Schimmel Center presents AMERICAN DANCE SPECTACULAR!

The Schimmel Center presents American Dance Spectacular! on Saturday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m., exploring the history of American popular dance throughout the 20th century, including the Charleston, Lindy hop, jitterbug, twist, voguing, and more. The performance is directed, co-written and created by Daniel C. Levine (Broadway's Les Misérables, Chicago, and Mamma Mia!) with choreography by Al Blackstone (Fox's So You Think You Can Dance), music direction by Bryan Perri (Broadway's Wicked and Next to Normal), and book by Susan Batten (Lifetime's Showing Roots) together with six Broadway dancers backed by three vocalists and a live band.

On Friday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m., the Schimmel Center celebrates George and Ira Gershwin's successful sibling songwriting partnership with the world premiere of Salon Songbook: The Gershwins and Friends. The concert includes some of George and Ira's best known hits and rare gems as well as some of Ira's collaborations with Harold Arlen and Jerome Kern. Curated, hosted and written by Deborah Grace Winer (former artistic director of 92Y's Lyrics & Lyricists series) with music direction by John Oddo (music director for Rosemary Clooney) and stage direction by Mark Waldrop (Off-Broadway's When Pigs Fly) the performance features two time Tony nominee Christine Andreas (pictured on right), together with KLea Blackhurst, George Dvorsky and Nicolas King.

AMERICAN DANCE SPECTACULAR!
Saturday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Created, Co-Written and Directed by Daniel C. Levine
Choreography by Al Blackstone
Music Direction by Bryan Perri
Book by Susan Batten

SALON SONGBOOK
The Gershwins and Friends
Friday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Featuring Christine Andreas, KLea Blackhurst, George Dvorsky, Nicolas King
Hosted, Curated and Written by Deborah Grace Winer
Music Direction by John Oddo
Stage Direction by Mark Waldrop

About Schimmel Center
Schimmel Center, located in the heart of downtown Manhattan at Pace University, presents a unique and diverse array of internationally acclaimed artists, encompassing genres including dance, cabaret, music, comedy, world music, and family programming, in an intimate setting with affordable ticket prices. For more information, visit SchimmelCenter.org.

Ticket Information
Tickets are available at www.schimmelcenter.org, by calling 212-346-1715 or by visiting the box office located at 3 Spruce Street. The Schimmel Center box office is open Tuesdays through Saturday from Noon to 5:00 p.m. and three hours prior to performances.

Location Information
Schimmel Center is accessible via the A, C, 2, 3, 4, 5, J, or Z to Fulton Street (William Street Exit), 4, 5, 6 to Brooklyn Bridge (Brooklyn Bridge Exit), and R to City Hall (Broadway Exit); via the Path Train to the World Trade Center stop; and via bus by the M1, M9, M15, M22, M102, B51 to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Stop or the M6 to City Hall/Broadway.

About the Artists
Daniel C. Levine has spent many years working in the Broadway community. As an actor, Levine has performed in such Broadway hits as Les Misérables, Chicago, Mamma Mia!, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Rocky Horror Show, The Who's Tommy, and Little Shop of Horrors in addition to appearing at many of this country's most prestigious regional theaters, including Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater, Cleveland Playhouse, Kansas City Starlight, Lyric of Oklahoma City, West Virginia Public Theater, North Carolina Music Theater, and The Orpheum Theater in Memphis. In 2013, Daniel began the Broadway and Cabaret Series at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut with the wildly successful, "Broadway Backstage!," an insider's look into the lives and careers of Broadway stars. On Stage At Kingsborough commissioned Daniel C. Levine Productions to create "DANCIN' BROADWAY" in 2014. His production "BORN TO DANCE!" follows the evolution of dance on Broadway and how early choreographers, such as Jerome Robbins and Gower Champion, influenced today's Broadway choreographers. In 2015, Daniel was appointed as Artistic Advisor to The Ridgefield Playhouse where he curates the Broadway and Cabaret Series. He is also Artistic Director of ACT of CT.

Al Blackstone is a New York City based director, choreographer, and educator and the recipient of the 2011 Capezio A.C.E. Award for Choreographic Excellence. While working mostly in musical theater, his passion for contemporary and jazz dance enrich his unique approach to storytelling. Most recently Al created choreography for the new Off-Broadway musical The View Upstairs at the Lynne Redgrave Theater in downtown Manhattan. In June 2016, he directed, choreographed, and wrote the original dance narrative Freddie Falls In Love at Signature Theater. It was his second full-length work since Happy We'll Be premiered at the legendary Roseland Ballroom in July 2012. As an Associate Choreographer Al has worked alongside Sonya Tayeh on The Last Goodbye (The Old Globe), Kung Fu (Signature Theatre), Head Over Heels (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), and The Wild Party (New York City Center). Al has created new work for So You Think You Can Dance (Seasons 12, 13, and 14), the contemporary dance company 10 Hairy Legs, The Fire Island Dance Festival, Broadway Bares, Pace University, University of the Arts, The Juilliard School, and Marymount Manhattan College. Additional choreography credits include the opening numbers for BCEFA's Easter Bonnet (2013-14) and Gypsy of the Year (2015-16). He is currently on faculty at the Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway, and co-hosts a monthly dance party in Brooklyn called Sole Therapy.

