Joshua Payne to Perform at Ridgefield Playhouse, 10/16

People Magazine called singer/songwriter Joshua Payne a Rising Star and one of the sexiest men alive. He is an opera singer turned pops baritone, which means his repertoire runs deep. He opened at The Ridgefield Playhouse for The Bacon Brothers earlier this year and will be back with his own show on Wednesday, October 16, at 7:30 p.m. His debut CD is Your Love, My Home. Joshua stunned the audience as he delivered a jaw-dropping performance. This up-and-coming artist will perform songs from his new album While He Was Boy along with some surprise numbers. Special guest is Lines West, a rock-to-country-to-grunge band with a little Brit Invasion mixed in. Fifty Coins (426 Main St., Ridgefield) is offering 10% off the dinner bill before the show when ticket/stub is presented. This event is the first in a new series where budding artists are showcased in the Bruce Bennett Nissan LEAF Emerging Artist Series. Just as Bruce Bennett has introduced new categories of vehicles, the most recent of which is the 100% Electric Nissan LEAF car, to the greater Ridgefield community, this new series makes it possible to experience emerging talent. Media sponsor is i95fm The Home of Rock 'n' Roll.

As People magazine reported, after a recent concert in New York, "every woman in the place went straight for him," says record producer Michael Omartian. "He's a magnet." Joshua Payne's story is interesting to say the least. This accomplished singer/songwriter was born nearly deaf and had his hearing restored through surgery when he was three years old. He grew up singing in four languages, playing four sports and earned a master's degree in vocal performance. But it's his singing that's always gotten him the girls. Payne says that he used to learn a Journey tune because he thought, "Man, is she going to love 'Open Arms!'", and it worked.

On his new album, Payne performs three pop classics, Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now", "If" by David Gates of Bread, and "Let It Be Me" by the legendary French chanteur Gilbert Bécaud, as well as his original compositions. An eight-time regional and state winner with the National Association of Teachers of Singing while in college, Payne entered the Master of Fine Arts program in vocal music at the University of Memphis and was an artist-in-residence at Opera Memphis with whom he played the title roles in Don Giovanni and Sweeney Todd.

For tickets ($28), visit ridgefieldplayhouse.org or call the box office at 203-438-5795. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.