Ghostlight Records will release the new CD, which celebrates singer-songwriter Nyro, on Oct 2. The CD, featuring an eight-piece band led by Jeffrey Klitz, was produced by Klitz and Joel Moss. Kurt Deutsch and Kuhn are the CD's executive producers. The disc is based on Kuhn's recent, acclaimed sold-out concert in January, which was presented as part of Lincoln Center's American Songbook series. Kuhn will perform selections from "Serious Playground" at Joe's Pub Oct. 1, 8, 15 and 22 and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on Oct. 26.

Among the song titles on "Serious Playground" are "Stoney End," "Sweet Blindness," "Save the Country," "To a Child," "Mother's Spiritual," "Been On a Train," "Lonely Women" and "Upstairs By a Chinese Lamp."

In a statement Kuhn said, "Nyro's profoundly poetic lyrics and her sophisticated, surprising melodies have such limitless range of expression and insight. I hope that this recording moves those who didn't know her work before to go listen to her and those who are already part of the fan club to listen anew to these beautiful, heartbreaking and inspiring songs."

A three-time Tony Award nominee for her work in She Loves Me, Les Misérables and Chess, Judy Kuhn also starred in the concert mounting of Alan Menken and Tim Rice's King David and the Los Angeles premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard. Kuhn received an Obie Award for her work in the Off-Broadway Laura Nyro tribute, Eli's Comin', and played Fosca in the Kennedy Center mounting of Stephen Sondheim's Passion.