Emily Bergl, who played Beth Young on ABC's "Desperate Housewives," will kick off the season Aug. 30-Sept. 10 with Kidding on the Square, a "theatrical cabaret that transports the audience on a fast-paced ride through love, heartbreak and everything in between." Bergl, who most recently appeared on the New York stage in Second Stage's Becky Shaw, will perform such tunes as Roy Orbison’s “Cryin’,” Fats Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Rodgers & Hart’s “Ten Cents a Dance,” Dietz & Schwartz’ “I’ll Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” Charles Chaplin’s “Smile” and Noel Coward’s “Mad About the Boy,” among others. The show is directed by Sarna Lapine with G. Scott Lacy as musical director and pianist.
Howard McGillin, whose Broadway credits include The Phantom of the Opera, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Anything Goes and The Secret Garden, will make his Oak Room debut in an evening of love songs that answers the question, Isn’t It Romantic?, Sept. 13-24. McGillin, who will be accompanied by musical director Joseph Thalken at the piano, will interpret such tunes as “All The Things You Are,” “Good Thing Going,” “Isn’t This a Lovely Day To Be Caught in the Rain,” “She Loves Me,” “Two For the Road” and "Time."
Karen Akers, who appeared on Broadway in the original productions of Nine and Grand Hotel, will turn her attention to the songs of Stephen Sondheim. The acclaimed vocalist, according to her official website, will offer Live, Laugh, Love: Akers Sings Sondheim Sept. 27-Oct. 29. Eric Michael Gillett directs the new show, which features musical direction by Don Rebic.
Cabaret favorite Andrea Marcovicci returns to the Oak Room for her record-breaking 25th anniversary Nov. 15-Dec. 30. In her new show, which is titled No Strings, the singing actress will take audiences "on a wonderful trip around the world. It's a journey about life on the road - a warm, funny, heartfelt, and candid tale of Andrea's time spent traveling from city to city and what that bittersweet time has meant to her as a singer, an actress, a wife and mother. It's an odyssey that flows from the romance of Andrea's favorite places to unexpected bumps in the road resulting in some pretty wacky stories." Song titles will include "Sunday in New York," "Two For the Road," "How are Things in Glocca Morra?," "Under Paris Skies" and "A Foggy Day." She will be accompanied by musical director Shelly Markham on piano and Jered Egan on bass.
Sandy Stewart and Bill Charlap are also scheduled for a Nov. 1-12 engagement. The Oak Room is located within the Algonquin Hotel at 59 West 44th Street. For reservations call (212) 419-9331.
