Tony Nominee Annaleigh Ashford Comes to the Venetian Room Next Month

Bay Area Cabaret, the organization dedicated to presenting world renowned artists who expand the definition of cabaret, presents the versatile Tony-nominated Broadway and television star Annaleigh Ashford in her West Coast cabaret debut.

Of her star turn in Lost in the Stars, which comes to San Francisco from an acclaimed encore appearance at New York's 54 Below, The New York Times said "A glittery comedic showgirl who is nobody's fool. Ashford is in a lineage of fearlessly saucy entertainers who seem born to conquer ... Jean Harlow, Judy Holliday, Cyndi Lauper and countless other wised-up kooks whose antics camouflage hearts of tarnished gold." An accomplished actress as well as singer, Ashford currently stars as the helpful hooker "Betty Dimelo" in the hit Showtime series, The Masters Of Sex, and received a Tony nomination for her role in "Kinky Boots."

Bay Area Cabaret will present Annaleigh Ashford in Lost in the Stars, 5pm, Sunday, April 19 in the historic Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco. Tickets ($50) and information are available at www.bayareacabaret.org or by phone at (415) 392-4400.

That afternoon, from noon to 4pm, Bay Area Cabaret will also host a master class featuring American Idol's Musical Director Michael Orland with an appearance and Q&A with Ms. Ashford. Mr. Orland will offer a lecture on vocal, performance, and audition techniques, critique individual performances, and lead a question and answer session for both singers and auditors. For tickets ($25 auditors, $100 21&under, $125 general), visit www.bayareacabaret.org.

Backed by Music Director/Composer Will Van Dyke and the Whisky 5 band, Lost in the Stars celebrates classic cabaret with an eclectic mix of music from the disco days of Donna Summer to Judy at Carnegie Hall to a sing along of Alanis Morissette, as well as the haunting melodies of Stephen Sondheim and Kurt Weill and a tribute to the Venetian Room's rich musical history. Woven together through fabulous, funny, and heartfelt storytelling, this glittering evening is expected to leave audiences Lost in the Stars.

Originating the role of Lauren in Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper's Tony-winning musical Kinky Boots, Ms. Ashford received Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Variety called her "Sizzling and sensational." She made her Broadway debut in 2006, originating the role of Margot in Legally Blonde: The Musical. After a year, she starred as Glinda in the Broadway production of Wicked, then on Broadway in Hair and Grease. Ms. Ashford just finished an acclaimed Broadway run of You Can't Take it with You opposite James Earl Jones, Richard Thomas, and Anna Chlumsky, and continues to appear on Showtimes's acclaimed series The Masters Of Sex.

Will Van Dyke is a New York based Composer/Lyricist and Music Director whose songs have been performed at venues all from Los Angeles to New York City. Credits include Rent (Music Director), The Addams Family (keyboards), Grease (Associate Music Director), and Wicked (keyboards). He also orchestrated Andrew Lippa's The Life of the Party that debuted in May of 2014 at London's Menier Chocolate Factory. He is currently collaborating on new works with Rick Elice (Magnificent Climb), Jeff Talbot (Imagine Harry), and Josh Holloway (Writing Kevin Taylor).

The Whiskey 5 is a group of musicians assembled by Music Director/Composer Will Van Dyke and comprised of Alec Berlin on guitar, Steve Gilewski on bass, Mason Ingram on drums, Allison Seidner on cello, and Van Dyke on piano.

Michael Orland is known for his work as pianist, arranger, and Associate Musical Director of American Idol, Mr. Orland has collaborated with entertainment legends Elton John, Dolly Parton, Tony Bennett, and Jennifer Lopez, among others. Earlier this season, Mr. Orland provided Music Direction for Bay Area Cabaret's opening night tribute to Stephen Schwartz.

Bay Area Cabaret (BAC) is a not-for profit organization founded by Marilyn Levinson, a fifth generation San Francisco native. Through its concert series and wide-ranging outreach activities, BAC aims to expand the definition of cabaret and broaden the audience for intimate entertainment, featuring Great American Songbook offerings from George and Ira Gershwin and Stephen Sondheim to Antonio Carlos Jobim and Joni Mitchell. Past seasons have featured Marvin Hamlisch, Elaine Paige, Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune, Norm Lewis, Barbara Cook, Peter Gallagher, Nellie McKay, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Jane Monheit, and Sutton Foster.

The 2014-2015 Bay Area Cabaret season will conclude with two shows on Sunday, May 31: the cabaret debut of rising musical theatre star Bobby Conte Thornton at 5pm, followed at 8pm by the West Coast debut of the acclaimed new cabaret show by Tony winner Lillias White with musical direction by Billy Stritch.

For Bay Area Cabaret patrons, The Fairmont San Francisco offers a delicious buffet dinner in the Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar for $44 (plus tax and tip), plus four hours of free parking for all who dine in the Laurel Court. For more information, visit www.bayareacabaret.org.

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