Rachel York Launches Series of 2009 Symphony Concert Events

Broadway leading lady Rachel York, most recently seen in the world premiere musical Turn of the Century at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, will launch a series of symphony concert appearances this month. Now through April, the versatile stage, screen, and recording artist will be a guest soloist performing the works of Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, and Andrew Lloyd Webber with major orchestras across the country.

On January 15 and 17, York will sing selections from West Side Story, Wonderful Town, On the Town and Candide in Bernstein on Broadway with the Minnesota Orchestra under the direction of Osmo Vänskä. On February 7 and 8, she lends her voice to the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra in a program called Andrew Lloyd Webber and Friends. Selections from Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Evita, A Chorus Line, Starlight Express, Cats and Chicago will be featured. On February 28, York stars in An Evening of Broadway Classics with the Long Bay Symphony in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The program is a special presentation of the Rotary Club of Myrtle Beach to benefit the organization's international Polio Plus program. York concludes her tour on April 5 with the Gulf Coast Symphony in Ft. Myers, Florida in an evening titled Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Rodgers featuring memorable hits from Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita, Oklahoma! and South Pacific. The Gulf Coast concert is also the entertainment portion of the symphony's annual Black Tie Gala.

York is best known for her Broadway performances in City of Angels, Les Misérables, Victor/Victoria (Drama Desk Award) with Dame Julie Andrews, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Sly Fox with Richard Dreyfuss, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels co-starring Jonathan Pryce. Additionally, York has starred in the national tour of Camelot (Carbonell Award) opposite Michael York, Putting It Together (Drama Desk Nomination) also with Julie Andrews, the national and London tours of the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Kiss Me, Kate (Helen Hayes Nomination), Dessa Rose at the Lincoln Center Theater (Drama Desk Nomination), Anything Goes (Ovation Nomination), Ragtime, Evita, Summer of '42, Summer and Smoke, and Crucifer of Blood with Billy Crudup, and The Odd Couple with Jason Alexander and Martin Short.

In concert, York's numerous appearances include the National Symphony and the Pittsburgh Pops under the direction of conductor Marvin Hamlisch; Broadway Showstoppers with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops; The Sound of Music at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the direction of John Mauceri; the San Diego Symphony; the Colorado Symphony Orchestra; the Israeli Opera; and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed her celebrated cabaret For the Love of It to rave reviews on both coasts, including appearances at Feinstein's at Loews Regency and the Metropolitan Room in New York City.

York's film credits include One Fine Day, Billy Bathgate, Killer Instinct, Second Honeymoon, Au Pair II, and her courageous portrayal of Lucille Ball in the CBS made for television movie, Lucy. Her performances in Kiss Me, Kate (filmed for PBS's Great Performances series) and Victor/Victoria are available on video/DVD. York has also appeared on several popular TV series including Hannah Montana, Frasier, Reba, Numb3rs, Close to Home, Arli$$, Spin City, The Naked Truth and Diagnosis Murder. In addition, she is the voice of Bitty in Higglytown Heroes and Circe on The Justice League.

York's debut solo album, Let's Fall in Love, has been an enormous success since its release. She can also be heard on the soundtrack of Billy Bathgate, the live in concert recording of Broadway Showstoppers: Best of the Tonys with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, and the original cast recordings of City of Angels, Putting It Together, Victor/Victoria, The Scarlet Pimpernel Encore, Dessa Rose, and  Summer of '42.

For more information on Rachel York or any of the scheduled concerts, please visit her on the web at www.rachelyork.net.