Julie Reiber of Broadway's PRISCILLA Releases Debut CD Today

Julie Reiber – the singer and actress currently playing Marion in Priscilla Queen of the Desert on Broadway at the Palace Theater – will release her debut solo album today, April 24. Love Travels is a mix of her original tunes, musical theatre favorites by such composers as Jason Robert Brown ("Still Hurting"), Adam Guettel ("Through The Mountain") and Stephen Schwartz (the special bonus track "Defying Gravity") – each with a special twist – and reinventions of Reiber's favorite artists including Stevie Wonder ("Knocks Me Off My Feet"), Chaka Khan ("Stay"), John Mayer ("Back To You") and Joni Mitchell ("Little Green"). She will celebrate this new recording with a concert at Rockwood Music Hall the following night, Wednesday April 25. The $20 ticket price includes a signed CD. Love Travels will also be available via iTunes, CDBaby.com, Amazon.com and JulieReiber.com

Love Travels is a joyous trip through the musical realms of theater, pop, folk and soul from one of New York's brightest and most compelling voices, supported by a 12 piece band of Broadway veterans. The disc takes advantage of Reiber's considerable Broadway experience by opening with an effervescent take on "I Got Love" from the 1971 musical Purlie. She then offers a majestic reading of "Still Hurting" from one of her favorite stage roles in the Jason Robert Brown musical The Last Five Years. Her careful interpretation of "Through The Mountain," a selection from Adam Guettel's Floyd Collins, echoes the score's Americana influences. Of course there is her unique version of Elphaba's anthem "Defying Gravity" from Wicked, a special bonus track on the CD. She performed the song over one hundred times both at the Gershwin Theater on Broadway and with the show's original Los Angeles company, opposite Adam Lambert as Fiyero.

Julie also finds inspiration in some of the 20th Century's most beloved singer/songwriters. She is able to display her more introspective side – and an appealing folksy charm – on Stevie Wonder's "Knocks Me Off My Feet." Burt Bacharach and Hal David might not recognize their famous 1960s hit "Walk On By," which is recast by Julie as a funky jam, but still retains the song's yearning and naked emotion. James Sampliner's swirling string arrangements intensifies Reiber's vibrant performance of the John Mayer hit "Back To You." Other highlights include her lilting version of Joni Mitchell's "Little Green" and the exciting groove of Chaka Khan's "Stay."

Her three original compositions are no less impressive. "When You're Around" is a dreamy yet introspective love song with an irresistible lyrical quality. "Be My Love," which she wrote for her husband soon after they met, is an eager declaration with a driving rock beat that would fit in on today's Top 40 radio. The sunny "There's A Way" expresses Reiber's innately positive attitude with an upbeat and modern sound.

Love Travels is arranged and orchestrated by James Sampliner, the Musical Director of Legally Blonde, The Wedding Singer and Brooklyn on Broadway – who also serves as co-producer along with Ms. Reiber. Jack Sharkey serves as Executive Producer.

"I love to sing all styles of music," says Julie, "so I knew when I made an album it would be very eclectic and have a little of everything. Through the set list and the variety of the album, together James and I have created a listening experience that represents me fully and speaks to all my musical sensibilities"

Mr. Sampliner commented, "Just like the classic albums of 30 years ago, or a photo album, this is a project meant to be listened to start to finish. Sure, you could have favorite tracks on the album, but to really get the 'story' that Julie is telling, listen to it top to bottom. This is not your typical 'Broadway actor makes a record' album. This is a pop/rock record that harkens back to a great time when sessions had amazing players with live strings, live horns and a live rhythm section. We have strived for a classic feel on new tunes, and a new feel on classic tunes. Even the musical theater songs that we have chosen have been updated for our environment in 2012."

Julie Reiber is currently playing the role of Marion in Broadway's Priscilla Queen of the Desert, fresh off the recent Broadway production of On A Clear Day You Can See Forever,alongside Harry Connick, Jr. Previously, she starred as the quirky, outlandish Connie Bradshaw in the World Premiere performance of Tales of the City at ACT in San Francisco, singing the music of Jason Sellards (Jake Shears) and John Garden of the Scissor Sisters. Other credits include playing the iconic Elphaba over one hundred times in both the Broadway and Los Angeles productions of Wicked, roles in All Shook Up and Brooklyn on Broadway, and Maureen in the National Tour of Rent. Regional credits include Cathy in The Last Five Years at the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Betty Haynes in the classic White Christmas at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, PA; Rose Stopnick in Tony Kushner's Caroline, or Change at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN; and sang "Turn Back O Man" in Godspell at the Paper Mill Playhouse. For her portrayal of Amneris at Arvada Center's Aida, she was honored with Denver's Henry Award for Best Supporting Actress. Reiber has performed as a soloist with symphonies across the world including the Korean Symphony in the Olympic Hall in Seoul, Korea. She was classically trained with a BFA in Vocal Performance and a minor in Acting from Western Washington University. For more information, visit www.juliereiber.com.

To purchase tickets to the CD release concert, visit www.rockwoodmusichall.com. Rockwood Music Hall is located at 196 Allen Street, between Houston and Stanton, New York, NY; 212.477.4155).