Sterling's Upstairs to Celebrate 8th Anniversary this Month

Sterling's Upstairs - housed at popular 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 was just cited by LA Weekly as one of Los Angeles's top five supper clubs, With an arsenal of similar accolades from LA based media, Sterling's Upstairs celebrates its eight-year anniversary this month with Broadway performers Maura Hanlon Smith (June 9), Sandy Bainum (June 22) and Bernard Dotson (June 29-June 30). Kritzerland Records' Nobody Does it Better... The songs of Dorothy Fields kicked off the month-long celebration on June 1st featuring Tara Browne, Cynthia Ferrer, Zachary Ford, Kim Huber, Jenna Lea Rosen, Sami Staitman, Sarah Staitman, Robert Yacko and Special Guest... Broadway's Kerry O'Malley.

The combination of music (mostly Broadway and Great American Songbook fare) and California gourmet cuisine registers cool chic as Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal which - by its very mission - engages thoughtful sensibilities and the good taste of its namesake and producer Michael Sterling. Sterling's offering of a west coast supper club with an east coast mentality translates to New York style cabaret planted smack dab in the middle of movie town, USA. And to seal the deal, talent like 2014 Tony Award nominee Ramin Karimloo, Tony Award winners Faith Prince and Daisy Eagan; Tony nominee Euan Morton; Broadway's Rachel York, Terri White, Lainie Kazan, Richard Sherman, Beth Malone, Janet Krupin, Jason Graae, Melody Hollis, Derek Klena, Carrie St. Louis, Kay Cole, Ilene Graff, Cortes Alexander, Kevin Earley, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Jim J. Bullock, Hal Linden, Susan Watson, Amick Byram, Valerie Perri, David Burnham, Nita Whitaker, Matt Zarley, Joan Ryan, Bruce Kimmel's star-studded Kritzerland salutes, and a host of other musical theatre A-listers, have appeared on the stage at Sterling's Upstairs (originally founded June 9, 2006 at Vitello's Restaurant in Studio City, CA; now - since April 1, 2012 - into its 3rd year of operation at The Federal.)

Out of admiration for the performing arts, in particular musical theatre and classic American music, Sterling dedicated Sterling's Upstairs to his friend and mentor of many years, the late Rosemary Clooney.

"Known worldwide as one of the most and engaging 'girl singers' of her generation," says Sterling, "Rosemary was a consummate recording artist, a mesmerizing concert headliner, a beautiful and wonderfully interesting film and television star; and an icon in American pop music. I was not only a friend from my very young years to the end of her days, but her road manager for a lengthy, cross-country concert tour. The tour was an education I could have never received in a school. It was one of those rare experiences that resulted in a lifetime of knowledge and the development of a passion I was positioned to inherit. Rosemary taught me everything I know about music. And, as a result, I made a vow to keep the music of her era (the Gershwin's, Porter, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Berlin, Styne, Coleman, Sondheim, Mercer... and so many others - including their more contemporary successors...) alive and well in a club somewhere, at some point in my life."

Today, with over 600 shows featuring nearly 800 performers in his back pocket, it appears that Sterling's promise to Clooney is singing loud and clear. And, though few audience members recognize the subtle significance of one particular table at Sterling's Upstairs, on each anniversary ... in memory of Ms. Clooney... the table is set with a white rose in a vase, next to a glass of white wine, and a personally inscribed, black and white George Hurrell photograph of the late singer.

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.

In September 2009, Sterling joined the BroadwayWorld.com family as a 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 others.

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