Carole J. Bufford, Liz Callaway, Jeff Harnar and More Set for The Crazy Coqs, Jan-Feb 2014
By: BWW News Desk Dec. 02, 2013
2014 sees some new names and some returns to The Crazy Coqs. January starts with the London debut of the sizzling cabaret performer Carole J .Bufford and her show Body and Soul (January 7 - 11) followed by the popular Broadway star Brent Barrett and his show Night Songs (January 14 -18) and then actress and singer Linda Purl with her show Midnight Caravan: Celebrating the Great Ladies of the Glamorous Nightclub Era of the 40s & 50s (January 21 - 25).
Tony Nominee and Emmy winner Liz Callaway returns to London with her show An Evening with Liz Callaway (January 28 - February 1) and Frances Ruffelle returns to The Crazy Coqs after the success of her show Paris Original (February 4-8).
The very talented Natalie Douglas also returns to Crazy Coqs following her sell out shows with a new show - Four Women - Nina, Lena, Abbey and Billie (February 11- 15).
Annabel Leventon and Robert Meadmore return with their highly acclaimed show Imperfect Relationships (February 18 - 20) and Kate Dimbleby with her show The Dory Previn Story (February 21 & 22).
New York cabaret performer Jeff Harnar comes to Crazy Coqs with his show Does This Song Make Me Look Fat (February 25 - March 1).
SCHEDULE and DETAILS:
CAROLE J. BUFFORD
BODY AND SOULJANUARY 7-11
Carole J. Bufford isn't singing simple love songs. In her critically acclaimed show, Body and Soul, which makes it's London debut at Crazy Coqs, she is singing songs fuelled by burning passion- songs of lust, longing, anger, sorrow, obsession, even bitter hatred! These are the musical equivalents of emotional earthquakes. Culled from Broadway, blues, rock 'n' roll, pop and country sources, this is a show unlike any other you've seen, performed by a young artist who has quickly emerged as a star thanks to her uniquely original, theatrical style
Carole has become one of the most sought after young performers since performing in the 2009 NY Cabaret Convention at Jazz@ Lincoln Center. Her recent shows, "speak easy." and "Body & Soul" earned her rave reviews across the board, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Carole is the recipient of a 2013 Nightlife Award and 2011 Bistro Award. She has been featured in numerous Siegel Productions concerts at The Town Hall as well as the long running "11 O'clock Numbers at 11 O'clock" at Feinstein's at The Loew's Regency. www.carolejbufford.com
BRENT BARRETT
NIGHT SONGS
JANUARY 14 - 18The popular and very talented Broadway star Brent Barrett, makes his London cabaret debut with his show Night Songs at The Crazy Coqs. Singing a wonderful collection of numbers that all have something to do with the hours after sunset. Tying in the theme of the show to songs about his life, Brent describes getting his first Broadway show when he was still in college. It was the 1980 revival of West Side Story playing the part of Diesel, and Barrett describes meeting all the great, legendary Broadway celebrity stars during the run of that show. He talks about growing up in a small town in Kansas, in a house between a highway and a railroad and dreaming at night about leaving that town.
There are also songs by Billy Joel, Stephen Schwartz, Jimmy Webb, all dealing with the moon, the night and dreams, as well as some wonderful favourites from Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jule Styne, Alan J Lerner and Stephen Sondheim.
Brent has starred in Broadway in Chicago, Annie Get Your Gun, Grand Hotel, West Side Story, and Candide. He received an Olivier nomination for his performance in the London company of Kiss Me, Kate and he played a two-year stint in the title role of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular. He most recently played "Captain Hook" opposite, Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan. Before that, he reprised his role as "Billy Flynn" in the Tony Award-winning hit, Chicago - The Musical for which he received a Los Angeles drama Critics Award. www.brentbarrett.com
Musical Director: Christopher Denny
LINDA PURL
Midnight Caravan: Celebrating the Great Ladies of the Glamorous Nightclub Era of the 40s & 50s
JANUARY 21 - 25
Midnight Caravan which makes its UK debut at The Crazy Coqs, salutes the great women singing stars of the 1940s and '50s - from Ella Fitzgerald to Judy Garland to Rosemary Clooney - as they reigned over the swanky, sexy supper clubs of their day. From sultry ballads to hot Latin jazz arrangements of Broadway tunes, the show features classic standards like My Romance, Shall We Dance and Caravan, and conjures a night time world where the surroundings are posh, the drinks keep flowing, and nobody goes to bed before three.
