Cheyenne Jackson, Sierra Boggess & More Set for Feinstein's at the Nikko in January 2014

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are proud to announce the upcoming lineup at Feinstein's at the Nikko for January 2014. Artists include actor and singer Tom Wopat, star of stage and screen Cheyenne Jackson, Broadway and West End star Sierra Boggess, Emmy Award winning actor and comedian Leslie Jordan, and more! Tickets for all performances are on-sale now and available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

Located within Hotel Nikko (222 Mason Street, San Francisco), Feinstein's at the Nikko presents a wide range of entertainers all within an intimate 140-seat cabaret setting. There is a $20 food and beverage minimum per person inside the showroom which guests can use towards cocktails as well as a variety of small plates crafted exclusively for Feinstein's at the Nikko by Executive Chef Philippe Striffeler, through Restaurant Anzu. Cheese and dessert platters will also be available in the showroom. All seating at Feinstein's at the Nikko is cabaret style and available on a first-come, first-served basis within the section purchased. Guests who purchase the prix-fixe dinner at Restaurant Anzu will receive a complimentary section upgrade (subject to availability) and allowed to choose their exact seat locations within the upgraded section.

Guests of Feinstein's at the Nikko can enjoy a variety of food and beverage options before performances. Kanpai Lounge, located in Hotel Nikko's lobby, offers light cuisine, a full bar and specialty cocktails. Restaurant Anzu, Hotel Nikko's intimate restaurant located on the second floor, serves sustainable California cuisine enhanced with Asian flavors. Restaurant Anzu will also offer Feinstein's at the Nikko guests a special three-course prix-fixe dinner ($45 per person) prior to all performances. Reservations can be made by calling (415) 394-1100.

Tom Wopat · "I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER
Thursday, January 9 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $35 - $45

Broadway audiences adore him for his performances in Annie Get Your Gun, Chicago, 42nd Street, Glengarry Glen Ross, Catch Me If You Can, City of Angels, Guys & Dolls, A Catered Affair and Sondheim on Sondheim, and most recently the award winning A Trip to Bountiful, among others. But he is probably best known and remembered the world over as Luke Duke from the long running hit television series "The Dukes of Hazzard!"

All it takes is a phrase or two from Tom Wopat's warm, engaging baritone to trigger the desire to hear more. And the more one listens, the better it gets - from the way he finds the heart of a song's story to his lyrical phrasing and his gently swinging, jazz-infused rhythms.

Born on a small dairy farm in Lodi, Wisconsin, Tom Wopat began singing and dancing in school musicals when he was 12 years old. Upon graduating high school, he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in Madison to study music, at one point leaving to be the lead singer and trombone player in a rock band.

It is no surprise he went on to become a successful recording artist with the albums "A Little Bit Closer," "Don't Look Back Now," and "Learning to Love," not to mention Top 20 country hits such as "The Rock and Roll of Love" and "Susannah." With the 2000 release of his album, "Still of the Night," Tom Wopat introduced a new dimension to his talent. The star of TV and Broadway effortlessly reinvents a set of beautiful standards in a smooth, intimate and sexy style reminiscent of the crooners of the 40s and 50s. With his latest release, "I've Got Your Number," Tom's musical expedition has traveled into even more colorful territory. Backed by a thirty-piece orchestra, the album fulfills his desire to focus on what he describes as the "orchestra/big band hybrid of the '60s and '70s."

Wopat's versatility was there from the beginning and on full display in a career covering all areas of entertainment - from his television work to high visibility Broadway roles and recent feature films notably Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained.

Cheyenne Jackson · "I'M BLUE, SKIES"
Friday, January 10 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 11 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $50-$65

After wowing audiences as Tony in recent San Francisco Symphony concert performances of West Side Story, star of stage and screen, Cheyenne Jackson, returns to San Francisco to make his Feinstein's at the Nikko debut for two performances only.

