New York City Gay Men's Chorus Presents 2012 Holiday Spectacular: AN AMERICAN HOLIDAY Today

The New York City Gay Men's Chorus is excited to share the 2012 edition of our tradeMark Holiday spectacular - An American Holiday. The show has a traditional flair, contemporized with a few of our signature twists and turns. Join the men of NYCGMC as we celebrate our favorite holiday songs and pay tribute to American heroes. An American Holiday takes place today, December 16th at 3pm and 8pm at New York's landmark theater The Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd Street, New York. Tickets are available through the NYCGMC website, www.nycgmc.org.

This year, the Chorus is elated to have our very special guest, Judy Collins, join us onstage. Ms. Collins has thrilled audiences worldwide with her unique blend of interpretative folksongs and contemporary themes. Her impressive career has spanned more than 50 years. She plays 80 to 100 dates a year around the country and continues to create music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart.

"There is so much powerful American music and this season we're focusing on what it means to be gay in America today. As a Brit, it has been especially uplifting working with the Chorus to create this all-American holiday show," said Dr. Charles Beale, Artistic Director. "And we are so honored to have Ms. Collins, an American musical icon, join us this year. Her messages of hope meld perfectly with the mission of our Chorus."

On the heels of the Chorus's holiday spectacular, the men will continue their momentum with the more-than-over-the-top March production. Following four years of sell-out, sing-along performances, NYCGMC will present Big Gay Sing 5: A Broadway Sing-a-long Extravaganza.

Emceed by 'host extraordinaire' Jim Caruso (Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland, Liza's at The Palace!) this fifth sing-a-long in our Big Gay Sing series explores Broadway! We'll look at what makes the 'gay' in Broadway musical theatre, and feature the music of top gay, straight and sometimes closeted American composers and performers. And, as always, there will be tons of audience sing-a-long opportunities - because at Big Gay Sing you're the star! BGS5 will take place at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts on March 15 and 16, 2013. Tickets go on sale Thursday February 7, 2013.

The Pride Month concert will be a show about belonging. To what extent to do we feel we really 'belong' in America as LGBT citizens? In collaboration with other LGBT choirs, this summer concert takes a quizzical look at gay life in America. "America the Beautiful?: Our Life in Queer America" will be performed at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, June 15, 2013. Tickets go on sale Thursday May 9, 2013.

Tickets are available through www.nycgmc.org.

A fixture on the New York City cultural scene since its founding in 1979, the New York City Gay Men's Chorus has performed in a wide variety of venues from the Metropolitan Opera House to Madison Square Garden, and even Yankee Stadium and Joan Rivers' living room. Named one of the five top amateur choruses in New York City by WQXR, The Classical Music Station in New York City, the group was the first gay chorus to perform in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, the first American gay chorus to tour Europe, and the first to have a recording contract with a major label, having produced eight recordings.

To make a tax deductible donation or find out more about the New York City Gay Men's Chorus, visit www.nycgmc.org or contact Peter Criswell, Executive Director, at 212-344-1777, ext. 1 or executive.director@bapany.org.