Ben Vereen Returns to San Francisco With STEPPIN' OUT, Now thru 6/17

Ben Vereen returns to The RRazz Room to with his show "Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen," a high energy tribute to the music of Broadway, along with musical selections made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. Audiences can expect to hear classics such as "Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries," "Mr. Bojangles" and "Defying Gravity." Well known to theatre audiences for his Tony Award and Drama Desk winning performance in Pippin, Vereen has also appeared on Broadway in Wicked, Chicago, Fosse and Jelly's Last Jam. He is currently celebrating the release of his CD "Steppin' Out Live."

For over 40 years, Ben has showcased his versatility and creativity, performing countless one-man shows not only in the United States, but also Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. He was the first simultaneous winner of the "Entertainer of the Year," "Rising Star," and "Song and Dance Star" awards from the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). He also earned a coveted spot in the Casino Legends Hall of Fame. He also performs with symphonies around the country.

While performing worldwide, Ben's acting credits continue to give us memorable roles that stand the test of time such as the unforgettable Chicken George in Roots and Louis Armstrong in Louis Armstrong - Chicago Style. Ben's television guest appearances include How I Met Your Mother, Grey's Anatomy (for which he won the Prism Award), House of Payne, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, OZ, Touched By An Angel, The Nanny, Star Trek - The Next Generation, The Jamie Fox Show, and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, to name a few. Ben has also had recurring roles on Silk Stalkings, Webster, and J.J. Starbuck and Booker. For Nickelodeon, Ben provided voice-overs on the show Wonder Pets! Additional credits include: Anne Rice's Feast of All Saints(Showtime), Intruders They Are Among Us (Emmy nomination), Zoobilee Zoo, Faerie Tale Theatre's Puss N' Boots with Gregory Hines, The Jesse Owens Story, Ellis Island (Golden Globe Nomination), Lost in London, and Salute to Liberty Special. His own network television shows are Ben Vereen: His Roots (Seven Emmy Awards), Tenspeed and Brownshoe and You Write the Songs. In the early 90's, he released a number of well-received children's Sing-Along musical videos. Recently, Oprah Winfrey celebrated the 35th anniversary of the miniseries Roots with a television special featuring Ben Vereen.

Ben was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for his performance in the Hallmark movie An Accidental Friendship. He appears in two recently released features, 21 and a Wake-Up starring Faye Dunaway and Mama, I Want to Sing! in which Ben co-starred opposite Ciara and Patti LaBelle. While filming Idlewild with the award winning group Outkast, Ben also served as the acting coach for both Andre 3000 and Big Boy. In addition, Ben has been coaching the singing sensation Usher both as an entertainer and an actor. Ben was featured in the movie, On The One - Preaching to the Choir directed by Charles Randolph-Wright. Other film credits include Sweet Charity, All That Jazz, Funny Lady (Golden Globe nomination), Why Do Fools Fall in Love, And Then Came Love starring Vanessa Williams, the animated movies Khumba and Once Upon a Forest, Christmas in Washington and The Painting which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2004, Ben was nominated for a "Career Achievement Award" by the Le Prix International Film Star Awards Organization. On January 30th, 2012, Ben was inducted into The Theatre Hall of Fame. This coming July, he will appear at the new venue, 54 Below, for two weeks, followed by the Broadway debut of his one man show. This summer, the Museum of Dance will honor Ben with a lifetime achievement award in August, 2012.

The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko 222 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 Shows nightly Tuesday to Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 4:00 p.m. 800-380-3095 // 415-394-1189 http://www.therrazzroom.com/

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