Harold Sanditen, Lauren Fox, KT Sullivan, Bryan Batt and More Set for The Crazy Coqs, May-June 2014

May and June sees some new artists and some returns at The Crazy Coqs, including: Harold Sanditen (today, May 2-3); Simon Green with David Shrubsole (May 6-10); Lauren Fox with Jon Weber (May 13 - 17); Gary Williams (May 20 -24); KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler (May 26-28); Opera Tottie (May 29 - 31); Bryan Batt (June 3 - 7); Judy Carmichael with Colin Oxley (June 10 -14); Elaine Delmar (June 17 - 21) and more. Details below!

HAROLD SANDITEN

FLYIN' HIGH

MAY 2 - 3

Harold Sanditen returns to The Crazy Coqs with his brand new show.

An intrepid traveller, having visited 65 countries and counting, Harold will explore the comic side of travel, from Albuquerque to the Zambezi, using the words and music of Cy Coleman, Burt Bacharach, Deitz & Schwartz, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Dizzy Gillespie and The Beatles to name a few.

Since bursting onto the cabaret and jazz scenes in 2008, Harold has performed sold out shows throughout the US and Canada, as well as in venues across London. Prior to his switch to singing, Harold produced theatre for 20 years in the UK and US, working with actors from Oscar and BAFTA winners, to complete unknowns.

Harold is the host of the popular weekly Open Mic Night at the Crazy Coqs, now in its second year. www.haroldsanditen.com

Musical Director: Michael Roulston Bass: Jonty Fisher

SIMON GREEN

with musical director David Shrubsole

SO THIS THEN IS LIFE

MAY 6 -10

Together with his long-time cabaret partner, virtuoso pianist, composer and arranger David Shrubsole, Simon Green makes his Crazy Coqs debut with this brand-new show. If you could sit down with your 21 year old self and share the surprises that life will bring... what would you say? SO, THIS THEN IS LIFE explores the paths untrod, mistakes repeated and ridiculous responses to an ever-changing world. Green and Shrubsole cast their uniquely British gaze over life's rude awakenings. As in their Drama Desk nominated "Travelling Light", they concoct a theatrical marriage of word, music and truths that aim to transport you to a former, more innocent incarnation of yourself.

With inimitable expertise, Simon and David bring their unique cabaret skills to some of the greatest musical writings of the 20th Century. The duo's customary approach to their work is to always begin with words and lyrics. In this show they draw on the works of an eclectic collection of artistes, balancing the heartfelt sentiment of Noel Coward with the contemporary freshness of Elton John, the melodic vigour of Sondheim with the lyricism of Rudyard Kipling and uncovering an inspired piece that blends the words of Alexander Pushkin with the musical magic of Donald Swann. A little Lily Allen, Styles and Drewe, Duncan Sheik and of course David Shrubsole himself are also included.

LAUREN FOX

Love, Lust, Fear & Freedom:

The Songs of Joni Mitchell & Leonard Cohen

MAY 13 - 17

Through stories and song, Lauren Fox examines the creative genius-and conflicted desires - of two of America's most enduring and popular artists. Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen are widely known to be two of the best and most prolific songwriters of their generation. Less known is that they had a short-lived relationship early in their careers. Through their music, Fox explores their histories, triumphs and heartbreaks, delving into the meaning behind the lyrics to give us a better understanding of a painter and a poet who mesmerized the world through song. Highlights of the show include Mitchell's "River" and "Both Sides Now," and Cohen's "Bird On A Wire" and "Hallelujah."

Lauren was born, raised and still lives in New York City. She has been featured in several films, including "Pi," "Noon Blue Apples," "Revolution Summer," "The Hammer," and "We Need To Talk About Kevin." She has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Centre's Rose Theatre, Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, Subculture NYC, Joe's Pub, Monmouth University, and performing arts centres around the country. Lauren is the 2012 recipient of the MAC and Bistro Award for Debut Artist, as well as the 2013 recipient of a Nightlife Award for Outstanding Cabaret Performer. www.laurenfox.net

Musical Director: Jon Weber

GARY WILLIAMS

SINGS NAT KING COLE

MAY 20 - 24

The incredibly popular and charming Gary Williams, returns to Crazy Coqs for his fourth run and with a brand new show celebrating the life and music of the unforgettable Nat 'King' Cole.

