PLAY IT COOL's Mark Winkler Hosts CD Release Party 9/8

Mark Winkler, the lyricist for the new Off Broadway musical Play It Cool, performs a specialy engagement this evening Thursday, September 8th at 7:00 pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre (West Bank Café), 407 West 42nd Street. Join Mark for the Release party for his new CD, "Sweet Spot." "After Hours", "Somehwere in Brazil" and "Sweet Spot" are on the new disc, as well as Mark's reditions of such standards as "But Not for Me" and "On Broadway." Composer Phillip Swan will be a special guest. There is a $20 cover and a $15 minimum (food/beverage). Call 212.695.6909 to make a reservation.

Mark Winkler is the platinum award winning singer/lyricist who has had over 200 of his songs recorded by Dianne Reeves, Liza Minnelli, Lea Salonga and Claire Martin. He is the co writer of Naked Boys Singing! which is in its 12th year off Broadway. He is the creator/co-writer of Too Old For The Chorus which has played in San Diego, Los Angeles and Seattle and was recently published by Samuel French. He also is co-writer/bookwriter of BARK! which is now touring the country. His CD Till I Get It Right was named as one of the best Vocal Jazz CDs of 2009 by Jazz Times Magazine - and his 11th CD as an artist/writer Sweet Spot has just been released to great acclaim. www.markwinklermusic.com

Play It Cool a new musical is being presented Off Broadway at Theatre Row - Acorn Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street. Now in Previews the show opens next Wednesday, September 14th, for a limited engagement. The cast includes Broadway and Off Broadway veterans Sally Mayes (Steel Magnolias, Urban Cowboy, She Loves Me and won Outstanding Individual Performance Award in Play It Cool for NYMF '08), Michael Buchanan (The Addams Family, Cry Baby), Chris Hoch (La Cage, Shrek, Spamalot), Robyn Hurder (Grease, Chicago, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), and Michael F. McGuirk (An Evening at the Carlyle, Sessions).

Play It Cool the hot jazz influenced musical is conceived by Larry Dean Harris (co-founder of LA-based theatre company Playwrights 6), with a book by Martin Casella (The Irish Curse; Scituate; George Bush Goes to Hell, Paper Moon) and Larry Dean Harris, lyrics by Mark Winkler, music by Phillip Swann (whose songs have been heard in television, film and have been recorded by numerous recording artists including: Clay Aiken, LeeAnn Womack, Blake Shelton, Lee Greenwood), with additional music by Jim Andron, Michael Cruz, Marilyn Harris, Emilio Palame, Larry Steelman. Musical Supervisor/Arrangements by Joe Baker.

Play It Cool is directed by Sharon Rosen (LA premieres of Always Patsy Cline starring Sally Struthers and Judevine which earned three Drama-Logue Awards) with choreography by Marc Kimelman (Degrassi-the Next Generation plusStratford's Company and Assassins). The Set is by Thomas A. Walsh; with Costumes by Therese Bruck; Lighting by Deb Sullivan; Sound by Carl Casella, Peter Fitzgerald; with Hair/Wig Design by Josh Schwartz and Jane Pole Production Stage Manager. The musical is produced by Mary's Hideaway, LLC. http://playitcoolmusical.com/ 2:10 (including intermission)

Sexy... sultry...repressive - Hollywood 1953, an underground nightclub where everyone's got a secret. At Mary's Hideaway, it was a place for sizzling jazz and for the ambitious people who are finding the courage to be who they are. It is the noir time of the ‘50's, and the laws governing gay and lesbian clubs, produced every glance that had a double meaning and the words that were innuendo. Here everything had to be done to the strict code. These are some of the people who had the guts to break the rules. You just need to ... Play It Cool!

Regular performances of the limited engagement are: Tuesday @ 7pm, Wednesday @ 2pm & 8pm, Thursday & Friday @ 8pm, Saturday @ 2pm & 8pm, Sunday @ 3pm & 7pm. No Performances: Saturday 9/24; Sunday, 9/25; and Sunday 10/9 @ 7pm. Tickets are $65.00 (includes a $1.25 facility fee). They are on sale at the Theatre Row Box Office or through TeleCharge by calling 212/239-6200 or online at TeleCharge.com.

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