For a trio of Thursdays in May and
June, London's Theatre Museum in Covent Garden will host a brand new
series of musical soirees. Transatlantic Talent: Best of Both
Worlds will showcase established and emerging British and American
artists, with performances taking place cabaret-style in the Museum's Paintings Gallery.
In the first season of the series, all three shows will take the form of a double
bill of hand-picked performers paired for one night only.
Transatlantic Talent: Best of Both Worlds will set sail for its
inaugural journey on Thursday, 4 May at 8.00pm, with Holly Penfield and
Ray Jessel at the helm. On Thursday 1 June, London cabaret performer
Dusty Limits and New York Liza Minnelli impersonator Rick Skye will continue
to make waves across the Atlantic, and on Thursday 29 June, West End
regulars Valerie Cutko and Oliver Tompsett will come aboard for the
transatlantic trip.
Singer / songwriter Penfield's UK cabaret career has included
residencies at The Café Royal and Too2Much, sold-out shows at the
Savoy, Pizza on the Park and many other venues. Her Hot Spot was a
hit at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, where this year she will present
her show Both Sides Now. Her CD of the same title features several
original songs. In the US, she has performed in New York, Las Vegas and
San Francisco.
At 75 years old, Jessel is a self-professed "sit-down comedian."
His work as a songwriter has been recorded by artists including Peggy
Lee, Louis Armstrong, and Michael Feinstein. He was the last lyricist
to work with Richard Rodgers, contributing lyrics to songs in I
Remember Mama, and his Broadway show Baker Street featured a
song that was recorded by Richard Burton. Jessel, who only began
performing his own work at 72, is an award-winning singer / songwriter
who has also worked as a writer / producer for hit US television shows
including "The Dean Martin Show" and "The Love Boat."Comic singer Dusty Limits has performed
at the Pit Bar at the Old Vic, at the legendary Duckie and also on the
Battersea Barge. He is a favourite performer with the Burly Q Revue and
in Edinburgh's Bongo Club, and returns to the West End following his
recent successful New York debut at Don't Tell Mama and Joe's Pub.
Skye impersonates Liza Minnelli in his show A Slice O'Minnelli, which will grace the London
stage for the very first time. "The Broadway veteran and award-winning
New York cabaret performer shines in a tribute with a twist, revelling
in deliciously parodic lyrics and a pair of unquestionably alluring
legs," state press notes.
Baltimore-born Cutko has featured on Broadway in Grand Hotel
and in Nine and Fanny at the Papermill Playhouse. Her UK theatre
credits include Silk Stockings at Sadler's Wells, My Fair Lady at the
National Theatre and Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Beautiful and Damned,
Phantom of the Opera and Camelot. She has performed her solo cabaret at
London venues including Jermyn Street, the Pit Bar at the Old Vic,
Too2Much, the Zetter and LauderDale House. She appeared in the film of
Phantom of the Opera and recently performed in the UK première of Michael John LaChiusa's Lucky Nurse.
24 year old Tompsett, who has previously performed the
work of Michael John LaChiusa in the West End's critically acclaimed
Notes from New York series at the Trafalgar Studios, is currently
appearing in The RoyAl Hunt of the Sun at The National Theatre, with
previous credits including the role of Sky in Mamma Mia in the West End.
Following its season at the Theatre Museum, Transatlantic Talent: Best
of Both Worldswill resume its voyage with more adventurous
Anglo-American cabaret in the Autumn.The Theatre Museum is located at Russell Street, Covent Garden, London WC2.
Doors open at 7.30pm with
bar available before, during and after the show. For more information and tickets, call the Box Office at 08700 600 100, or 0207 943 4750 . Visit www.transatlantictalent.co.uk for more information.