Williams has paid tribute to Nat Cole in Tokyo and Australia as well as with some of the UK's great orchestras including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the CBSO and the Northern Sinfonia.

There are so many wonderful songs in Nat Cole's repertoire and Gary will be including favourites like Let There Be Love, Stay As Sweet As You Are, Route 66, When I Fall In Love, Orange Coloured Sky and Straighten Up And Fly Right.

Gary will be accompanied by his Musical Director Matt Regan (BBC Big Band, John Wilson Orchestra, BBC Radio 3).

For more details visit www.garywilliams.co.uk

KT SULLIVAN & MARK NADLER

TIME AFTER TIME

MAY 26 - 28

"In the world of cabaret divas and divos, KT and Mark are the reigning Queen and King. The contrasting style of these two stylish individuals is amazing in how well it works. Mark is the quintessential funny man, Sid Caesar, Danny Kaye and Victor Borge all rolled into one. He'll have you laughing at one moment and then in tears the next. KT possesses a most elegant and quiet beauty (both vocally and physically), and yet she can be more sensually sexual than Sophie Tucker, Mae West and Marilyn Monroe ever were".

"The sweet, lush voice of KT Sullivan and the comedy & piano virtuosity of the very talented Mark Nadler make Time After Time a romantic and nostalgic journey through the works of some of the greatest American composers of the last century. Done in two acts, the evening is thoroughly entertaining and a must-see for lovers of great love songs, great music and great fun."

Award winning cabaret artists, KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler have teamed up once again in order to create an exuberant and stylish celebration of the American Songbook. Their show, "Time After Time", is a sophisticated collage of the very best songs from the greatest American composers and lyricists - George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, Irving Berlin, and Richard Rodgers, to name a few. A dynamic duo at the top of their form, Nadler and Sullivan have won high praise: "...they deliver songs both famous and obscure, in a delirious whoosh of lubricious exuberance." -New York Times "It's a wonderful evening of great music and revelations into the force behind some of the greatest music ever created." -The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.

KT Sullivan and Nadler have created and performed several shows including Make Someone Happy ...In The Words Of Comden and Green, A Fine Romance: A Dorothy Fields Songbook, Everything's Coming Up Roses: The Music Of Jule Styne, Sweet and Lowdown and The Love Story Of Irving Berlin, for which they received the Nightlife Award and the MAC Award, both for Outstanding Revue.

OPERA TOTTIE

SHAKEN, STIRRED WITH A TWIST

MAY 29- 31

After their huge success last year at The Crazy Coqs, Opera Tottie return with their show Shaken, Stirred With A Twist - a classy, clever, stylish cabaret that spans opera to jazz.

Opera Tottie who are Carolyn Allen and Paul Smith perform a truly glamorous evening of warmth, wit and laughter with their own sparkling lyrics.

A familiar face on TV, Carolyn appeared in New Tricks for the BBC playing Carole, a member of Dennis Waterman's ex wives club and she most memorably played Vonny the sexy stripper and snake charmer in Only Fools and Horses and Carol the best friend in The Upper Hand. Other television appearances are Slinger's Day and Just His Luck. Carolyn's West End credits include famous farces, Two Into One and See How They Run, Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Les Miserables and Jo Papp's Pirates of Penzance at the Drury Lane Theatre.

Paul began his career playing for cabaret in Europe and America. He enjoyed three years as Danny La Rue's musical director on stage and television as well as MD for Ronnie Corbett and Anthony Newly. Paul's concert work has taken him all over the world playing and conducting for Pam Ayres, Sheila Steafel, Janie Dee and the late great Dame Hilda Bracket. Paul is a specialist in Victorian Music Hall. www.operatottie.com

BRYAN BATT

BATT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

JUNE 3 -7

Last year, Batt literally blew the roof off at Crazy Coqs with his wonderful and amusing show Batt on a Hot Tin Roof and he returns again with the show, which is born out of Hurricane Katrina. Broadway veteran and Mad Men star Bryan Batt, grew up in New Orleans, a city that fostered his love of music and theatre. After experiencing the flooding and devastation of his hometown, he put together a one-man cabaret show paying tribute to his life there.

