Out NY), to Feinstein's and the Plush Room in Los Angeles and San Francisco, winning four Bistro Awards, and a New York Nightlife Award. He has made several major movie appearances, guest-starred on television shows including the popular Six feet Under, Friends, Frasier, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, provided the voice on numerous cartoons and performed major opera roles with Los Angeles Opera, Dallas Opera, New Orleans Opera, Houston Grand Opera and The Metropolitan Opera companies. Jason has recorded over 45 CDs, including original cast albums, compilations and three solo CDs. For more, visit jasongraae.com.

Winner of two Backstage Bistro Awards and two MAC Awards for Best Musical Direction, Alex Rybeck is best known for his work in cabarets, concerts, on recordings, and in the theater.Broadway credits include Grand Hotel (directed by Tommy Tune) and the original Hal Prince production of Merrily We Roll Along. Regionally, his work on What the World Needs Now won personal praise from Burt Bacharach. Among the many artists he has worked with are Metropolitan Opera star Roberta Peters, "Voice of Hollywood" Marni Nixon, the legendary Kitty Carlisle Hart, as well as Tommy Tune, Michael Feinstein, Faith Prince, Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway, Donna McKechnie, Eartha Kitt, Julie Wilson, Karen Mason, Jeff Harnar, Lee Roy Reams, Rita Gardner, Amanda McBroom, Roslyn Kind, Anna Bergman, and tonight's star, Jason Graae.

ENCOMPASS NEW OPERA THEATRE, one of the nation's leading companies creating and producing new music theatre/opera for over 38 years launched its Jazz Cabaret Gala 6 seasons ago to showcase some of the nation's best cabaret,musical theater and jazz artists including Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway. Over the years Encompass has premiered such works as Angel of the Amazon by Evan Mack, Elizabeth and Essex by Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble, Richard Engquist, and Doug Katsaros, Only Heaven by Ricky Ian Gordon, The Diary of Anne Frank by Grigori Frid, I Tre Compagni by Louis Gioia, and the operatic works of Gertrude Stein and Virgil Thomson. Encompass also is the producer of an annual Environmental Music and Film Festival, PARADIGM SHIFTS at its new home, The Baruch Performing Arts Center.