Stephanie D'Abruzzo Makes Cabaret Debut May 23 at Birdland

Tony and Drama Desk nominee, Theatre World Award winner, and current star of the Tony-winning Broadway hit Avenue Q, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, will cross Eighth Avenue to make her long-awaited solo cabaret debut on Monday, May 23, at 7 p.m. at Birdland.

Presented by Jim Caruso and TheaterMania.com as part of Birdland's "New Season," D'Abruzzo's show is directed by Alan Muraoka (Empty Handed, John Tartaglia: AD-LIBerty) with musical direction by Michael Patrick Walker (co-composer of Altar Boyz).

D'Abruzzo, who recently appeared with a star-studded cast at the Children and Art Stephen Sondheim tribute, as well as the Empty Handed concerts, will present an evening of songs as eclectic and multifaceted as Stephanie herself, written by the famous (Cy Coleman, Burt Bacharach, Neil Sedaka) and the soon-to-be famous (Phoebe Kreutz, Gary Adler, Michael Patrick Walker). If you think you know Stephanie from her critically acclaimed dual performance in Avenue Q, or her years of work as a Muppet Performer, this special evening may surprise you!

A 12-year veteran of "Sesame Street," Stephanie stepped out from behind the puppet stage and into the spotlight two years ago, making her off-Broadway and Broadway debuts with Avenue Q, which she has been with since the very first reading. Along the way, she earned nominations for both Tony and Drama Desk awards and received a Theater World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut. She was also honored (with the entire Avenue Q cast) with a special ensemble award by the Outer Critics Circle. Since joining the Broadway community in 2003, she has performed in dozens of venues from Town Hall to Carnegie Hall. D'Abruzzo can be heard on the Grammy-nominated Avenue Q original cast album, and her classic vocal performance with R.E.M. on "Furry Happy Monsters" is included on the "Sesame Street: Songs from Street" CD box set. Young audiences can watch D'Abruzzo's very talented right hand every day on Noggin's "Oobi," as well as on the legendary "Sesame Street." D'Abruzzo will also soon be seen on VH-1's upcoming "I Love the 70s Part II" and "I Love the 80s 3-D." Her other stage credits include Skitch Henderson's New Voices of 2004 at Carnegie Hall, Chess (Actor's Fund Benefit) and Carnival (City Center Encores!). On television, she has lent her vocal talents to "Sheep in the Big City" and "Book of Pooh," and her puppetry skills were also displayed in such shows as "The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss," "Bear in the Big Blue House," "Donna's Day," "Binyah Binyah!" and "The Puzzle Place," as well as the feature film The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland and countless other specials, home videos, pilots, promos and commercials.

Stephanie D'Abruzzo
Monday, May 23rd at 7pm
Birdland (315 West 44th Street, NYC)
$25 plus $10 food/drink minimum
For reservations; 212-581-3080
www.instantseats.com/birdland