Connie Champagne Brings 'BEYOND THE RAINBOW' to Feinstein's at the Nikko Tonight

Feinstein's at the Nikko is thrilled to welcome the return of San Francisco's own legendary, award-winning, extraordinary performer Connie Champagne for one performance only of her acclaimed show Beyond the Rainbow: The Best of Connie Champagne as Judy Garland tonight, May 14 at 8 p.m.

Ms. Champagne brings to the stage the illusion of the great Judy Garland like no one else. Beyond the Rainbow delivers Garland's greatest hits along with Champagne's take on contemporary songs that Garland never had a chance to sing. From Gershwin to Gaga, Champagne imagines the repertoire Garland might sing today. Backed by a stellar combo featuring SF jazz favorite Tammy Hall on piano, Champagne sings Broadway songs from Cabaret to Hedwig & the Angry Inch, and of course, heartfelt ballads from the likes of Noel Coward ("If Love Were All") and John Lennon ("In My Life").

To round out the evening, Champagne may give us the rare tune or two, which were written for but never recorded by Garland! Beyond the Rainbow promises to take die-hard Garland fans and the uninitiated alike on a new journey into uncharted territory, giving a new spin on one of the classic sounds of our time. This show is not to be missed.

Tickets for Connie Champagne range in price from $25-$40 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

"Over the years people have requested songs they'd like to have heard Miss Garland perform," Champagne explains, "Beyond the Rainbow includes our favorite numbers from the shows we've performed over the last ten years."

Connie Champagne is not a Garland impersonator - she's an actress who sometimes plays the role of Judy Garland, and actually she plays it so well she's been asked to revisit it again and again. In San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York she's performed in intimate nightclubs and 14,000 seat theatres. She's played the MGM Judy, the mature CBS Television Judy, she's even played a deceased Judy in purgatory. But always a flesh and blood Judy with a heart and a soul.

Connie Champagne began her eclectic career with roles at San Francisco's Magic Theatre and Theatre on the Square. She was recruited by "Vegas In Space" director Phillip R. Ford to portray the cult heroine Neely O'Hara in his long-running stage adaptation of Valley of the Dolls, which inspired her interest in drag as a theatrical form. An "unwitting pioneer of the Cocktail Nation," Champagne has been the recipient of many awards including the Bay Area Theater Critics' Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her role in Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Former San Francisco Mayor - and current Lieutenant Governor - Gavin Newsom issued a City Proclamation declaring February 14th "Connie Champagne Day" in San Francisco.

Champagne has toured extensively with swing band The New Morty Show, and recorded a CD, "Morty-fied," on SlimStyle Records. She continues to sing with the group to this day. In addition to NMS, Champagne has shared the stage with a variety of artists and groups including: Romeo Void (supporting Cindi Lauper), Brian Setzer, Chris Isaak, the Magnum Brutes, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, and Royal Crown Revue, and has been nominated for the Cable Car Awards' Entertainer of the Year. The San Francisco Examiners' Readers Poll, compiled by staff writer Julian Guthrie, rated Connie #30 among "...the Top One Hundred Best Things about San Francisco," (ten notches above the Golden Gate Bridge!) Robin Eisgrau of New York's THE PAPER magazine listed Connie among her top ten favorites, and Research Magazine creator V Vale devotes a chapter to Connie's unique life and career in his book "Swing! The New Retro Renaissance" (V Search Publications).

Well-known for her roles portraying Judy Garland, Champagne first appeared as the legendary star in the Off-Broadway production of Christmas with the Crawfords. The New York Times critic Neil Genzlinger described Champagne's performance as "a subtle masterpiece of parody and homage." Champagne again received rave reviews for her performance as Garland - this time on the other side of the rainbow in the Los Angeles production of Judy's Scary Little Christmas directed by Broadway legend Kay Cole, for which she won the Ovation Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Inspired by Harry Lit of Castrobear Presents, Champagne, along with director F. Allen Sawyer and musical director Joseph Collins, created iMAGINE Judy Garland: An Evening With Connie Champagne, which played to sold-out audiences at the Empire Plush Room. The show was subsequently the recipient of the Dean Goodman Award for Outstanding Cabaret show. With Collins and Sawyer again on board, Champagne revisited Garland at the New Conservatory Theatre Center in Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. As she did in iMagine, Champagne assembled the repertoire Garland might sing today - ballads from the likes of Rufus Wainwright and Elton John, show-stoppers from Peter Allen and John Cameron Mitchell, and some improbable rock tunes that take on a whole new meaning, once they've been Judy-fied.

Champagne has sung on over 25 recordings and has shared the stage with many remarkable performers including Cyndi Lauper, Brian Setzer, Chris Isaak, Blondie's Debbie Harry and Rita Moreno to name a few.

In her spare time, Champagne also sings with the Mood Swing Orchestra, performing traditional big band tunes in the style of the 1940s. She appeared as one of 8 stellar Hedwigs in Boxcar Theatre's long-running hit show Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Located within Hotel Nikko (222 Mason Street, San Francisco), Feinstein's at the Nikko presents a wide range of entertainers from stage and screen all withinan 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 get 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.

For additional information on Connie Champagne, visit: www.conniechampagne.com. For additional information on Feinstein's at the Nikko, visit www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins. For Hotel Nikko San Francisco room specials, visit www.hotelnikkosf.com. Code: FEIN.

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