Deborah Grace Winer is a leading proponent of the classic American Songbook. She recently completed a nine season run as Artistic Director of the 92Y's venerable Lyrics & Lyricists concert series, presiding over 50 original shows and steering the series back to audience and critical acclaim. Her shows there include Baby, Dream Your Dream: Dorothy Fields and the Women of the American Songbook (2017); New York: Songs of the City; Jerome Kern Coast to Coast; The Crowd's at El Morocco; and Fred and Ginger in So Many Words, among many others. She was featured on PBS's special, Jimmy Van Heusen: Swingin' with Frank & Bing; on the PBS American Masters special, Yours for a Song: The Women of Tin Pan Alley, and on A&E's Biography episode on Rosemary Clooney. She has also appeared on NPR's Fresh Air and Morning Edition. As an author and dramatist, her four books include On the Sunny Side of the Street: The Life and Lyrics of Dorothy Fields, recently re-issued as an Amazon ebook, and The Night and the Music: Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Cook and Julie Wilson Inside the World of Cabaret. Her articles have appeared in The New York Times, and her plays have appeared off-Broadway and regionally.

Christine Andreas' most recent show at 54 Below, Piaf - No Regrets!, captured the genius of Edith Piaf, and in 2015, she also appeared in New York embodying Edith Piaf in Streetsinger, a cabaret/dance production with Rioult Dance NY celebrating Piaf's 100th anniversary. Ms. Andreas appeared in the 20th anniversary production of My Fair Lady as Eliza Doolittle, followed by the revival of Oklahoma!, as Laurey, working with Billy Hammerstein & Agnes deMillle; and On Your Toes, as Frankie Frayne, directed by the legendary director George Abbott (Tony Nomination). She last appeared on Broadway as Jacqueline in the Tony/Olivier Award winning production of La Cage Aux Folles with Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge, after starring as Margaret Johnson in the much acclaimed National tour of The Light In The Piazza. Christine created the role of Marguerite St. Just on Broadway in the original production of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Other Broadway credits include Words and Music, Nancy in Angel Street, Rebecca in Rags, and Alice in Legs Diamond.

KLea Blackhurst is known for her award-winning tribute to Ethel Merman, Everything The Traffic Will Allow. Most recently Klea starred in the world premiere production of Hazel at Drury Lane Oakbrook in Chicago and The Nutty Professor, which premiered in Nashville, directed by Jerry Lewis and featuring a score by Marvin Hamlisch and Rupert Holmes. Klea starred in Goodspeed Opera's 50th Anniversary production of Hello, Dolly! She's appeared in legendary halls including The London Palladium, Carnegie Hall, The Royal Albert Hall, and Jazz at Lincoln Center and with symphony orchestras from Atlanta to Philadelphia. In addition to her Merman tribute, other shows include Autumn in New York: Vernon Duke's Broadway and Dreaming of a Song: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael, in collaboration with Billy Stritch. Klea is a charter member of the Jerry Herman Legacy Concerts for the ASCAP Foundation and a distinguished Alumna of the University of Utah.

George Dvorsky's Broadway credits include the title role in The Scarlet Pimpernel, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Passion, Marilyn: An American Fable and The Best Little Whorehouse... He appeared on the National Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His Off-Broadway credits include The Fantasticks, Closer Than Ever, Pete N Keely, Dames At Sea and 'And The World Goes Round. George starred in the New York City premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella as Prince Charming at Lincoln Center. On PBS, he was featured in Passion: Live at Lincoln Center starring Patti LuPone and starred with Bea Arthur and the Boston Pops in Bernstein's Broadway. His solo recordings are available on the JAY Records label.

Nicolas King has been performing professionally since he was 4 years old. Having been in three Broadway productions (Beauty and the Beast, A Thousand Clowns, and Carol Burnett's Hollywood Arms directed by Hal Prince) before the age of 12, he has also appeared in many national TV commercials, including his award winning Oscar Mayer Lunchables commercial. King has appeared on many TV talk shows such as "The View", "The Today Show", "Sally Jesse Raphael", "Liza & David", and twice on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. His latest album, On Another Note, is with jazz icon Mike Renzi and is available on iTunes. Nicolas has performed on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon for 8 consecutive years live in Las Vegas, the Mabel Mercer Foundation's "Cabaret Convention" for 6 years, and originated the voice of "Oscar" on Discovery Kids' "Kenny The Shark." King is the recipient of the 1995 and 1996 Talent America Award, 2010 Julie Wilson Award, 2015 AMG Award for Artist of the Year, and New York's Bistro Award in 2012 for Outstanding Performer of the Year. He has also performed alongside his mentor, Liza Minnelli, since he was 11 years old as her opening act from 2002-2012, touring all over the country.