Produced by MAC Award-winning songwriter TOM TOCE
Co-produced by Bistro & MAC Award winner SUE MATSUKI
December 7 — December 18
Urban Stages
259 West 30th Street, NYC
Tickets: 866.811.4111
urbanstages.org
WINTER RHYTHMS 2022 marks the 14th year that Urban Stages welcomes noted musical artists to its stage during the holiday period. Our annual festival has received a Bistro Award for Outstanding Series and the Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Series MAC Award amongst other accolades. Turning Urban Stages theater into an intimate music venue, WINTER RHYTHMS brings the talents of well-known and up-and-coming singers, musicians, lyricists and composers to the attention of the New York theater community. All proceeds go to Urban Stages’ Outreach, a city-wide program that tours and makes available online free plays and art programming for all ages. Outreach is a key part of Urban Stages’ mission to champion diverse artists and make art, theater, and education available for all.
All tickets are $30 (except Opening Night Gala). All proceeds benefit art, theater and education (via Urban Stages Outreach Program).
Wednesday, December 7 at 7 pm
GRETCHEN REINHAGEN
How Musical Theater Ruined My Life
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Multi-Award-winning singer, actress, comedienne Gretchen Reinhagen brings her brand-new musical theater-themed show to Urban Stages, with longtime friend and teaching partner David Gaines at the piano, for a special 1-night-in-NYC-only performance. Growing up in a musical theater world, Gretchen revisits some of her favorite shows, favorite roles and favorite songs, as well as exploring a 21st century show tune or two. While the theater didn’t really ruin her life, she was a fairly gullible kid who desperately wanted to believe that the sun would come out tomorrow, and you wouldn’t be arrested for always hanging out on the street where she lived. She was also the kid who rooted for Oklahoma’s Jud to get the girl and was convinced she was just a bagel on a plateful of onion rolls. This show is packed with the music that Broadways fans love, the songs that Gretchen’s voice loves to sing, and, as always, Gretchen’s special brand of “The Universe keeps trying to give me material” comedy. Directed by Barry Kleinbort.
Wednesday, December 7 at 9 pm
TYM MOSS
(A)Live: Fun! Fabulous! Flamboyant!
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Multiply MAC and GLAM Award Nominee Tym Moss takes us on a fun, intense, surprising, inspiring, and triumphant journey of the first half of his life’s experience coming to New York City. He tells his story through familiar songs but he gives new meaning to each of them with his unique “take” on each tune. This is a one man cabaret show that you will never forget. You’ll Laugh! You’ll Cry! You’ll Sing A Long! This show is funny one minute then can rip your heart out in the next. Musical Director: Tracy Stark.
Michael Musto says: “It turned out to be one of the best cabaret shows in town!”
The Huffington Post says: “I was completely swept away.”
Friday, December 8
GREGORY TOROIAN’s GUYS ‘N’ GALS
Part I – 7 pm
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Musical director, arranger, and educator Gregory Toroian presents a two-part evening with some of the most extraordinary singers he works with. Part I will feature the voices of: Cabaret Scenes’ Frank Dain, Maria Corsaro (You Taught My Heart to Sing), Linda Kahn (SAY YES!), Claudia Stack, Lionel Shockness, and Eva Steinberg (Not Your Mama’s Peggy Lee). Special Guest: Lina Koutrakos. This is an evening of jazz, musical theater, blues, holiday tunes, the American Songbook, and Cabaret music. Produced by Matsuki Productions.
Part II – 9 pm
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Musical director, arranger, and educator Gregory Toroian presents a two-part evening with some of the most extraordinary singers he works with. Part II will feature the voices of Fred Aiese (Live from New York!), Jacqueline Draper (Spreadin’ Rhythm Around), David Milberg, Deanna Monaco, Kati Neiheisel (Yesterday…Once More), Deborah Stone (Chiaroscuro), and Geoffrey Stoner. Special Guest: Leslee Warren (Me, Myself & Eye: Songs of a Nearsighted Girl). This is an evening of jazz, musical theater, blues, holiday tunes, the American Songbook, and Cabaret music. Produced by Matsuki Productions.
Saturday, December 10 at 2 pm
RETIRED THEATER KIDS
The Roles We Never Got to Play
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This group of young, fun, 20-somethings get to relive their since-crushed childhood theater dreams of all the songs we so desperately wanted to sing (and receive applause for). Come be merry and do your due diligence in clapping for those theater kids you know, love, and maybe can’t stand sometimes. Produced by Jamie Terrazzino and Madeleine Burrow. Cast to be announced.
