Verkaik will play the Manhattan venue at 7 PM. She will be joined by guest composers Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin), Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Last Five Years) and Scott Alan (Dreaming Wide Awake, Home), who will accompany the singer on work from their songbooks.

Willemijn Verkaik was born in The Netherlands, and her professional singing career began as a lead vocalist for pop bands. After ten years on the road, she turned her attention to musical theatre and appeared in the ensemble of the Joop van de Ende-produced musical Elisabeth. She later understudied and played Queen Anna in the world premiere of the musical 3 Musketiers. Verkaik was also seen in the German productions of We Will Rock You and Aida; for her performance as Amneris in the latter, she received the Da Capo Award for Best Musical Performer. Verkaik was also a founding member of the New World Musical Ensemble, of which their inaugural production was Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World. Since November 2007, she has become best known to German audiences for her portrayal of the misunderstood witch Elphaba in the hit musical Wicked - die Hexen von Oz.

Birdland is located in Manhattan at 315 West 44th Street. There is a $25 cover charge and a $10 food/drink minimum; for reservations call (212) 581-3080 or visit www.BirdlandJazz.com.