Alice Ripley and Brian d'Arcy James will headline the May 22 "Sean McCourt's Big Top" concert at Wilson's. Joining the two will be McCourt (Ain't Nothin' But the Blues), Clarke Thorell (Saturday Night), composer-pianist Dan Lipton (on his way to The Full Monty) and Matthew Bennett (Terrence Mann's Romeo & Juliet,Titanic). The ensembled company are all active songwriters, although they spend much of their time performing others’ work.
Ripley most recently appeared on Broadway as a fiery Irish rebel girl in James Joyce's The Dead. Other credits include a Tony nominated turn in Side Show, The Who's Tommy and Les Miserables (Fantine). Ripley regularly performs her own music with her rock band, Uncle Daddy (they are set to release a CD with Sh-K-Boom Records.Com). With her Side Show and The Dead co-star Emily Skinner, Ripley recorded two duet discs, "Duets" and "Unsuspecting Hearts."
With a Jan. 25 start date, James became the first “Burrs” to strut the New York City stage in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of The Wild Party. He made a Broadway splash in 1997's Titanic as the kind-hearted stoker, Barrett. Other credits include Broadway's Carousel and Blood Brothers and workshop productions of Time and Again and Harmony.
The cover is $10. For dinner reservations, call (212) 769-0100. Wilson's is located at 201 West 79th Street at Amsterdam.
McCourt's Big Top series features Broadway actors performing their own original material or original material written for them. The May 22 performance will be the final Big Top of the season.