Saturday, December 10 at 5 pm
DAVID BUSKIN
Up ‘Til Now: A Songwriter’s Retrospective
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Veteran songwriter David Buskin has been writing, recording, and performing his music professionally since 1970. He’s made about fifteen albums, most as half of the duo Buskin & Batteau or in his notorious “geezer band” Modern Man. His songs and jingles have been recorded by many great artists including Judy Collins, Peter, Paul & Mary, Johnny Mathis, Astrud Gilberto, Tom Rush, Dixie Carter, Roberta Flack, Mel Tormé, Take 6, Phoebe Snow, Richie Havens,and Arlo Guthrie. He is a New York Nightlife Award, Bistro Award, and Clio Award winner. He was also a recipient of the ASCAP Jamie deRoy Award for excellence in songwriting. His daughter Sophie Buskin saw her first solo CD, Sweet Creature, instantly establish her as a force to be reckoned with in the singer/songwriter world; it went to #1 on the Folk DJ charts and remained there for three weeks. While at school, she performed as a member of the prestigious Berklee Gospel Choir. She has backed up Jewel, Little Anthony, Alana Davis, Marci Geller, and Paul Shaffer, among others. Father and daughter blend thrillingly, as frequently seems to happen when there is shared DNA, and their writing styles – his out of folkie roots, hers more grounded in alternative bands – combine in a compelling and nuanced multi-generational hybrid.
“David Buskin delighted a packed house with his irresistible amalgam of melodic, sensual pop, folkie grit and killer wit.” — The Washington Post
Saturday, December 10 at 8 pm
BETH AND RITT’S HOLIDAY SURVIVAL KIT! (7th Annual)
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Award-winning songwriters Beth Falcone and Ritt Henn return to Urban Stages for their 7th Annual Beth & Ritt’s Holiday Survival Kit, serving up a bevy of original and originally arranged holiday songs from around the globe to see you safely through the season. Beth’s “catchy melodies and smart lyrics” (Variety) and Ritt’s “funkier Cole Porter” songs (LA Weekly) soar with her “fiery piano playing” (Chicago Sun Times) and his “cool cat” bass (Time Out NY). Joined by Met Opera and Broadway performer Roosevelt André Credit, Django jazz guitarist Lisa Liu, award-winning actress/singer Christine de Frece, and Bibi the Elf!
Sunday, December 11 at 3 pm and Tuesday, December 13 at 7 pm
OTHER LIVES: THE STORY SONGS OF MICHAEL COLBY
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A mélange of melody and tour de force performances, featuring lyrics by Michael Colby (Charlotte Sweet, The Algonquin Kid) and many of the best veteran and up-and-coming performers seen on New York stages. Cast: Janet Aldrich, Bethe Austin, Ari Axelrod, Lauren Baker, Klea Blackhurst, Stephen Bogardus, Le Donna Burns, Talia Cutulle, David Edwards, Heeya Kim, Dan Hoy, Luke Naphat, Sarah Rice, Jane Seaman, Megan Styrna, Marianne Tatum, Maureen Taylor, Deborah Jean Templin, Deborah Tranelli, Joshua Turchin, Stuart Zagnit. Composers: Andrea Colby, Ned Paul Ginsburg, Larry Hochman, Paul Katz, Gerald Jay Markoe, Peter Millrose, Alex Rybeck, Joseph Thalken, Herman Yaboloff. Musical director Michael Lavine. Directed by Sara Louise Lazarus.
Sunday, December 11 at 7 pm
SARA LOUIS LAZARUS
Circle Sing the Holidays
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Featuring the graduating Musical Theatre Class of Circle in the Square Theatre School. Direction and Musical Staging by Sara Louise Lazarus; Musical Direction by Joseph Baker.
Thursday, December 15 at 7 pm
THE ART OF COLLABORATION:
THE NEW YORK SONGWRITERS ALLIANCE
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The New York Songwriters Alliance was founded by Tom Toce in 2016. The Alliance is a group of professional songwriters who meet twice a month to share songs, success stories, industry opportunities, and creative energy. This show, hosted by Tom Toce, focuses on intra-group collaborations. At the last MAC Awards, seven of the ten nominated songs were written or co-written by writers affiliated with the Alliance. In this show, a group of current regular attendees will showcase their songs. We will present new songs by Michael Colby, Matt Corriel, John Forster, Ned Ginsberg, Harriet Goldberg, Sonya Hayden, Ritt Henn, Kevin Kelso, Eva Margolies, Hillary Rollins, Paul Rolnick, Steve Sieck, Ethan Tarasov, Tom Toce, Carla Ulbrich, and Steve Young. Their songs will be showcased by some of the best vocal talent in NY cabaret including Karen Akers, Ann Kittredge, David LaMarr, and Michael Wingate.
