Stephanie D'Abruzzo Joins Urban Stages' WINTER RHYTHMS 2014 Lineup

Urban Stages, in association with producer/director/lyricist and Director of Musical Programming Peter Napolitano, today announced that Tony Award Nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo will join the line-up for their sixth series of musical evenings entitled WINTER RHYTHMS 2014, beginning Tuesday, December 2nd and continuing through Sunday, December 14th at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

WINTER RHYTHMS 2014 marks the sixth year that Urban Stages has brought noted musical artists to its stage during the holiday period. This award-winning series benefits Urban Stages' acclaimed Outreach Program, which brings over 300 free "arts in education" presentations to libraries and schools throughout the five boroughs.

This year's festivities will kick-off with an all-star tribute to Bing Crosby on December 2nd, hosted by renowned musical director Bill Zeffiro. This evening of songs made famous by the legendary giant of popular song, film, TV and radio will feature Steve Ross, Jeff Harnar, Marissa Mulder, Mary Foster Conklin, Julie Reyburn, Anna Marie Sell, Marissa Miller, Miles Phillips and Susan Winter. Crosby biographer Gary Giddins (longtime music critic for The Village Voice) will appear with rare Crosby clips. Coincidentally, Giddins is featured in the PBS documentary American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered, premiering nationwide on PBS that same evening. ($40 ticket includes Opening Gala Champagne Reception with the Artists).

Stephanie D'Abruzzo, best known for her Tony Award nominated performance in Avenue Q, has joined the performers in the tribute to Jim Henson and "Sesame Street:" The Lovers, The Dreamers and Jim. Miles Phillips, Jim Stanek, Gabrielle Stravelli, Lucia Spina and Nina Hennessey also join the previously announced artists from Broadway, film, television, cabaret, classical music and jazz, including Adam B. Shapiro, Andrea Prestinario, Anna Marie Sell, Barbara Fasano, Barbara Minkus, Barry Kleinbort, Barry Levitt, Beth Falcone, Bill Goffi, Bill Zeffiro, Brian Dorais, Carole J. Bufford, Cindy Marchionda, Clayton G. Williams, Clint Holmes, Colleen Zenk, Daryl Glenn, David Evans, David Fuller, David Krane, David Vernon, Devon Yates, Doreen Montalvo, Edd Clark, Eileen Tepper, Eric Comstock, Erin Cronican, Gabrielle Stravelli, George Dvorsky, Gretchen Reinhagen, Helena Grenot, Hilary Kole, Jake Wesley Stewart, Janice Hall, Jeff Harnar, Jeffrey Saver, Jeremy Abram, Jim Brochu, Jim Stanek, Joanna Morton Gary, Julie Gold, Julie Reyburn, Karen Akers, Karen Oberlin, Kathy Lombardi, Kimberly Faye Greenberg, Klea Blackhurst, Kristoffer Lowe, Stacy Sullivan, Lauren Fox, Laurie Krauz, Barbara Porteus. Mary Liz McNamara, Len Cariou, Lennie Watts, Lianne Marie Dobbs, Liz Rubino, Lynne Halliday, Maria Fernanda Brea, Mark Janas, Marissa Miller, Marissa Mulder, Marni Nixon, Mary Foster Conklin, Mary Lahti, Mary Liz McNamara, Matthew Martin Ward, Meg Flather, Michele Bautier, Minda Larsen, Natalie Dixon, Natalie Douglas, Nick Levin, Phil Geoffrey Bond, Rita Gardner, Rob Langeder, Rob Lester, Samantha Northart, Sara Wordsworth, Sara Zahn, Scott Morgan, Scott Thompson, Sean Harkness, Sidney Myer, Sierra Rein, Sigali, Stacie Perlman, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Stearns Matthews, Stephen Cole, Stephen Elkins, Steve Ross, Steve Schalchlin, Sue Matsuki, Sunny Leigh, Susan Winter, Todd Ellison, Tom Gamblin, Tom Toce, Tracy Sallows, Tracy Stark, as well as the vocal group Duchess, Wall Street Journal columnist Will Friedwald, and former Village Voice critic Gary Giddins.

Tickets are $25 per show (unless otherwise noted). A special $60 package enables you to see any three shows (except opening, closing, and open mic nights; subject to availability, call 212-421-1380). Tickets may be purchased on www.smarttix.com or 212/868-4444. For complete schedule information, visit urbanstages.org.

Highlights of the twenty show schedule include Tony Award winner Len Cariou, Rita Gardner (The Fantasticks) and 54 Below's Phil Geoffrey Bond in an evening of excerpts from one-person plays and musicals (December 8); Cole Mining with Marni Nixon, Klea Blackhurst, Colleen Zenk, Jim Stanek, George Dvorsky and more performing the songs of award-winning lyricist/librettist Stephen Cole (December 3); a centennial celebration of the songs of Hugh Martin (Meet Me in St. Louis) conceived and hosted by Wall Street Journal columnist Will Friedwald with Gabrielle Stravelli (December 4); New World Waking a song cycle by multi-award-winning composer/lyricist Steve Schalchlin (The Last Session) (December 6); Furthermore: Excerpts from New Musicals by award-winning songwriters including Beth Falcone (Wanda's World) and Sara Wordsworth (In Transit) (December 7); Barry's Jazz Jam featuring the acclaimed Barry Levitt Trio with guest vocalists including Hilary Kole and Michele Bautier (December 10); Broadway by Guitar featuring arrangements of classic and contemporary show tunes by celebrated jazz guitarist/recording artist Sean Harkness with special guests including Karen Akers, Karen Oberlin and Janice Hall (December 11); an evening of MAC Award-winning songs hosted by lyricist Tom Toce with Julie Gold (December 12); The Lovers, The Dreamers, and Jim, a celebration of the life and works of Jim Henson in honor of the 45th birthday of "Sesame Street" with Adam B. Shapiro (HBO's The Normal Heart), Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Avenue Q) and more (December 13).

Winter Rhythms will close on December 14th with From All of Us To All of You: Seasonal Songs and Disney, Too! This has become the traditional holiday closing concert and a favorite of audiences, mixing holiday standards with songs from Disney movies. Drama Desk Award winner Jim Brochu will host this year's version, featuring Clint Holmes, Stacy Sullivan, Janice Hall, David Vernon, Sue Matsuki, Edd Clark, Mary Lahti, Helena Grenot, Joanna Morton Gary, Nick Levin, Gretchen Reinhagen, Lennie Watts, Doreen Montalvo and more, with Matthew Martin Ward as Musical Director: ($40, includes Gala Closing Champagne Reception with the Artists).