Multi-talented actor, singer and songwriter Cheyenne Jackson recently released an album of original music called "I'm Blue, Skies." In 2012 he released his first three singles "Drive," the Top 40 hit "Before You," and "Don't Wanna Know," all produced by Thomas "Tawgs" Salter. Combining stage, film, television, and concerts, Cheyenne continues to have one of the most diverse careers in entertainment. He was recently seen in Steven Soderbergh's "Behind The Candelabra" with Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, and will next be seen starring opposite Gena Rowlands in the feature film "Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks" in early 2014. Cheyenne has appeared in a number of films, including the 2006 Academy Award-nominated "United 93," "The Green" opposite Julia Ormond and Ileana Douglas, "Price Check" with Parker Posey, and "Lola Versus." Upcoming 2014 films include "Lucky Stiff" with Jason Alexander and the late Dennis Farina, "Beautiful Now, Opening Night" opposite Anthony Rapp, "Mutual Friends," Neil LaBute's new miniseries "Full Circle," with David Boreanaz, Kate Walsh, Tom Felton, Julian Mahon and Ally Sheedy, and "Love Is Strange," opposite John Lithgow, Marisa Tomei, and Alfred Molina.

On & Off Broadway, Cheyenne has starred in The Performers, "8," Finian's Rainbow (Drama Desk nomination), Damn Yankees, Xanadu (Drama League, Drama Desk nominations) The Agony & the Agony, All Shook Up (Theater World Award, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle nomination) the premiere cast of Altar Boyz, Aida, Thoroughly Modern Millie, On The 20th Century, and The 24 Hour Plays. On television, Cheyenne was seen on NBC's "30 Rock" portraying series regular Danny Baker, and recently portrayed Dustin Goolsby, the new coach of Vocal Adrenaline on the hit Fox TV series "Glee." Other television credits include "Family Practice," "Life on Mars," "Ugly Betty," "It Takes a Village," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Local Talent," "Mockingbird Lane," and "The Onion News Empire."

In concert, he has sold-out Carnegie Hall twice: first with The Power of Two with Michael Feinstein, then with his debut solo concert with the NY Pops, Music of the Mad Men Era. The Power of Two was hailed by the New York Times as "passionate," "impeccably harmonized," and "groundbreaking". The New York Daily News said about Music of the Mad Men Era, "Cheyenne Jackson has got it all, and he showed it all: the voice, the moves, the quirky self-effacing humor. He gleamed like Don Draper's Brylcreemed hair."

Cheyenne continues to play an active role in a variety of social issues including LGBT Rights, Marriage Equality, and HIV/ AIDS Research. Cheyenne is a Board appointed international ambassador for amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) and he serves as the national ambassador for The Hetrick-Martin Institute.

Sharon McNight · "THE FIRST 30 YEARS"
Thursday, January 16 at 8 p.m.
Friday, January 17 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $25-$35

Making her Feinstein's at the Nikko debut, McNight will present her all-new show, The First 30 Years, an introspective retrospect from Moose Hall to Carnegie Hall (and all the gin joints on the way). Sharing her quixotic experiences from standing on a stage made from stacked beer cases in San Francisco's Castro District to starring on Broadway in Starmites and her indelible appearances in the world's bistros, McNight will perform songs by Irving Berlin, Billy Joel, Randy Newman, Willy Nelson and many new composers with her trademark comedy in-between. Joan Edgar will serve as Musical Director.

The California native is a favorite with cabaret and concert audiences and is known for her sardonic comedic style, wry comments on the ways of the world and an eclectic mix of song selections. To many, her off-the-cuff ad libs and audience participation may be the most revered elements of any McNight show... The First 30 Years is no exception!

McNight made her Broadway debut in 1989 in Starmites creating the role of Diva, for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, and was the recipient of the coveted Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut, which was presented to her by Carol Channing. In San Francisco, McNight was voted Best Actress by the San Francisco Bay Area Critics' Circle for her performance as Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly. She has received five Cable Car Awards for San Francisco's Cabaret Entertainer of the Year, New York's MAC Award for Outstanding Female Vocalist and the New York Critics' Nightlife Award for Best Musical Comedy Cabaret Show for Ladies Compose Yourselves. Of her many accomplishments and performance awards, McNight is most proud of the money she has raised on behalf of AIDS related charities. McNight is featured in the international best-selling book, "And the Band Played On."

