THE AMANDA MCBROOM PROJECT to Return to the Laurie Beechman, 3/14-17

The Amanda McBroom Project...continuing the journey will play March 14, 15, and 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.

Conceived and Directed by Eric Michael Gillett & Arthur Masella, with Musical Direction by Jeff Cubeta and Reeds by Jonathan Kantor, the show will star: Karen Akers, Aisha de Haas, Terese Genecco, Carolyn Montgomery-Forant, and KT Sullivan.

WITH: Alison Grace Bradbury, Leah Jennings, Eva Kantor, Lauren Stanford, Erin Wegner Brooks, and Melanie Vaughan.

Amanda McBroom has been called "the greatest cabaret performer of her generation, an urban poet who writes like an angel and has a voice to match." Her name first came to the attention of the listening public when Bette Midler's version of Amanda's song "The Rose" hit number one all over the world. But it was Amanda's performance of her own songs on the Golden Globes, the Grammy awards, and the Tonight Show that launched her career as a singer as well as a songwriter. Her songs have been recorded by the likes of Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Judy Collins, Barbara Cook, Harry Belafonte, Betty Buckley, The Manhattan Transfer, and Donny Osmond.

Her love of, and background in, musical theater (she starred in the New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and European productions of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, on Broadway in Seesaw, and in Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music and Mame) compelled her to create a musical based on her songs. Heartbeats made its debut in Los Angeles and the play has enjoyed over 15 regional theater productions around the U.S.

Now, the bright new production of the Amanda McBroom Project, created by Eric Michael Gillett, Arthur Masella and Jeff Cubeta, brings leading ladies of both cabaret and theater together to interpret her exquisite songs over a run of three nights.

Eric Michael Gillett is known as a director, an actor, a singer, and a teacher. Mr. Gillett's own cabaret shows have included Cast of Thousands: The Songs of Craig Carnelia (for which Eric was named MAC's Major Male Vocalist of 2012), It Takes Two: The Duets of Stephen Sondheim (with Melanie Vaughan), Careless Rhapsody: The Lyrics of Lorenz Hart, and his critically-lauded collection of radio songs of the past forty years, Hook, Line, and Singer. Mr. Gillett has directed some of the top ladies in cabaret including Karen Akers, Marieann Meringolo, KT Sullivan, Sheera Ben-David and Lari White, as well as some of Broadway's brightest young stars, including Jarrod Spector and Mandy Gonzalez. He is the recipient of both the MAC Award for Outstanding Direction and the Dick Gallagher Award, bestowed by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, for his unique contributions to the art of cabaret. And watch for his next feature film from Warner Bros. which will be released in October 2014, The Judge starring Robert Downey Jr. www.ericmichaelgillett.com

Arthur Masella has worked with Hal Prince on a number of projects, including remounting Phantom of the Opera for the smash hit 5 year run of the show at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Mr. Masella has directed shows internationally, including long runs of Sweet Charity and Fiddler on the Roof. The Amanda McBroom Project continues a collaboration between Eric Michael and Artie Masella that began when Mr. Masella cast Eric Michael in the New York City Opera production of Candide, in which Mr. Masella directed him twice, thus beginning a collaboration which has included Mr. Gillett's solo shows, Cast of Thousands and Careless Rhapsody: The Lyrics of Lorenz Hart.

Musical director Jeff Cubeta is a vocalist, songwriter, and pianist. He has musical directed numerous shows for Eric Michael Gillett. His solo show of all his original music, Sing This, was a sold-out hit during its run in 2013 and he is currently in the process of recording the CD with artists Aisha de Haas, Mandy Gonzalez, Charlie Stevens, Venessa Diaz, and LaTanya Hall. www.jeffcubeta.com

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