Lee Horwin Returns To New York Cabaret In BLUES, BALLADS & SIN SONGS

Lee Horwin return to the New York cabaret stage as the legendary Libby Holman in BLUES, BALLADS & SIN-SONGS: The Legend of Libby Holman written and directed by Tony nominee Walter Willison with Joel A. Martin on piano, for two performances only, on Monday April 30th and Monday May 7th at 7 PM at The Triad Theatre, 158 West 72nd Street (just east of Broadway).

BLUES, BALLADS & SIN SONGS tells the story of Libby Holman, the 1920s torch singer with "a voice like a purple flame" who introduced "Body and Soul", "Moanin' Low", "Something to Remember You By" and a slew of other hits, who made headlines in 1932 when she was accused of murdering her millionaire playboy husband, Zachary Smith Reynolds, heir to the Reynolds Tobacco fortune. Three decades later, having spent her life and much of her fortune fighting for civil rights, she gathers an audience of friends to the intimate theater on her 1,100-acre estate for a private performance of the concert she is preparing to honor her late friend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But even on-stage Libby is haunted by the ghost of her past, memories of her love affairs with Jeanne Eagels and Montgomery Clift, and the unsolved mystery that led to a life on the front page.

Lee Horwin's first performance on the Johnny Carson Show inspired a standing ovation and led to recurring appearances for the next two years. New York audiences in the 70s first discovered her at such iconic night spots as Reno Sweeney, The Blue Angel, The Ballroom and the notorious Continental Baths. After seeing her perform for the first-time renowned critic Rex Reed proclaimed "with the deep purple soul of Libby Holman she is one of the most electrifying young talents to emerge on the New York scene. The girl is dynamite!"

Miss Horwin went on to appear on national television specials throughout the United States and Canada and starred in Lee Plus Five, her own television special in Germany. She has starred in musicals across the United States including FUNNY GIRL, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, ON THE TOWN, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, OKLAHOMA!, and Jacques Brel IS ALIVE AND WELL. She co-produced, directed and performed in the critically acclaimed SRO production of the VAGINA MONOLOGUES starring the Los Angeles Derby Dolls at their track arena, The Doll Factory. Most recently Miss Horwin played notorious torch singer Libby Holman in ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF THE AIR starring Liliane Montevecchi at Birdland Jazz Club, and starred with Miss Montevecchi, Karen Akers, Lynnette Perry and Heather Mac Rae in WE'LL TAKE A GLASS TOGETHER: The Songs of Wright and Forrest, for The Ziegfeld Society, written and directed by Walter Willison.

BLUES, BALLADS & SIN-SONGS is written and directed by Tony nominee and Theatre World Award winner Walter Willison [GRAND HOTEL, TWO BY TWO and PIPPIN]. Mr. Willison's writing and directing credits include the critically acclaimed GRAND HOTEL: The 25th Anniversary Reunion Concert at 54 Below, in which he also costarred with Liliane Montevecchi, Karen Akers and other fellow original cast members. Most recently he wrote and directed HERE'S LOVE TO THE MUSIC MAN: A Celebration of Songwriter Meredith Willson starring Jim Dale and Robert Cuccioli for The Ziegfeld Society. He is currently Artistic Director for the American Songbook Association.

Joel A. Martin, who will play Ms. Holman's famed pianist Gerald Cook is the creator of Jazzical, a marriage of classical and jazz, and more. He has collaborated with and/or written music for Grammy Award-winners Alan Menken, Kathleen Battle, Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, cellist Eugene Friesen of the Paul Winter Consort, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jaimoe of the Allman Brothers. He is currently collaborating and touring the US with multiple Grammy-winning MET opera soprano Kathleen Battle in her production THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD: A Spiritual Journey.

Musical direction and arrangements are by Ron Abel, one of the most prolific musicians working in New York cabaret and concerts today. He is currently conductor of Lucie Arnaz' highly acclaimed LATIN ROOTS concert tour and is the composer of the new musical HAZEL: A Musical Maid in America which features lyrics by Chuck Steffan and a book by Lissa Levin.

Tickets for Lee Horwin in BLUES, BALLADS & SIN-SONGS: The Legend of Libby Holman are $24, with a two-beverage minimum. For reservations call 212-362-2590 or visit http://www.triadnyc.com.

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