Sierra Boggess · "AWAKENING"
Saturday, January 18 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$45

Broadway knows her as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera and as aspiring opera star Sharon Graham in Master Class. London knows her for her Olivier Award-nominated performance in Love Never Dies and as Fantine in LES MISERABLES. Now, San Francisco audiences will see a brand new side of this Drama Desk and Olivier Award-nominated actress as she makes her official Feinstein's at the Nikko debut with her acclaimed one-woman show, Awakening. One of Broadway's most promising new talents, audiences can expect a range of tunes from songwriters both new and old, and vocals that stretch from the sublime to the divine. Boggess will be joined on-stage by Summer Boggess on cello and Brian Hertz (Musical Director) on piano. An album of Awakening - recorded in August 2013 at 54 Below in New York City - will be available for purchase that evening.

Sierra Boggess's Broadway credits include a 25th Anniversary engagement in The Phantom of the Opera, the revival of Master Class and The Little Mermaid (Drama Desk and Drama League nominations, Broadway.com Award - Favorite Breakthrough Performance). London credits include LES MISERABLES, the 25th Anniversary Concerts of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall and Love Never Dies (Olivier Award nomination). Other New York theatre credits include the final cast of off-Broadway's Love, Loss And What I Wore and Music in the Air for Encores! Boggess also starred in the Las Vegas production of The Phantom of the Opera. Recordings include the 25th Anniversary Concert of The Phantom of the Opera (also available on DVD), the Symphonic Recording of Love Never Dies, The Little Mermaid, Andrew Lippa's A Little Princess and Rodgers & Hammerstein at the Movies with the John Wilson Orchestra.

Joan Ryan · "AN EVENING WITH Joan Ryan"
Thursday, January 23 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $30-$40

Actress and singer Joan Ryan, who boasts an impressive four octave range, makes her long-awaited return to the San Francisco cabaret stage with her self-titled show Joan Ryan, LIVE!, written and directed by Andrew MacBean (Associate Director with Trevor Nunn on Andrew Lloyd Webber's Aspects of Love and Sunset Boulevard) and musical direction from Todd Schroeder (musical director for Sam Harris, Jason Alexander).

Ms. Ryan, who is currently receiving both critical and audience praise in hit indie film "Hot Guys With Guns," has been called "a mesmerizing performer who moves smoothly from larger-than-life drama to small, captivating emotional moments," by the Los Angeles Times. Rex Reed, of the New York Observer, said "she can explore the nuances of a piercing ballad with the investigative talent of a forensic expert, then ignite a show stopping Broadway melody with the combustion of a freight locomotive on the Philadelphia Railroad." Her stage credits include the original LA cast of the musical Ruthless!, the West Coast premiere of Anyone Can Whistle, Footloose, Triumph of Love, Little Shop of Horrors, among others.

Known for her recurring role as Tina Pallodrino, the crazy music and arts teacher on the long-running series, "Saved By the Bell," Ryan has appeared on-screen in numerous television shows and movies including two years as Kathleen Houghton, everyone's favorite psychiatrist on "The Young and the Restless."

Layered with fiercely rich vocals and an innate sense of humor and frank wisdom, Joan Ryan, LIVE! is a musical journey through the life and eclectic career of "consummate performer" Joan Ryan.

Sam Harris · "HAM: SLICES OF A LIFE"
Friday, January 24 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 25 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $25-$35

Celebrating the release of his new book, HAM: Slices of a Life, (a collection of stories and essays - Simon & Schuster), Tony Award nominee Sam Harris will make his Feinstein's at the Nikko debut in a show of the same name. He calls the show a "liter-usical" - a theatrical hybrid of excerpts from the book artfully interspersed with Broadway and pop songs.

