Music Theatre of Connecticut Presents Blackhurst in EVERYTHING THE TRAFFIC WILL ALLOW

The Music Theatre of Connecticut 2010/11 MainStage Season will open with award-winning cabaret performer Klea Blackhurst, direct from New York in "Everything the Traffic Will Allow: The Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman." Klea Blackhurst - hailed as an "improbably terrific young performer" by the New York Times - will bring her critically acclaimed show, "Everything the Traffic Will Allow: The Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman" to Music Theatre of Connecticut for a limited engagement with performances beginning October 8. Since its original New York debut in 2001, this knock-out show continues to take the country by storm with Klea delivering bright new interpretations of Merman's signature songs such as "I Got Rhythm, " "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "There's No Business Like Show Business," as well as rarely-performed obscurities including "Just A Moment Ago," "I've Still Got My Health," and "World Take Me Back."

"Everything the Traffic Will Allow" will be performed Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, with matinees Saturdays at 4pm and Sundays at 3pm at MTC MainStage Studio Theatre, 246 Post Road East (ColoniAl Green/Lower Level) in downtown Westport, CT. Tickets are available by calling 203.454.3883 or visiting www.musictheatreofct.com

"Everything the Traffic Will Allow" is Klea Blackhurst's loving tribute to the songs made famous by the quintessential stage personality Ethel Merman. Rather than a Merman imitation, Ms. Blackhurst offers a paean to the great Broadway legend that serves as a potent and happy reminder of Merman's sheer, undeniable importance to both the history of twentieth century entertainment and the iconic composers like Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Jerry Herman, who wrote songs just for her. The engagement is a rare chance to experience Blackhurst's crackling wit and powerful vocals as she performs her brilliant, savvy valentine to one of American theatre's greatest stars.

Klea Blackhurst has performed with symphonies and orchestras and in theatrical productions across the country and abroad. Among many accolades, Ms. Blackhurst won the inaugural Special Achievement Award from Time Out New York Magazine for Everything the Traffic Will Allow and its recording was named one of the top ten show albums of 2002 by TalkinBroadway.com. She has performed the work of composer Vernon Duke in Autumn in New York at Joe's Pub and the Café Carlyle and teamed with Billy Stritch on Dreaming of a Song: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael, winning the MAC and Back Stage Bistro Award for their performance at NY's Metropolitan Room. Her live CD recording of Everything the Traffic Will Allow - in addition to Autumn in New York and Dreaming of a Song - are available through Ghostlight Records. Other recordings include Jule Styne in Hollywood, Lost in Boston IV and Unsung Irving Berlin.

Klea's many concert appearances include the London Palladium presentation of Jerry Herman's Broadway. She made her Carnegie Hall debut with Michael Feinstein in an evening devoted to the work of composer Jule Styne. In 2002, Klea made her London debut at Royal Albert Hall. She returned to London the following spring to debut Everything the Traffic Will Allow at the Greenwich Theatre. Klea's many theatre credits include Sally Adams in San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon production of Call Me Madam, Mama Morton in Chicago; the dual roles of Bernice/Marilyn in the Off Broadway production of Bingo; Nails O'Reilly Duquesne in Red, Hot and Blue and Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes; Debbie in the Off Broadway production of Oil City Symphony; Renabelle in Radio Gals Off Broadway; and the role of Hippolyta in By Jupiter in the York Theatre's "Musicals in Mufti" series. On radio and television, Klea has appeared on "The Caroline Rhea Show," "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," "Sesame Street," "Law and Order: SVU" and "A Prairie Home Companion."

"Klea Blackhurst is engaged, trained and talented enough to give us wonderful intimations of Merman the performer without being crushed by her. And she is smart enough and a good enough writer to turn the story of Merman's star power into a folk tale. We were watching a real talent, a performer we knew could delight us without ever singing a note that had once been commandeered by Ethel Merman. We were not in thrall to the past: we were watching an interpretation of it that turned into something new." - Margo Jefferson, New York Magazine

The Music Theatre of Connecticut 2010/11 MainStage Season will continue with "Love Letters" in February 2010 and "My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra" in April 2010. Season subscriptions are still available, where you can see all three productions for as little as $60 and enjoy perks exclusive to subscribers.

Tickets to Klea Blackhurst's "Everything the Traffic Will Allow: The Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman" are $25-$45 ($5 off for seniors and students.) Call 203.454.3883 or visit www.musictheatreofct.com

 

Photo Credit: Jack Vartoogian

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