Laurie Beechman Theatre Announces Star-Filled July Shows

It is with great pleasure and pride that The West Bank Café announces the July, 2006 line-up of live entertainment, to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre. The West Bank Café is located at 407 West 42nd. St., at Ninth Avenue. For reservations, please call 212.695.6909, between the hours of 12pm and 8pm.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre has a rich tradition of presenting cutting-edge work, which has played a role in shaping American theatre and live performance. Since the 80's, the theatre has staged numerous plays and hosted a myriad of live performance events. A young Lewis Black was named playwright-in-residence; Howard Stern aired his third-annual live birthday broadcast from the theater; and the restaurant's regulars have included Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller and Bruce Willis, among others. Other artists who have called the theatre home include actress Alison Fraser, composer Rusty McGee and rock band The Who, who gave four live performances in the theatre while their musical, Tommy, was running on Broadway.

This July, the theatre is proud to announce an exciting and eclectic line-up of performers and performances, all of which will take place in the gorgeous eighty seat venue.

Please note there is a $15 food and/or beverage minimum at each performance, with the exception of The After Party. All major credit cards are accepted.

Friday, July 7th: OPENING NIGHT!

Opening night! (7pm) – Join three of cabaret's most popular and award-winning performers, together for one night only to celebrate The Laurie Beechman Theatre: Grammy-winning composer Julie Gold, who penned Bette Midler's mega-hit From a Distance, the brilliant pop/country belt of Lisa Asher and John Wallowitch, the legendary composer who is a staple of New York nightlife. $20 cover.

Then, stick around for acclaimed vocalist Brandon Cutrell's 9pm performance of Baggage. Direct from the stage at Feinstein's at the Regency, where he debuted this brand new show, MAC and Bistro Award-winner Cutrell offers an eclectic choice of music, including tunes by Alanis Morissette, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Cole Porter. $16 cover.

Finally, from 10:30pm – 3am, hang out for the debut of our weekly showbiz soiree, The After Party. Come and relax with a cocktail as some of New York's most talented performers grace the stage at this social schmoozefest. Or better yet, come up on stage and sing yourself. Iron-lunged hosts Brandon Cutrell and Alysha Umphress (XL Star) keep things hopping, with piano man Ray Fellman at the keys. Located just blocks from the Great White Way, you never know who might drop by. No cover, no minimum.

Sunday, July 9th

Memories of Laurie: The Storefront Sings Beechman (7pm) – Join The Storefront Theatre as they pay homage to one of Broadway's most beloved voices, the late Laurie Beechman. You'll hear songs from Joseph…, Cats, Aspects of Love and many compositions so memorably performed and recorded by the singer. The stellar cast includes a myriad of performers from the Broadway and cabaret stages, including Lisa Asher, Becca Ayres (Avenue Q), Nick Cearley, Donna Lynne Champlin (Sweeney Todd), Brandon Cutrell, Sarajean Devenport, Natalie Douglas, Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls), Liz McCartney (Taboo), Lanny Meyers (Emmy winner), Kate Pazakis, Jana Robbins (Gypsy, Tale of the Allergist's Wife), Julie Reyburn, Ric Ryder (Grease, Blood Brothers), Kate Shindle (Jekyll & Hyde) & Gabrielle Stravelli. $16 cover.

Monday, July 10th

Katie Thompson CD release (7pm) – Katie Thompson is quickly becoming one of today's newest pop sensations, selling out shows all around the states, including New York and Los Angeles. The Laurie Beechman Theatre is pleased to announce the release of Katie's CD, KT Live, with performances by Katie and some of Broadway's most luminary performers. For information, visit www.katiethompson.com. CD's will be available for sale, prior to the commercial release. $15 cover.

John Hill in Skinny Corpse (9:30pm) - John Hill, the hot and hip star of Broadway's Hairspray and The Boy From Oz, as well as the cult hit Bare, comes to The Beechman in a hilarious and revealing evening of songs and ramblings. $15 cover.

Friday, July 14th

Brandon Cutrell in Baggage (9pm) – (See Fri, July 7).

The After Party (10:30pm) – (See Fri, July 7).

Sun, July 16

Memories of Laurie: The Storefront Sings Beechman (7pm) – (See Sun, July 9).

Liz McCartney (9:30pm) – McCartney, who created the role of Big Sue in Broadway's Taboo and has also appeared on the Great White Way in Mamma Mia, Thoroughly Modern Mille and Dance of the Vampires, brings her new cabaret show to The Laurie Beechman for one special performance only. $20 cover.

