Pink Martini Coming to Ridgefield Playhouse, 9/25

The highly entertaining "little orchestra" known as Pink Martini has been described as a rollicking around-the-world musical adventure featuring a dozen musicians and vocalists who perform a multilingual repertoire on concert stages and with symphony orchestras throughout the world. The band is fresh off their eighth studio album, Dream A Little Dream, featuring the powerful voices of co-lead singers China Forbes and Storm Large. They will bring their dynamic stage show to The Ridgefield Playhouse on Thursday, September 25, at 8 p.m. Special guests are The von Trapps, great-grandchildren of Captain and Maria, who will sing with China Forbes. No. 109 Cheese & Wine will serve wine tastings in the lobby at 7:15 p.m. for the reception with local artist Florence Notté, courtesy of Watershed Gallery. Tom Tom's (417 Main St., Ridgefield) will pour a complimentary glass of wine with dinner the night of the show when ticket is presented. This event is part of the Ridgefield Magazine Broadway & Cabaret Series No.?109 Cheese & Wine "Art, Wine and Jazz" Series.

Drawing musical inspiration from all over the world and crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop, Thomas Lauderdale founded Pink Martini in 1994. Their first song "Sympathique" became an overnight sensation in France, was nominated for "Song of the Year" at France's Victoires de la Musique Awards, and to this day remains a mantra ("Je ne veux pas travailler" -- "I don't want to work") for striking French workers. Says Lauderdale, "We're very much an American band, but we spend a lot of time abroad and therefore have the incredible diplomatic opportunity to represent a broader, more inclusive America... the America which remains the most heterogeneously populated country in the world... composed of people of every country, every language, every religion."

Pink Martini has collaborated and performed with numerous artists, including Jimmy Scott, Carol Channing, Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Henri Salvador, Georges Moustaki, Michael Feinstein, Japanese legend Hiroshi Wada, Italian actress and songwriter Alba Clemente, and the list goes on.

The band's new release Dream a Little Dream features Sofia, Melanie, Amanda and August von Trapp, the actual great-grandchildren of Captain and Maria von Trapp, made famous by the movie The Sound of Music. These siblings have been singing together for 12 years and have toured all over the world in concert, drawn into the magical orbit of Thomas Lauderdale.

For tickets ($70 orches., $67 mezz. /balc.), call or visit the box office at The Ridgefield Playhouse, (203) 438-5795, or order online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.