Announcing: American Idol’s Michael Orland Joins Up As Musical Director for Lillias White’s ‘A Woman on Love,’ June 3 & 10

MUSICAL DIRECTOR MICHAEL ORLAND
WILL JOIN BROADWAY STAR AND TONY AWARD-WINNER
LILLIAS WHITE

FOR HER NEW SHOW
A WOMAN ON LOVE
AT CATALINA JAZZ CLUB IN HOLLYWOOD

TWO SHOWS ONLY
MONDAYS, JUNE 3 & 10 AT 8:30PM

Chris Isaacson Presents and Upright Cabaret have announced that American Idol’s Michael Orland will be the musical director for the West Coast club return of Broadway diva and Tony Award-winner Lillias White’s new show, A Woman On Love, at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. There will be two performances only, on Mondays, June 3 and 10 at 8:30pm, with cocktail and dinner service beginning at 6:30pm. The June 10 show also marks the second anniversary of The Night After The Tonys, a tradition begun in 2012 by Ms. White and Upright Cabaret.

Michael Orland is currently the pianist, arranger and Associate Musical Director for American Idol. He has appeared on Oprah, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Ellen, Live With Kelly & Michael, the CBS Early Show, and concerts on the plaza for The Today Show. He has collaborated with music industry giants Burt Bacharach, Neil Sedaka, Diane Warren, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Martina McBride, Jennifer Lopez, and Tony Bennett, and many more. Orland also served as a pianist and coach for America’s Got Talent (Seasons 1 & 2). He is also the music director for the touring companies of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Lillias White is currently starring in the critically acclaimed production of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come And Gone, under the direction of Phylicia Rashad at the Mark Taper Forum. Ms. White made her Broadway debut in Barnum (1981), and went on to perform in many other Broadway shows, including the 1987 revival of Dreamgirls, Cats, Once On This Island, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Chicago, and The Life, in which Ms. White gave a performance as a no-nonsense, world weary hooker that won her the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. She received a 2010 Tony Award nomination for her portrayal of Funmilayo in the hit musical Fela! She has performed with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and she has appeared in concert at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center. She has toured internationally with her solo show From Brooklyn to Broadway, and she has been seen on television on Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, NYPD Blue, and Sesame Street (for which she won an Emmy Award), to name only a few.

In addition, Ms. White has been invited to appear at Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s LA Pride Garden Party on Sunday, June 2, alongside Jake Simpson, who twice won top honors (2003 & 2004) on CBS’s Star Search with his powerful high tenor voice and three-octave range. Simpson will be White’s special guest at her shows on June 3 & 10.

Lillias White: A Woman On Love will be at the Catalina Jazz Club, 6725 W. Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood for two performances only on Mondays, June 3 & 10 at 8:30pm. Doors open at 6:30pm for cocktail and dinner service (minimums apply). Admission is $30, and VIP seating is available. Tickets may be obtained by calling (866) 468-3399 or by visiting www.UprightCabaret.com/events. Tickets purchased online will receive priority seating.

# # #

05-28-13

Announcing: Tony Award-Winner Lillias White Brings New Show, ‘A Woman on Love,’ to Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood for Two Shows Only, June 3 & 10, with Special Guest Jake Simpson

BROADWAY STAR AND TONY AWARD-WINNER
LILLIAS WHITE
BRINGS HER NEW SHOW, A WOMAN ON LOVE
TO CATALINA JAZZ CLUB IN HOLLYWOOD

TWO SHOWS ONLY
MONDAYS, JUNE 3 & 10 AT 8:30PM

Chris Isaacson Presents and Upright Cabaret proudly present the West Coast club return of Broadway diva and Tony Award-winner Lillias White in her new show, A Woman On Love, at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. There will be two performances only, on Mondays, June 3 and 10 at 8:30pm, with cocktail and dinner service beginning at 6:30pm. The June 10 show also marks the second anniversary of The Night After The Tonys, a tradition begun in 2012 by Ms. White and Upright Cabaret.

Lillias White is currently starring in the critically acclaimed production of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come And Gone, under the direction of Phylicia Rashad at the Mark Taper Forum. Ms. White made her Broadway debut in Barnum (1981), and went on to perform in many other Broadway shows, including the 1987 revival of Dreamgirls, Cats, Once On This Island, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Chicago, and The Life, in which Ms. White gave a performance as a no-nonsense, world weary hooker that won her the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. She received a 2010 Tony Award nomination for her portrayal of Funmilayo in the hit musical Fela! She has performed with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and she has appeared in concert at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center. She has toured internationally with her solo show From Brooklyn to Broadway, and she has been seen on television on Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, NYPD Blue, and Sesame Street (for which she won an Emmy Award), to name only a few.

