The New York Times reports that Mary Cleere Haran will now play those dates at the posh Madison Avenue cabaret. The Carlyle will also welcome former Woman in White star Maria Friedman May 3-June 2. Friedman's spring run will mark the third time she has played an extended engagement at the Carlyle. The Carlyle run will also coincide with the release of Friedman's newest recording, "Now and Then," which is scheduled to hit stores May 2 on the Sony label.
Described by The New York Times as "the most literate chanteuse of her generation," Mary Cleere Haran has performed in some of the top cabaret venues around the country as well as in the original Broadway cast of The 1940's Radio Hour and the Off-Broadway companies of The Heebie Jeebies and Hollywood Opera. Her numerous recordings include "There's a Small Hotel: Live at the Algonquin," "This Heart of Mine: Classic Movie Songs of the 40s," "This Funny World: Lyrics by Hart" and "Pennies From Heaven."
Maria Friedman made her Broadway debut earlier this season in the short-lived Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Woman in White playing Marian, a role she created on the London stage. She won her third Olivier Award for her performance as Mother in the West End production of Ragtime. She also won Oliviers for her one-woman show, Maria Friedman—By Special Arrangement, and for her work as Fosca in the London production of Sondheim's Passion. She received Olivier nominations for her roles as Dot in Sunday in the Park with George and Roxie in Chicago. Friedman's other stage credits include Lady in the Dark, Blues in the Night, April in Paris, Break of Day, Square Rounds, The Witches of Eastwick and Ragtime. She can also be seen as the Narrator in the film video of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
The Café Carlyle is located within the Carlyle Hotel at Madison Avenue and 76th Street. For reservations call (212) 744-1600; visit www.thecarlyle.com for more information.
The famed Cafe is due to close near the end of 2006. Though the hotel has made no formal announcement about the boite's future, word has spread that the cafe will be shut down and moved to a different space in the hotel's basement.
