La Mirada Theater & Upright Cabaret Present COUNTRY ROADS, Opens 7/11

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for their fifth and final UPRIGHT CABARET experience for the 2009/2010 season at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Jill Burke, Doug Carpenter and Brenna Whitaker will be performing their own selections while highlighting the music of Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, under the musical direction of Gerald Sternbach in a one-night-only concert - COUNTRY ROADS on Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 8PM.

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

Jill Burke is proud to be a La Mirada native and former Miss Anaheim. She attendEd Fullerton College, studying musical theater and music. Her first professional work began performing for the Walt Disney Company, portraying such characters as Princess Jasmine, Ariel, and Pocahontas. While traveling the globe, she was the principal vocalist for Norwegian Cruise Lines, and notably opened their production of Andrew Lloyd-Webber's MUSIC OF THE NIGHT. Currently, she can be heard screaming the "Priceline Negotiator!" jingle, running nationwide.

Her theater credits include: LOVELACE A ROCK OPERA which won several L.A. WEEKLY awards including Best Ensemble, VIOLET (Musical Theater Guild), THE HOT MIKADO, THE THIRD FROM THE LEFT at the NYC and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD which she was nominated for a L.A. Ovation Award, and Jacques Brel: A LIFE IN SONG, which she won a Ticket Holder Award for Best Cabaret Performance. Jill has had the privilege of singing with and for such stars as Tony-award winning Jason Robert Brown, Robert Morse, Richard Carpenter, and her "uncle" Johnny Mathis. She performs in a variety of projects: she stars in the cabaret revue entitled HOLLYWOOD REVISITED, is a member of the a cappella band VYBRATION, she is a featured vocalist for the master percussionist C.G. RYCHE, and frequently belts out our National Anthem for the Anaheim Angels, Ducks and L.A. Lakers. And she enjoys teaching private voice lessons at Vibe Performing Arts Studio in Santa Clarita. www.jillmarieburke.com

Doug Carpenter began his career in opera earning a degree in voice from UNLV and a Masters in Vocal Performance from UCLA. SInce graduating in May of 2009, Doug originated the role of Skip in LIfe Could Be A Dream(LA Weekly and LADCC Winner), and performed in the last show at the Pasadena Playhouse as Lancelot in Camelot. Other roles include Curly in Oklahoma (FCLO), Tony in West Side Story (FCLO), Thief in See What I Wanna See (Blank Theatre), and Prince in Cinderella (CLOSBC). Doug still performs opera with the Orange County Opera as well as the Palm Springs Opera Guild, and most recently performed with the South Coast Symphony. Currently, Doug is reprising his role in Life Could be a Dream at the Laguna Playhouse, and will star as Chris in Miss Saigon at Moonlight Amphitheater in September. He continues to teach vocal technique at the Lee Strasberg Institute as well as privately. www.dougcarpenter.net.

Brenna Whitaker is really excited to be part of the Upright Cabaret family! With a background in musical theater in Kansas City, she performed lead and supporting roles at Starlight Theatre, the Coterie Theatre and Missouri Repertory Theatre. At 17 she moved to New York City and was mentored by Wynn Handman (Carnegie Hall), Nancy Evers (voice), and Neil Wolfe (Columbia Records).

Inspired by such singers as Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, Etta James and Eva Cassidy, she turned her focus from musical theater to live performances and recording, and moved to Los Angeles two years ago to pursue a recording career. Currently, she performs "The Brenna Whitaker Show" regularly throughout California doing high profile events, private parties and local music venues. They have a summer residency at The Pasadena Jazz Institute where they pack in audiences every Saturday night with her 8 piece "little" big band of the best young jazz musicians in the country. She was honored to have Michael Buble as a guest at her show this summer. Brenna is also one of the top session vocalists in Los Angeles and has recorded over 200 songs for numerous songwriters and producers since being in LA. Currently in the studio recording her first album, she aims to keep the best of old vintage R&B, jazz and old musical theater interpretations from 1916 to today alive! www.brennawhitaker.com

With special guest Nick Perez on guitar: Nick Perez (Guitar) is a Los Angeles based Guitarist. In 2008 he received a Bachelor's Degree in guitar performance from the Musicians Institute of Hollywood. Since graduating he has lead a busy schedule of performing, recording, and teaching all styles of music. His recording credits include Melora Hardin (The Office) and several releases for Japanese Jazz labels Eastquest Records and Zetima Records.

ABOUT THE "UPRIGHT CABARET" SERIES

This brand new series performs the first Sunday night of each of La Mirada Theatre's mainstage productions as UPRIGHT CABARET, the pre-eminent Los Angeles hot spot for the next generation of world-class entertainers, brings its unique brand of cabaret entertainment to La Mirada! With celebrities in attendance, Upright Cabaret has become a hip and contemporary social swirl of young Broadway and Hollywood, performing with a level of excellence, authenticity and intimacy that brings the crowds back time after time. Upright Cabaret boasts one of the most extensive and diverse rosters of talent in the country. Broadway divas, talented troubadours, cabaret legends, Hollywood notables, pop sensations and many future sensations have all found their way to the Upright stage. Upright is taking its brand of new generation cabaret to La Mirada with the 'American Icons Series'.

THE FIRST SEASON'S FINAL SHOW:

COUNTRY ROADS • July 11, 2010 • 8PM
Music of Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash

Ticket prices for UPRIGHT CABARET at LA MIRADA are $45 / $30; Tickets are now available by calling the Box Office at 562-944-9801 or 714-994-6310 or online at www.lamiradatheatre.com.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, Parking is free.

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