Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's Presents National Cabaret Month

Following its most lucrative successful January/February ever, Executive Producer Michael Sterling of Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, CA says "We are blessed to have enjoyed the most lucrative beginning of any year since our 2006 opening. This success is largely due to the unprecedented advance sales of our annual 6-week musical theatre talent competition LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011, and a series of spectacular debuts by such outstanding Broadway/Nightclub headliners as Nita Whitaker, Jason Graae, Maxine Lapiduss, and Suzanne Petrela. Notable Southland Musical Directors such as James Lent, Nelson Kole, John Boswell, and Michael Orland (of American Idol) also contributed to our 2011 kickoff." Sterling went on to say "Nothing better could have paved the way to March and this year's celebration of national cabaret month."

March begins with musical theatre and television star Jim J. Bullock who brings his all new show Different: One Man's Musical Journey to the stage of Sterling's on Saturday, March 5. With musical direction by Gary Mattison and direction by Michael Lorre, the show is not about Bullock's life, as much it is about the different sides of Bullock himself and what it's taken to get to this place in his life. Bullock is long remembered for his co-starring role on the hit TV series Too Close for Comfort; his syndicated talk show with ex-televangelist Tammy Faye (Baker) Messner, his performances in musical theatre and, more recently, in Hairspray both on Broadway and in the U.S. National Tour.

Due to overwhelming demand for additional performances following her January 30 debut at Sterling's, Maxine Lapiduss returns in Mackie's Back in Town on Sunday, March 6 and Sunday, March 27. An 8 piece band under the direction of Michael Orland (Associate Musical Director for American Idol) is the force that showcases the successful network television producer/writer's comedic and musical talents, whilefocusing on topics most near and dear to her heart -- life, death, true love, food, the hereafter, and Oprah. Tony nominee Steve Orich (Jersey Boys) is credited for Lapiduss' arrangements; with special material by Lapiduss and Orland, Wendy Miller, Mark Waldrop, John Boswell, and Tony Award nominee Allee Willis (The Color Purple).

The spotlight shifts to the debut of spectacular singer/comedian/impressionist Perry Lambert on Sunday, March 13. Lambert has appeared in over 50 theatrical productions, including City of Angels, Purlie, Guys and Dolls, The Fantasticks, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sweet Charity, Kiss Me Kate, The Music Man, and the original production of Forbidden Hollywood. In his lengthy career, he has also shared the stage with such luminaries as Debbie Reynolds, Bob Hope, Rosemary Clooney, Charles Nelson Riley, Stephanie Powers, Hal Linden, Liza Minnelli, Peggy Lee, Natalie Cole, Mimi Hines, Chita Rivera, Tony Bennett and many others.

Broadway's Demarre Alexander headlines Sunday, March 20. Ms. Alexander began her Broadway career at age 8 playing the role of Young Cossette in Les Miserables.. She continued to land leading and supporting roles such as Mary Lennox in the Broadway National Tour of The Secret Garden and Cynthia Benson in the Broadway National Tour of Big. She is joined by Guest Kevin Odekirk (Les Miserables/Broadway, Sondheim's 75th/Hollywood Bowl. Mr. Odekirk has also appeared in concert with Bernadette Peters, Angela Lansbury, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Josh Groban and Julie Andrews. Dee Dee Magno-Hall also guests with Ms. Alexander. A former member of the New Mickey Mouse Club, she appeared as Kim in the Broadway production of Miss Saigon; a role in which she later reprised on the Broadway National Tour. For two years, she also played the role of Nessarose in the first Broadway national tour of Wicked. Brian Farrell serves as Musical Director for the evening.

Saturday engagements are as follows: 6:30 - 7:00 pm Dinner Seating; 8:00 - 9:00 pm Performance. Sunday engagements: 5:30 - 6:00 pm Dinner Seating; 7:00 - 8:00 pm Performance.
Attendance is by reservation only: 818 754-8700.

VIP reservations are available at $43 per person which includes VIP reserved seating, the entertainment cover charge, a nominal facility charge, and a $13 minimum toward drink and/or food ordered from the Chef's specially created VIP menu with multiple options.

General Admission reservations are also available at $31 per person and include General Admission seating, the entertainment cover, a nominal facility charge, and a $13 minimum toward drink and/or food ordered from a limited menu. For further information about Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, visit www.msapr.net.

STERLING'S UPSTAIRS at Vitello's is produced by Michael Sterling and Tony Monsour of Michael Sterling & Associates, the Studio City-based entertainment public relations/production company. Since 1980, Sterling has represented such stellar clients as Elizabeth Taylor, Lance Armstrong, Scott Hamilton, David Copperfield, Joan Collins, Alan Thicke, Carol Lawrence, David Brenner, Andy Gibb, and Robert Goulet. Aside from his celebrity clientele, Mr. Sterling has represented various national theatre and arena tours, Los Angeles theatre productions, Emmy Award-winning television specials, celebrity books, albums and CD's. Sterling is also a critically-acclaimed director of musical theatre in Los Angeles, and has produced various theatrical events and productions throughout southern California.

In September, 2009, Mr. Sterling joined Broadway World TV with colleague and former Broadway and Television star Dean Butler (Into the Woods and Little House on the Prairie, respectively,) to become BWW TV's Los Angeles correspondents and co-hosts for television coverage of select theatre and theatrical events.

On May 31, 2010, Mr. Sterling, along with LA Stage Ovation-nominated actor/writer Paul Stroili, joined forces as co-producers and co-hosts of the now hugely popular radio series State of the Arts presented by Breakdown Services and Performing Arts Live.com. The global series is broadcast live each Monday at 4:00 pm PST by the LATalkRadio.com Network, and (with market "apps") can be heard on all iPhones and Android Phones. The series is also available on iTunes. To date, State of the Arts has hosted such stars as Carol Lawrence, Carol Channing, Florence Henderson, Richard Chamberlain, Mike Farrell, Jim Parrack, Tab Hunter, Donna McKechnie, Andrea McArdle, Skylar Astin, Sally Struthers, Marica Wallace, Roslyn Kind, Ryan Eggold, Gilliann Zinser, Michael Rupert, Megan McGinnis, David Burnham, Stephanie Zimbalist, cast members from the U.S. National Tours In the Heights, West Side Story, and many more.

For further information about Michael Sterling & Associates, visit www.msapr.net.

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