Born in Connecticut, but brought up in Japan, Linda Purl has had recent recurring roles on the television series Reckless and True Blood, The Office as Helene Beasley and the Golden Globe Award winning series Homeland, as Elizabeth Gaines. She has starred in over 40 made-for-TV movies and is especially known for her series roles as Charlene Matlock on Matlock and Ashley Pfister, Fonzie's fiancée, on Happy Days. She appeared on Broadway in Tony nominated The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Getting and Spending and Off-Broadway in The Baby Dance and Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Purl currently tours with her solo concert Midnight Caravan - Celebrating the Great Ladies of the Glamorous Nightclub Era. She also tours with Lee Lessack in tributes to both Berlin and Mercer as well as with Gregory Harrison in A Night to Remember. www.lindapurl.comLIZ CALLAWAY
AN EVENING WITH LIZ CALLAWAY
JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 1
Tony Nominee and Emmy winner Liz Callaway returns to London in her solo debut. Performing a wonderful selection of songs and stories from her eclectic career, which has included years on the Broadway stage, her work in animated films, and numerous recordings. The show includes music by Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Maltby and Shire, and Rodgers and Hammerstein, as well as music from the 60's by Jimmy Webb, Tony Hatch, and more.
Liz Callaway made her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in Baby and for five years, won acclaim as Grizabella in Cats. She has starred in the original casts of Miss Saigon, The Three Musketeers, and The Look of Love. She has also established a major career as a concert and recording artist. The award-winning Sibling Revelry (created with sister Ann Hampton Callaway) was presented to great acclaim at the Donmar Warehouse. Boom! a celebration of the music of the 60's and 70's, also created with her sister, was recorded live at Birdland, and is currently touring performing arts centres around the country. She has co-starred with Jimmy Webb & Paul Williams in their critically acclaimed engagement at Feinstein's in New York and joined Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, and Stevie Wonder at Hal David's 90th Birthday Celebration Concert at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. She has performed in China, Australia (with Stephen Schwartz), Iceland, Estonia, France (Theatre du Chatelet, Paris), Slovenia, South Korea, and Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu where she premiered a new concert featuring the music of Stephen Sondheim. www.lizcallaway.com
FRANCES RUFFELLE
PARIS ORIGINALFebruary 4-8
When Frances debuted her new show Paris Original at Crazy Coqs in October, all performances were sold out almost immediately, making it one of the hottest tickets in town, Thus back by genuinely popular demand, Tony Award winning Frances Ruffelle returns with her five star show.
Discover the charms of the city of light and be seduced by the delightful Miss Ruffelle - and 'elle' is the key, as she brings a French twist to her latest zestful and feminine performance celebrating all things ooh la la with music from Francoise Hardy to Edith Piaf.
Frances is not only well known for creating the role of the iconic waif Eponine in the West End production of Les Miserables, but also for her outrageously playful and emotionally heartfelt cabaret appearances in Europe and in the U.S. where she won great critical acclaim Although Frances is known for her performances on the stage, she is also a film and TV actress. Her latest films are Devil's Tower to be internationally released in 2014 and In Long Forgotten Fields, also to be released in 2014. She also appeared in the award- winning film version of Les Miserables. www.francesruffelle.comNATALIE DOUGLAS
FOUR WOMEN: NINA, LENA, ABBEY & BILLIE
FEBRUARY 11- 15
New York notable NATALIE DOUGLAS - a seven time MAC award winner, including the 2008 award for Major Jazz Artist, a Backstage Bistro Award Winner and a Nightlife Award Winner - returns to the Crazy Coqs with a brand new show celebrating the songs of Dr. Nina Simone, Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln and Billie Holiday.
Building upon the triumphant sold-out debut run of her Nina Simone tribute at Crazy Coqs, Natalie and her Musical Director Mark Hartman, of Broadway's Avenue Q & Sondheim on Sondheim, have created an exciting evening of songs connected with these dynamic, iconic women - including "Can't Help Lovin' That Man," "Throw It Away," "God Bless The Child," and, of course, Dr. Simone's legendary composition, "Four Women." These iconic artists of the Twentieth Century had a profound impact on each other, Natalie & the entire world, sharing their talent, grace, dignity, wit, and emotional power with every music lover. Honouring their spirit, and their achievement, Natalie performs songs recorded by these legends and tells their stories to delightful effect. www.nataliedouglas.com
ANNABEL LEVENTON & ROBERT MEADMORE
IMPERFECT RELATIONSHIPS
FEBRUARY 18 - 20
Love is a feeling, marriage a contract and relationships damned hard work.
Following on from their highly acclaimed show of Jerry Herman's Dear World earlier this year, Annabel Leventon and Robert Meadmore explore songs of experience in their new show, IMPERFECT RELATIONSHIPS. Performing an eclectic mix of songs by Irving Berlin, Rogers and Hammerstein, Gershwin, Dorothy Fields, Cy Colman, Jacques Brel and Stephen Sondheim and from shows such as Hair! The Miserables, and Guys and Dolls, as well as new and original pop/rock material interspersed with stories from their extensive careers in theatre and film.
