Eric Michael Gillett's WE LOST IT AT THE MOVIES Series Kicks Off at the Laurie Beechman Tonight

Eric Michael Gillett and friends will present We Lost It at the Movies, the premiere of a new bi-monthly series, beginning tonight, February 17 at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42 Street (Between 9 and 10 Avenues). Reservations: 212.695.6909. Music charge $20. Food/drink minimum $15. $5 Discount to AEA/Singers Forum/HB Studio/MAC/Cabaret Hotline.

Eric Michael Gillett and a team of talented performers will share stories about their favorite films, the songs that most influenced them, the history of the songs in the films and the people who originated them, and even gossip about Hollywood's heyday.

Eric Michael Gillett is our director and host. Jeff Cubeta will be musical director. Performers include featured guest Valerie Lemon, Sheera Ben-David, Raissa Katona Bennett, Shana Farr, Chris J. Handley, Elise Holman, Leah Jennings, Eva Kantor, Marissa Mulder, Jennifer Sheehan, Sonja Stuart, and Melanie Vaughan.

Featured guest Valerie Lemon performed across the United States for twelve years as concert soloist for Academy Award-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch. She has also been the star of her own solo shows, "The Music of Marvin Hamlisch" and "With a Song in My Heart: The Songs of Jane Froman." www.valerielemon.com

Sheera Ben-David has performed cabaret at various venues in and around Manhattan, such as The Metropolitan Room, The National Arts Club, Rose Theatre at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Oak Room of The Algonquin Hotel, The Royal Room of The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida and many other benefits and events. She was awarded the Ira Eaker Award for Special Achievement at the Backstage Bistro Cabaret Awards in April of 2007. Her latest album, "On a Carousel," is available for purchase at www.cdbaby.com and on iTunes. www.sheerabendavid.com

Raissa Katona Bennett's Broadway performances include the lead role of Christine in "Phantom of the Opera," and "Chess" and the First National Tours of "Cats" and "Parade." She is the MAC and Bistro Award Winning host and producer of the Concerts for City Greens, and she recently launched her new CD, "Another Kind of Light" on LML Music with a critically-acclaimed week-long engagement at Feinstein's. The New York Times said she is "A tart-tongued commentator on modern life" and "Her theatrical soprano...is an effective vehicle for witty storytelling." This season, she has been nominated for four Broadway World Cabaret Awards. www.raissakatonabennett.com

Shana Farr is winner of the 2012 Julie Wilson Award from the Mabel Mercer Foundation. Out now is her debut album "Out Of The Shadows." Shana is a gifted songstress praised by critics at the Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Backstage, and Cabaret Scenes, among others. www.shanafarr.com

Chris J. Handley has appeared in theater companies in Manhattan and elsewhere, in productions of "The Producers," "Singing in the Rain," "Hello Dolly," "She Loves Me," "The Pajama Game," and more. He has been featured on the web series "Empire" and has produced and written the web comedy "This Just In." Chris recently traveled and performed up and down the MIssissippi River on the American Queen steamboat. www.chrisjhandley.com

Leah Jennings has played in the national touring companies as Molly in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" and Milly in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." Recently she played in the lead in "Parade." She loves to work in national theater companies because it's an extraordinary way to travel the world. www.leahjennings.com

Eva Kantor has played roles such as Penny in "Hairspray" and the title role in the national tour of "Anne of Green Gables." In the spring, she will be debuting her first solo show, "The Way I Am," under the direction of Eric Michael Gillett, with musical direction by Don Rebic. www.evakantorsings.com

Marissa Mulder was the winner of the 2011 Metro Star Challenge at the Metropolitan Room. Her prize was a four-night prime-time booking of her own. That show, "Illusions," received raves in both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. This March, Miss Mulder will return to her hometown to perform her show, "Look to Your Heart," a tribute to the music of Jimmy Van Heusen. She is currently at work on her brand new act, "The Piano Has Been Drinking," featuring the music of Tom Waits, which will premiere at the Metropolitan Room March 26-29 at 7pm. www.marissamulder.com

Jennifer Sheehan has appeared in concerts, cabarets, and theaters across the U.S. and the U.K. She made her debut at the Guild Hall in the Hamptons in performance with Eric Michael Gillett. Of "the rising cabaret star," Stephen Holden of The New York Times writes: "The beauty of Ms. Sheehan's voice is refreshingly unvarnished and devoid of circus tricks. Drawing from a deep well of feeling, she interprets lyrics from the point of view of someone who knows who she is and conveys empathy in a voice that glows with insight." www.jennifersheehan.com

Sonja Stuart appeared on Broadway in the smash revival of "No, No Nannette" as well as in the revival of "My Fair Lady." She was also featured in the musical "One Night Stand" and in the films "All That Jazz," "Everybody's Fine" and "Blue Collar Boys." She has also been a hugely successful commercial actress.

Melanie Vaughan is the veteran of 10 original cast Broadway shows including the legendary "Sunday in the Park with George," "Starlight Express," "Parade," "Rex," "The Most Happy Fella" (revival), and "Ring of Fire." She has appeared on concert stages around the world and teamed with Eric Michael Gillett for the acclaimed cabaret "It Takes Two: The Duets of Stephen Sondheim."

The show has been directed by Eric Michael Gillett, known as an actor, singer, and director. He is in the middle of his own show, "Careless Rhapsody: The Lyrics of Lorenz Hart," appearing presently at 54 Below. Remaining performances are on February 26 and 27. For more information, see www.54below.com. www.ericmichaelgillett.com

Musical director Jeff Cubeta is a vocalist, songwriter, and pianist. He has musical directed numerous shows for Eric Michael Gillett. Watch for the announcement of a solo show of all his original music. www.jeffcubeta.com

This special series on movies will appear every other month. Stay tuned for our next lineup.

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