Sam Harris' diversified career has run the gamut from singer and songwriter to actor on Broadway, film and television to writer, director and producer. And now author.

After pulling a weekly audience of more than 25 million viewers and going on to win "Star Search" in its premier season, Harris and his powerhouse pop, gospel and theater influenced vocals have never looked back. He is a multi-platinum recording artist with 9 studio CDs to his credit including "Sam Harris," "Sam-I-Am" (which both boasted top 40 hits), "Standard Time," and "Different Stages" (produced and conducted by the legendary Peter Matz, and which have been listed on numerous "Top 100 Records of All Time" lists.) Other CDs include "The Best of the Motown Sessions," "Revival," "On This Night," "Always," "Sam Harris Live! - The Best of Christmas" and, most recently, "Free." He can also be heard on numerous concert, guest artist and cast recordings.

Sam has toured extensively in concert and has played to sold-out audiences at major venues including New York's Carnegie Hall, Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheatre, London's West End and with The Boston Pops. He also participated in Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" tour. Sam has appeared at The White House, on numerous television specials and live productions, and has been a guest on virtually every talk show, from Oprah Winfrey's legendary show following 9/11 to his recent appearance on Jimmy Fallon, who called his work "some of the best musical performances ever aired on television. Ever!"

On Broadway, Sam received a Drama Desk nomination for his role in Tommy Tune's Grease and a Drama-League Award as well as Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations for his work in Cy Coleman's The Life. He also appeared on Broadway in the Mel Brooks musical, The Producers and in an extensive National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Weber's Broadway production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Sam also starred in Jesus Chris Superstar, Cabaret, Hair, Pippin, The Jazz Singer, The First Wives Club and the self penned shows Hard Copy, Different Hats, Revival and the smash hit one-man show, Sam.

As "Perry Pearl" on the CBS sitcom, "The Class," Sam's chameleonic career took a new turn as a series regular, prompting popular columnist, Liz Smith, to call him "the comedy break breakout character of the television season." Among his many television credits, Sam had a recurring role on the CBS sitcom, "Rules of Engagement" and "Extra" gave him his own segment called "Six Degrees of Sam," where he interviewed celebrity friends with his singular brand of humor and perspective. Sam has co-starred in the films "In the Weeds" and "Elena Undone." Behind the scenes, Sam co-wrote the TBS sit-com, "Down to Earth," which ran for 4 years, and the Los Angeles produced musical Hurry! Hurry! Hollywood! He also co-produced the television special "Love Letter to New York" and supervised/directed segments of Michael Jackson's 30th Year Anniversary at Madison Square Garden, and wrote/directed the concert event, "New York's Finest." He co-wrote Liza's at the Palace for Liza Minnelli, which won the Tony Award. He and Liza also appeared in Schmulie and Minnooli , a duets show featuring beloved songs and stories about their friendship and passion for music.

Another monumental influence of his creative shift was the adoption of Cooper Atticus Harris-Jacobsen, and the subsequent marriage to his long time partner, Danny. The couple has been together 19 years and the adoption and their marriage were covered by every major news source. Sam has become an icon of the modern family and equal rights and is the "go-to" guy for shows like "Tyra" and "the Dr. Drew Show" on the subject. His single, "My Reclamation" has become an anthem for equal marriage rights.

The book, HAM: Slices of a Life, is being released January 14, 2014 and Sam will be touring with this very special new theatrical show in support.

Anita Gillette · "AFTER ALL"
Thursday, January 30 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $30-$40

Anita Gillette presents her new one-woman show, After All, a wonderful evening of music and memories that takes an intimate, touching, and hilarious look behind the scenes from Broadway to Hollywood. An autobiographical work, After All takes audiences backstage with Gillette as a young showgirl starting out in the original cast of Gypsy with Ethel Merman onwards into the worlds of David Merrick and Gower Champion in Carnival through a building career that leads to a Tony nominated performance in the Neil Simon comedy Chapter Two.