Monday, July 17

Monday Nights, New Voices (7pm) – This acclaimed Monday night series is switching gears and bringing five of today's newest voices, a Broadway host, as well as an established and an emerging composer to the Laurie Beechman. This celebrated series, now in its second smash year, is one of New York's greatest secrets, having allowed audiences to discover more than 300 of the Great White Way's lesser know talents. Visit www.scottalan.net for updates. $10 cover.

John Hill in Skinny Corpse (9:30pm) – (See Monday, July 10).

Friday, July 21

Julie Reyburn in Everybody's Song (7pm) – Julie Reyburn teams up with her long time collaborator and musical director, Mark Janas, for a brand new show. Everybody's Song is Julie's unique take on the standard and contemporary American Songbook, featuring classics ranging from Jimmy Van Heusen and Harold Arlen to Dar Williams and Burt Bacharach. Featuring George Trapp on cello. $16 cover.

Gabrielle Stravelli (9pm) – Fresh from the international touring company of Hair, Gabrielle Stravelli lends her powerful vocal prowess to tunes by Joni Mitchell, Bob Marley and Duke Ellington. Stravelli is the performer to watch this year. $11 cover.

The After Party - (10:30pm) – (See Fri, July 7).

Sunday, July 23

Amanda Green (7pm) – Sassy and smart singer/songwriter Amanda Green returns to the Laurie Beechman in an evening featuring her own music, performed by some of Broadway's best. Tom Kitt at the piano. $20 cover.

Monday, July 24

Marty Thomas (7pm) – Direct from the stage of the Gershwin Theatre, where he appears eight times a week in Wicked, Marty Thomas brings his soul/pop infused show to the stage of the Beechman for a one night only concert event. $15 cover.

John Hill in Skinny Corpse (9:30pm) – (See Monday, 7/10).

Friday, July 28

Julie Reyburn (7pm) – (See Friday, July 21).

Brandon Cutrell in Baggage (9pm) – (See Friday, July 7).

The After Party (10:30pm) – (See Friday, July 7).

Sunday, July 30

Bill Russell (7pm) – The award-winning lyricist of Side Show, Pageant and Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens presents an evening of his own music, including a dynamic cast consisting of Nick Cearley, Heather MacRae (Falsettos) and Alysha Umphress, with musical direction by Michael Lavine. $10 cover.

Monday, July 24

New Mondays (7pm) – a special one night only revival of the MAC, Bistro and Nightlife Award-winning series from The Storefront Theatre, featuring new work from composers both legendary and up and coming. This special concert features the remarkable Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin), David Zippel (The Woman in White, Hercules, City of Angels) and up and coming composer Deborah Abramson. Included in the cast: Sally Wilfert (Assasins) and Michael Winther (Songs From an Unmade Bed, Mamma Mia) and Musical Director Christopher Marlowe. $20 cover.

And coming up in August….

Fridays, August 4, 11, 18 @ 7pm

Tom Andersen/Scott Coulter/Tim DiPasqua – Three award-winning cabaret performers come together in a show that blends their unique skills. $20 cover.

Sundays, August 6, 13, 20, 27 @ 7pm

Lisa Asher – Acclaimed cabaret and theatre performer, vocal powerhouse Lisa Asher presents a brand new show entitled Temporary Grace. $18 cover.

Monday, August 7 @ 7pm

Steve Marzullo – Celebrated composer Steve Marzullo (I Hid My Love, Somedays) brings a brand new collection of his music to the Laurie Beechman, including a stellar cast including Broadway's Judy Blazer (Titanic), Terri Klausner (Evita) and Sally Wilfert (Assassins), as well as electric vocalists Suzanne Fiore and Rachel Ulanet. $16 cover.

Friday, August 11 @ 9pm

Mark Nadler – Brilliant pianist/vocalist Mark Nadler revives his critically-acclaimed show, Tschaikowsky (and Other Russians), at The Beechman for one night only. $35 cover.

Fridays, August 18 & 25 @ 9pm

Kate Pazakis in The Sexless Years – Dynamite vocalist Kate Pazakis is back in her hilarious tale of fun, sex and lust in the Big Apple. Gay boyfriends, threesomes and musical theatre, all in one show! $16 cover.

Monday, August 21st

Monday Nights' New Voices – the acclaimed series featuring lesser-known voices from the Great White Way is back, featuring a cast of thrilling vocalists and composers. $10 cover.