As previously announced, the season will kick off with The Jeff Blumenkrantz Songbook, which will feature the talents of composer Blumenkrantz as well as Piazza Tony winner Victoria Clark, Judy Blazer, Rebecca Luker, Ryan Perry and Sally Wilfert. Blumenkrantz contributed songs to Urban Cowboy, The Audience and Audra McDonald’s Seven Deadly Sins.
Broadway belter Andrea McArdle — of Annie fame — will take to the Birdland stage on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. The following week will feature The Marcy & Zina Show. Hosted by composers Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich, the evening will boast performances by Rebecca Luker, Richard Todd Adams and Scott Coulter.
Emmy Award winner Penny Fuller, who received Tony nominations for her work in Applause and The Dinner Party, will offer an evening of theatre songs and popular music March 6. On March 14, Under the Covers with Victoria Shaw will feature singer/songwriter Shaw, who will be joined by Gary Burr, Mark Hudson and Billy.
Composer-pianist Jim Brickman will play Birdland March 20 and 21, and on April 3 Christine Pedi, recently seen in A Broadway Diva Christmas, will offer Great Dames, a “collection of songs by and about the great ladies, divas, dolls, broads, babes, sirens and songstresses of the stage and screen.”
Tony and Emmy Award winner Linda Lavin will take to the Birdland stage April 10 with her critically acclaimed cabaret act The Song Remembers When, which features tunes by Gershwin, Maltby & Shire, Frishberg and Yearwood. Lavin, best known for her work on TV’s “Alice,” will be accompanied by Billy Stritch on piano. On April 17 Barbra Streisand impersonator Steven Brinberg will perform Simply Barbra: Wait Till We’re 64 . . . The Birthday Concert, and David Ippolito — “That Guitar Man From Central Park” — will sing his original tunes May 1.
Buddy Booth Up is the title of Dick Scanlan’s solo evening on May 8. Scanlan, who wrote the book and lyrics for the Tony-winning musical Thoroughly Modern Millie, also starred in the Off-Broadway musical Pageant. His show is described thusly: “Set against the backdrop of the darkest days of the AIDS epidemic, this is a frank, funny and affectionate monologue about playing a woman…and becoming a man.”
Taboo’s Euan Morton will go it solo May 15 offering songs from his upcoming album “NewClear,” and the Spring Season will conclude May 22 with Jule Styne in Hollywood. That evening will celebrate the forthcoming PS Classics CD featuring Styne’s film compositions.
Birdland is located in Manhattan at 315 West 44th Street. Cover charges range from $25-$40 plus a $10 food/drink minimum. Call (212) 581-3080 for reservations or visit www.instantseats.com/birdland.
