On Oct. 16 Billy Porter will offer concerts at the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse at 8 and 10 PM. Porter, who recently starred in the out-of town tryout for Little Shop of Horrors, has been seen on Broadway in Smokey Joe's Cafe, Grease! and Five Guys Named Moe. He also played Little Richard in the CBS miniseries, "Shake Rattle and Roll." Porter's concert will showcase the actor's rangy tenor on a host of tunes for the worlds of pop, R&B and musical theatre.
Broadway couple Carolee Carmello and Gregg Edelman will team up for their first-ever concert debut as a couple on Oct. 17 at 8 and 10 PM. Carmello, now starring as Penelope Pennywise in the hit musical Urinetown, also recently appeared in the William Finn song cycle, Elegies. Her other Broadway credits include Parade, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Falsettos and Kiss Me, Kate. Husband Edelman was nominated for Tony Awards for his performances in City of Angels, Anna Karenina, 1776 and Into the Woods.
The opening weekend of the series, which was launched in 1999, will also feature the talents of cabaret singer Eric Comstock, who will offer Eric Comstock: Singer/Songwriters From the 1930s Through Today on Oct. 18 at 8 and 10 PM. The evening will explore the repertoire of singers who also wrote songs. Attendees can expect to hear tunes written by Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Paul Simon and Randy Newman.
The following month, the Songbook series will present A Weekend with Mary Cleere Haran, Nov. 13-15. Haran, who has triumphed in cabarets throughout the country, will offer a Master Class on Nov. 13 at 8 PM. Audience members will be able to observe Haran as she imparts her cabaret know-how to several aspiring singers.
On Nov. 14 at 8 and 10 PM, Haran will present Bandwagon! The evening will deconstruct the famed Fred Astaire film musical. Haran will offer anecdotes about the film and songs from the movie; film clips will also be shown. The Haran weekend concludes Nov. 15 at 8 and 10 PM with An Evening with Julie Wilson. The cabaret veteran will reminisce with Haran in an evening of stories and songs.
Tickets for the series are priced at $45 for 8 PM shows and $30 for the 10 PM performances. They are available at the Alice Tully Hall box office (Broadway and 66th Street), through CenterCharge (212-721-6500) or on-line at www.lincolncenter.org. The Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse is located at 165 W. 65th Street, Rose Building, 10th Floor.
