Jennifer Kranz, Adrienne Visnic and More to Celebrate a 'Thanks for Giving' November at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal

Sterling's Upstairs - housed at LA hot spot The Federal in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District - has not only been described by the Los Angeles Times as "LA's cabaret destination;" but earlier this year was cited by LA Weekly as one of Los Angeles's top five supper clubs, With an arsenal of similar accolades from LA based media, Producer Michael Sterling talks about his thanks and reflects on his participation in LA's live performing arts. "

I'm more than grateful to be blessed with the opportunity of helping keep the arts alive in Los Angeles... I'm honored," says Sterling. And, my thanks goes out to each and every performer who, during the last 8 years, has stepped foot onto my stage." Some 600 shows and 800 performers later, his thanks also goes out to their directors and their musical directors; and to the thousands of audience members who keep coming back year after year for a great evening of dinner and show." The months at the end of every year also serve as a lead in to December auditions for Sterling's annual musical theatre competition LA's Next Great Stage Star®; a star- making vehicle for such alumni as Broadway's Merissa Haddad, Janet Krupin, Derek Klena, Carrie St. Louis, and several others. The project is one of Sterling's most personal and passionate, executive produced in tandem with arts philanthropist, author, singer/actress and business woman Barbara Van Orden Since 2012. By the very nature of its being, Stage Star has proven to be a launching pad to professional careers in musical theatre for more than half of the 120 contestants who've competed since 2007. "They walk in an amateur and walk out a pro," says Sterling. And, because of the hierarchy of LA's theatre professionals serving as the competition's judges, the road to making a living on Broadway, or off-Broadway, in U.S. national tours; sit downs in Las Vegas; on world cruise lines; and regional theatre roles in southern California and throughout the country... the road is shortened dramatically.

Though January, 2015 will mark the 9th consecutive season for LA's Next Great Stage Star®, it is preceded by a November celebration as Jennifer Kranz (left), winner of this year's competition; and top finalist Adrienne Visnic (right) make their respective headlining debuts at Sterling's November 16th and 23rd. "They're both so deserving and so ready for what lies ahead in their careers. I couldn't be more thankful for their immense talent, or more proud than to welcome them to our stable of stars," said Sterling. Top finalist Travis Leland also enjoyed a concert debut at the famed club in October.

Sterling's Upstairs prides itself on its notoriety as a west coast supper club with an east coast mentality. "In other words," said Backstage West, "a New York-style intimate concert venue planted smack dab in the middle of movie town, USA." The club's place in LA's cultural landscape is easily substantiated by such headliners as Broadway's John Lloyd Young, Ramin Karimloo, Faith Prince, Daisy Eagan, Euan Morton, Rachel York, Terri White, Lainie Kazan, Beth Malone, Jason Graae, Melody Hollis, Bernard Dotson, Kay Cole, Ilene Graff, Cortes Alexander, Kevin Earley, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Jim J. Bullock, Hal Linden, Susan Watson, Amick Byram, Valerie Perri, David Burnham, Kim Huber, Heather Lee, Robert Yacko, Matt Zarley; and Academy Award-winning composer Richard Sherman to name but a few. To add to the marquee is Bruce Kimmel's star-studded Kritzerland Salutes monthly series; Mandy Kaplan's Miscast: Right Singer, Wrong Song, a tri-monthly series featuring Kaplan and a company of multiple performers; and a host of other musical theatre A-listers,

Attendance at Sterling's Upstairs is by reservation only: 818 754-8700. Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal is located at 5303 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood, CA. Valet Parking is available. For a complete listing of upcoming headliners, visit www.msapr.net.

During his varied career Sterling has represented such luminaries as Elizabeth Taylor, Lance Armstrong, Scott Hamilton, David Copperfield, Joan Collins, Alan Thicke, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, David Brenner, Lance Burton, Andy Gibb, the Bee Gees, George Harrison, Donny and Marie Osmond and the Osmond Brothers, Karen and Richard Carpenter, Robert Goulet, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, and Broadway icon Carol Lawrence, to name but a few. Aside from his celebrity clientele, Sterling has also represented various national theatre and arena tours, award-winning Los Angeles theatre productions, Emmy Award-winning television specials, celebrity books, and Grammy winning albums and CD's. He is also a critically acclaimed Director of musical theatre in Los Angeles; and has produced numerous theatrical events and productions throughout southern California and in Las Vegas.

Sterling's Upstairs was founded June 9, 2006 at the legendary Vitello's Restaurant in Studio City, CA; and has been a main stay attraction at The Federal Bar & Restaurant in North Hollywood since April 1, 2012. Out of admiration for the performing arts - in particular musical theatre and American pop standards - Sterling dedicated the venue to his friend and mentor of many years, the late Rosemary Clooney. .

In September 2009, Sterling joined the BroadwayWorld.com family as their Los Angeles co-producer and host for Broadway World TV for which he continues to produce and host select Los Angeles live arts packages.

In May, 2010, Sterling and longtime colleague and theatre professional Paul Stroili premiered their highly anticipated weekly radio show State of the Arts presented by Breakdown Services and Performing Arts Live on LATalkRadio.com. Having just entered its 5th year, the 50 minute program broadcasts live each Thursday between 1:00 and 1:50 pm PST. Entertaining and slightly irreverent, the popular podcast features celebrity interviews, reviews and a live arts calendar and has featured a wide array of celebrity guests such as Carol Channing, Raul Esparza, Donna McKechnie, Christopher Seiber, Roger Bart, Ramin Karimloo, George Wendt, Esai Morales, Richard Chamberlain, Lorenzo Lamas, Harry Hamlin, Ed Asner, Sally Struthers, Michael Rupert, Larraine Newman, Tab Hunter, George Chakiris, Russ Tamblyn, La Toya London, Davis Gaines, Anne Archer, Michael McKean, Roslyn Kind, Cathy Rigby, John Lloyd Young, and Rex Smith...among many others.

For more information about Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, visit www.msapr.net

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