The music director for A Woman On Love is Abdul Hamid, and Ms. White will be joined onstage by OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) star Jake Simpson. Simpson twice won top honors (2003 & 2004) on CBS’s Star Search with his powerful high tenor voice and three-octave range. Jake has recorded, written and performed with a multitude of award-winning artists including Desmond Child, American Idol finalists David Archuleta, Syesha Mercado and Adam Lambert, The Voice finalist Frenchie Davis, pianist Jim Brickman, Shoshana Bean, Matt Cusson, Taylor Dayne, Paula Cole, and most famously on The Oprah Winfrey Show with the legendary Stevie Wonder.

About Chris Isaacson Presents: This ‘young impresario’ has promoted, created and produced over 500 events since forming his company in 2004. From small clubs to major theatres, Isaacson has produced many of the most influential stars of his generation including Adam Lambert, Lea Michele, Megan Hilty, Shoshana Bean, Neil Patrick Harris, Natasha Bedingfield, Orianthi, Taylor Dayne, Paula Cole and legends like Paul Anka, Sergio Mendes, and more. Isaacson is also founder of LA’s renowned Upright Cabaret, which has been redefining the cabaret milieu for a new generation of audiences since 2005. Upright Cabaret celebrates old style cabaret while simultaneously bringing young Broadway and young Hollywood together in a live setting. This past year, Isaacson served as Entertainment Director at Rolling Stone Los Angeles in Hollywood. His concerts have been featured on Access Hollywood, Extra, ABC’s On The Red Carpet, KTLA Morning News, Fox’s Good Day LA and in the LA Times, OK! Magazine, and New York Post. Visit www.ChrisIsaacsonPresents.com.

Lillias White: A Woman On Love will be at the Catalina Jazz Club, 6725 W. Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood for two performances only on Mondays, June 3 & 10 at 8:30pm. Doors open at 6:30pm for cocktail and dinner service (minimums apply). Admission is $30, and VIP seating is available. Tickets may be obtained by calling (866) 468-3399 or by visiting www.UprightCabaret.com/events. Tickets purchased online will receive priority seating.

# # #

05-13-13

Announcing: Tony Winner The Elephant Man Set for Theatre 68 Six Weeks Only Beginning March 28

1979 TONY AWARD-WINNER FOR BEST PLAY
THE ELEPHANT MAN
SET FOR THEATRE 68
SIX WEEKS ONLY BEGINNING MARCH 28

The Grimy has announced a limited engagement of The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance, directed by Reid Scott, at Theatre 68 in Los Angeles. There will be two preview performances on March 28 and 29, with opening night set for Friday, March 30 at 8:00.

The Elephant Man is the story of John Merrick, a young man in England at the turn of the century, who suffered from a hideous and debilitating disorder. Merrick is taken into the care of Dr. Treves, the most prominent physician of that time. Despite his profound disability and bizarre appearance, it is revealed that Merrick is an incredible artist and poet. These qualities are only surpassed by the compassion of his luminous soul, and he deeply touches the lives of everyone with whom he comes into contact.

Originally presented at London’s National Theatre, the play later opened on Broadway. Along with the 1979 Tony Award for Best Play, The Elephant Man won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play, and the NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play. The original Broadway cast included Philip Anglim as John Merrick (winner of the NY Drama Desk Award for Best Actor), and Kevin Conway as Dr. Treves. The role of John Merrick was later played by Mark Hamill and David Bowie, among others. The play ran over two years on Broadway.

Reid Scott has directed several off-Broadway productions, including Cargo, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Inherit the Wind, Miss Julie, and Much Ado About Nothing. The Elephant Man marks his Los Angeles debut. The cast at Theatre 68 will include (in alphabetical order) Jeny Batten, Ron Bottitta, Nick Caballero, Kimberly Condict, Chris Payne Gilbert, Jamie Harris, Babar Peerzada, and Paulie Rojas. Set and lighting design is by Joel Daavid, and costume design is by Max Smith. The stage manager is Bland Brifkani, and The Elephant Man is produced for The Grimy by Lulu Brud and Babar Peerzada.

The Elephant Man will play two preview performances on Wednesday, March 28, and Thursday, March 29 at 8pm, and opening night is set for Friday, March 30 at 8pm. The regular running schedule is Thursday through Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm through May 6 only. General admission seating is $30 ($25 in advance online), and tickets may be purchased at www.plays411.com/elephantman or by calling (323) 960-7735. Opening night seats are available for $45, which includes a post-performance reception   a meet-and-greet with the artists. Theatre 68 is located at 5419 Sunset Boulevard (just east of Western) inLos Angeles, 90027. Free rooftop parking is available.

# # #

03-14-12