Friday, December 16 at 9 pm
AMANDA RECKONWITH
Glitter and Be Gay
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With a multi-award-winning, FABULOUS cast, this show will be the most fun you can have on a Friday night in New York City! Hosted by Amanda Reckonwith (aka David Sabella Chicago and MAC Award Winner). Featuring: Bistro and MAC Award Winner David Maiocco, Tym Moss, Jon Owen, and Alexander Scelso, with special guest, the one and only…Sidney Myer. Musical Director: David Maiocco. This show will feature poignant, standards, holiday, American Songbook, Cabaret, and spoken word. Produced by Matsuki Productions.
Saturday, December 17 at 3 pm
THE TOMATOES GOT TALENT WINNERS
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Join host Randi Levine-Miller for an afternoon featuring 8 of the “Tomatoes Got Talent” winners and a few runners up from the past 8 years of this competition. This contest is for ladies over the age of 40 who are all working in other fields but who all have a dream to perform. This show will feature: Karen Nason, Susan Vardy, Teresa Fischer, Kathleen Waters, Sheree Sano, Christina Connors, Robin Lyon Gardiner, Leslee Warren, Aleta St. James plus runners-up: Alice Levine and Robin Gerson Wong with a few other surprises in store! Musical Director: Paul Chamlin.
Saturday, December 17 at 7 pm
MAY I INTRODUCE
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Join host and co-producer of Winter Rhythms Sue Matsuki as she presents four incredibly talented singers each performing a four-song set. Sue and Gregory Toroian, tonight’s musical director, co-hosts a monthly Jazz Brunch Open Mic where they meet all these wonderful performers who they then love to feature. Today’s show introduces cabaret singers Ira Lee Collings (The Gay Geezer), Caitlin McBride, Eva Steinberg (Not Your Mama’s Peggy Lee), and Leslee Warren (Me, Myself & I: Songs of a Nearsighted Girl) and this year’s Tomato’s Got Talent Contest!). Musical Director: Gregory Toroian. Produced by Matsuki Productions.
Saturday, December 17 at 9 pm
DEBORAH STONE
Take Me Back: Joan, Joni, Dylan, and Others
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Join Deb Stone as she revisits her years as a folk-guitarist/singer here in New York! A native New Yorker, Deborah has been a dancer, actor and singer on the East and West Coasts, was in a Broadway musical, and was a show girl in New York City and Dallas. Deborah entered the world of Cabaret in 2016, and has performed in New York City at Beach Café, Pangea, Metropolitan Room, The Triad, Don’t Tell Mama, and the Laurie Beechman Theatre, and in Kansas City at The American Jazz Museum’s Blue Room. Her website is Deborah-Stone.com, on which may be found her EPK, press, video clips, and links to her recently released singles. YouTube Clip Here
Sunday, December 18 at 3 pm
SUSAN WINTER
Sings the Sixties
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The 1960s was a decade teeming with glorious triumphs and life altering upheavals: Vietnam, the optimism of a youthful president, miniskirts, the birth of the women’s movement, political assassinations, student unrest and Black Power. It was also a particularly fertile period for popular song; a time when, as a young girl, award winning vocalist Susan Winter listened to the likes of Motown, Tony Bennett, Eydie Gormé, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, and the Beatles all at the same time. In her delightful new show,Susan Winter Sings the Sixties, Ms. Winter musically revisits the many unforgettable innovations of the day: Girl Groups, Bacharach and David, Sergio Mendes and Brazil ’66, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Roger Miller, and Tom Lehrer. She also gets to tangle with Hair and blame in on the bossa nova. Directed by Barry Kleinbort, with musical direction provided by Christopher Denny, Ms. Winter offers an evening of irresistible rhythms and musical richness, punctuated with personal observations about one of this country’s most turbulent and musically diverse decades.
Sunday, December 18 at 7 pm
SONGS OF HOPE
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For the fifth time, Tom Toce will produce a program of hopeful songs. We need them now more than ever. This closing program will feature Ann Kittredge and some of the best cabaret singers in New York, each performing a hopeful song. If this concert doesn’t provide uplift, nothing will! Jon Delfin will once again be the musical director.
