Arden, Pettiford, Cusson Will Sing in La Mirada Theatre's Upright Cabaret Series Nov. 8

By Kenneth Jones
November 3, 2009

Michael Arden, Valarie Pettiford and Matt Cusson will perform the music of Joni Mitchell, Doris Day and Brian Wilson in a cabaret concert dubbed City of Angels, Nov. 8 in the new Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

The 8 PM concert in California is part of the Upright Cabaret series. Musical direction is by Christopher Lloyd Bratten.

Pettiford appeared in Broadway's Fosse and has a CD, "Hear My Soul," in stores. She's known for her recurring role of Sandra Lucas on the hit comedy series "House of Payne."

Cusson, a singer comfortable with R & B, soul, gospel, jazz, pop and rock, has a self-titled album and is working on a second disc.

Singer-actor Arden's Broadway credits include Big River and The Times They Are A-Changin'. Other credits include bare, It's Only Life, Swimming in the Shallows, Pippin (L.A. Drama Critics nomination), Ace, God of Vengeance, The Common Pursuit, As You Like It, The Winter's Tale and more.

Upright Cabaret series will perform the first Sunday night of each of La Mirada Theatre's mainstage productions.

Upright Cabaret is billed as "the pre-eminent Los Angeles hot spot for the next generation of world-class entertainers. …Upright Cabaret has become a hip and contemporary social swirl of young Broadway and Hollywood, performing with a level of excellence, authenticity and intimacy that brings the crowds back time after time. Upright Cabaret boasts one of the most extensive and diverse rosters of talent in the country. Broadway divas, talented troubadours, cabaret legends, Hollywood notables, pop sensations and many future sensations have all found their way to the Upright stage."

Upright Alumni include Adam Lambert ("American Idol"), Alan Cumming (Tony Award winner), Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother"), Paula Cole (Grammy Award winner), Hunter Parish ("Weeds") and Lea Salonga (Tony Award winner).

This season, Upright takes its brand of "new generation cabaret" to La Mirada with the "American Icons Series." Four rising stars of stage and screen will pay homage to musical idols like Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton and Joni Mitchell in a Cabaret Lounge created in the La Mirada Theatre lobby.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, CA.

For more information about Upright Cabaret, Please visit: www.uprightcabaret.com For further information call (562) 944-9801 or visit www.lamiradatheatre.com.