Now in its 35th Anniversary season, Urban Stages is debuting a brand-new festival patterned after its award-winning series Winter Rhythms. Dubbed Summer Melodies, the new series of shows begins on Thursday, June 20 and runs through Saturday, June 29. Summer Melodies will benefit the development program of new musical theater projects at Urban Stages. All tickets are $30 (unless otherwise indicated).
The creative team includes sound and lighting design by Kim T.Sharp, Disnie Sebastien as Production Manager and former Winter Rhythms Producer Peter Napolitano as Creative Consultant. The festival is produced by Tom Toce, who also produced Winter Rhythms 2018 and has been associated with that celebrated series as a featured songwriter and producer for the past seven years.
SHOW DESCRIPTION & SCHEDULE:
Thursday, June 20, 2019
7PM JEFF MACAULEY: WHERE DID THE GENTLEMAN GO? THE SONGS OF BOBBY TROUP & THE LIFE OF SCOTTY BOWERS
“Where Did The Gentleman Go?” looks at the songs of Bobby Troup and the life of Scotty Bowers, two ex-marines who made new lives for themselves in Los Angeles just after World War II. They each took divergent but intersecting paths to find their fortunes and boy, did they find them. Bobby Troup became an esteemed composer, writing “Get Your Kicks On Route 66” among other post-war pop hits. Scotty Bowers got his kicks on Hollywood Blvd. working in a gas station and as a bartender and romancing just about every star in Hollywood. Jeff Macauley has been singing in clubs from Los Angeles to New York since 1990. Jeff recently won the 2019 MAC Award for Male Vocalist with his fourth consecutive nomination. Click Here to buy tickets.
Monday, June 24, 2019
7PM SEAN HARKNESS: SUMMER SOLSTICE, A WINDHAM HILL RETROSPECTIVE FEATURING WILL GALISON
Acclaimed international guitar artist Sean Harkness is in high demand as a performer and composer on solo guitar. Joining Sean will be master harmonica player Will Galison. Will has worked with Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, Peggy Lee, and many others. Their music includes Brazilian, Argentine, American Standards, and Folk. Click Here to buy tickets.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
7PM ANN KITTREDGE: FANCY MEETING YOU HERE (AN EVENING OF AHRENS AND FLAHERTY)
MAC Award-Winning vocalist Ann Kittredge brings her brand-new show, which premiered at 54 Below in May. Directed by Andrea Marcovicci (“the Queen of Cabaret”), with musical direction by Alex Rybeck, the show transports the audience from Dublin to England to the Caribbean—and beyond. Drawing on her early acting training at Carnegie Mellon and work on and off Broadway, the rising cabaret star shares the unique wonder at the heart of each Ahrens and Flaherty creation. Click Here to buy tickets.
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
7PM TOM TOCE: SONGWRITER IN THE HOUSE
MAC Award-Winning songwriter Tom Toce reprises his solo show Songwriter in the House, which was nominated for a MAC Award in 2016 for Male Debut. Tom brings his blend of wry and tuneful songs to Summer Melodies, aided by Sean Harkness on guitar and Jon Burr on bass. Click Here to buy tickets.
Thursday, June 27, 2019
9PM MICHAEL GARIN & MARDIE MILLIT’S SWINGIN’ THE ‘60S!
Performing duo and real-life spouses Michael Garin (piano and vocals) and Mardie Millit (vocals) are bringing their unique blend of genre-bending music and comedy to Urban Stages. In this ’60s-themed show, they will cover tunes by Cream, Joni Mitchell, James Brown, Peggy Lee, and Bock and Harnick, just to name a few. Click Here to buy tickets.
Friday, June 28, 2019
7PM CHRISTINE LAVIN: ON MY WAY TO HOOTERVILLE
Folk music legend Christine Lavin has subtitled her show, “I don’t make things up, I just make ‘em rhyme.” In 1984, Christine quit her day job at Bellevue Hospital to pursue a career in music. After 35 years, 23 solo albums, 10 compilations, countless tours and adventures (some crazy), she invites you to come hear why theater stars like Klea Blackhurst, Betty Buckley, Sutton Foster, Andrea Marcovicci, and Karen Ziemba sing her songs. Click Here to buy tickets.
Saturday, June 29, 2019
2PM DANIEL CAINER: GEFILTE FISH & CHIPS
Hillary Rollins presents Daniel Cainer’s “Gefilte Fish & Chips.” Direct from London, award-winning musical storyteller Daniel Cainer brings his internationally acclaimed one-man show. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cainer is an ‘Alien Artist of Extraordinary Ability’ (who knew?!). In this show, he shares up-close and personal tales about home, heritage, identity and what it’s like to be Jewish and British, then and now. But as the LA Times says, ‘You don’t have to be Jewish (or British) to get a kick out of Cainer’. All of the human condition is here, lovingly and intelligently depicted in a remarkable collection of stories-in-song about family, hope, life, love and, of course, bagels. Smart, funny, timely and only slightly irreverent, every song tells a story and every story touches the heart. Chosen for Soho Playhouse New York’s Best of Edinburgh and New York Fringe Encores series, “Gefilte Fish & Chips” is being prepared by producer Hillary Rollins for an off-Broadway production in 2020. But you can be an “early adopter” and see it right now at the Summer Melodies! Click Here to buy tickets.
7PM STEPHEN HANKS PRESENTS “CELEBRATING DEMOCRACY: RIDING THE BLUE WAVE TO 2020!”
Cabaret Producer, Promoter, Performer Stephen Hanks hosts an All-Star Variety Show featuring 20 terrific singer/performers from the BroadwayWorld Award-Nominated Series CABARET CAMPAIGNS: RIDE THE BLUE WAVE 2018, which last year drew sellout crowds at Don’t Tell Mama with fundraisers for Democratic candidates in the 2018 Midterm Elections. With MAC Award-Winning Musical Director Tracy Stark on piano, the Blue Wavers join forces once again, this time offering both soaring and satiric songs of Freedom, Equality, Resistance, Truth, Justice, and the Real American Way, as the country gears up for the 2020 Presidential Election season. Performers include: Sandra Bargman, Remy Block, Lane Bradbury, Blair Brown, Mary Sue Daniels, Rob Davis, Natalie Douglas, Richard Eisenberg, Janice Hall, Laurie Krauz, Jeff Macauley, Sue Matsuki, Katie McGrath, Karen Oberlin, Sierra Rein, Julie Reyburn, Sarah Rice, Brian Charles Rooney, and Lisa Viggiano. Produced by Stephen Hanks. Click Here to buy tickets.
Urban Stages is located at 259 West 30th St (between 7th and 8th Avenues), NYC, 212-421-1380
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