From major feature films playing roles such as Ms. Mona in "Moonstruck," co-starring in hit television shows like "Quincy" and Game Show classics, to playing Tina Fey's mother in "30 Rock" and Annie Fitzsimmons in the multiple award winning hit "Modern Family," Gillette will surprise and delight in this production that is certain to entertain!

After All is directed by award winning New York cabaret veteran Barry Kleinbort who has also directed and written special musical materials for Kaye Ballard, Regis Philbin, Marcia Lewis, Mary Cleere Haran, John Epperson (aka: Lypsinka), Donna Murphy, the late Jerry Orbach, Karen Mason, Brent Barrett, Harolyn Blackwell, Heather MacRae, and many others. Musical Direction is by award winner Paul Greenwood, who has accompanied some of the industry's most honored performers including George Burns, Elly Stone, Art Garfunkel, Mary Cleere Haran, Ann Hampton Callaway, Nancy Lamott, and Sylvia McNair!

Leslie Jordan · "FRUIT FLY"
Friday, January 31 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $25-$35

Do gay men become their mothers? That is the question asked in Leslie Jordan's hilarious and touching new romp, Fruit Fly. A tribute to motherhood, Jordan travels back in time using show-and-tell to take audiences on the ride of a lifetime, sharing hysterical stories about growing-up as a flamboyant, doll-loving boy in the South. From the day a teenage Leslie sits down with his caring but clueless mother to inform her that he has decided to forego college to become a female impersonator, all the way to a gay Alaskan cruise with 2,000 gay men on which a 53 year-old Leslie witnesses his aging mother's astounding metamorphosis, Jordan's storytelling skills make for an evening of fun and thought-provoking theater.

In 1982, Leslie Jordan stepped off a Greyhound bus from the hills of Tennessee, said "hello" to Hollywood and has never looked back. With hundreds of television shows, films and commercials to his credit, he has become a familiar face on the entertainment scene.

In 2006, Jordan won an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series" for his delicious portrayal of "Beverley Leslie" on the hit series "Will and Grace." Most recently, Jordan has been seen in the hit FX series, "American Horror Story: Coven." Television audiences will also remember him for his recurring roles on "Raising Hope," "The Neighbors," "Privileged," "Ugly Betty," "Boston Legal," and "Reba."

Feature film audiences will recognize Jordan as Emma Stone's newspaper editor in the Academy Award winning film, "The Help." Other film roles include "Brother Boy" in Del Shores' adaptation of his play "Sordid Lives'" with Olivia Newton-John, Delta Burke and Beau Bridges - a role he is reprising in the television series based on the play and film for the cable network Logo - as well as "Love Ranch" with Helen Mirren. Jordan will next be seen in the upcoming feature film "Southern Baptist Sissies," based on Del Shores' hit play.

On stage, Jordan won the Ovation Award, The Garland Award and The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his portrayal of "Preston Leroy," the aging, sodden barfly in Del Shores' Southern Baptist Sissies.

Jordan has enjoyed considerable success as a writer. His book "My Trip Down the Pink Carpet" for Simon and Schuster is currently in bookstores. Material from the book formed the basis of a 90-minute one-man show, which had a successful 45 city book-signing/performance tour in 2008. A DVD of the show shot during performances in Atlanta is currently available.

Jordan's autobiographical one-man show Like a Dog on Linoleum performed to sold-out audiences at the Elephant Asylum Theater in Los Angeles, the Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs, the Bailiwick Theater in Chicago, the 14th Street Playhouse in Atlanta and the Lorraine Hansberry Theater in San Francisco.

Jordan's play Hysterical Blindness and Other Southern Tragedies That Have Plagued My Life Thus Far played to sold-out houses in Los Angeles and had a successful seven month run Off-Broadway at The Playhouse on Van Dam in New York City. His screenplay "Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel" won the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival's Production Grant Award, beating out over 600 other scripts. Subsequently, it was made into an independent feature film distributed by Northern Arts Entertainment.

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