The music from the show features Broadway and some original material written for Bryan, peppered with the comedic skills that only Mr. Batt can provide. The cabaret experience is a divine exploration through the wacky and wildly entertaining mind of Bryan Batt.

Television audiences know Batt from his two-time Screen Actors Guild Award-winning performance as Salvatore Romano on the critically acclaimed television series, Mad Men. New York audiences have been delighted by Bryan's brilliant stage performances in Jeffrey, Beauty and the Beast, Cats, Starlight Express, Sunset Boulevard, La Cage and The Scarlet Pimpernel. He also starred as Judge Turner in the recent award winning film 12 Years A Slave.

Musical Director: Michael Lavine

JUDY CARMICHAEL

I Love Being Here With You!

JUNE 10 - 14

Not many contemporary jazz pianists can boast a nickname given to them by the great Count Basie, but Grammy nominee Judy Carmichael can. When Basie heard Judy, on one of her first gigs, he was so impressed, he dubbed her "Stride" in reference to her mastery of that early piano style popularized by Thomas "Fats" Waller and James P. Johnson.

Today, Judy Carmichael is considered one of the greatest pianists in the swing tradition and one of the most sensitive vocalists. Of Judy's singing, America's premier jazz magazine, Jazz Times writes: "Carmichael exhibits a truly remarkable ability to channel Peggy Lee's breathy invitingness and her befogged insouciance (and) echoes the intense perspicacity of the solo albums of Annie Ross. In other words, she winningly blends two of the all-time finest, most intuitive jazz singers."

Judy played to sold-out audiences at Crazy Coqs in June 2013 and returned to the same reception for the late night shows in March of this year.

Guitarist Colin Oxley, with the addition of bassist Dave Green on June 12-14 and a special surprise guest June 13 &14 will join Judy. (Hint: he's been touring with Bryan Ferry!) The program will feature songs from Judy's newest CD "I Love Being Here With You" including compositions by Peggy Lee, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and Gershwin. Judy will also debut her original compositions, "My Manhattan" (music and lyrics) and "I Can See Forever" (Harry Allen music, Judy's lyrics).

AN EVENING WITH ELAINE DELMAR

JUNE 17 -21

Elaine Delmar is a great favourite with both jazz and cabaret audiences and is one of the greatest female jazz vocalists to have come from these shores. Among a multitude of good jazz singers in Britain today, there are few who understand stand the repertoire or express it with such dynamic simplicity. Elaine builds each performance with sure- footed musicianship and wherever she performs she thrills her audiences with her sublime delivery of gems from the great American Songbook.

In her return shows at Crazy Coqs, Elaine will be singing some songs form her London and Broadway musical appearances including Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered, The Trolley Song and Begin the Beguine,

Elaine has combined singing with acting notably in London shows such as 'Finians Rainbow', 'No Strings', Cowardy Custard' and 'Bubbling Brown Sugar' as well as 'Jerome Kern goes to Hollywood' both in London and on Broadway.

Last year, Elaine was the recipient of the" Special Award for Jazz" by the 2013 All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards

Brian Dee on piano and Simon Thorpe on bass

OPEN MIC EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT

Every Thursday from 10.30pm till midnight, Harold Sanditen hosts an open mic evening, which includes regular musicians Michael Roulston on piano and Jonty Fisher on bass. The open mic provides a nurturing environment for composers, musicians and singers to test new work in front of an audience, as well as a great evening of entertainment for audiences, who will have the chance to catch that proverbial 'rising star' or see an existing star, in what is arguably the most beautiful new music room in town.

Tickets are £5.00

All shows play The Crazy Coqs at Brasserie Zedel, 20 Sherwood Street?, London W1F 7ED. TIMES: 8.00pm (Tues -Sat). TICKET PRICE: £25 Bryan Batt, Judy Carmichael, KT Sullivan & Mark Nadler; £20 Harold Sanditen, Simon Green, Lauren Fox, Gary Williams, Opera Tottie, Elaine Delmar. RESERVATIONS: Telephone bookings: 020 7734 4888; Online bookings: www.crazycoqs.com. UNDERGROUND: Piccadilly Circus.

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