Pianist and Music Director Chrisopher Howatt Steps Out From Behind the Keyboard in HEAR MY SONG

For more than thirty years, Christopher Howatt could be seen on cabaret and theatrical stages behind the piano, serving as music director for the shows, "Dangerous Duets," the vocal group Boulevard East and for performers such as Tyne Daly, David Hyde Pierce, Rita Moreno, Al Tulane, John Tartaglia, Howard McGillin, Marlo Thomas and others.

In November Howatt takes center stage, making his New York Cabaret Debut in his new show, "Hear My Song." The show takes place at the famed cabaret club Don't Tell Mama for three performances: Sunday, November 6 at 3pm, Friday, November 11 at 9:30 pm and Sunday, November 13 at 3pm. Cover charge is $15 ($10 for MAC and Performing Union members), with a two drink minimum. The cabaret room at Don't Tell Mama is cash only - no credit cards are accepted.

With direction and music direction by MAC Award-Winners, Lennie Watts and Steven Ray Watkins, respectively, "Hear My Song," is a musical road trip through a musician's life and career. Assisting him on his journey is music from Jason Robert Brown, John Bucchino, Stephen Schwartz, Steven Sondheim, Peter Allen, Jerome Kern and Noel Coward and others.

Playing piano since age four, Christopher Howatt discovered in High School he could also sing.Today, he is known as both a music director and vocalist. For two seasons, he was on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera's Associate Chorus, and has served as a chorister for most of the major Manhattan churches, including The Riverside Church, Church of the Ascension, Trinity Church Wall Street, and currently the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in Times Square. He has served as music director for numerous theatrical productions from the Catskills to cruise ships. However, he is known most in cabaret circles as music director and performer with the vocal trio Boulevard East with whom he has made appearances in public and private events throughout the Eastern seaboard.

His voice can be heard on recordings as diverse as Boulevard East's recording Timeless, Jessye Norman's Christmas CD In the Spirit, to singing backup for The Pet Shop Boys on their cover of the Village People song, "Go West." For fifteen years he was on staff at New Brunswick's George Street Playhouse, accompanying such talents as David Hyde Pierce, Howard McGillin, Tyne Daly, Rita Moreno, Brad Oscar and Cady Huffman and others at their annual galas, as well as serving as musical supervisor for their productions of Sylvia, Lend Me a Tenor and Inspecting Carol and musical director and performer for two Holiday Cabarets on the GSP mainstage with Robert Cuccioli, Sally Mayes and Allison Fraser, as well as the world premiere production of Come Back, Come Back, Wherever You Are, also with Ms. Fraser, written and directed by the late theatrical legend Arthur Laurents.

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