Annabel Leventon's singing career spans pop, rock and musicals. As an actress, her West End credits include Hair!, Spokesong, Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell, Rocket To The Moon, The Philanthropist and The Dresser, the Olivier-award-winning Honk! The Ugly Duckling for the National Theatre and Sir Andrew Aguecheek for the RSC, cabaret at the Ritz and in Paris. Her films include Wimbledon, Defence Of The Realm, M. Butterfly and The Rocky Horror Show. She created, with Gaye Brown and Diane Langton, the celebrated three-woman group Rock Bottom on which the award-winning television series Rock Follies was based.
Robert Meadmore's appearances in West End leading roles include The Phantom of the Opera, Oklahoma!, Brigadoon, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, two separate productions of Camelot, The Gondoliers, Bless the Bride, Pickwick, A Patriot for Me and most recently, Dear World. His classical album After a Dream reached number 2 in the classical charts and was nominated Record of the Year at the Classical Brit Awards.
KATE DIMBLEBY
THE DORY PREVIN STORY
FEBRUARY 21 & 22
In this highly commended show, the aacclaimed singer and storyteller Kate Dimbleby, accompanied by Naadia Sheriff on piano, explores the extraordinary songbook & life story of cult favourite Dory Previn, the queen of 70's confessional songwriters who died on Valentine's Day 2012, 40 years after the release of her most successful album Mythical Kings and Iguanas. Kate & Naadia roam freely across great songs from the heart, songs of emancipation, sweet revenge and the life of a vastly under-appreciated songwriter with a relevant story for today.
A national radio regular and with several albums to her credit, including the hit Songs of Dory Previn, Kate Dimbleby has been described by The Times as 'One of the most versatile singers on the jazz/blues circuit'. A natural born performer and drawn to music from a young age, she grew up in a family where performing was the norm. Her father is the broadcaster David Dimbleby and her mother was a trained classical singer. Her uncle on her mother's side played jazz piano, trumpet and blues harp, and inspired her with his collection of gramophone records. www.katedimbleby.com
JEFF HARNAR
DOES THIS SONG MAKE ME LOOK FAT?
FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 1
It is nearly five years since Jeff Harnar wooed the UK audience with his show Jeff Harnar presents the American Songbook and now he debuts his new show "Does This Song Make Me Look Fat (Lighter Fare for a Winter Night) at The Crazy Coqs. The show celebrates the wit of CAHN, COWARD, COLE, COMDEN & GREEN, KANDER & EBB, TOM LEHRER and more and includes songs such as "I'm Throwing a Ball Tonight," "My Personal Property," "Lonely Town," "Sail Away," "Mrs. Worthington," "The Elements," "Sondheim's Oklahoma, Fall In Love Too Easily," "The World Goes Round," and "Can Can" Between songs, Harnar delivers witty stories about his childhood, living in New York and of course about the songs themselves.
Harnar is the winner of the 2012 Noel Coward Foundation Cabaret Award and also holder of 3 MAC Awards and 4 BISTRO Awards
He has performed at Carnegie Hall in both the Cole Porter and Noel Coward Centennial Galas recorded 4 solo CD's and can be seen as The Nightclub Singer in the 2013 feature film "A Portrait of James Dean: Joshua Tree, 1951" www.jeffharnar.comMusical Director - Nathan Martin
MISS HOPE SPRINGS SUNDAY SOIREE
Miss Hope Springs Sings her Songs'
EVERY SUNDAY EVENING
After 18 months of packed houses, standing ovations and critical acclaim, award winning singer-songwriter, pianist and funny girl Miss Hope Springs, presents a season of her most popular songs to date...plus a handful of brand new ones.
Towering blonde ex Vegas showgirl Hope, plays the piano and sings her 'laugh out loud then move you to tears' repertoire of all original self-penned songs accompanied, as always, by throbbing bass and red hot percussion. Jazzy swing, perky pop, sensual bossa novas, cheeky cha cha chas and whistful waltzes all in a Sunday evening.JOHN STANDING SWINGS COLE PORTER
Every first Monday of the month, John Standing who is one of England's most respected stage, film and television actors, sings 15 of Porter's songs and tells stories of a life in the theatre and movies.
OPEN MIC EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT
Every Thursday from 10.30pm till midnight, Harold Sanditen hosts an open mic evening, which includes regular musicians Michael Roulston on piano and Jonty Fisher on bass. The open mic provides a nurturing environment for composers, musicians and singers to test new work in front of an audience, as well as a great evening of entertainment for audiences, who will have the chance to catch that proverbial 'rising star' or see an existing star, in what is arguably the most beautiful new music room in town.
Tickets are £5.00
The Crazy Coqs at Brasserie Zedel is located at 20 Sherwood Street?, London W1F 7ED. Times: 8.00pm (Tues -Sat); Miss Hope Springs 7pm (Sunday). Ticket prices: £30 (Frances Ruffelle); £20 (All other artists); and £15 (Miss Hope Springs). For reservations, call 020 7734 4888 or go online at www.crazycoqs.com. Follow The Crazy Coqs on Twitter @crazycoqs and Facebook: www.facebook.com/crazycoqs.
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